Maddow: Whose Afraid of Virginia?
So far the new Republican regime is off to a rocky start. It seems that the Moderate McDonnell was really a cultural warrior. I wish that hadn’t happen. I was trying to support him.
Unfortunately, Marshall-gate has captured national attention. He has tried to explain his words but having failed at that, he is now blaming Capital News Service for misinterpreting his comments.
According to the Richmond Times Dispatch:
After first blaming himself, Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, now is accusing a student-run media service of misinterpreting comments he made last week that suggested that disabled children were a form of punishment for women who had abortions.
In a floor speech today, the General Assembly’s most prominent abortion foe said he used a poor choice of words but never made the comment the Capital News Service said he made.
CNS is run by students at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Urging a prohibition against state funding of the pro-choice Planned Parenthood, Marshall told a news conference last week that “the number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children.”
He continued: “In the Old Testament the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest.”
In its opening paragraph, CNS reported Marshall “says disabled children are God’s punishment to women who have aborted their first pregnancy.”
In his speech, Marshall said, “I certainly could have used better words to explain the medical research findings which show a high incidence of complications following induced abortions.”
Marshall said people who know him know that he would never make a claim that handicapped children are a punishment.
Governor McDonnell also spoke out against Marshall’s words:
McDonnell was asked about the comments of his longtime former colleague on his first appearance on the monthly “Ask the Governor” program on WTOP radio.
“Delegate Marshall, who has been a champion for the pro-life cause, I think made some very poor and offensive and wrong comments and he has now since apologized for them and it doesn’t help the cause on the larger issue of the importance of protecting human life that I believe in,” McDonnell said.
Marshall (R-Prince William) made the comments last week at a news conference calling for an end to state funding to Planned Parenthood. Calling the nonprofit group “Planned Barrenhood,” Marshall joined the Virginia Christian Alliance, several African American ministers and others who blamed the abortion provider for a host of social ills.
Marshall-gate has gone viral and has taken on a life of its own. Is this fair? Should someone who has been obsessive about women’s reproductive rights be let off the hook or do we continue to remind a Bob Marshall and those like him that this is 2010 and the women of Virginia are capable of making their own morally appropriate decisions. Most of us are amazed that some Republicans want smaller government and government out of people’s business –unless of course it is the bedroom. Why are there these inconsistencies?
Republicans need to stick to fixing the economy. That’s our biggest problem. They need to get out of the business of social engineering and culture warrioring. We don’t need war being declared on the EPA or Planned Parenthood or gay state employees. To quote one of my old favorites, “Its the economy, Stupid!”
What a horrible thing for a Virginia state delegate to say. Misinterpreted, my butt! Civilized peoples of this nation, of all political pursuasions, must stand together and condemn Marshall’s ignorant comments in the strongest possible term!
What a horrible thing for a Virginia state delegate to say. Misinterpreted, my butt! Civilized peoples of this nation, of all political pursuasions, must stand together and condemn Marshall’s ignorant, vile and repulsive comments in the strongest possible terms!
BWAA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! Milk flying out the nose stuff, here!
So Rick Maddow, huh…..did anybody but you see this?
God, this is funny stuff. “Marshall-Gate” (funny) has gone viral (lost any contact with reality funny) and taken on a life of it’s own (uhhhhh, yeah). Y’all are maybe, just maybe, overstating your case here just a bit. More likely response from the masses in Virginia: “Marshall Who?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about and I think you should maybe cut your hair, take a bath and brush your teeth…er..uh….tooth. The sixties are over, you know, right?”
Just out of curiosity, can you explain the connection between what Marshall said and McDonnell being a culture warrior? It’s not even mentioned in the text posted. I don’t think anyone would fall for the “I was trying to support him” line….doesn’t pass the laugh test. I’m reading through what was posted here, and it seems like a stomach-turning ultra-leftist attempt to tie a very poor choice of words by Marshall to Governor McDonnell, who also said it was a poor choice of words. This is an almost perfect example of why the psych-ward leftists need to be verbally abused at all times and in all places until there is nothing left of them. They can’t be trusted to interpret anything accurately.
I guess Virginia isn’t for “Lovers”…
I understand that the Legislature is increasing our Tourism budget; however, who in their right mind would want to visit a state with our reputation? (Particularly if I were from the North) I think I’d just drive on through…
I was starting to like our new Governor; however, I’m starting to reconsider… I think I’m not alone.
