Shannon questions Cuccinelli’s stance on gay employees
Published: October 28, 2009
Steve Shannon, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, wonders whether his Republican opponent would hire and fire lawyers and others in the office based on their sexual orientation.
In a conference call this afternoon, Shannon, a state delegate from Fairfax County, spotlighted remarks by Ken Cuccinelli in the Virginian-Pilot, a newspaper in Norfolk, in which Cuccinelli appeared to express doubts about the nondiscrimination policy of former Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the GOP nominee for governor.
Cuccinelli, a state senator from Fairfax County, and one his party's most vocal conservatives, told the Pilot, "Homosexual acts are wrong. They're intrinsically wrong. And I think in a natural law-based country it's appropriate to have policies that reflect that."
Shannon has sent a letter to McDonnell, challenging him to speak out against Cuccinelli. But McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin isn't taking the bait. Martin repeated that McDonnell would not tolerate discrimination in the state workplace.
McDonnell has come under fire from Democrats and homosexual-rights organizations for his opposition to an executive order by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine protecting gay state employees from bias. In 2006, McDonnell issued an opinion declaring the order illegal. McDonnell said the order overstepped the governor's authority. He has said he would not sign such an order as governor.
A spokesman for Cuccinelli was not immediately available for comment.
The Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia, a gay-rights group, issued a statement attacking Cuccinelli for his remarks in the Virginian-Pilot.
"That Mr. Cuccinelli would make such incendiary and prejudicial remarks as a candidate for the state's highest legal office is truly frightening, and we call on him to apologize for injecting his personal and hateful opinions into this race," said David Lampo, the club's vice president.
Reader Reactions
So… The real question should be, do you hire because of “sexual orientation or in spite of it”? Starting each meeting with a prayer, what a novel idea, I wonder if our founding fathers thought of it?
So, when you are double digits behind, it’s okay to try to stoke the fires of diversity? Diversity??? Code speak for being a divider?
If McDonnell wins, will we have to start all our business meetings with a prayer?
They’ve got such a lead in the polls they can (and will) say whatever they want. Bottom line.
Tell me Lord Siouxpreme… what happened when Bible-thumping religious zealots appeared on your reservations?
Anon, wasn’t the Crimes against Nature law ruled unconstitutional by Lawrence v. Texas?
McDonnell is going to protect the state against Cuccinelli’s right-wing extremism? McDonnell himself said that “certain homosexual conduct” could disqualify a person from being a judge because it violates the state’s Crimes Against Nature law. Sounds like they are both reading out of the same prayer book.
Cuccinelli is appealing to the homophobic wing of the Republican Party. He needs his base to show up on Tuesday so all three ultra-conservative white guys get elected.
Unfortunately, at the Democratic candidates have done all throught this campaign, Mr. Shannon, when there are no substantiated facts, feels compelled to try to create an issue where one does not exist or engage in misrepresentation rather than present positive proposals for solving the Commonwealth’s well known problems. As a lifelong Independent, I cannot bring myself to support those whose very tactics call their judgments and leadership into serious question.
That the Democratic ticket has chosen such ill-advised tactics represents a waste of talent which might have been of benefit to the Commonwealth.
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