McDonnell (Homophobe-VA) on whether he has ever engaged in sodomy: "Not that I can recall."

[jefferson_dem]

Scrutiny Spreads to '03 McDonnell Remarks
'Homosexual Conduct' Comments 'Irrelevant' to Campaign, He Says

By Amy Gardner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 9, 2009

In January 2003, then-Del. Robert F. McDonnell helped gavel in one of the most extraordinary judicial reappointment hearings in Virginia history: a seven-hour, trial-like affair that led to questions about whether the future Republican gubernatorial candidate thought gays were fit to serve on the bench.

As chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee, McDonnell sat at the head of the proceedings, with his Senate counterpart next to him and committee members on both sides. Facing them was Verbena M. Askew of Newport News, the state's first black female Circuit Court judge, whose reappointment was in jeopardy because of allegations that she had sexually harassed a female colleague.

Amid accusations of racism and homophobia, state lawmakers grilled Askew and several witnesses for hours, focusing in large part on her failure to disclose the harassment case. Some members also raised questions about her actions from the bench. A majority, including McDonnell, voted against her reappointment.

In comments before the hearing, McDonnell indicated that Askew's sexual conduct was relevant, telling one newspaper that "certain homosexual conduct" could disqualify a person from being a judge because it violates the state's crimes against nature law. The words were widely published at the time, and his remarks contributed to a lasting view that sexual orientation was at least one reason for Askew's ouster.

...

Terry Scanlon, the Daily Press reporter who interviewed McDonnell, and Ernie Gates, the newspaper's editor, both said last week that McDonnell never complained about the quotation's accuracy.

Scanlon, who now lives in Colorado and is no longer a reporter, also remembers asking McDonnell whether he had ever violated the crimes against nature statute himself -- a fair question, he thought, because McDonnell had raised the legal point. The statute, among other things, prohibits oral or anal sexual contact, regardless of the sex of the participants. McDonnell's response, Scanlon reported, was: "Not that I can recall."

...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/08/AR2009090803715_pf.html

[Captain Hilts]

1. That is too funny. nt

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. I have to disagree.

I know what you're trying to say, but this is probably what we're (I'm in Virginia) going to end up with. When people start losing their jobs over their orientation, it won't seem funny to them at all. I know people who have put up with this abuse for their entire lives. They won't be laughing. I'm not.

[Captain Hilts]

13. I lived in Va. Beach far longer than I'd like. It's wonderful to be out of VA.

I understand how you feel.

Moving from VA to Ontario was wonderful. I'm now in Maryland.

[saltpoint]

2. I'm wondering why that statute is still on the books after the Supreme Court

2003 ruling in LAWRENCE V. TEXAS, which would seem to obviate the spirit and letter of the Virginia statute.

And as a point of reference, how much zoo tranquilizer do you have to be on not to recall the nature of your own sexual conduct?

[hobbit709]

3. It's not how much tranquilizer

It's the fact that since he's a conservative repuke he's most likely lying or that he's lacking enough cerebral cortex to have any memories.

[saltpoint]

5. Maybe he just isn't any good at it.

Although SOME Republicans have built up impressive frequent-flyer totals between, say, South Carolina and Argentina.

So who knows.

[Salviati]

4. give him some credit... he MIGHT not be lying.

He might have been too blasted out of his mind to remember.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

6. Is that your penis?

Well what's it doing there?!

[saltpoint]

8. And be sure to watch your Sunday papers for the PARADE magazine

feature this weekend for McDonnell's confessional piece, "Sodomy: A Reminiscence."

[formercia]

9. Tell me when you're finished

so I can begin forgetting that I've ever been here.

[PVnRT]

10. "I don't recall"

Umm, you don't recall gay sex? Either you're lying and were so fucked up on coke and highballs you really don't remember. Otherwise, you'd say "No."

[yellowcanine]

11. You may not remember Bob, but I do! And it wasn't that great for me either.

Wait for that from an old boy friend or girl friend.

[gauguin57]

12. If he truly hasn't engaged in oral sex, the voters of Va. shouldn't trust him, anyway.

What is he ... Mr. "Man on Top Get it Over With Quick" (as the late, great George Carlin used to say)?

Here's Bob and the lovely Mrs. Bob and all the little Bobbettes. Boy ... I hope Mrs. Bob is staying home, barefoot in the kitchen and making spaghetti sauce from scratch. Because she's a threat to our nation if she isn't, according to Big Bob.