Seeing Bob Marshall use the bible as his reasoning to legislate my reproductive rights makes me feel ill. My moral code only guides me in my life decision, it doesn’t require me to leave all higher level independent thinking skills at the door!
I had no idea Bob McDonnell had rescinded sexual discrimination as illegal for firing in VA. WHY should ANYONE care what two consenting adults do in their bedroom. Why are some people obsessed with someone elses sexuality? hmmmmmm
@Elena
Perhaps I should correct my earlier statement, “Virginia is for “some” Lovers”. I assume the state, which is attempting to promote Tourism, has seen its last liberal or gay tourist. They should fill their tanks in Maryland or North Carolina and drive straight through this state… as fast as they can… on their way to someplace else where they are welcome.
What will we do without that extra $10? No liberals or gays tourists. You’re trying to sell this as what? A bad thing?
Slowpoke… I wasn’t talking about you. Keep the $10.00… you probably need it.
@Slowpoke Rodriguez
Slow,
Let me help you out here. First did you watch the vidoes? O.k., I am going to presume you did not. So there is the explanation. bob marshall is advocating cutting off all funding (whatever that means)to Planned Parenthood services. State money does not go towards abortions due to the Hyde amendment. O.K., so having said that, hmmmm, what services are left that planned parenthood provides. Oh, yes, that’s right , pregnancy PREVENTION! I interned at planned parenthood for my CATHOLIC University. The services provided were womens health care/annual exams, pregnancy testing, std testing and birth control. Bob Mconnell is now advocating the same position against Planned Parenthood as Bob Marshall, preventing poorer women from access to womens health and birth control. THere, understand now. Or would you rather prevent women from family planning force them to have babies and THEN pay for them via welfare.
These “boycott the state” things have become a real joke. I remember when the rebel flag controversy was going on in South Carolina, and blacks “boycotted” the state. Millions of families flocked to Myrtle Beach those couple of years….best thing that ever happened to SC. I remember a black gentleman on the local news while we were down there hollering on TV about South Carolina “oppressing my gender”. That was good for a few belly-laughs. Boycott Nebraska because of the cornhusker kickback. Boycott Maine because of Collins and Snowe. It’s all a bunch of doo-doo.
Thanks for the $10. Your avatar looks like an anus.
@Elena
Good synopsis. So I didn’t miss anything. Two words that going to sound like fingernails on the chalkboard to you liberals. Personal Responsibility. Don’t play the game if you can’t afford it. Simple, elegant.
@Slowpoke@Work
Actually, it’s an Enso… you can look that up if you really care (unless you were looking in a mirror when you made that observation… a reasonable error in that case).
Slow,
Why are you being so obnoxious? Personal responsiblity IS BIRTH CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
O.K. boys, now now, enough of that talk!
Using birth control is taking respnsibility. I refuse to have a conversation with anyone about birth control being right or wrong. This is 2010. Its right to do.
@Elena
Yes, mam…
Respect. I got mad skillz, though!
Are you seriously reading what you’re writing? Force them to have babies? Come on, we’re not all irretreivably stupid.
Only a culture warrior would recind a protection on sexual orientation. Why couldn’t he just leave it in place. Who wants to be known as the state that discriminates against gays.
Secondly, MCDonnell must not want to reduce the number of abortions. Otherwise he would not be advocating not funding (whatever that means) Planned Parenthood.
It is my understanding that the money Planned Parenthood gets from the state is reimbursement for medical services (not abortion) for medicaid patiends. Don’t we want medicaid recipients to use birth control?
Most medical facilities cap the number of medicaid patients and medicare patients because they don’t get paid that much for providing services. Planned parenthood provides these services.
By all means, let’s force poor women to have more children so that the self righteous culture warriors can pay for their children and have something to bitch about.
Well, slow, if you don’t offer women affordable choices then the consequence is unPLANNED pregnancy!
@Elena
You know, you can get a “raincoat” in the men’s potty for, like, 50 cents. Different “festive” colors, too. Admit it, you just want everyone to pay for a few folks inability to control themselves or take responsibility for their actions. It’s vile.
You make all women sound like irresponsible little children with this statement.
