Oh God, that attack ad. Such a twisting of his actual intention really is disgusting and perverse.

And I am completely indifferent to anything Lance Armstrong does Not my thing.

That's a pretty disgusting (preying on parent's fears). Obama for teaching the dangers of sexual abuse.

Some of McCain's ads are completely ridiculous, this one close to the top of the list.

McCain has become a joke. How can any one take this man seriously any more?

The thing about attacks like this, which involve twisting the truth into an unrecognizable lie, is that when they're debunked, it reveals the desperation of the attackers. I didn't pay enough attention to see whether it's a McCain campaign official ad or a third-party attack, but either way, it doesn't reflect well on the McCain campaign, and I do hope a stop is put to it.

There are so many important issues to debate (I keep going back to this), and it's pathetic to see the election devolve, as usual, into this kind of BS.

liliblu- oh, my family. My family exclusively listens to rush limbaugh. I honestly don't think McCain's voters even care anymore. I feel bad for the Republican party. I mean, did you guys hear about the posts McCain's son Jack made about killing the "sand coons?" And even the comments made by Mitt Romney about ending the reign of the "big-govt. liberals." People just don't care about the truth anymore, and they don't care about the issues. I am entirely sick of this election, and of McCain. I can't imagine how the GOPers aren't completely embarrassed right now.

Jude- I wish, but seriously, I don't think McCain's voters care about what is true anymore or not. I mean, at least not the ones I know. They just really don't care.

I agree Jude. There are so many issues to debate and this kind of back and forth crap is so irrelevant,its slowly driving me crazy, per usual for any election year

Jude, as always, I agree with you totally! And you have said it all much better than I ever could!

I'm sorry, but that advert makes Obama look like he's a child molester or something. Jude C, you are right as usual...

Yeah.

Well, this sort of thing happens pretty much every election cycle. I think a lot of voters have already decided, based on party identification. It's just my hope that the undecided and nonpartisan voters will be able to see through at least some of the B.S. and be able to hear enough of substance from both candidates to make an informed decision.

(When I say B.S., I'm not saying that in a partisan way. Neither party's got clean hands.)

Thanks, ladies.

I'm sick of politicians creating straw men (in this instance, kindergarten sex ed) to get votes through fear, when there are plenty of legitimate things for us to be afraid of and vote about.

Snowbunny, you must not know a lot of McCain voters. While I don't deny there are some out there who don't care about truth and the issues, I have to say that every single McCain voter I know does.

I also think the use of the term "comprehensive sex education" is interesting, since there was a lot of talk about Palin being pro-life and anti-comprehensive sex ed. I remember lilkimbo telling me that a lot of conservatives aren't the same way, but the most vocal ones are pro-life and anti-comprehensive sex ed, so...IMO this makes a lot of conservatives look bad, which is a shame.

snowbunny, I agree. when i inform someone of the truth about what mccain/palin keep saying through factcheck.org, they don't believe me and think its just democratic propaganda.

...and I just talked you up, lilkimbo.

Em, that's definitely my assessment of a lot of conservatives, especially younger (as in under 40) conservatives. I vaguely remember reading an article with polls that backed this up, but I couldn't tell you where or when. It was probably Time or Newsweek.

And, while I'm not 100% happy with the way McCain has run his campaign, I would have to say that most true conservatives know that they wouldn't vote for Obama over McCain based on issues alone, regardless of what new ads surface.

However, I fail to see how Romney talking about big government is not an issue. I don't know the context in which he said it, but the size and power given to the federal government is certainly a real issue.

And I'm glad someone is actually paying attention to what I'm saying, em. Sometimes I feel like I am just talking to myself.

Actually, I know others are paying attention, it's just good to get the reassurance every once in a while.

Haha, nope, I listen! I like to learn from the peeps here.

That ad is disgusting and in horrible taste.

And the bishops might want to check on what's being and what has been taught in Catholic schools and churches. Biden's view matches what I learned in Catholic elementary and high schools.

lilk - I always listen to you! You are one of the most articulate, thoughtful commenters on CS! Even if I don't always agree with you, I totally respect you and the way you present your argument!

I'm so disappointed. There was a time when this race first started that my grandpa and I (both democrats) agreed that while we'd campaign for obama, we still wouldn't be too devastated if mccain won. what happened to mccain? for someone who's a self-proclaimed "maverick" and wants to be bi-parisan he sure is pissing off all the dems.

I am so disgusted by McCain and Palin I don't even know what to do. Other than, of course, vote against them

I have to agree with you Livvy -- I felt that way too until Palin.

The attack ad is pretty disgusting. After a while, I would think people are just going to turn this B.S. off. Honestly, I think this thing is worse than lipstick on a pig crap.

