Abstinence of Malice

Congratulations, Rick Perry, your state had the nation's highest birth rate among teenagers ages 15 to 19 in 2004, according to a newly released study of children's health.

The Kids Count study, which is updated annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore, said the Texas rate of 63 births per 1,000 teens remained the same from 2003 to 2004. "It's a touchy subject," Robert Sanborn, president of Children at Risk, told the AP. "We can preach abstinence quite a bit, and there is nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't affect some kids, and apparently it's really not working in Texas."

Good job, Rick. Texas may not be No. 1 in any education or healthcare access categories, but at least we're No. 1 in this. You've made us proud.