John McCain squirms when asked about birth control

The reporter explained that McCain voted against a bill in 2003 that would have required health insurance companies to cover prescription birth control. “Is that still your position?” she persisted.

During the awkward exchange, with several lengthy pauses, McCain said he had no immediate knowledge of the vote. “I’ve cast thousands of votes in the Senate,” McCain said, then continued: “I will respond to—it’s a, it’s a…”

“Delicate issue,” the reporter offered, to a relieved laugh from McCain.

“I don’t usually duck an issue, but I’m—I’ll try to get back to you,” he explained.

----John McCain squirms when asked about birth control

Delicate issue? DELICATE ISSUE? There is no issue here. If I can get medication to give me a hard, throbbing penis for hours on end (not that I need it), it seems damn humane to provide medication which ensures that a woman can maintain her current life until she so chooses the time has come to become pregnant.

What is it about providing birth control through insurance that makes Republicans so queasy? Is it the absence of the penis that offends them so? Or is it yet another mechanism which denies women the opportunity to make decisions for themselves?

The fact that John McCain is uncomfortable with the questions speaks volumes. No wonder Barack Obama is blowing him out by nearly 20 points in poll after poll of registered female voters, with double-digit leads in most subgroups. He ducked the issue because he is a coward. He knows that an answer approving of his prior vote would further diminish his already meager showing with females.

I hope that the next time the topic comes up, the reporter doesn't let him off the hook. I want to see John McCain squirm. I want to see him run through possible answers in his mind and then stutter through a feable answer. I want John McCain to be forced to explain why he doesn't support women. I want John McCain to explain why he only cares when it is personally expedient for him (nice job ditching that first wife for a drug-addict trophy wife, John).

****UPDATE**** 7/10/08 @ 3:30 a.m.

Just came across a related article on Feministing.com which I was unaware of until just a couple of minutes ago and which I was unaware of when I first wrote this post. Any readers interested in viewing the article on Feministing.com should click here (link opens into a new window.