As most people already know, Senator Obama made this lovely statement in Pennsylvania:

“Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby. I don’t want them punished with an STD at age 16, so it doesn’t make sense to not give them information.”

First, let me begin by stating that I am not an absolutist on the abortion issue. I know that it is a painful and complicated decision and there are instances in which this horrible action must be considered.

Now, to the point of my post …

Like the fine senator, I do believe that words matter. I don’t understand how someone can casually use “punish” and “baby” in the same sentence. A punishment is what a teenager deserves if she breaks curfew or gets caught drinking (I already have a list of creative punishments saved up for when Catherine inevitably irritates me in high school). A created life is not “punishment” for having sex. The baby will not exit the womb waving a scolding finger at her teenage mother. When Obama used the words “baby” and “punish” together, it stung. And, I know I am not alone in feeling this way.

I do believe in teaching teenagers about sex and how to protect themselves. I am not of the camp that believes showing a young person a condom is the same as putting it on him and closing his bedroom door while his girlfriend visits. (I had a friend in high school whose mother would hand her condoms after school so that she could have sex with her boyfriend. She even waved at them when they departed to the bedroom and said, “Have fun!”. Why I was there watching soaps with her mother, I do not recall.) So, I agree with Senator Obama when he asserts that our high school students need to be given information.

However, once two people decide to engage in an adult activity, they need to take on the adult responsibility that might result from that lovely union in the back of his ‘94 Accord (or the hotel on prom night or the back of the physics classroom). And, no, I don’t think the adult decision is just to say, “Let’s get rid of it because we don’t deserve to be ‘punished’ for our irresponsible actions.” Of course, we are teaching young people these days that they shouldn’t be held accountable for any of their decisions (Fall asleep in class? Sue the teacher! Wreck your new car? Get your parents to buy you a new one!), so why should sex be any different?

I believe that Barack Obama’s view of unwanted pregnancies as “punishments” is disturbing. Come on, Obama! Just think of the children as more people to sweet talk into your government dependence programs. Get them while they are young and pliable and your condescending, arrogant speeches will seem as natural as mother’s milk.