Progress Report: Abstinence-Only Puts Ideology Over Science

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Fri, 01 Oct 2004 08:41:54 -0700

Progress Report: Abstinence-Only Puts Ideology Over Science

 

" American Progress Action Fund "

<progress

 

 

 

The Progress Report

 

by Christy Harvey, Judd Legum and Jonathan Baskin

OCTOBER 1, 2004

 

EDUCATION Abstinence-Only Puts Ideology Over Science

ELECTIONS The Great Debate

ETHICS DeLay Violates House Rules

UNDER THE RADAR Go Beyond The Headlines

 

 

EDUCATION

Abstinence-Only Puts Ideology Over Science

 

The White House has consistently advocated and lavishly funded

" abstinence only " sex education, gutting funding for programs which

included information on other ways to avoid sexually transmitted

diseases and pregnancy. To support this position, the administration

has distorted the scientific evidence about what works in sex

education. Two new studies by Advocates for Youth (AFY) on the

long-term impact of federally funded abstinence-only programs on teen

sexual behavior confirm recent literature on the subject: the programs

have no long-term effect on teens' intentions to have sex, but sour

them on contraception, making it less likely they will take

responsible measures to protect themselves if they do engage in

intercourse.

 

ABSTINENCE-ONLY DOESN'T INCREASE ABSTINENCE: AFY's evaluation of

eleven state abstinence-only programs, ten of which were funded

federally, found there were " few short-term benefits and no lasting,

positive impact. " Overall, programs were moderately successful at

improving participants' short-term attitudes towards abstinence but

highly unlikely to positively affect participants' sexual behaviors.

Five programs measured long-term impact on sexual behavior: " No

evaluation demonstrated any impact on reducing teens' sexual behavior

at follow-up, three to 17 months after the program ended. "

 

ABSTINENCE-ONLY DISCOURAGES SAFE SEX: In at least two states, AFY

Evaluators noted that abstinence-only programs' emphasis on the

failure rates of contraception, including condoms, " left youth

ambivalent, at best, about using them. " The results are consistent

with a Columbia University study by sociology chair Peter Bearman.

Bearman's study, which tracked the sex lives of 12,000 adolescents

between 12 and 18 years old over a five-year period, " found unsafe sex

much greater among youth who'd signed pledges to abstain from sex "

until marriage. The " virginity pledge " is a key component of many

abstinence-only education programs.

 

ABSTINENCE-ONLY TEACHES BAD SCIENCE, MISINFORMS TEENS: In place of

effective, disease-preventing safe-sex education, the administration

wants to fund programs that denounce condom use, and mislead teens

about the risks and effects of sexual intercourse. Much of the money

proposed for the abstinence programs, Salon reports, " would be given

in grants to Christian organizations such as Youth for Christ and

to…school programs that teach kids that premarital sex leads to

psychological maladies and that sex with condoms is a kind of viral

Russian roulette. " In Texas, where Bush pushed for an abstinence-based

sexual education curriculum as governor, one textbook under review

" advises that a good way a teen-ager can prevent a sexually

transmitted disease is to get plenty of rest so he or she can have a

clear head about sex and choose abstinence. "

 

ABSTINENCE-ONLY HAS HAD NO IMPACT ON NATIONAL BEHAVIOR: There is no

national data to suggest abstinence-only has had any positive effect

on sexual attitudes or behaviors. From 1991 to 1997, sexual experience

(the proportion of 9th through 12th graders reporting that they have

ever had sexual intercourse) decreased significantly by 11 percent.

But from 1999 to 2003, the period coinciding with the triumph of the

abstinence-only agenda, changes in sexual experience leveled off.

 

BUSH PUTS ABSTINENCE-ONLY AHEAD OF DOMESTIC NEEDS: Despite its

ineffectiveness, when it comes to abstinence education, " money seems

to be no object. The administration's 2005 budget recommends $270

million for programs that try to dissuade teenagers from having sex, "

double the amount spent last year. Even as it guts proven

HIV-prevention programs, the administration continues funneling money

into abstinence-only programs proven to be, at best, grossly

ineffective. Read this new American Progress column to see how

HIV-prevention funding cuts have affected Washington, D.C.

