We've all made up insulting nicknames for childhood schools and teachers, but few of us have expressed them as publicly as gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner.
In his book about Mount Pleasant High School, he nicknames the institution at which he volunteered for years as "Mount Pregnant," referring to the districts rate of teen pregnancy. An excerpt from the book is available on Poizner's site.
"He's making fun of Mount Pleasant and how there's a lot of pregnant people," one student told the Fresno Bee. "I wouldn't vote for him."
Poizner, who recently expressed his desire to limit minors' access to abortion, is not alone in using the nickname. A quick search of Twitter shows a young man writing, "Im going to Mount Pregnant but hopefully I transfer to hope," though it's not clear if he's referring to the California high school or to one of the numerous other institutions with the same name. Could "Mount Pregnant" be a new meme?
Bay Area residents have an opportunity to press Poizner at a Menlo Park book signing on April 2. Between his opposition to teen access to abortion and attitude regarding teen pregnancy, youthful sexual activity is certain to be a topic at the forefront of his attention.
