Today, I was a guest on Up Close with Diana Williams on WABC TV Channel 7. Diana is an incredibly gracious host — intelligent, warm, and interesting. Below is a screen shot. We discussed sexting, as it relates to Anthony Weiner, as well as how it affects relationships in general. We also talked about teen sexting, and touched on what parents can do to prevent it. I’m glad that at least the Weiner story can used be a “teachable moment.”
On WABC-TV Channel 7 Eyewitness News First at Four hosted by Liz Cho and David Novarro, talking about Anthony Weiner and if sexting is cheating.
Here I am with Dylan Ratigan on his MSNBC show, where I talked about Schwarzenegger and why powerful men cheat. (The first time I talked about this topic on MSNBC was 13 years ago, regarding Clinton-Lewinsky.)
Neil Cavuto and I discussed research studies which are funded by the stimulus package, and we unintentionally wore matching outfits. For more on the topic (stimulus funding, not our outfits) please read my blog post from yesterday.
I will be appearing on Neil Cavuto’s Your World on The Fox News Channel today to discuss whether it is appropriate for our government to fund this research.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) released a list of over 6,000 studies it will be supporting with funds from the stimulus package, also known as the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). While the vast majority of the research is related to neuroscience, genetics, or diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis, there are a handful of funded scientific studies that involve sexuality.
This set off alarms for some, including the New York Post where yesterday an article declared, “The next fiscal year is set to be one of the friskiest ever in the nation’s science labs, as researchers probe the ins and outs of sex patterns among humans.” In Central New York’s Post-Standard, Tory Mazzola, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, was quoted as saying that funding research is an inappropriate use of the stimulus funds: “Because stimulus was sold as a new investment in infrastructure. It was sold as job creating. It was sold as a new way forward for America.”
On the surface it may seem shocking to some people if our tax dollars are paying for “sex” research. Others believe that we should not discount scientific freedom, intellectual curiosity, and the fact that sexuality is a vitally important aspect of being human. Yet when we look further we see that this research is not sexy at all. All of the NIH approved studies include a statement of the public health implications, and all of these statements are available to the public on the NIH website. Most involve work about HIV/AIDS.
Today is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, which is a day to raise awareness about this problem and what we can do to try to prevent it. Unfortunately, Bristol Palin, 18, has been appearing as a “teen ambassador” on TV and for events on this day. While in an interview on the Fox News Channel several months ago, Bristol said very clearly that teen abstinence is “not realistic at all,” now she has recanted that statement. This morning she said on Good Morning America that abstinence is the only effective way to prevent pregnancy, and that she is “promoting abstinence.” She refuses to say publicly that she and other teens must use birth control to prevent pregnancy! In a post I wrote here in February, I said that I certainly hope that Bristol does not try to speak to teens about pregnancy prevention until she learns how to discuss the use of birth control and condoms. It has been clear for months that she refuses to educate teens in a constructive way, so why was she invited by pregnancy prevention groups to be a spokesperson for this day?! On this National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, my message is to Bristol: Please use birth control effectively, and teach others about it, too. And please stop telling teens that abstinence is the only way, because that is exactly what led to your unplanned pregnancy.
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