Abstinence approach gets an unlikely ally

"I've made clear to my colleagues that I don't believe abstinence-only is an effective approach, or that it makes sense to increase funding," said Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), one of the most prominent critics of the programs. "I haven't been able to prevail on the issue of appropriations but plan to continue to fight for better programs for youth."

In 2004, Waxman issued a report cataloging inaccuracies in the curricula of abstinence-only programs.

Reflecting the sensitivity of the intraparty feud, Obey's office declined a request for an interview.

Some foes of abstinence-only education are feeling abandoned.

"The Democrats, and most notably Henry Waxman, used the abstinence-only issue as the cornerstone of the claim that the Bush administration was putting ideology and politics ahead of science," said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a nonprofit policy organization on sexual health. "Now they suddenly have gone mute and silent when their own people are in power. There is an element of political hypocrisy here."

Wagoner supports what is known as comprehensive sex education, which includes instruction both on abstinence and condoms, and is the leading alternative to abstinence-only programs.

Supporters of abstinence-only education are relishing the squabble.

"My sense is that moderate Democrats in particular do not want to be saddled with killing abstinence education," said Robert Rector, a senior policy analyst with the conservative Heritage Foundation.

"Certainly, for the freshman Democrats, that would be a very difficult vote. People do not want the Democratic Party, after it has taken over Congress, to be out in front saying, 'We are jettisoning abstinence education and going back to condoms for all kids.' "

Rector is one of the original advocates of federal funding for abstinence-only education.

At issue is a small slice of federal spending, about $200 million in a $2.9-trillion budget.

But it has oversize political implications.

As defined in law, abstinence-only education has as its "exclusive purpose" to teach the "social, psychological and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity." It teaches that sex outside of marriage is "likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects."

Many people who support abstinence-only programs say that education in the use of condoms and other contraceptives undermines the abstinence message.