Anyone dancing a victory dance over the 10th District opening up needs to take off the dance shoes momentarily and think about what they are cheering. While there was a lot I disagreed with Frank Wolf over, I still felt he was a good and decent human being who was not so tied to ideology that he was blind. Congressman Wolf was a Virginia gentleman.
There is a pack yipping and howling to take his place. Perhaps the most scary is State Senator Dick Black. Black likes to pass out plastic fetuses to his colleagues and he has never met an office he won’t run for. Perhaps his scariest trait is his opinion of spousal rape. According to weeklystandard.com:
Republican state senator Dick Black of Virginia is considering running for the House seat currently represented by retiring Republican Frank Wolf. Black announced on Facebook he was forming an exploratory committee.
When Black was a state delegate, he made a speech saying he “did not know how on earth you could validly get a conviction of a husband-wife rape…”
Todd Akin impersonator! Take your “legitimate rape” and go back to Missouri where you belong. That kind of thinking is not part of Virginia’s standards! Is Dick Black for real? Do people really think this way? What does he think Lorena Bobbitt committed that unmentionable deed over?
Women and non-cavemen in Virginia need to send a strong message to Dick Black that he really isn’t fit for public office and he certainly isn’t fit to be our U. S. Congressman. He should not attempt to step into Congressman Frank Wolf’s shoes.
Ha, did those “colleagues” tremble with fear and fall into a dead faint when presented with a little plastic fetus? Imagine if they were obliged to go to an abortion clinic and observe the real thing. Might have to have the EMT’s standing by.
I doubt it very seriously. You obviously aren’t speaking of a first trimester abortion.
Don’t you think passing out little plastic ‘fetuses’ to your legislative colleagues is rather juvenile? How about tacky?
Do you agree with him that there is really no such thing as spousal rape?
I expect many men would need the EMTs if they witnessed their wife or girlfriend giving birth.
I hope Black is the republican candidate for this seat in the same manner those successful far right republican candidates were last November. How’d that work out, haha!
This is going to be so entertaining.
What’s the point here? Dick Black is about as pro-life as you can get. I don’t think Moon-howler would vote for him even if the plastic fetus bit and the martial rape comment never existed. Funny how some bloggers in this area roast the Repubs on a regular basis and then try to tell them who they should and should not nominate and who among them is or is not fit for public office.
Oops, “marital rape.”
@Wolverine
If you mean me, just say so.
I guess its fine if you want to keep losing elections. Whatever is working out for you.
However, if Republicans keep nominating from the conventions, you will keep getting far right candidates who just aren’t going to win in a general election. Do you think that perhaps the rest of us might have a say in all of it?
You need independents and moderates to win.
You are right. I wouldn’t vote for Dick Black. If the plastic fetuses and maritial rape comments weren’t present then I might not find him so objectionable. He carves out his own little niche with just those two things. It’s difficult to get past them.
Moon, once again, I am not part of either party. I do not vote in primaries or go to firehouse primaries or mass meetings or whatever. Yes, I am a self-styled “conservative;” and my votes in the general elections usually follow that path, although I have been known to leave some blanks if I really dislike or disagree with both candidates. As such a non-participant, I do not feel it is any of my business to critique the way either of the parties conduct their internal affairs or choose their own candidates for the general. But, let the general come and I make a choice, no holds barred. However, that is only in later years, since I was under some pretty strict political prohibitions for most of my working life. I just find it bizarre that non-party members around this place keep trying so often to tell the parties what they should or should not do.
Spending all of my adult life in Virginia, I find it strange to not be involved at the primary process, whether its Republican or Democratic. I sort of grew up thinking it was unAmerican to not vote if the polls were open. I like that Virginia doesn’t require voters to register by party. Regardless of party, I think the rank and file person has a vested interest in who runs. I guess I see it from an Independent’s eyes most of the time.
I think the republicans just shoot themselves in the foot when they let small sub-groups within the large party control who runs. A convention is hardly a good test of what’s going to run well in a general election. I would say the same thing to Democrats if they were doing that.
What better test than to see who runs well in a primary. A convention run off really doesn’t tell you much at all, especially with all the restrictions on who can vote and who can’t.