Slowpoke: grrrrrr! Not all women have affordable choices that suit them. Unlike men, it isn’t just a matter of a men’s bathroom raincoat. By the way, the right Reverend Mr. Marshall doesn’t approve of ‘raincoats’ either.
So now you are saying poor women can’t have sex unless it is with some dude who buys his raincoats in the men’s room. And if she does…then she lacks self control.
Stop being ridiculous. You are obviously not aware of how medicaid works. When I return, Moon’s Menagerie will explain the birds and the bees.
Maybe I can do it now…its pretty simple. People are on medicaid. Low income people. It is dispensed and managed by the states. Women get birth control and other related services. Sometimes they get it from a clinic or sometimes from planned parenthood. Like mediCARE, people walk in, get the services, walk out. Medicaid is billed through the state (managed). Virginia sends in checks to Planned Parenthood.
If there is another disbursement for something else, I am unaware of what it could be for.
Slowpoke,
You are really starting to irritate me. What part of WOMENS HEALTH EXAMS do you not understand? Should women be denied PAP smears, breast exams, etc at an annual exam? This is not JUST about birth control, it is about the health and well being of women. Why are you arguing? Just to argue? Planned Parenthood provides many health and well check ups for women at an affordable price. Are you against women being healthy?
I find this interesting. In the past, you liberal enjoiners here have been pretty adament that only public employees should be engaged in the planning and providing of public services, whether we are talking about, for example, transportation of the aged vice subsidized taxis or the one thing that will bring real money to Manassas without any related infrastrucure costs – the 150th First Bull Run reenactment, but now I read that you are all for public funding of Planned Parenthood – irrespective of the reaction of some residents to the kinds of advice they have to offer to our young daughters. Lets just say there are those who object to public funds being used to “normalize” promescuity . I am generally disposed to using the private sector and Non-profits to accomplish public requirements, with proper oversight, – they tend to be cheaper and more focused on meeting contract requirements, but several of you seem to only be so disposed if it is to achieve a social goal. Just sayin…
Liberals get irritated when anyone makes the simple suggestion that people take care of themselves, hence the entitlement state. I understand, I just don’t agree. Am I against women being healthy? Of course not. The men (and women) in my family work very hard to make sure that our wives are healthy…..and we don’t do it on the public dime.
Taxpayer, it must be that reading problem…we didn’t say we were for public funding for Planned Parenthood. If you go to a doctor, does he not expect to be paid for his services? If you go to a clinic, do you not have to pay them? If poor women go to planned parenthood does Planned Parenthood not have a right to be paid for providing services?
I don’t think preventing unwanted pregnancy is a liberal point of view whether we are talking rich, poor or in between. Somehow every child a wanted child seems like a very socially responsible position to take.
I find the concept of normalizing promicuity an interesting concept. In fact, so interesting I am thinking of making it a thread. How on earth has anyone here suggested that? You really do want into other people’s bedrooms, don’t you? Who gets to decide what is promiscuous?
You want PWC and City of Manassas, even though the public coffers have been decimated, to foot the bill for a private enterprize? I don’t think so. Let private enterprize handle that.
As for the senior buses, you darn right I support that. If that makes me liberal…so be it. You are willing to dump hundreds of thousands of dollars into someone’s fantasy ball while old people can’t get to the senior center because they lack transportation? Let’s just say that I think we probably have very different values and leave it at that.
Slow, if I misread you, I offer my apologies. Until someone proves me wrong, I am going to assume that PP is telling the truth and that the Virginia funds going to it are to reimburse it for the medical services provided via medicaid. What difference does it make whether Medicaid (administered through the state) pays PP or any other clinic or licensed medical practice?
I am all in favor of preventing pregnancy, especially for those who don’t have the means to support themselves. If you can’t support yourself, then why do you think you can support someone else? I don’t think you can get a much more conservative position than that. (well, you can…but let’s not go there.)
Slow,
You aren’t being logical. I AM suggesting people take care of themselves. Don’t we want women being well and having preventative care and birth control? As far as I can tell, if someone WERE NOT seeking these services they could be seen as being irresponsible. I am ADVOCATING self responsibility you are advocating, what, I am really not sure. I am glad you have never found yourself on hard times, or that you have the social support to help you if did. Not everyone is that lucky. Especially these days, whens so many are out of work, I think it is quite telling how little empathy you seem to have. Ever heard the saying “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” ?