 

ELECTIONS

The Great Debate

 

President Bush and Sen. John Kerry squared off in Miami last night for

the first presidential debate. The result was a solid hit for Kerry.

This morning's papers describe the scene: Bush is described as coming

off as " petulant, " " tight-mouthed, " and " frustrated. " Meanwhile, Kerry

was " presidential, " " in control, " " serious and substantive. " As the

New York Times writes, " if the question was whether Senator John Kerry

would appear presidential, whether he could present his positions

clearly and succinctly and keep President Bush on the defensive when

it came to the critical issue of Iraq, Mr. Kerry delivered the goods. "

The Boston Globe agreed, saying, " Last night, John Kerry won as clear

a debate victory as we've seen since Ronald Reagan outdueled Jimmy

Carter in 1980. " And, the NYT writes, " Kerry's confident, calm manner

may have paid off. CBS was one of several news organizations that

conducted instant focus group surveys during the debate. A few minutes

after the candidates finished their closing statements, CBS News said

51 percent of the 200 uncommitted sample voters thought that Mr. Kerry

had a clear plan for Iraq. Only 38 percent thought the president did. "

Research by Democracy Corps details Kerry's " significant gains among

likely voters who watched the debate, " including major gains in

" personal favorability, the security issues that dominated the debate,

and key leadership attributes. "

 

STICKING TO THE WRONG COURSE: Bush tried to assail Kerry's leadership

last night, saying nine different times that Kerry's " mixed messages "

and " mixed signals " mean he's not steadfast enough to lead. Bush,

however, has confused bullheadedness with leadership. In Iraq, for

example, he is clinging to the precept that staying the course is more

important than being on the right course. Slate's William Saletin

writes that Bush's stubbornness means a disconnect from the reality on

the ground in Iraq: " Ignore the evidence that Iraq's weapons of mass

destruction programs had deteriorated. Ignore the evidence that Saddam

had no operational relationship with al-Qaida. Ignore the rising

casualties. Ignore the hollowness and disintegration of the

American-led 'coalition.' " Kerry last night said, " It's one thing to

be certain. But you can be certain and wrong. "

 

MISSTATING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES: Bush last night repeated his claim

that we have 100,000 Iraqi security forces trained. It's not true.

Last Monday, the Pentagon said that " only about 53,000 of the 100,000

Iraqis on duty have now undergone training. " According to Pentagon

documents obtained by Reuters, of the 90,000 in the police force,

" only 8,169 have received full training. " " Many police lack equipment

or vehicles. Army Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, the U.S. official in

charge of training, has been unable to fill his staff needs. "

 

MISSTATING AL QAEDA CAPTURES: Last night, Bush repeated his oft-stated

claim that three-quarters of known al Qaeda leadership has been

captured. What this ignores: " al-Qaida is still considered a mortal

danger in part because it refills its ranks and leadership. "

 

MISSTATING THE RATIONALE FOR WAR IN IRAQ: Bush tried to rebut Kerry

about the prewar need for more patience on Iraq, saying diplomacy

wouldn't have persuaded Saddam to disarm. Writes the Boston Globe, " It

was almost as though the president has forgotten that no stockpiles of

forbidden weapons have been found in Iraq. "

 

MISSTATING VOTER REGISTRATION SUCCESS IN AFGHANISTAN: Bush stated, " 10

million people have registered to vote in Afghanistan. " The problem:

most sources agree there aren't even 10 million eligible voters in the

country. Human Rights Watch this week released a report showing that

figure included " multiple registrations of many voters. In a lengthy

report, the respected organization also documented how human rights

abuses are fueling a pervasive atmosphere of repression and fear in

many parts of the country, with voters in those areas having little

faith in the secrecy of the balloting and often facing threats and

bribes from militia factions. "

