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November/December Newletter |
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The November/December Newsletter is now online.
Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia
November/December 2009 Newsletter
Bob McDonnell/Bill Bolling Win in a Landslide; Gov.-Elect Charts Socially Moderate Agenda
Despite a rough patch for his campaign around Labor Day that zeroed in on his decidedly anti-gay, anti-choice (among other things) college thesis, Bob McDonnell won the gubernatorial race in a landslide, along with Bill Bolling as Lt. Governor. During the campaign, Mr. McDonnell took every opportunity since the controversy over the thesis to emphasis that his views on these issues have changed substantially, stating at one point that he now believes that “government should not punish or discriminate based on anyone’s sexual orientation.” Much of his voting record in the House, of course, is at odds with this admirable statement, so Mr. McDonnell is clearly a work in progress on gay issues, but we applaud him on his victory and hope to work with him to expand equality of rights for gay and lesbian Virginians, particularly on the issue of employment nondiscrimination for state employees.
His victory, which was clearly the result of a massive shift of independents back to the Republicans after voting mostly Democratic in the past two statewide elections, stems in part from his repeated efforts to position himself as a social moderate on these issues, despite his personal views. It is yet more proof that the Republican Party wins when it is viewed not as the handmaiden of far right social conservatives but as a center-right party focused primarily on bread-and-butter issues.
In light of Mr. McDonnell’s pro-fairness statements during the campaign, including his explicit support for employment nondiscrimination for state employees, we urge Mr. McDonnell to spell out exactly how he will implement the policy he says he supports. Log Cabin Republicans stand ready to work with him in implementing such a policy and working with him on other issues of interest to gay and lesbian Virginians.
Although Log Cabin did not formally endorse Mr. McDonnell, a number of gay Republican activists saw enough change in his stated positions on gay issues that they felt the need to speak out. What follows is the text of an Open Letter to the GLBT Community that was published in the Washington Blade a few weeks before the election. It also received coverage in the Washington Post and other media outlets.
An Open Letter to the GLBT Community about Republican Candidate for Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell
On November 3, Virginians will choose their next governor. While no GLBT person could reasonably see Bob McDonnell, the Republican candidate for Governor, as a pro-GLBT candidate, we believe that it is important for members of the GLBT community to understand that this campaign and this candidate are fundamentally different from other Republican campaigns and candidates for Governor. The difference is important for us as members of the GLBT community, and, as Republicans, we hope it signals a real commitment to move the Party in the right direction – back toward its historic role as the true guardian of individual liberty.
During this campaign, and particularly during the last few months, McDonnell has repeatedly and without equivocation said that government should not discriminate in employment or services based on sexual orientation. No other Republican candidate for statewide office has ever done that, including his running mates in this election. And in no other statewide election have any two candidates for statewide office from either party sought in debates and other forums to position themselves as people who will seek to govern free from bias against GLBT Virginians.
In September, after the Washington Post released his 20-year-old thesis that included clearly homophobic language, McDonnell told the press, “Sexual orientation never enters into the equation. Government should not punish or discriminate based on anyone’s sexual orientation.”
In a more recent interview, McDonnell told Style Weekly (10/20/09) that
“… everybody ought to be treated equally under the law. I firmly believe that. When I was attorney general there were no inquiries [of employees] that were made other than this: Are you talented, are you qualified, do you care about Virginia, will you get good results? That was my policy as attorney general, it will be my policy as governor. I believe that everybody has equal civil rights in this state. That’s what I will enforce enthusiastically as governor.… Everybody’s got equal rights that need to be protected.”
Given his history and voting record as a member of the House of Delegates, we understand why many are skeptical of his recent statements, but McDonnell’s actions as Attorney General provide a reasoned basis for believing that, if elected, McDonnell will be a Governor with whom the GLBT community can work in seeking to pass laws that will provide assurance that his commitment to nondiscrimination will last beyond his administration.
As Attorney General:
McDonnell supported early on two bills introduced by Democrat Del. David Englin (and subsequently supported by most of the Republicans in the state legislature) that established hospital visitation rights for domestic partners and set up a state registry of advanced medical directives. McDonnell’s endorsement of these bills helped galvanize Republican support, and both bills became law.
