Finally, someone got it right!

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) is receiving heat over his decision to refuse $275,000 in federal funding for abstinence only sex education. Kaine believes that state funded programs should be more comprehensive - Amen! Kaine (D) submitted plans last month to close a budget shortfall in part by eliminating a $275,000 matching grant for a federal program that provided funds for 14 nonprofit groups that taught abstinence only. Virginia will be the 14th state to refuse such funding.

The Bush administration has restricted federally funded sex education courses to teach abstinence only programs. Therefore, Kaine's decision will only affect those programs receiving federal funds. Other programs are free to teach whichever curriculum they chose.

“He is a Catholic, and I am a Catholic, and I know our church teaches abstinence,” said Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell. “I am puzzled by his decision.”

What does one have to do with the other? Where is the separation of Attorney General McDonnell's religious beliefs and his obligation to serve the best interests of the citizens of Virginia as the state's chief attorney? I applaud Kaine. I applaud his ability to govern a state whose citizens come from many different religious backgrounds. I applaud his ability to do so while keeping the betterment of those citizens at the forefront of his mind and his policies.

I've heard the right-wing arguments for abstinence only education. They usually drum along the lines of, "teaching contraceptions will give kids the impression its OK to have sex". First off, a kid is going to have sex or their not - period. Informing them of the risks of sexually transmitted diseases won't scare them away from sex nor will informing them of ways to protect against those diseases make them more likely to have sex. The Centers for Disease Control reports that nearly half of the nation's new cases of STD's each year occur among adolescents and young adults. The same study found that teens who took pledges of virginity as part of abstinence-only sex ed classes ultimately had STD rates similar to other young people and were less likely to use contraception or other forms of protection when they did become sexually active.

In an AP poll, 49 percent said providing teens with birth control would not encourage sexual intercourse and a virtually identical 46 percent said it would. Sixty-seven percent support giving contraceptives to students. Sixty-two percent said they believe providing birth control reduces the number of teenage pregnancies.

According to a study published recently in the Review of General Psychology, 70 percent of U.S. teens have engaged in oral sex by the time they reach 18, and more than 45 percent have had intercourse at least once. More than 70 percent of young women and 80 percent of young men approve of premarital sex.

I'm hard pressed to understand how a parent would want their child going through this world without the knowledge to protect themselves from deadly diseases. Any parent who believes they can stop their child from having sex is fooling themselves. Yes, some people wait until marriage but some don't. Parents have less and less to do with that decision now than they ever did. So why not arm your child with the tools necessary to make informed choices no matter what their choice may be? Yes, stress the maturity needed for sex and the benefits of waiting, but don't expect it. Don't sacrifice your child for your ideals - arm your child with knowledge instead.

And here is something really scary, what is being taught in federally funded abstienence only classes. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) had his staff review the most commonly used cirruculm and you won't believe the results:

Among the misconceptions cited by Waxman's investigators:

• A 43-day-old fetus is a "thinking person."

• HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be spread via sweat and tears.

One curriculum, called "Me, My World, My Future," teaches that women who have an abortion "are more prone to suicide" and that as many as 10 percent of them become sterile. This contradicts the 2001 edition of a standard obstetrics textbook that says fertility is not affected by elective abortion.

Some course materials cited in Waxman's report present as scientific fact notions about a man's need for "admiration" and "sexual fulfillment" compared with a woman's need for "financial support." One book in the "Choosing Best" series tells the story of a knight who married a village maiden instead of the princess because the princess offered so many tips on slaying the local dragon. "Moral of the story," notes the popular text: "Occasional suggestions and assistance may be alright, but too much of it will lessen a man's confidence or even turn him away from his princess."

This is what is being taught to the future leaders of this country?

As for Gov. Kaine, he's fighting an uphill battle. Virginia is historically Republican and the "good 'ol boys" haven't missed a beat:

Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax) said he will try to get the General Assembly to reverse Kaine's decision when it convenes in January.