Aspirin as birth control comment by Santorum funder raises eyebrows

February 16, 2012|By Chris Durden | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(WASHINGTON) — He supports Republican Rick Santorum for president. He's a top donor to a Santorum super-PAC, called the Red, White, and Blue Fund. However, it's a comment by billionaire Foster Friess that raised eyebrows Thursday.

"On this contraceptive thing, my gosh, it’s so inexpensive. You know, back in my days, they used Baer Aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn’t that costly," Freiss said during an appearance on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports.

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Mitchell appeared to be taken aback by the comments. "Excuse me, I'm just trying to catch my breath from that, Mr. Friess, frankly," she said, after a pause.

Experts say aspirin is not an effective means of birth control. Click here to read more.

In another interview later in the day, Friess said he was joking. However, many people aren't laughing. National Organization for Women President Terry O'Neill called on Friess to "immediately apologize." Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards called the words "insulting and irresponsible."

For his part, Santorum said Thursday night that Friess was joking and that he's not responsible for every "bad joke" a supporter makes.

Friess is a retired mutual fund executive from Wyoming. He is one of Santorum’s most generous backers. The $330,000 he gave last year to the Santorum super-PAC accounted for half of the super PAC’s total proceeds. Friess has said he contributed at least $250,000 more in the last month.

In the past, Santorum has said he is "not a believer in birth control" and believes it is "harmful" to both women and society. In 2006, he told ABC News that states should have the right to outlaw contraception.

In October, Santorum discussed the "dangers" of contraception with an evangelical blog. "Many in the Christian faith have said, 'Well, that's okay. Contraception's okay," he said. "It's not okay because it's a license to do things in the sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be."

During a recent appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, Santorum said the following.

"Well, I — what I’ve talked about it with respect is my Catholic faith, which, you know, I, I agree with the Catholic Church on the issue of contraception. But as you know, I mean, I — that’s, that’s a different position than I have with respect to public policy. You know, public policy, women should have access to contraception. I have no problem with that at all."

In a Tweet following the interview, Mitchell continued to express her disbelief over Friess' comment.

"Im still trying to get my head around this," she wrote on Twitter. "Tweeps what should I have said?"

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