 

MISSTATING NORTH KOREA DIPLOMACY: Bush inexplicably claimed Kerry's

proposal to have direct talks with North Korea would end the

six-nation diplomacy that the administration has pursued over

Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, claiming it would also " drive away

China, a key player in the negotiations. " He was unable to explain

this charge, however: " He never said why, and there are many examples

in which the United States has negotiated with a nation in several

different forums at the same time. " In reality, " each of the other

four countries in the talks has held direct talks with North Korea

during the six-party process – and China has repeatedly asked the Bush

administration to talk directly with North Korea. "

 

MISSTATING BRINGING KHAN TO JUSTICE: Bush last night stated, " The A.Q.

Khan network has been brought to justice, " referring to the leader of

a Pakistani nuclear smuggling ring. Not true. Khan was pardoned by

President Pervez Musharraf. In fact, reports the Washington Post, " not

a single person involved in his network has been prosecuted anywhere. "

Yesterday, the International Atomic Energy Agency complained Pakistan

is blocking all access to Khan.

 

MISSTATING NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION EFFORTS: Last night, Bush said

he'd increased spending by " about 35 percent " on nonproliferation

efforts since he took office. The Washington Post points out that in

his first budget, " he proposed a 13 percent cut – about $116 million –

and much of the increases since then have been added by Congress. "

 

WATCHING TELEVISION IS HARD WORK: The New York Times reports Bush was

" unnerved " by Kerry's reference to his personal military service. " Mr.

Kerry repeatedly referred to his first-hand experience sending men

into battle in Vietnam, " leading the president to repeat that " he

understood that fighting was hard work and added, 'I see on the TV

screens how hard it is.' "

 

ETHICS

DeLay Violates House Rules

 

Quick…look over there! Last night, as all eyes turned to Miami for the

first presidential debate, the Republican-controlled House of

Representatives released the findings of a six-month investigation

into whether Majority Leader Tom DeLay broke House rules by trying to

buy a fellow congressman's vote. The 62-page report found he in fact

did offer to endorse the congressional bid of Rep. Nick Smith's son in

exchange for the lawmaker's vote on the Medicare prescription drug

bill. That's a direct violation of House rules, as " it is improper for

a member to offer or link support for the personal interests of

another member as part of quid pro quo to achieve a legislative goal. "

Here's hoping his slapped wrist recovers – beyond last night's rebuke,

DeLay's penalty for violating House ethics and trying to unduly

influence a colleague is…nothing at all. (If you think it's time to

bring the hammer down on DeLay, take a stand and tell the members of

the House Ethics Committee.)

 

 

Under the Radar

 

IRAQ – BUSH ADMINISTRATION SUPPRESSES FACTS, SPREADS 'GOOD NEWS': The

debate proved President Bush has no plan for dealing with the real war

in Iraq, but as usual his administration has got lots of plans for

fighting the propaganda battle here at home. The Washington Post

reports the Bush administration is " sending Iraqi Americans to deliver

what the Pentagon calls 'good news' about Iraq to U.S. military bases,

and has curtailed distribution of reports showing increasing violence

in that country. " The administration says it will specifically

restrict distribution of reports by contractor Kroll Security

International, showing that the number of daily attacks by insurgents

in Iraq has increased. After the Post ran a front page story on the

data earlier this week, a USAID official sent an e-mail to

congressional aides stating: " This is the last Kroll report to come

in. After the WPost story, they shut it down in order to regroup. I'll

let you know when it restarts. "

 

ENVIRO – EPA RULE CHANGE DISTORTS DATA, FAVORS POLLUTERS: " In a rebuke

of the Bush administration, " the Environmental Protection Agency's

inspector general said in two critical reports that the agency has

" exaggerated the nation's air quality and undermined court cases

against big electric utilities by devising a rule change that lets

them prolong the life of pollution-prone plants. " The revised rule,

made final last year, " has not been put in effect yet because of legal

challenges. But the report concludes that just by issuing the rule,

which scuttled the enforcement approach of the Clinton administration,

the agency has 'seriously hampered' its ability to settle cases and

pursue new ones. " In a report on smog, " Inspector General Nikki

Tinsley disputed recent comments by EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt

that the nation's air quality has steadily improved. " The rules change

has stalled legal actions against major polluters. Read more on the

Bush administration's rollback record.

