“It is shameful and downright perverse for the McCain campaign to use a bill that was written to protect young children from sexual predators as a recycled and discredited political attack against a father of two young girls – a position that his friend Mitt Romney also holds. Last week, John McCain told Time magazine he couldn’t define what honor was. Now we know why,” says Obama spokesman Bill Burton in an emailed statement.
This is in response to an ad that McCain just unleashed. You can watch it here, if you want to be disgusted. the script is below the fold.
I think the gloves aren't just off at this point, I think the knives are out and the McCain campaign has smelled blood in the water, seeking to essentially hit a jugular. I suggest the Obama campaign hit back on the Rape Kits story that broke here last night...
CBS has reaction
Campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs told CBS News the legislation Obama supported provided information to children on what to watch for when with an adult they don't know, such as inappropriate advances or touching.
For background on the legislation in question, read here.
When Obama's campaign was asked by ABC News to explain what kind of sex education Obama considers "age appropriate" for kindergarteners, the Obama campaign pointed to an Oct. 6, 2004 story from the Daily Herald in which Obama had "moved to clarify" in his Senate campaign that he "does not support teaching explicit sex education to children in kindergarten. . . The legislation in question was a state Senate measure last year that aimed to update Illinois' sex education standards with 'medically accurate' information . . . 'Nobody's suggesting that kindergartners are going to be getting information about sex in the way that we think about it,' Obama said. 'If they ask a teacher 'where do babies come from,' that providing information that the fact is that it's not a stork is probably not an unhealthy thing. Although again, that's going to be determined on a case by case basis by local communities and local school boards.'"
In addition to local schools informing kindergarteners that babies do not come from the stork, the state legislation Obama supported in Illinois, which contained an "opt out" provision for parents, also envisioned teaching kindergarteners about "inappropriate touching," according to Obama's presidential campaign. Despite Obama's support, the legislation was not enacted.
I'm guessing the Obama campaign will feel this one is below the belt. If they were holding back before, watch out.
Script for anyone who can't watch the youtube of "Education"
Script For “Education” (TV :30)
ANNCR: Education Week says Obama “hasn’t made a significant mark on education”.
That he’s “elusive” on accountability.
A “staunch defender of the existing public school monopoly”.
Obama’s one accomplishment?
Legislation to teach “comprehensive sex education” to kindergartners.
Learning about sex before learning to read?
Barack Obama.
Wrong on education. Wrong for your family.
Update: When I first saw the ad and response, I guess I was in a state of shock. This harsh and uncalled for ad by McCain should, SHOULD invariably produce significant blow back if our country still has a soul. To vilify a state legislator for trying to assist the youngest among us in gaining a basic understanding, so as to protect them from the pedifiles that populate our school yards, families and in some cases even churches, is not a henious situation as the McCain campaign seems to make it.
Worse, the repeated use of Obama's face throughout the ad has an almost subconcious registry in my mind where by the end, you're thinking of a black face and children and sex... to call is racist is light. I'd put this up on par with Willie Horton as an all time low.
Update II From the comments, I think we agree, John McCain has now taken a Pro-Molester stance with this ad. That's in addition to Palin's Anti-Rape Victim record as a mayor. If the Obama campaign wants to win, they'll start acting like it.