From the Washington Post:
Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William), who is running for U.S. Senate, said he will seek to remove the name of “homosexual activist” Tracy Thorne-Begland from the list of 41 nominees for judgeships that the General Assembly will consider appointing Monday afternoon.
Thorne-Begland, Richmond prosecutor for the past 12 years, came out as a gay Naval officer on national TV 20 years ago to challenge the military’s now-abandoned “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. A former board member of the gay rights group Equality Virginia, he has since spoken out in favor of same-sex marriage. He and his partner, a Richmond lawyer, are raising twins.
Marshall called him “an aggressive activist for the pro-homosexual agenda.”
“After more than a week of pleading by some Republican Caucus members, the House Republican leadership has so far declined to [remove] Mr. Thorne-Begland’s name from the block of nominees,” Marshall in a written statement. “If this situation remains unchanged, I will offer an amendment to remove his name.”
Marshall’s statement followed one issued Friday by the Family Foundation of Virginia, which also contended that Thorne-Begland was unfit for the bench because he had spoken out against “don’t ask, don’t tell” and in favor of same-sex marriage. The latter is not legal in Virginia.
Does it surprise us that Sideshow Bob Marshall is leading the pack against this man? Does he ever think that he is being biased? Basically, I doubt if he cares. He has his own agenda. He would be the first person to howl if someone spoke this way against him because of his…oh…religion. He would be right. You cannot discriminate on the basis of religion. We need to add sexual orientation to that list of attibutes that excempt people from discrimination.
Marshall stated that Mr. Thorne-Begland had spoken out against DADT and in favor of same sex marriage and emphasiszed that the later is not leal in Virginia. Being a native Virginian, I am curious. How do we change laws unless we speak out against them?
Would I become unfit for office if I advocated for medical marijuana? How about lowering the drinking age to 20? How about drunk driving limit changed to 0.1 rather than 0.08? All those things are illegal at present.
As I see it, anyone can advocate for laws to be changed. To intimate that Americans asking for change are anything less than good Americans is…UnAmerican.
Good for the Republican state leadership for standing up for Mr. Thorne-Begland. Marshall is weak and cowardly, and is easily intimidated by the so-called Christian coalition.
Wait a minute….this guy was in the Navy AND Gay? That’s so wierd!
What is it with Del. Bob and his infatuation with gays?!! 🙄
@Lafayette
Fear of luv canals??????
I imagine he’s fearful of quite a few things….Glad you mentioned the good ole luv canals. I’ve not brought them out in a while. So, here we go..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6k4RrKNk7s
Just read a blurb that says the nomination was blocked. That’s unfortunate.
From InsideNova —
Thorne-Begland received 33 votes, and 31 delegates voted against him. He needed a majority of the 100-member House — 51 votes — to secure the judgeship.
Republicans cast the 31 votes against Thorne-Begland. Ten Republican delegates abstained and 26 delegates, including a handful of Democrats, did not vote. Eight Republicans voted for Thorne-Begland.
Those who voted against thorne-Begland are bigots. One’s sexual orientation really should not have any bearing on one’s qualifications to be a judge.
I suppose now we will have to hear all sorts of chest thumping over the defeat, as we watch some arms lengthen and knuckles begin to drag the ground. Go Neandethals, Go. Pound those chests! You beat back the fag take over! [sarcasm app on]
Thanks for the report Marin.
@Moon-howler
Out of curiousity – because the word bigots was used – does that include the non-votes?
No. I would call those folks “cowards” probably. Didn’t they want to get their lily white hands dirty?
This latest crew in Richmond has made me ashamed to be a Virginian and my people have been here since the 18th century.
Why would anyone abstain? Up or down vote.
I don’t see how people consider it appropriate to target gay Americans for derision. Why is this form of bigotry acceptable in our society?
Lest we forget, Marshall compared doctors who do stem cell research to the likes of Nazi monster Dr. Mengele.
He is an utter embarrassment to the state of VA.
Too bad he is my delegate. I don’t feel I am represented. I could never contact his office.
I doubt if he will be re-elected.
Because Moon, underneath it all, they are just a bunch of school yard bullies.
Maybe because 26 delegates decided it was acceptable?
More than 26 elected officials decided it was ok to keep black people from voting and their children out of decent schools. I don’t think quantity equals moral correctness.
@Moon-howler
You are not understanding me.
Because 26 people decided it was better to not even show up than to cast a recorded vote and by virtue of those people not voting a good man was defeated….
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
You just saw it unfold. You call out the people that voted against but then you give the ones that didn’t show up a pass. I personally consider those that didn’t show up as a NO vote.
No, actually I didn’t give them a pass. I sort of grouped them in with the rest of the swine in my own head. I don’t say everything I think. It took me years to learn not to do so.
Moon, he has higher ambitions….as the InsideNova article so expounds:
http://www2.insidenova.com/news/2012/may/13/bob-marshall-hopes-beliefs-will-propel-him-gop-sen-ar-1911729/
I don’t feel sorry for him. He has been a dirtbag for the past 20 years. I don’t care what his ambitions are. I don’t have a representative.
I agree with Rev. Joseph Lowery: “Jesus never mentioned the whole issue of gay and so forth.” Rev. Lowery talked about the version of the Bible where Jesus is quoted in red ink: “And if you can find in that red letter some reference of this and we’ll have another discussion, but right now Jesus didn’t bother with it and neither am I.” I suspect Jesus winces having the Virginia Taliban trying to pin its bigotry on upholding His honor.
We most definately do NOT have representative sitting where we are. No thanks to redistricting. Grr. I’m 475 ft from our old district. Of course, that has it’s own issues too. 🙄
Indeed it does. The “Prince” now drinks the tea.
The “Prince” won’t have that easy of a time merging in to the King’s parking place in the 29th either.
@SlowpokeRodriguez
Soooo…what are you saying, Slow? 😉