McCain balks at Viagra talk
Posted: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 6:06 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- McCain is known for bus rides where he will happily chat about anything. But one question posed Wednesday afternoon on the Straight Talk Express made McCain clearly uncomfortable.
Maeve Reston of the Los Angeles Times, the pool reporter on the bus, asked McCain about comments advisor Carly Fiorina made earlier this week, calling it unfair that insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control.
"I certainly do not want to discuss that issue," McCain said to nervous laughter, according to the pool report. He went on to say he did not know what he voted for on the issue.
"I'll look at my voting record on it," he said, before an extended pause. "I don't recall the vote right now. But I'll be glad to look at it and get back to you as to why."
Pressed by Reston whether it was fair that some insurance companies cover the erectile dysfunction medication but not birth control, he gave another long pause, clocked at eight seconds.
"I don't know enough about it to give you an informed answer,” he said, “because I don't recall the vote. I've cast thousands of votes in the Senate."
Reston went on to describe it as a "delicate issue," to more laughter -- this time described in the pool report as "relieved laughter."
"It's something that I had not thought much about,” McCain said, “and I did hear about her response, but I hadn't thought much. But I will get, I will get back to you today on it.
"I don't usually duck an issue, but I'm, I'll try to get back to you," he said.