@Elena
I have no doubt that we are agreeing on certain things. Your points in #37 unfortunately don’t prove I’m being illogical, sorry. We WANT women to be well, we WANT women to have birth control. After NOT proving that I’m being illogical, you do finally get to the end point…….ain’t I a meany by not wanting to pay for poor people’s services through force of government? THAT’S what it all boils down to, and I’m glad we got there. You say that a party acts responsibly to seek women’s health services, I agree. I say it’s NOT responsibility to expect others to foot the bill THROUGH FORCE OF GOVERNMENT. People lived for thousands of years without Planned Parenthood receiving State funding. How did they do it? I know, I’m sooooo mean. I’m ready to accept that “mean” title. You know, I GUARANTEE that there are billions of dollars in other cuts that can be made, but make no mistake, cuts need to happen. Suggest other cuts, and maybe I’ll agree that they’re better than cutting funding from Planned Parenthood, no problem with me! What would you cut?
Slowpoke, I think we have a missing link here. Basically, are you saying there should be no medicaid? That is a whole different argument.
The money Planned Parenthood is receiving from the state, from everything I can find out, is for reimbursement for services. The mistake is calling it state funding. It isn’t. There is no difference in PP receiving reimbursement and in Bull Run Clinic receiving reimbursement for the same medical procedures.
Now here’s the rub. Clinics like Bull Run (and any private practice) take a certain % of medicare and medicaid patients. Then they cut it off. Medicaid and Medicare don’t pay the full amount. It is discounted medicine. PLus they have a huge overhead with administrative costs. (billing, etc) Planned Parenthood is often a provider of these services when other clinics and practices have maxed out on their Medicaid requirements.
@Moon-howler
Actually, after my last post, I realized that we were so far away from the original post, that had I known, I would have cut short a while ago. I TRY not to get too far off the topic, but I failed big time in this instance.
This is like arguing with a robot…….”thousands of years” huh? Women, until 1970, could not buy birth control legally! Only within the last 50 years have women really been in control of their reproductive destiny. For “thousands of years” women were ruled by pregnancies and births, whether they wanted them or not. Did you read the reason WHY Margaret Sanger first became involved in the rights of women to have access to birth control without getting thrown in jail?!
actually, the number is 40 years women have been able to have access to birth control on demand, NOT abortion mind you, just birth control!
Slow, that’s ok. I think it is a very ligitimate topic.
I think an important question is why VA is giving money to Planned Parenthood. In tight times, we need to now where our tax money goes. However, in this case, I don’t think it is a gift because the state has extra money. It is for services.
Let’s face it…we are all sitting here on our computers and we probably have no clue how all the medicaid stuff works. I had to make about 3 hours of phone calls just to find out the little bit I know.
Elena is correct. Griswold vs. CT wasn’t ruled on until 1967. Ok, that’s 43 years. Women have had access to birth control in every state only since 1967. Oddly enough, Virginia was light years ahead of states like NJ, Conn., etc. where there was strong church influence. Married women could buy birth control in Virginia before 1967.
According to ancient manuscripts dated as far back as 1550 BC, Women were advised to rub a paste consisting of ground dates, acacia tree bark, and honey onto their Volvos (just kidding, vulvas) to prevent pregnancy (which actually probably worked well, as acacia ferments into lactic acid, a powerful spermicide).
In 630 BC, the Greeks discovered the plant silphium, which has incredible anti-pregnancy properties, and was used for such.
In the second century AD, the Greek gynecologist, Soranus, knew of ovulation and its role in pregnancy and promoted use of the rhythm method. (although he did manage to screw up the exact time of ovulation).
I could go on and on and on. Listen closely and try to comprehend, hon……women have had access to birth control for THOUSANDS of years, and somehow, they did it without VA funding Planned Parenthood.
If arguing with me is like arguing with a robot, want to know what arguing with you is like?
@Elena
I’m waiting for you to come back with something really retarded, like “so you expect women to run ground dates, honey, and acacia bark on their hoo-haa’s?” I’ll go ahead and answer that for you. If it saves the state money, sure. I see you’re having a rough time coming up with other cuts besides PP.