[T]he campaign of Senator John McCain on Tuesday unveiled a new television advertisement claiming that [Senator Barack] Obama, the Democratic nominee, favors “comprehensive sex education” for kindergarten students [referring to a 2003 sex education bill proposed in the Illinois legislature, which Mr. Obama supported]...[T]he main objective of the legislation, as it pertained to kindergarteners [was] to teach them how to defend themselves against sexual predators.

In comments Wednesday, McCain campaign chief strategist Steve Schmidt explained the logic of opposition to such a bill. “Look, it couldn’t be simpler: a McCain-Palin administration will support abstinence-only sex education, because if you don’t teach teens about sex, then they won’t have sex. Obviously. By the same logic, if we don’t teach our children about sexual abuse, then they can’t be sexually abused.  So the real question is, why do Senators Obama and Biden want your children to be sexually abused? Right? Because that’s the real question.”

Mr. Schmidt went on to explain Sen. McCain and Governor Palin’s opposition to teaching our kids about obesity—"it makes them fat"—about pooping their pants—"it makes them poop their pants"—and about earthquakes—"it causes earthquakes”.

Tags: politics, barack obama, john mccain, sarah palin, joe biden, obesity, steve schmidt, earthquakes, sex education, logic

People should not be offered “excuses” for being overweight, shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley has said.

The Conservatives want people to take responsibility for their own lifestyles and start exercising and eating more fruit and vegetables.

In a speech, he also said his party would focus on an improved diet, rather than a “fear of junk foods”.

He said there was nothing “inevitable” about being overweight: “We can’t afford to move to a world where being overweight is normal and being obese is common.”
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In a speech titled “no nannying, no excuses” he said: “Tell people that biology and the environment causes obesity and they are offered the one thing we have to avoid: an excuse.

“As it is, people who see more fat people around them may themselves be more likely to gain weight. Young people who think many of their friends binge-drink are likely to do so themselves.”

He added: “Peer pressure and social norms are powerful influences on behaviour and they are classic excuses ... We have to take away the excuses.”

People should not be offered “excuses” for being murdered, shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley has said.

The Conservatives want people to take responsibility for their own deaths and start breathing and living longer.

In a speech, he also said his party would focus on improved running-away skills, rather than a “fear of murderers”.

He said there was nothing “inevitable” about being murdered: “We can’t afford to move to a world where being knifed is normal and being shot is common.”
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In a speech titled “no nannying, no excuses” he said: “Tell people that poverty and access to weapons causes violence and death, and they are offered the one thing we have to avoid: an excuse.

“As it is, people who see more dead people around them may themselves be more likely to die. Young people who think many of their friends spend their free time diving head-first into open graves are likely to do so themselves.”

He added: “Peer pressure and social norms are powerful influences on behaviour and they are classic excuses ... We have to take away the excuses.”

Tags: britain, obesity, health, andrew lansley, murders