Wow, talk about misleading...that ad is disturbingly untrue.

And Obama's commments about lipstick on a pig is a SAYING, or a phrase if you will. As it was pointed out on the View, John McCain has also used that term and Elisabeth Hasselbeck even defended Barack Obama because people are blowing that innocent comment out of proportion.

This disappoints me but the McCain campaign has to keep the focus on sensationalized crap like this. They don't have the popular view when it comes to the issues so they are running on character. If people are paying attention to these ads, then they aren't thinking about recession, war or health care. Doing ridiculous crap like this is the only way he can win.

lilkimbo: Romney wants to get rid of the big LIBERAL govt. that has been running Washington.

History lesson kids: our government has three branches.
1. Executive branch- this is the President, who is a Republican, he's actually been prez. for almost 8 years now
2. congress: made up of the house of representatives and the senate, the liberals (aka democrats) have only been in control since January! Though, it's more complicated when you break it down to house and senate.
3. supreme court: 7/9 justices appointed by conservatives.

So who is he criticizing for big govt? THe very liberal Bush? What does he even mean by "big govt." other than using the term as a scare tactic?

What exactly is it he has an issue with? Billions of dollars for a pointless war? 2 billion dollars for a stupid fence? The postal service? I don't get it.

That's right, big LIBERAL government, not big DEMOCRATIC government. As has been acknowledged by many in the Republican party, the party has swayed for from its original ideals of small, locally contolled government.

Bush is NOT a traditional conservative. Congress has not been controlled by Republicans since January and, while those justices were appointed by Republican presidents, they were not all appointed by tradtionally conservative judges, nor do 7 of the nine vote in a conservative manner.

And believe me, my knowledge of government is at the very least on par with yours, so your condescending history lessons are not needed.

Well my $.02 is that if your issues and the change you want to bring are on such shaky ground that you can't sell yourself based on that alone, then you probably shouldn't be running for office.

Yep -- that's why I won't be voting for McCain.

lilkim how are you defining a non-traditional conservative?

Was Romney saying he wants his own party out of washington?

OMG di did you even read what she posted? Romney wants to get the republican party back on traditional conservative values... BUSH is not a typical conservative. If anything she is defending more traditional conservative values.

Really people if you think the right wing is full of Bush clones, and every republican is the same then you are no better than people who think all democrats are tree-hugging, pot heads

I second what Martini said: lilk - I always listen to you! You are one of the most articulate, thoughtful commenters on CS! Even if I don't always agree with you, I totally respect you and the way you present your argument!

woah, chill out. i wasnt attacking her i was just asking for clarification.

For the sake of objectivity, a few excerpts from the actual legislation (Illinois SB0099) mentioned in the McCain ad:

"Each class or course in comprehensive sex
education offered in any of grades K 6 through 12 shall
include instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted
infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread
of HIV AIDS."
----------------------
"All course material and instruction shall
be age and developmentally appropriate."
----------------------
"...whenever such
courses of instruction are provided in any of grades K 6
through 12, then such courses also shall include age
appropriate instruction on the prevention of sexually
transmitted infections, including the prevention,
transmission and spread of HIV AIDS."

I can't speak to the intent, but the actual legislation requires that any sex ed classes, down to kindergarten, must include information about preventing STDs and the transmission of AIDS.

Does no one have a problem with explaining that to five-year-olds?

Here's the link to the actual text:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=3&GA=93&...

Thanks for finding the actual text, Laine! You're right, there's no age-appropriate way to discuss STDs and AIDS with a kindergartner.

I have no problem with that.

Actually, maybe if you're telling kids to be careful of needles in parks, that'd be appropriate AIDS education for a 5 year old. But STDs? No.

I have no problem teaching kids that. Ever hear of the AIDS epidemic? Teen pregnancy? Obviously our current "sex ed" programs are not working. I think it's better kids learn it from teachers than other kids at school and it's going to be age appropriate.

GirlA, what's the appropriate way to tell a 5 year old about STDs?

Kids are having sex at younger and younger ages. I work in my kids' schools and last year, the second grade teacher overheard her students talking about sex and "wanting to have sex with so and so..." This isn't the 1950s anymore.

I have no idea, Michelin, and I wouldn't want that job, but there are professionals out there who can teacher our educators how to. AIDS is a STD--how is it different?

"teach our educators", I mean.

AIDs is not an STD. Like I said, it would be appropriate to tell kids to avoid needles in parks and try to avoid contacting another child's blood. It would not be appropriate to tell a 5 year old to wear a condom because he might get AIDs.

GirlA is right. Put it in the hands of the government. They're professionals. There's no sense in even raising your own child, when you have professionals to look out for them.