 

HOMELAND SECURITY – IF THEY CAN'T GET THIS ONE RIGHT…: A new

government report finds efforts to protect U.S. borders by

consolidating terrorist watch lists are woefully behind. According to

the Wall Street Journal, " The inspector general of the Homeland

Security Department, in the sometimes scathing report, cites poor

cooperation among many agencies and says his own agency failed 'to

play a lead role' in oversight. " Instead of coordinating one muscular,

updated list, " dozens of agencies, from the Federal Aviation

Administration to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, continue to use

different lists that sometimes contain outdated or incorrect

information and even contradict each other. That can hamper the

sharing of vital data and identifying of suspects – and make it easier

for terrorists to slip through cracks in the system, officials say. "

Daniel B. Prieto, research director for the Homeland Security

Partnership Initiative at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard

University, charges this " has been the one project that is the most

straightforward; the most defined, the most politically accepted idea,

supported by every investigative commission since 9/11. If they can't

get this one right, then shame on them. "

 

HEALTH – STUDY URGES CAMPAIGN TO CONFRONT OBESITY: In a comprehensive

assessment of what the country should do to counter the explosion of

obesity among American youngsters, the National Academy of Sciences

called yesterday for " an unprecedented national campaign " to fight

childhood obesity. The panel issued more than a dozen recommendations,

including giving consumers " more and better nutritional information on

packaged foods and in restaurants, " and convening a national

conference to draft new guidelines aimed at curbing advertising and

marketing of junk food to children. Earlier this year, the Bush

administration signaled its opposition to such measures, " watering

down " new dietary guidelines recommended by the World Health

Organization and adopted by most European nations. Administration

officials claimed there was " no proof " fast food leads to obesity and

that " further discussion was needed before a final plan was approved. "

A Food and Drug Administration spokesperson reiterated the

administration's failed policy of asking the food industry to take

voluntary action.

 

MEDICARE – PFIZER EXECUTIVE INVESTIGATED AFTER ENDORSING IMPORTATION:

Apparently, telling the truth about drug importation is a risky move.

A drug company executive who endorsed a local plan to import drugs

from Canada " said yesterday that his company has launched an

investigation into his political activities. Peter Rost, vice

president of marketing for Pfizer Inc., said the company has hired a

New York law firm to find out what elected officials and media

organizations he has spoken with in the past month. " Rost was one of

the first drug industry executives to come out in support of

reimporting drugs from Canada, a practice the Bush administration

opposes, despite not being able to " name a single American who has

been injured or killed by drugs bought from licensed Canadian

pharmacies. " Pfizer's political action committee has contributed

$525,700 to Congressional Republicans in the 2004 election cycle.

 

MILITARY – ARMY LOWERS RECRUITMENT STANDARDS: Facing a steady decline

in recruitment and reenlistment rates, the Army has announced plans to

relax requirements facing new recruits for the first time in six

years. The new criteria will allow for increases in the number of

recruits without a high-school diploma and in those who received the

lowest acceptable scores on a service aptitude test. The shift in

standards comes " amid allegations by Iraq war veterans near the end of

their enlistments at Fort Carson, Colo., and other Army bases, that

they had been forced to choose between re-enlisting or being sent back

to Iraq with another unit, " and is one in a series of signs that the

U.S. military is becoming critically overstretched. Last week, the

Army National Guard said it would fall 5,000 soldiers short of

recruitment aims, failing to meet its goal for the first time since

1994. Additionally, " more than 35 percent of nearly 3,900 former

soldiers mobilized for yearlong assignments in a little-used wartime

program have resisted their call-up, seeking delays or exemptions. "