Sex Ed for Kindergarteners 'Right Thing to Do,' Says Obama

ABC News ^ | July 18, 2007 1:13 PM | Teddy Davis and Lindsey Ellerson

[Vision]

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Lindsey Ellerson Report: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., told Planned Parenthood Tuesday that sex education for kindergarteners, as long as it is "age-appropriate," is "the right thing to do."

"I remember Alan Keyes . . . I remember him using this in his campaign against me," Obama said in reference to the conservative firebrand who ran against him for the U.S. Senate in 2004. Sex education for kindergarteners had become an issue in his race against Keyes because of Obama’s work on the issue as chairman of the health committee in the Illinois state Senate.

"'Barack Obama supports teaching sex education to kindergarteners,'" said Obama mimicking Keyes' distinctive style of speech. "Which -- I didn’t know what to tell him (laughter)."

"But it’s the right thing to do," Obama continued, "to provide age-appropriate sex education, science-based sex education in schools."

Watch the video: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3386492

Speaking to a young woman who asked a question about sex education, Obama said, "You, as a peer, can have enormous power over your age cohort but you’ve got to have some support from the schools. You certainly should not have to be fighting each and every instance by providing accurate information outside of the classroom because inside the classroom the only thing that can be talked about is abstinence."

"Keep in mind: I honor and respect young people who choose to delay sexual activity," Obama continued. "I’ve got two daughters, and I want them to understand that sex is not something casual. That's something that we definitely want to communicate and should be part of any curriculum. But we also know that when the statistics tell us that nearly half of 15 to 19 year olds are engaging in sexual activity, that for us to leave them in ignorance is potentially consigning them to illness, pregnancy, poverty, and in some cases, death."

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.

[MountainFlower]

"Keep in mind: I honor and respect young people who choose to delay sexual activity," Obama continued. "I’ve got two daughters, and I want them to understand that sex is not something casual. That's something that we definitely want to communicate and should be part of any curriculum. But we also know that when the statistics tell us that nearly half of 15 to 19 year olds are engaging in sexual activity, that for us to leave them in ignorance is potentially consigning them to illness, pregnancy, poverty, and in some cases, death."

I want to puke! He can't have it both ways. Notice when he suddenly starts to think about his own children then there is more that comes into play. Abstinence will solve the problems he lists but is too blind to comprehend....or should I say, whatever his payoff from PP was for his campaign spoke louder than anything else?! I would bet that a check into campaign finances would show he had money coming in from PP, NARAL, and others. SO, if that is the case...they probably backing him with this race as well, and money talks when it comes to politicians with no backbone for ethics and morals.

Not at all suprised that they want to take hold of our children at earlier ages. It is the same reason for the push to mandate pre-school at 3 yr old! Get their minds while they are small. Does anyone know the quote from Hitler? "Give me a child".....? How does it go?

[Vision]

This article leaves the impression that all Obama wants is to let teachers tell kids babies don’t come from storks, if the kids should ask.

That's mighty generous of you. Where do you get this from?

[avacado]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vision]

It’s a reflection of the 2004 election and was around then. Don’t have a link.

[fortunecookie]

My Oldest just got out of Kindergarten two months ago. It was bad enough that they were teaching about, “Mother Earth,” and all of the treehugging environMENTAList crap.

It is a brave new world. I've been a volunteer for several consecutive years with a program for kids where I am. I was stunned at the time I started in just how different it was in just a few years from when my son started school. Recycling and sharing and saving the rain forest seemingly overwhelmed reading and writing and art and music. Now several years later, I'm surprised at just how much more has changed since I started volunteering. It saddens me that God can't be mentioned, but we can 'humanize' our planet by calling her 'mother' earth. And the 'group' mentality and 'kindness' are pushed, which is a tad commie to me. More than before. Just wait till your little guy starts first grade this fall!

[angcat]

He is a sicko a real pig.