“Spousal rape”? I have no idea. I’m not an attorney, and I cannot recall ever having any kind of nexus, direct or remote, with a case defined as spousal rape. Could be I am as perplexed about it as a lot of men, including Black. Has spousal rape within the broader context of marital sex obligations ever been firmly delineated in the criminal code or in a court of law? Sounds to me like there could certainly be bad cases of such a thing involving domestic battery. On the other hand, it also sounds like something to which someone could easily resort falsely in a bitter domestic dispute or divorce case. So, provide me with whatever standard legal description of spousal rape we are supposed to use. Or is it like pornography to some people? I can’t define it, but I’ll know it when I see it?
Rape is rape. Why should it be different just because you are married to someone? No means no. NO definitions need to change. I think what has happened in the past is that the legal system has said it can’t be rape, he is married to the bitch implying that once married, a person, usually the woman but lets not limit ourselves, is fair game to whatever sexual demands the spouse makes. Virginia law and I hope federal law has changed all that. Marriage does not negate one’s sense of self nor does it make one chattle.
Dick Black’s remarks about the same bed and the little “nightie” make me want to Bobbitt him just on general principles.
“marital sex obligations” WTF Wolverine?! Are you serious?
Does this mean that domestic violence doesn’t exist either? In fact, the most infamous case of spousal rape centered around Lorena Bobbit as I recall.
§ 18.2-61. Rape.
A. If any person has sexual intercourse with a complaining witness, whether or not his or her spouse, or causes a complaining witness, whether or not his or her spouse, to engage in sexual intercourse with any other person and such act is accomplished (i) against the complaining witness’s will, by force, threat or intimidation of or against the complaining witness or another person; or (ii) through the use of the complaining witness’s mental incapacity or physical helplessness; or (iii) with a child under age 13 as the victim, he or she shall be guilty of rape.
link wolverine
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-61
I hope he runs for Wolf’s seat, another electoral beat down of a cave man mentality republican is always a good show for the rest of us.
Cave man mentality?!! Oh heavens, Elena, you are so retro these days. Why, all of the conservative Repubs in NoVa have formed an organization known as the Spousal Rape and Golf Club. You come to the marital bed wearing a Fredericks of Hollywood or Victoria’s Secret nightie and you don’t have a prayer, even if you yell “No!” at the top of your lungs We even have our own motto, which we sort of adopted from Brother Bill out of Little Rock: “If it hurts, put some ice on it!”
Geez…………
Rape is rape. Unconsented to sexual intercourse. The term “spousal” is redundant and irrelevant. There are almost always evidentiary issues in these cases, particularly when the rape is alleged to have been perpetrated against a spouse. But there is no question as to what rape is.
Well, I heard that this “caveman” type named Black actually piloted over 260 helo combat missions in Vietnam, including four in which his craft was hit by groundfire. He was also wounded in USMC ground combat at the An Hoi River and was, at some point, the only member of the Va General Assembly to hold the Purple Heart. Lost a close friend and fellow pilot KIA as well. After that he went on to long career as a military lawyer. But, if the warriors of Moonhowlerland believe that a couple of plastic fetuses and a comment about spousal rape merit sending a pro-life guy to Coventry forever under a cloud of disgrace, carry on.
Dick Black can be a war hero all he wants. I don’t think that qualifies him for elected office. I absolutely think that his remarks about spousal rape disqualify him for office. The plastic fetuses are just silly and immature.
I don’t know why people think that a distinguished (If you say so) military record immediately qualifies a person for elected office.
I respect the hell out of John McCain’s military record. I defended him many times on blogs when he was running for president. However, I don’t think that qualifies him for office.
Admit it, Moon. You scarcely knew anything about Dick Black’s background until I gave it to you. You just started off with a political dismissal based on two things that happened over a decade ago. And that video you presented was nothing but an attack ad put out by Black’s Democratic Senate opponent during the last election — an opponent who was beaten by Black. On this you declare that another American is “unfit for political office”? To quote Elena: “WTF!”
I had never heard of Black’s heroics during Vietnam. You are right. I also don’t believe those heroics have anything to do with his electability.
I actually don’t care if Dick Black said those things yesterday or 10 years ago. Unless he retracts them, I think he is still responsible for those words and thoughts.
Yes, I think men who dismiss spousal rape are unfit for office. Handing out plastic fetuses is extremely silly. Dismissing spousal rape speaks to an attitude about women that I wont even discuss. Shame on Dick Black. The video should be brought to the public’s attention. To think otherwise reduces women to chattle and to the attitude that a wife is a man’s sexual property.
