On September 9, 2008, hours after the Obama campaign released a TV ad critical of McCain education record, the McCain campaign responded with an ad that says Obama's "one accomplishment" with respect to education as an Illinois state senator was "legislation to teach 'comprehensive sex education' to kindergartners." The ad then rhetorically asks, "Learning about sex before learning to read?" [1]
The 2003 Illinois Senate bill, which was supported but not sponsored by Obama, stipulated that all course material be "medically accurate and objective" and "age and developmentally appropriate." Parents and guardians would have the opportunity to review the materials, and the choice to opt out. [2,3]
Obama in October 2004, addressing the issue in a U.S. Senate campaign debate:
"We have a existing law that mandates sex education in the schools. We want to make sure that it's medically accurate and age-appropriate.
"Now, I'll give you an example, because I have a six-year-old daughter and a three-year-old daughter, and one of the things my wife and I talked to our daughter about is the possibility of somebody touching them inappropriately, and what that might mean.
"And that was included specifically in the law, so that kindergarteners are able to exercise some possible protection against abuse, because I have family members as well as friends who suffered abuse at that age. So, that's the kind of stuff that I was talking about in that piece of legislation." [4]
Fox News, on the misleading wording of McCain's ad:
While the new TV spot leads most voters to believe that Obama supports teaching five year olds about the birds and the bees the legislation, which never passed by the full state senate, called for an "age appropriate" curriculum intended to teach young children how to avoid predators and pedophiles. The bill was supported by a number of prominent state health advocates and also allowed communities and families to opt out if they were not comfortable with the curriculum...
The K-12 sex-ed attack point was previously used against Obama by Romney last June who saw it crumble when it turned out supported similar legislation in Massachusetts.
A number of states also have similar education laws, including California, Iowa and Michigan. [5]
McClatchy Newspapers:
This is a deliberately misleading accusation. It came hours after the Obama campaign released a TV ad critical of McCain's votes on public education. As a state senator in Illinois, Obama did vote for but was not a sponsor of legislation dealing with sex ed for grades K-12.
But the legislation allowed local school boards to teach "age-appropriate" sex education, not comprehensive lessons to kindergartners, and it gave schools the ability to warn young children about inappropriate touching and sexual predators. [1]
Christian Broadcast Network News' David Brody, discussing the issue when previously raised by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in July 2007:
What Obama is referring to is teaching five year olds about inappropriate touching. The Obama campaign also tells The Brody File that parents would be able to opt out. As for further details, the touching aspect seems to be the main idea here. Obama doesn't want to hand out condoms to five year olds. He doesn't want cucumber demonstrations as part of show and tell. [4]
TIME's Joe Klein appears personally offended by the misleading nature of McCain's ad:
"Back in 2000, after John McCain lost his mostly honorable campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, he went about apologizing to journalists--including me--for his most obvious mis-step: his support for keeping the confederate flag on the state house.
"Now he is responsible for one of the sleaziest ads I've ever seen in presidential politics...
"I just can't wait for the moment when John McCain--contrite and suddenly honorable again in victory or defeat--talks about how things got a little out of control in the passion of the moment. Talk about putting lipstick on a pig." [6]
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Did McCain say he put ambition first, before country?
Did McCain say he didn't know if condoms help prevent the spread of AIDS?
Get the facts at McCain Fact Check.
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[1] Talev, Margaret. Out of bounds! McCain misstates Obama sex-ed record McClatchy Newspapers September 9, 2008
[2] Illinois General Assembly. Full Text of SB0099
[3] Illinois General Assembly. Bill Status of SB0099
[4] Brody, David. Obama Campaign Responds to Sex Education in Kindergarten Comments CBN News July 19, 2007
[5] Oinounou, Mosheh. McCain slams Obama on sex-ed vote Fox News September 9, 2008
[6] Klein, Joe. Apology Not Accepted TIME September 10, 2008
