Is Bob Marshall Fit to Serve in U.S. Senate?

As many know there is an open senate seat in Virginia due to the retirement of Senator Jim Webb.  Four republicans are vying for the GOP nomination to go up against Tim Kaine, our former governor and former head of the DNC.  One of the republicans that is looking for the nod is Delegate Bob Marshall.  


Very early yesterday morning (I mean really early, 1:30 AM) the Virginia House of Delegates took some votes for judgeships as the final act of this years activity for the legislator.  Most of the judges sailed right through.  Except for one, the appointment of Tracy Thorne-Begland has been denied a seat on the Virginia court.  Thorne-Begland is a former Navy, currently a prosecutor in the Richmond area, and gay.  


He served in the military before President Clinton enacted the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy.  Thorne-Begland was honorably discharged from the Navy after he questioned the policy of not allowing gays to serve.  Honorably discharged.  The Navy had no choice at the time to release him from the service as the law was clear, gay people were not allowed to serve.  But, he was not stripped of his rank or given a dishonorable discharge.  Which the Navy would have been able to do had they wanted to at the time.  


Bob Marshall never questioned the qualifications of Thorne-Begland, he only hammered home the fact that Thorne-Begland was a "homosexual activist".  There was no other questioning of his qualifications other than being against the now defunct ban on gays in the military.  Nothing about his record as a prosecutor.  Since it never came up, one would can easily assume that his record is a good one.  Marshall questioned whether he can uphold the Virginia's Constitution since our law states that marriage is between one man and one woman.  That alone is what disqualified him from the seat on the bench.  He has already taken this oath as a prosecutor.  There is nothing in his prosecutorial record to suggest that he has not upheld his oath.  


One of the biggest problems with this argument is that the court Thorne-Begland would have been serving on would not be answering questions on this issue.  It is not a court of record.  Meaning that if the decision is appealed, the case is then heard at the next level as it never been heard before.  Any decision that is made at this level will have no record.  There will be no opinion put in writing. How exactly could one be a "judicial activist" at this level?  It would seem to me that Bob Marshall simply doesn't like gay people.  Which is fine, he is entitled to his opinion.  


But the question has to be asked, can Bob Marshall serve in the U.S. Senate when it is clear that he  is willing to discriminate against people simply based on what they do in their bedroom?  Mr. Thorne-Begland isn't running around the country being an activist, which then would question his impartiality. He is in Richmond, doing his job and raising a family.  You can disapprove of his "lifestyle" all you want, but do you get to say that someone shouldn't have a job that they are otherwise qualified for simply based on sexuality?  That is exactly what Delegate Marshall did.  


Bob Marshall is not fit to serve in the U.S. Senate if he is this willing to discriminate against someone due to a private and very personal matter.  Thorne-Begland deserved a fair hearing for his qualifications for the position.  Not the witch hunt that Delegate Marshall allowed the proceeding to turn into.  One of the judgeships that sailed through easily was a former delegate who comes from a family of union activists.  It seems pretty clear that the only thing Thorne-Begland has against him is what he does in his bedroom.  Shame on Delegate Marshall.  Not only do I hope that you don't get the nod for the GOP nomination for the senate seat, I hope that your district wakes up and sends you packing when it comes time for your re-election to the House of Delegates in November of 2013.  So thanks Delegate Marshall for making all Virginia republicans look as intolerant as you are.  

Paging The ACLU - School Field Trips Based On Skin Color - Reason # 10,839 Why Conservatives Homeschool

In Ann Arbor, Michigan the school system is trying to bridge the racial divide in the test scores. While on the surface that sounds all well and good, it is how they have decided to go about it that is so disturbing. The fifth graders had a field trip to meet with a black astronaut. Sounds great, right? The problem is only the black students were invited.



That’s right, if you didn’t have the right skin color you were excluded from this field trip. What is even more frightening is how it is being defended by the school system.

“In hindsight, this field trip could have been approached and arranged in a better way," Madison wrote. "But as I reflect upon the look of excitement, enthusiasm and energy that I saw in these children’s eyes as they stood in the presence of a renowned African American rocket scientist in a very successful position, it gave the kids an opportunity to see this type of achievement is possible for even them.”

“I also think it’s important that you know that I have talked to the children who did not go on the field trip, and I think they have a better understanding of the purpose of the AA Lunch Bunch now, as I hope you do. I’m sorry if any kids were upset by the field trip or my discussion afterwards with them, and I have let them know that.

“The intent of our field trip was not to segregate or exclude students as has been reported, but rather to address the societal issues, roadblocks and challenges that our African American children will face as they pursue a successful academic education here in our community.”

 He is saying that is not trying to exclude anyone, but they seem to have a group named the AA Lunch Bunch.  I guess the AA means African American, so that in and of itself shows that he is trying to exclude.  AA Lunch Bunch is a group based on the tone of your skin. 

Also, the fact that he is saying “even them” is frightening. This is the continued logic that the black community cannot possibly succeed without the help of others. I don’t know the history of the astronaut that they were introduced to, and I am sure that somewhere along the line affirmative action was a help to this man, but all the affirmative action legislation in the world cannot help someone succeed at this level. This man is where he is because he worked hard and he is obviously a smart man. There is no way around that. The only person who can take advantage of opportunities that come your way is you.


The other children that were not allowed to go on the field trip were then given a lesson on racial discrimination by the same man who is sticking up for this discrimination. A Middle Eastern child pointed out to principal that she has also has experienced discrimination, but the children told their parents that this little girl was belittled for bringing up this very valid point.


Parents have lodged complaints, but have been afraid to do so using their names as they feel their children will then be somehow punished. That says everything that you need to know about what is going on in this school. Sadly, the even at the district level this is being defended.


District spokeswoman Liz Margolis said after the trip was over, those who went returned to their fifth-grade class and were greeted by boos by those who didn’t go on the trip. Margolis said Madison, who is black, heard the boos, and went to talk to the class. She said he and the class had a “discussion” about race issues.


“He wasn’t yelling at them. He was very passionate about it,” Margolis said.


My question is where is the ACLU? The crickets are chirping. Yet one more reason to homeschool. 

H/T to The BlogProf