Well, there is Vietnam; and then there is the bulk of his private life in legal harness as a military attorney. Check his autobiography and you will see that he was at one time the chief US Army JAG at Fort Lewis, Washington, managing a large office. During that period, he apparently played a key role in the negotiation of a new agreement between the Feds, the state, private interests, and the Yakima Nation. The result was the return of thousands of acres to the Yakima Nation reservation and a stronger guarantee of the tribe’s hunting and fishing rights on their own lands.
The Yakima Nation has recently told the State of Washington in no uncertain terms that they will not allow the legalized marijuana industry to penetrate the reservation, which is apparently prime potential growing territory. They have explained that the tribe has been hurt for many years by alcohol and drugs, which have affected almost every family, including that of the council leader himself. They have fought back. The reservation is now officially “dry.” They do not want more problems with legalized pot. They have told Washington that, if the pot industry tries to come onto the res, the Yakimas will “come for them” — meaning especially that they will demand that the USG enforce federal drug laws on their land.
As someone who now sends a lot of personal funds to help Indian kids escape the ills of the res through education, I am damned happy to see that the Yakimas feel empowered to fight back to protect their own lands and tribal interests. And I like to think that maybe Dick Black’s involvement in those negotiations years ago had a little something to do with that spirit of empowerment.
A man is the sum of all the parts of his life. Don’t hang him for one of two past things with which you disagree. You do not know whether his mindset is or has ever been as you describe it in your last sentence.
I know what he has represented as a legislator in Virginia. I don’t like it.
As for spousal rape, I am rather speechless that he doesn’t get it. I most certainly will find his stance unacceptable. Why did he have to comment? He obviously doesn’t understand the entire concept.
The Yakima Indians have every right to forbid pot on their lands. I expect there is a lot there already. They are free to enforce as they see fit.
If you want to think that Dick Black empowered the Yakimas, have at it. I am betting you would be hard pressed to find anyone on the rez who ha sever heard of him.
I think you have a little hero worship going on there. I probably just read the same “biography” you did. That biography was assembled by Black or his people. Those tend to speak favorably of the subject.
Too bad he left off how he feels about spousal rape. However, I saw enough in there that I wouldn’t vote for him. He has been in and out of VA politics for about 15 years. I think what he has done in Virginia affects me more than what he did on an Indian reservation. Furthermore, he had bosses. Surely you don’t think he acted out of the goodness of his own heart.
Make that the “Yakama Nation.” I keep getting the name of the tribe and the name of the county and town (Yakima) mixed up.
No hero worship, Moon. I’ ve never been a Dick Black constituent or ever met the man. I just know that the libs and the so-called RINO’s in Loudoun have denigrated this man for a long time in some most disgusting ways. To me this is simply a matter of civility owed to someone who has worked most of his life in public service and who risked his life many times as one of the first two USMC helo pilots to volunteer for combat duty in Vietnam. (The other pilot was his good friend who was KIA. They volunteered together when the MC Commandant called.) Yet he is castigated over political differences and cited as someone who is “not fit for public office.” Who the Hell are any of us to make that kind of statement about this guy because we disagree with some of his viewpoints or perceived viewpoints? And who are we to second guess whether someone we do not even know acted out of the goodness of his own heart? For me this is representative of the politics of personal destruction which seem to have taken over our political mentality on all sides and, in my opinion, made the flavor of American life increasingly bitter. I even find myself falling into that ugly trap, and that makes me even angrier.
Peace.
I apparently have stronger feelings about spousal rape than you do, Wolverine. I thought what he said was unconscionable. Plenty of people are good people who simply vote for what I consider very pad policy.
Would you be so generous with our president?
Well, now, the Black camp is striking out against the “spousal rape” accusations based on that old and misleading Democrat attack ad posted here, which has been taken up suddenly by the anti-Black side, as well as somebody in the Weekly Standard (of all places), as some kind of political sword. Black’s personal aide has now responded that Dick is very much against spousal rape and, in fact, prosecuted such a case in the military when he was a JAG. Apparently, Black was the only member of the House of Delegates at that time who had ever been involved in that type of case; and his remarks in that video were an expression of concern that the proposed bill as it then stood needed to be amended to make prosecutions less complicated and false rape accusations more difficult (or whatever legal types say about these things). According to the Black camp, the bill was modified, and Black voted for the final version and against spousal rape. That is what their camp is saying in public, and it ought to be easy enough for the media to factcheck.
