The ‘89 thesis that transformed the Va. governor’s race
Bob McDonnell, the Republican candidate for governor in Virginia, was winning the race pretty handily until he happened to mention a thesis he had written back in 1989.
A Washington Post reporter went back and pulled the thesis, which McDonnell submitted as part of a masters’ and law degree program at Regent University, founded by televangelist Pat Robertson. Its contents have transformed the race.
Among other things, it condemns Griswold vs. Connecticut, the landmark 1965 Supreme Court ruling that government could not outlaw the use of contraceptives by married couples. That decision, McDonnell wrote, helped lead to the weakening of the family and was based on “a view of liberty as radical individualism.” While in other places he champions the sovereignty of the family against government intervention, he believes — or at least believed back then — that government has the power to outlaw the pill and other forms of birth control.
McDonnell also opposed child-care credits and similar legislation that assist women working outside the home, arguing that “further expenditures would be used to subsidize a dynamic new trend of working women and feminists that is ultimately detrimental to the family by entrenching status-quo of nonparental primary nurture of children.”
In fact, he listed feminism as one of the “real enemies of the traditional family.” Other enemies on the list were lust, materialism, irresponsibility and selfishness. He also wrote dismissively of women who try “to break their perceived stereotypical role bonds and seek workplace equality and individual self-actualization.”
The progressive income tax system — charging poor people a lower rate than rich people — also drew his scorn. “A taxation system that procures revenue based on ability to pay, and awards deductions and distributions based on need, is socialist in its underlying philosophy,” he wrote.
Overall, McDonnell wrote, “Republican pro-family advocates must also be political risk takers and educators, who understand that often the profound wisdom of God’s law for the family will appear as folly to foolish men.”
McDonnell now claims that his viewpoints have changed substantially in the last 20 years, and they no doubt have in some ways. However, he was 34 at the time he wrote the thesis, which means he wasn’t exactly an immature college student who was still trying to form adult opinions, still experimenting with ideas. And his subsequent career in politics hews pretty closely to the themes he argued in the thesis.
McDonnell’s real problem — and what makes the thesis interesting for those of us outside Virginia — is not how much he may have changed in the last 20 years, but how much the country has changed. Reading the document is like taking a step back in time, particularly in its old-fashioned call for using government as a weapon to halt or reverse social changes.
With some exceptions, we’re long past that argument and McDonnell’s side lost, which is why the thesis has proved so damaging.
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302 comments Add your comment
ByteMe
September 2nd, 2009
9:01 am
Actually, the reason it’s so damaging is that women now outnumber men and telling them in so many words that they are inferior and unable to manage for themselves how many children they want to have within their marriage and that government should be used to enforce this situation… well, that’s just stupid even in 1989.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 2nd, 2009
9:02 am
who understand that often the profound wisdom of God’s law for the family will appear as folly to foolish men.”
So does bookman view these ideals as “folly” or what?
hahaha
Venture out of your bubble building and you may find that a lot of Americans pretty much feel the same as McDonnel did.
And does.
USinUK
September 2nd, 2009
9:04 am
I just love it when a GOPper is hoisted on his own petard …
Greg
September 2nd, 2009
9:04 am
Vote for Taliban Bob McDonnell:
He now thinks it’s OK for women to work outside of the home!
GEORGE AMERICAN
September 2nd, 2009
9:05 am
IF HE’S STILL LOOKING FOR WORK, THERE IS A GOVERNER’S RACE HEATING UP HERE IN THE PEACH STATE.
GEORGIA COULD USE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR MORALITY!!!
Turd Ferguson
September 2nd, 2009
9:06 am
In some respects, McDonnell may have been correct. Lets face some facts. Women, for the most part react with typical female hysterics and emotions…example…many voted for Obobo due to listening to other stupid women who werent even well versed in the art of grocery shopping.
Woman also seem unable to control their sexual urges. How often have men heard “its ok, I wont get pregnant” only to hear within the next 28 to 32 days “guess what honey…Im pregnant, OOPS” to which the gentleman replies…”Oh goody”.
These same women churn out 4 to 5 kids by different fathers then expect the State to assist in their financial rearing. Yes, its time to repeal the voting rights for women!
USinUK
September 2nd, 2009
9:07 am
… but … but … but … your governor prays for rain … isn’t that moral enough???
Mike Licht
September 2nd, 2009
9:08 am
Bob McDonnell has lost the crucial Virginia fornicator vote.
See:
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/gop-scholarship-loses-crucial-virginia-fornicator-vote/
Turd Ferguson
September 2nd, 2009
9:08 am
For the most part, women are to be seen and not heard.
Doggone/GA
September 2nd, 2009
9:08 am
“GEORGIA COULD USE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR MORALITY!!!”
We now have a state positon for morality? How much does that pay?
