Effort to keep DADT in Va. National Guard fails.

Bigotry just got a lot more expensive. A Virginia House of Delegates committee voted down legislation to retain Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the Virginia National Guard on Wednesday, not because it's discriminatory, but because it would cost the commonwealth $200 million to do it.

Via the Washington Post:

Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William) argued the Virginia National Guard should continue to bar gays and lesbians from serving openly, despite a Congressional vote to repeal the policy that has barred their open service at the national level.

The Defense Department is working to formulate regulations to enact the Congressional action and President Obama has said the policy will be repealed before the end of the year.

Among those speaking on Marshall's behalf were a retired Marine brigadier general who commanded a battalion in Vietnam and Herb Titus, a professor who Marshall noted several times taught Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) in law school. (Campaign flashback--Titus served as chairman of a three-member group that supervised the writing of McDonnell's thesis.)

Only two members of the Republican-led committee supported the measure--Del. Joseph P. Johnson Jr. (D-Washington) and Del. Lacey E. Putney (I-Bedford).
Del. Bill Janis (R-Goochland) argued that though, as a Navy veteran, he opposes the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, it would create a "management and disciplinary nightmare" for field officers if Virginia National Guard members served under different rules than the rest of the military. He noted guardsmen frequently serve in units overseas alongside members of other state guards and the U.S. military.

Virginia Attorney Gen. Ken Cuccinelli (R) has also written that the federal government could withhold more than $200 million in funding for Virginia's National Guard if the state bucked federal policy, a concern cited by several committee members. McDonnell has said he believes Virginia should follow federal policy.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell opposed the bill saying it would create two sets of military standards which would be problematic for Virginia Guardsmen serving alongside US troops. 

Related articles

• Legislator Defends Bill to Ban Gays in Virginia National Guard (bilerico.com)
• Virginia AG Says That State Will Have To Pay For Anti-LGBT National Guard On Its Own (lezgetreal.com)
• Virginia Governor Nixes National Guard DADT Even As Delegate Warns Of Blood Transfusions From Sodomites (lezgetreal.com)

Virginia Legislator: "Ban Gays From National Guard" McDonnell: "No way."

Virginia's Homophobe-in-Chief, Gov. Bob McDonnell

Now I've seen it all. Could it be that the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the coming of Xmas have caused Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell's Grinchy little knot of a heart to open up just a little bit? Not likely, but it is gratifying to see the commonwealth's top homophobe defending the gays, whether he wants to or not. This comes via the Washington Post's Virginia Politics blog:

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) said through a spokesman late Monday that he opposes Congress's repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy but expects to allow gays to openly serve in the Virginia National Guard.

The remarks came after Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince WIlliam) said he is drafting a bill for the 2011 legislative session that would ban gays from openly serving in the Virginia National Guard.

"The governor is a retired United States Army officer, and he knows it is critically important that there be one set of rules for all our men and women in the military, since uniformity of major policy across all branches is essential to effective operations,'' McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin said. "We are not aware of a single instance in recent history where the Virginia National Guard has not complied with the policies and procedures of the Department of Defense. Furthermore, approximately 90 percent of the Virginia Guard's funding is federal, and any departure from federal policies may put this funding at risk. The federal legislation contemplates a further certification process by the Department of Defense, and other details and steps that are not known at this time. In his role as commander in chief of the Virginia National Guard, Governor McDonnell expects the Guard to adhere to the final guidelines implemented by the Department of Defense."

The Senate voted to end the 17-year-old federal ''don't ask, don't tell' policy this weekend, a few days after the House approved a repeal. President Obama has said he will sign the bill.

"The governor is very disappointed that this lame-duck Congress continues to fail to pass a budget, reduce unemployment, or work on other important national priorities, but instead is focused on legislation to change military policy in the middle of a war and provide benefits to illegal aliens," Martin said.

Related articles

• Virginia Delegate Wants To Keep Ban On Gay Service For Virginia National Guard (lezgetreal.com)
• Bob McDonnell: Virginia's Health Care Lawsuit Not About Politics (VIDEO) (huffingtonpost.com)
• Virginia Lawmaker Wants No Gay People in the National Guard (gayrights.change.org)
• Virginia Lawmaker Wants To Ban "Active Homosexuals" From Serving In National Guard (alan.com)
• Virginian: Bar gays from National Guard (washingtontimes.com)