I just finished saying that Dick Black, in particular, has long been the target of scurrilous personal attacks by his opponents. Looks to me like a lot of people were emotionally roped by somebody into starting a new march to the Oxbow based on an old attack ad from several years back. Exactly what I said about the contemporary flavor in America. Very sad.
Its very hard to twist someone’s words when the words you are hearing are coming out of that person’s mouth.
You are also ignoring a litany of rhetoric against reproductive rights to include pregnancy prevention programs. To me, someone who thinks he or she can make deeply personal decisions shouldn’t be elected to office. That’s just how I vote.
Now if Black recants what he said, then I will consider that. However, I won’t vote for him because of about 500 other bills he has voted for.
Black says he never voted to increase taxes. BS. He voted to make online purchases from Amazon.com subject to taxes. Sorry, but that raised my taxes.
Black wants to end gang violence. I saw no plan to fund the various gang task forces throughout the state. These initiatives don’t survive on air.
Black’s core family values are all about abortion. There is no mention of pregnancy prevention or initiatives to ensure child support is paid to custodial parents. How about funding some power into this kind of enforcement?
There are people right here on this blog who are owed 18 years in back child support. At what point do you just give up?
Dick Black has a very narrow legislative agenda. He relies far too much on his service in Vietnam which has nothing to do with today’s issues. I might respect his service but he can’t ride that one out to elected office. A 50 year old war record is hardly a good reason to vote for someone today.
I found his issues to be irrelevant and half baked. I know of know scurrilous personal attacks on Black that don’t take place with every political opponent. Look at what your guy La Rock did to Joe May….that was just shameful.
That’s what I said at the beginning here — that you would not be likely to vote for Black because of his stances on pro-life and other issues with which the two of you are not in agreement. That’s perfectly fine. It’s politics as they should be. But what does frost me is that misleading video and the resurrection of accusations against someone based on the falsehoods of a nasty attack ad. The guy prosecuted spousal rape as a JAG. The guy knows how those kind of cases play out. The guy voted for the spousal rape law. Yet the other side tries to make false hay out of a sentence or two which are not in context. It’s not the first time. Loudoun politics are turning in some cases into very nasty exercises — on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Here you go…if Dick Black’s words were used against him,then he can take this opportunity to set the record straight about how he really feels. Surely that is fair.
On the other hand, let’s say he is innocent as new-born snow and for some odd reason, his words coming out of his mouth are not his, then do you think this will really change anything? Let’s say he proved he didn’t say those things I heard coming out of his mouth. Would that change who would vote for him and who would not?
Sounds simple enough, Moon. Refutation of the charges will make everything rosy again. Maybe. Maybe not. Seems to me that it depends on the civility and fairness of the other side. I think this is the second round for Black on the spousal rape issue. He dened it then, and now has to deny it again. Reminds me of that fellow up in Jersey or New York some time ago who was accused of some sort of illicit act with a great deal of negative media attention and then was completely exonerated in a courtroom. Afterwards his cry was: “Now tell me how I get my reputation back?!!”
I just had this kind of debate with a well-known Black opponent in Loudoun. He claimed that the spousal rape claim against Black is “well documented” and then recommended that I take a look at the same video you and others have posted recently. I mean, really…………
What really puzzles me is why you are defending him. In a search to see if he had retracted his stupid remarks about maritial rape, I discovered something I consider even worse–his war on gays being able to adopt children. What I found particularly appalling were stats he rattled off about gay parents molesting their children. No. Those statistics were a flat-out lie.
http://www.loudounprogress.org/tag/marital-rape/
Black’s wife worked for Phyllis Schlaffly’s concerned women for America. Read her words on maritial rape. It continues the caveman myth.
Your debate person is correct. It is well documented. He said what he said. Is his mouth moving for someone else?
No. refutation wouldn’t make things rosy. It would be a starting point to make him sound like less of a male chauvinist pig.
This dude is a cultural extremist who really doesn’t fit into the modern world in much of his thinking. My own father wasn’t even this backwards.
Finally, I am old enough to make my own morally appropriate choices without the help of Dick Black. Some of us don’t need men to help us with these issues.