Lord Help Us
September 2nd, 2009
9:08 am
Wow, this thesis could be written by many who post here everyday…
Funny, they all seem to think government is the enemy, government is the problem not the solution, but government should be an instrument for Christian theological enforcement…
Mrs. Godzilla
September 2nd, 2009
9:09 am
UGH! That was cave man talk even in 1989.
Gale
September 2nd, 2009
9:10 am
I agree. It was an extreme position even 20 years ago. He pointed out that his daughter was shipping out to Iraq in a sound bite I heard. So, it means his daughter is able to think for herself. It does not mean that he approves of her decisions or that his opinions have changed. Does he believe the opinions he held 20 years ago were right and he would turn policy in that direction if he had the power? Perhaps he does and simply recognizes those changes are not popular in the current political environment.
Since he does not disavow the thesis, I have to assume that he believed what he wrote and it was not written to gain approval from those who would judge it.
Doggone/GA
September 2nd, 2009
9:11 am
“For the most part, women are to be seen and not heard”
You’re SO sweet…did you know that?
Gale
September 2nd, 2009
9:13 am
And just see, USinUK, his prayers were answered. Georgia has had lots of rain. We will need it if the govs cannot figure out which state gets water.
Mrs. Godzilla
September 2nd, 2009
9:13 am
But I thought Virginia was for Fornicators?
Turd Ferguson
September 2nd, 2009
9:14 am
One good thing for Women is they have Virginia Slims…guess its somewhat true that they’ve “come a long long way”.
Jay "Numbnuts" Bookwoman
September 2nd, 2009
9:15 am
Bob McDonnell, does sound like a dumba$$. People do change their ideas over a period of time. Has this guy changed entirely? Doubtful.
Jay, have you ever changed your views? Since you’ve grown up…
Jay "Numbnuts" Bookwoman
September 2nd, 2009
9:17 am
Bob’s thesis was written for the “WOW” factor. Not entirely different from the way Jay writes everyday.
Taxpayer
September 2nd, 2009
9:19 am
Vote for McDonnell. Who knows, he might even be for letting women wear shoes, while pregnant, some time in the future. Those American Taliban. They’re so tolerant.
Turd Ferguson
September 2nd, 2009
9:20 am
About Women…
They can bring home the bacon
Fry it up in the pan
And never let ya forget your a lesbiman.
USinUK
September 2nd, 2009
9:21 am
having lived in NoVa for 3 years (and DC for 5), I can safely say that, if VA wants to truly decimate its economy, send all the women back to the home. that’ll pretty much put it into Wyoming territory, revenue-wise …
Bosch
September 2nd, 2009
9:21 am
My first clue to not vote for such a guy is where he graduated from. A law degree from Regent – that’s an oxymoron – ’cause at a place such as Regent – there is only one law, which is the law of the LORD!! Amen!!
I heard this guy on NPR last night – he was yammerin’ on about how he’d changed his views – he was young and naive at the time he wrote that. I’m sure he probably got the sh*t slapped out of him quite a few times by young ladies he spouted off such nonsense to – yeah, that’ll change you alright.
Lord Help Us
September 2nd, 2009
9:22 am
Relax everyone…
McDonnel wasn’t talking about himself, his wife or daughters.
Like all good conservatives, he was dictating the standards he expects from the OTHER people.
Bosch
September 2nd, 2009
9:22 am
I am now convinced that Turd is a parody – probably Gandalf and George American, and Redneck.
Taxpayer
September 2nd, 2009
9:23 am
Woman also seem unable to control their sexual urges. How often have men heard “its ok, I wont get pregnant” only to hear within the next 28 to 32 days “guess what honey…Im pregnant, OOPS” to which the gentleman replies…”Oh goody”.
I don’t know, Turd. How often.
USinUK
September 2nd, 2009
9:24 am
TF – proof that blue ba11s actually DO cause brain damage.
Doggone/GA
September 2nd, 2009
9:26 am
“Bob’s thesis was written for the “WOW” factor”
Speaking of WOW! You have SUCH insight. What’s the next winning lottery number? Come on, we’ll share when we win.
USinUK
September 2nd, 2009
9:27 am
Bosch –
“he was young and naive at the time he wrote that”
um. I believe he was in his mid-30s.
does that still qualify as “young and naive”???
Jay "Numbnuts" Bookwoman
September 2nd, 2009
9:27 am
USinUK – Proof that Koolaid does rot your teeth.
Jay "Numbnuts" Bookwoman
September 2nd, 2009
9:30 am
Thank you Dog$h!t/GA… thank you. *Bows to the crowd*
Gale
September 2nd, 2009
9:30 am
Bosch, I heard that interview. When they got to where he got his degree, I immediately discounted its validity. Wrong of me to be bigoted about a degree from a Christian college perhaps. But I really don’t expect much of anything but libreal arts from a Christian college.
Taxpayer
September 2nd, 2009
9:30 am
So, this McDonnell is a “Stepford Husband”. Apparently, there are still some kinks left to work out in the program. I’ll bet that Sanford took the same course of study.
