Foster Friess, one of the principal benefactors of a pro-Santorum Super PAC made a candid comment on contraceptive use to NBC’s Andrea Mitchell that is drawing reactions ranging from “vulgar” to “imbecile.”
So, what did he say in his good taste that is enraging readers?
His comment on contraception made to Andrea reads as follows:
“This contraceptive thing, my gosh, it’s so inexpensive. Back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn’t that costly.”
Since aspirin is not a known local contraceptive, the clear suggestion was that women should hold an aspirin between their knees so as not to open them: the most inexpensive way to contraception according to this leading Santorum backer.
The unfiltered disregard and contempt to women expressed in the comment hasn’t gone down well with sensitive and sensible people.
It clearly supports the view held by Rick Santorum as expressed by activist Dan Savage in his blog SpreadingSantorum.com.
Savage says that in an interview he did of Santorum in 2003, when Santorum was still a senator from Pennsylvania, “He argued that birth control should be illegal and that states should have their right to arrest, prosecute and imprison people for the private consensual sexual conduct.”
Friess’s recent comment shows that the Santorum Camp has not changed in their attitude towards rights of adults, birth-control and contraception over the last decade.
The overwhelming attitude of contempt for women in general and sexual acts in particular are quite unnerving coming from an aspiring Presidential candidate’s camp.
Friess did not make any comment as to how women are expected to walk or do other activities while holding an aspirin between their legs – clearly he was unable to connect women with other functions of life, except the obvious one of ensuring survival of the human race, and bringing into existence people like Friess.