PILLOW TALK
BY MEREDITH BAKER
“Sex, unlike war, does not go away; its return to political center stage is inevitable”
-(http://www.utne.com/2003-09-01/HowSexRockstheVote.aspx)
As we enter into the final hours of one of the most historical presidential elections of all time, I feel it’s necessary to take some time out from our normal daily sexual quandaries, and spend some time thinking about how our attitudes on sex manifest themselves in everything from what Halloween costume we choose to who we vote for to lead this country.
From Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol, to Barack Obama and the partial birth abortion debate, to McCain boldly defining marriage for the country, mixing sex and politics is as natural as mixing sex and contraception!
Abortion, same-sex marriage, healthcare, and sex-education are all issues that take center-stage in the arena of American Politics, and have had a dramatic impact on the campaigns of both parties in the last several months. So the government is in your bedroom, and there’s sex all over the voting booth. What’s a responsible voter to do? Research of course! I’ve taken the liberty (no pun intended) of digging up the latest from Camp Barack and McCain HQ so UHallers can decide for themselves who they want to take home with them on Tuesday.
Obama on SEX we can believe in: (http://www.barackobama.com/issues/)
Barack Obama, according to his website, aims to empower women to fight HIV/AIDS through the Microbicide Development Act (microbicides are products that women can apply topically to prevent to prevent the transmission of HIV and other infections). He also supports research into Women’s health, as well as stem cell research. As for Women’s rights, Obama also supports a woman’s right to choose as well as preventing unintended pregnancy. He is also an advocate against domestic violence, supporting strengthening domestic violence laws and fighting gender violence abroad. The Obama –Biden ticket also strongly supports protecting title IX which mandates against sexual discrimination in schools, but I was unable to find a clear stance on sex-education.
McCain on Country and SEX first:
(http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/)
John McCain strongly supports the overturning of Roe V. Wade, stating that he “believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench.” He seeks to make abortion a state decision rather than a federal and constitutional statute, but has also noted “At its core, abortion is a human tragedy. To effect meaningful change, we must engage the debate at a human level.”
McCain also supports the protection of marriage as strictly a union between man and woman, and opposes the intentional creation of human embryos for research purposes.
For more information about both candidates, visit their websites!
Happy Election Day!
Stay safe and remember to VOTE!