Dear Condomuntiy reader, I probably don’t have to explain that stealing condoms is illegal. On the other side, using condoms as football socks holders or as party lights is perfectly alright, we know that too.

But you might be a little bit surprised that placing a condom over a doorknob could get you in serious (legal) trouble. Isn’t that good to know? We warned you.

Alright, here’s what happened. The priest in charge of the Newman Catholic Center at the Montclair State University found an unused condom covering the doorknob of the center.

Thinking that this was “more than just a coincidence” after a series of on-campus discussions regarding abortion and gay rights in the recent past, the priest handed the matter over to the police. The Clifton department is now treating the incident as a bias crime.

Who would’ve thought?

Picture [via MyHeraldNews/Schillaci]

The condom has always been a highly political item. That hasn’t really changed much since the early 1990s and it looks like there are more than ever two radically opposed positions:

• Abstinence and opposing abortion rights are favored by McCain and the Conservative Party
• Contraception/Condom Use and support of abortion rights favored by Obama and the Democratic Party

Although to be fair here Palin thinks children should be taught about condoms..maybe someone should tell Madonna who was throwing condoms with Palin faces into the crowd at her last concert.  But as a matter of fact condoms ARE important. We’ll let ONE Condoms do the explaining (just in case you were wondering, none of the items are made up):

Condoms Are Needed

ONE Condoms has delivered 56,300 condoms (one for every person who will be infected with HIV this year in the US) to the campaign headquarters of Senators Barack Obama and John McCain back in August. In a letter the candidates were encouraged to donate the condoms to non-profit organizations, community centers or clinics in the United States.

Unfortunately, it appears that nothing has happened. The delivered 56,300 condoms to both Obama and McCain seem to have vanished. We have word that ONE representatives were told they would be making donations but they never received confirmation and phone calls and emails went unreturned.

Abstinence

This poster by Abstinence the Condom might be a bit ironic, but it shows the problem very well. One million teens in the U.S. will become pregnant over the next twelve months. Ninety-five percent of those pregnancies are unintended. About one third will end in abortion; one third will end in spontaneous miscarriage; one third will continue their pregnancy to term. Better sexual education is needed.

Palin Protection Condoms

Palin Protection: Taking Aim at Sexual Freedom condoms are an invention of the popular condom online store Condomania. They’re offering a remedy for all americans who are “worried about the implications on comprehensive sexual education, abstinence-only programs, abortion rights and gay rights”.

The Palin Condom

The Palin condom is the newest creation by Practice Safe Policy who also created the Obama and the McCain condom. This is the condom when abortion is not an option: “Approved by overly aggressive hockey moms running on moose testosterone, Palin Condoms offer the last line of defense between a bored 16-year old daughter and the toothless jock eager to ‘score the winning shot’”.

Obama Condoms

Obama Condoms is one of the two original creations by Practice Safe Policy. This is how they are advertised:

• These are uncertain times. The economy’s a ball-buster and the surge went flaccid… but now there’s Obama Condoms, for a change you can believe in
• They won’t leave a bitter taste in your mouth

McCain Condoms

The McCain Condoms on the other hand “give your ‘troops’ the protection they deserve, buy McCainCondoms today! This will turn out to be the ultimate collectors item or a perfect gift for grandpa!”

• McCainCondoms are battle tested, strong and durable, for those occasions when you just need to switch your position
• Trophy wife approved
• For the proud, liberal Republican – conservative Republican

Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood’s political arm, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund is fighting for keeping birth control affordable, for real sex education and for protecting abortion access among others. Guess whose side they’re on?

Picture credits .fenster.

Planned Parenthood compiled the list 10 things everyone should know about John McCain. These top ten things every voter should know were printed on the very popular condoms that were handed out at the Democratic National Convention. Let’s have a closer look:

• 1. John McCain opposes equal pay legislation, saying it wouldn’t do “anything to help the rights of women.”
• 2. John McCain opposes requiring health care plans to cover birth control.
• 3. John McCain opposes comprehensive, medically accurate sex education.
• 4. John McCain opposes funding to prevent unintended and teen pregnancies.
• 5. John McCain opposes funding for public education about emergency contraception.
• 6. John McCain opposes restoring family planning services for low-income women.
• 7. John McCain opposes Roe v. Wade and says it should be overturned.
• 8. John McCain wants to nominate Supreme Court justices who are “clones” of conservative Justices Alito and Roberts.
• 9. John McCain said he was “stumped” when asked whether contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV.
• 10. In his 25 years in Washington, DC, John McCain has voted anti-choice 125 times!

US Government Emblem

Picture credits DiscoWeasel

If these elections are just too much for you, then you might enjoy some humour today.

So I hope this little post will make it a little bit easier to head over and vote next month. Do these topics influence your choice at all?