Joey
September 2nd, 2009
9:30 am
Is there a anyone posting on this blog who will post something under one name then respond to that post under another name?
Anyone?
Gale
September 2nd, 2009
9:31 am
Jay @ 9:27, an astute comment actually.
Gale
September 2nd, 2009
9:31 am
Joey, say it isn’t so!
Finn McCool
September 2nd, 2009
9:31 am
McDonnell also opposed child-care credits and similar legislation that assist women working outside the home, arguing that “further expenditures would be used to subsidize a dynamic new trend of working women and feminists that is ultimately detrimental to the family by entrenching status-quo of nonparental primary nurture of children.”
This is the same idiocy behind those who think being “pro-choice” means you are “pro-abortion”. I don’t know anyone that is pro-abortion. Abortion is sometimes the best option for all those involved.
AmVet
September 2nd, 2009
9:33 am
From downstairs, but it works just dandy here as well:
Yeah, turd (et al) I know, it’s nothing but a big irony laden laugh. But just think, we could have had McCain, I mean Palin, calling the shots right now.
And to show just how utterly typhlotic you are, you stunningly “forget” what happened last September. When YOUR GOP president was the MASTER of Freebies for Wall Street. The MASTER of giveaways for his corporate money masters. The MASTER provider for the fascist slackers and bums in the “private sector”.
BushCo II or the Uppity Muslim.
That’s all that was foisted on you R & D Party dolts.
They own you. And worse, the fascists have got a stranglehold on your throats and you’re so oblivious and uninvolved you don’t even care. Not about the “cooked the books” criminal invasion and occupation. Not about the enviro-rapers getting away with ecological murder. Nothing. (Well, maybe you’re just a teensy bit concerned now that the white collar criminals strolled off with $3,000,000,000,000.00 of we the people’s money.)
I’ve never seen you proffer one great idea.
Not one.
I’ve never seen you advocate one substantial change to this failed status quo.
Ever.
You love it the way it is. Just so you can continue to promote the Do Nothing ideology of your conned heroes…
USinUK
September 2nd, 2009
9:33 am
Numbnuts – proof that conservatives actually DO have some kind of genetic deficiency that prevents them from bringing teh funny.
“USinUK – Proof that Koolaid does rot your teeth” I mean. that doesn’t even make any sense.
Davo
September 2nd, 2009
9:34 am
” Reading the document is like taking a step back in time, particularly in its old-fashioned call for using government as a weapon to halt or reverse social changes.”
Ya…like ‘Change We Can Believe In’?
Bookman must have a mental defect that shields him from his own hypocracy.
Taxpayer
September 2nd, 2009
9:34 am
I’m in favor of aborting the remnants of the GOP.
Bruno
September 2nd, 2009
9:35 am
Must be a slow news day if Jay has to reach back 20 years to find a Republican to slam today.
“I am now convinced that Turd is a parody – probably Gandalf and George American, and Redneck.”
I agree that George American’s posts are parodies (although some of the more gray-matter challenged liberals haven’t figure that out yet) and certainly Redneck Convert’s are, but Gandalf’s weren’t. He’s really that way. It appears Jay must have banned the Mufti From Gwinnesia permanently, though.
Joey
September 2nd, 2009
9:35 am
Gale; Are you saying there as several poster doing that. I am shocked.
Well not shocked, but disappointed. Similar to how Jay was disappointed with the two Clark professors yesterday.
Bosch
September 2nd, 2009
9:37 am
USinUK,
Well, that’s what he said.
Jay "Numbnuts" Bookwoman
September 2nd, 2009
9:38 am
USinUK – Of course you can’t see the humor or make sense of it – when it’s directed at YOU.
Taxpayer
September 2nd, 2009
9:38 am
Grape Flavor Aid is faster acting… and permanent.
Finn McCool
September 2nd, 2009
9:38 am
Congress reconvenes next week.
Let the wrist slashing commence. The line forms behind Barbara Bachmann.
Donovan
September 2nd, 2009
9:38 am
If memory serves me, I believe that Teddy Kennedy avoided a manslaughter indictment because he was a Kennedy. Nevertheless, you hypocrites are still lionizing him as an American icon.
Gale
September 2nd, 2009
9:39 am
“USinUK – Proof that Koolaid does rot your teeth” I mean. that doesn’t even make any sense.”
No, think about it USinUK. Koolaid from the Christian college rotting his political career teeth. I may have read too much into the comment, but I think it was spot on.
USinUK
September 2nd, 2009
9:39 am
Bruno –
“Must be a slow news day if Jay has to reach back 20 years to find a Republican to slam today.”
um. actually McDonnell brought this on himself – he opened the door in a recent interview … the Post did a follow-up and it’s been headline news in VA for the last few days. it’s not “old news” – in fact, it’s pretty darned topical.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/29/AR2009082902434.html