McDonnell issued an opinion that found that the state’s so-called marriage amendment would not interfere with contracts, wills, medical directives, and other agreements in the state and “will not modify the application of Virginia’s domestic violence laws” to GLBT couples.
McDonnell also issued an opinion that allows state employees to designate someone other than a legal spouse to qualify for gym membership benefits, a precedent-setting ruling that provides a legal foundation for extending other state benefits to domestic partners of state employees.
We are under no illusion that McDonnell is now a champion of gay rights. Nonetheless, his more recent statements and actions give us optimism that McDonnell would offer GLBT people meaningful roles in his administration and the opportunity to work with him to enact laws that will secure for GLBT people the equal rights he has said everybody in Virginia has the right to expect. That is quite different from what we had come to expect from Republican candidates for Governor in past elections, and it is something for which McDonnell should receive due credit from our community.
David Lampo, Vice President, Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia
Chris Barron, Chairman of the Board, GOProud
Jimmy LaSalvia, Executive Director, GOProud
Rick Sincere, At-Large Board Member, Republican Liberty Caucus of Virginia
Robert G. Atkins, Treasurer, Arlington County Republican Committee
Affiliations are for identification purposes only.
Republicans Pick Up Six Seats in Virginia House of Delegates
Contrary to expectations just six months ago, Republican also picked up six seats in the House of Delegates, cementing their control of that chamber, as opposed to the Democratic control of the State Senate in a 21-19 split.
This year, the Log Cabin Political Action Committee focused its efforts on a smaller, more targeted group of candidates and incumbents that it has in the past. The following candidates received the endorsement of the Log Cabin PAC, and we want to extend our thanks and best wishes to both the victors and those who fell short.
Del. Tom Rust, $1,000
Del. Dave Albo, $1,000
Speaker Bill Howell’s Dominion Leadership Trust PAC, $500
Del. Jackson Miller, $200
Del. Phil Hamilton, $200
Del. Harvey Morgan, $200
Del. Bob Tata, $200
Rich Anderson (51st District), $250
Chris Stolle (83rd District), $250
Jim LeMunyon (67th District), $250
Jim Hyland (35 District), $150
Danny Smith (38th District), $150
Jay McConville (44th District, $150)
Vicki Vasques (45th District), $150
Eric Brescia (47th District), $150
Aaron Ringel (48th District), $150
Chris Merola (53rd District), $150
All of the incumbents except Del. Hamilton won reelection, all by comfortable margins. We want to congratulate newly elected Delegates Stolle, Anderson, and LeMunyon, all of whom we hope to work with in the next session. We also want to congratulate the next generation of Republican leaders like Hyland, Smith, Vasques, Brescia, Ringel, and Merola. They are the future of the Republican Party and we’re proud to have supported them.
Calendar:
Tuesday, December 8—annual Holiday Party. Location - 2613 Key Blvd, Arlington, VA. 6:30 until 9:00 pm. Accessible to Courthouse or Clarendon metro stops. Street parking available.
Tuesday, January 12—Log Cabin Monthly Meeting and election of new officers. 6:30 at Il Radicchio restaurant at the corner of North Rhodes and Clarendon Blvd. in Rosslyn.
Tuesday, February 2—Equality Virginia’s annual Lobby Day in Richmond. See HYPERLINK "http://www.EqualityVirginia.org" www.EqualityVirginia.org for more information.
Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia
P.O. Box 16611
Alexandria, VA 22302
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The Only Question That Matters: Do People Choose Their Sexual Orientation?
Noted author Chandler Burr has written a new white paper for the Liberty Education Fourm. Burr's white paper clearly demonstrates that we already know the answer to this question--people don't choose their sexual orientation. This has important political implications and it's a powerfull tool for achieving equality. Click here to read this new report. |
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Quotable Quotes |
Richmond Times-Dispatch Friday, February 17, 2006 Barry Goldwater, speaking in 1981: "I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that, if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A, B, C, or D . . . .I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate." |
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