Marshall now blames VCU student media for controversy over his remarks

Del. Robert G. Marshall apologized yesterday to Del. Robin Abbott after a floor speech in which she talked about one of her children who is blind and mentally disabled.

By: Tyler Whitley | Times-Dispatch
Published: February 25, 2010

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.

"Children, whether wanted or unwanted, intended or unintended, 'normal' or disabled . . . are blessings from a loving God," Marshall said.

Marshall said he forgives CNS "for making this slanderous claim about me and my life" but demands a correction.

Jeff South, an associate VCU professor of journalism who oversees CNS, said on the organization's Web site that it stands by its report.

Gov. Bob McDonnell called Marshall's remarks "offensive and wrong" on a radio show Tuesday.

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com.