[tutstar]

But we also know that when the statistics tell us that nearly half of 15 to 19 year olds are engaging in sexual activity, that for us to leave them in ignorance is potentially consigning them to illness, pregnancy, poverty, and in some cases, death."

They don't seem to have a problem finding the abortion clinics.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

I was hoping that this was some kind of satire...but it isn't.

It just affirms one thing for me...I don't care if I end up having to work a second job...there is NO WAY my kids are EVER going to set foot in a public school.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

On behalf of my fellow citizens here in the State of Illinois, we are sorry about Obama.

Yeah...and Durbin too. :(

[haplesswanderer]

>>Obama does not possess 1/10th the brains, character or statesman-like attributes of Alan Keyes. That Illinois elects clowns like Obama and Durbin reflects the mindless voters galore.

... and just how corrupt the state is.

[Porterville]

So this dip-sh!+ is done. Now how do we focus on beating back Hillary-Edwards?

[BlackbirdSST]

Kindergatern age kids generally figure out that boys and girls are different on their own. That’s about as age appropriate as it gets.

'xactly. Blackbird.

[BibChr]

Why is it that EVERY time a Donk says something is “the right thing to do,” it is EXACTLY the WRONG thing to do?

[MockTurtle]

It's important to understand what Planned Parenthood means by "age appropriate."

Here are some of the highlights from:PlannedParenthood.org - What Children Need to Know

By Age Five
Children need to know that
- touching their sex organs for pleasure is normal
- it takes a woman and a man to make a baby — how the baby "gets in" and "gets out"
a woman does not have to have a baby unless she wants to - seek privacy when they want to touch their sex organs for pleasure


Ages Five to Seven
In addition to earlier information and skills — children need to know
- that all people, including our parents and grandparents, live through a life cycle that has a beginning and an end and includes sexuality at all ages
- that people experience sexual pleasure in a number of ways
- that everyone has sexual thoughts and fantasies and that having them is normal
- that there are different types of caring home backgrounds
- about non-stereotyped gender roles
- that sexual identity includes sexual orientation —lesbian, gay, straight, or bisexual
- the basic facts about HIV/AIDS


Ages Eight to Twelve
In addition to earlier information and skills about the changes in their bodies before puberty
- that sex is pleasurable, not only a way to have a baby
- that masturbation is very common and that it is normal to masturbate — but only in private
- about female and male sex work and its dangers
- feel that it is normal to masturbate
- the probability of pregnancy with unprotected vaginal intercourse
- about contraceptive methods
- what abortion is
- about assisted pregnancy — that a woman does not need to have sex to get pregnant
- talk about how pregnancy can be avoided
- about contraception
- that no one has to become a parent
- that it is possible to plan parenthood
- how to get contraceptives
- they need to be able to name a variety of contraceptives
- discuss safer sex


...and it goes on from there. Like I said, these are just "highlights."

[originalbuckeye]

Wow. Pretty appalling.

[tuesday afternoon]

Teacher: "People don't have to be boys or girls. A family doesn't need a mother and father. A family can be anything you want. Two dads. Three moms. No dads. Greg and Jason. You can be anything you want."

I suspect this is coming soon.

[wardaddy]

that is nuts....does he have any kids.....that he claims?

[darkangel82]

That is vile beyond words. These people should be dealt with harshly by the Feds.

[MockTurtle]

It's worse if you go to Planned Parenthood's teen website: www.teenwire.com.

It encourages teens to practice oral sex, anal sex, "fingering." It talks about how to keep your sex toys clean, how to use pornography... When is any of this "age appropriate?"

[originalbuckeye]

I don’t think I want to see Planned Parenthood’s website. I remember hearing (on talk radio) a few years ago about a book in school libraries called “The Rainbow Party’. It was about a bunch of teen-age girls planning a party with some boys. The idea was that each girl would wear a different color of lipstick and then the boys would receive oral sex. Each girl would leave her color imprint on each boy. I could hardly believe my eyes. Girls have come a long way.......in the wrong direction! This type of book is sanctioned by PP.