McCain Adviser Attempts to Clarify Viagra vs. Birth Control Comments
Carly Fiorina Argues She Didn't Mean to Suggest a McCain Reversal on Birth Control or Abortion
Fiorina: 'McCain Won't Get Their Vote'
Asked where she stands on abortion, Fiorina said, "I personally happen to be pro-life. John McCain has a very long pro-life record, and he won't walk away from that record."
Fiorina, who was listed as one of the nation's 30 most powerful women in business by Forbes magazine before she was ousted as chief of HP in 2005, said she believes women who view abortion rights as their single-most important issue won't vote for McCain.
"For those women who are a single-issue voters on the subject of abortion, John McCain won't get their vote, and I accept that," Fiorina said.
When asked about Fiorina's initial comments on Viagra and birth control, McCain said Wednesday, "I certainly do not want to discuss that issue."
Appearing speechless, McCain paused for eight seconds before answering, "I don't know enough about it to give you an informed answer because I don't recall the vote, I've cast thousands of votes in the Senate, but I will respond to you," he said. "It's a choice -- I hadn't thought much about it but I did hear her [Fiorina's] response, but I hadn't thought much about it."
The McCain campaign told ABC News today that Fiorina's comments did not indicate a reversal of the Arizona senator's opposition to mandates on health insurance companies.
The McCain campaign said that as a proponent of free-market principles, McCain opposes any legislation mandating health insurance coverage.
"He doesn't support mandates, including any for Viagra," a McCain campaign aide told ABC News.
McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said Fiorina was trying to explain that under McCain's proposed health insurance plan, he believes there will be more choice in the types of plans women could choose.
"An example is the choice for women to dump a policy that only covers Viagra for a policy that covers their real needs," Rogers said.
Seeing an opportunity to highlight what it calls McCain's "anti-choice, anti-abortion" record, Naral Pro-Choice America has posted on its blog a YouTube video of McCain's eight-second pause after being asked about Fiorina's comments.
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