Language is generally different between friends and foes. I don’t think that’s even an issue.

I appreciate your bringing racial civil rights into the discussion – and while the governor can certainly provide some protection, permanent and legally binding protection doesn’t occur until the legislature acts.

I disagree that the employment policies of the Commonwealth are necessarily a legislative matter, however. In fact, such functions are traditionally executive in nature, with the legislature stepping in only to set limits. It’s the executive’s job, within the bounds of the law, to decide what hiring and other practices will work best for the state. The idea that you can’t grant more rights to your employees than the law allows is silly–the law sets a floor, not a ceiling.

Let’s say, for example, that race was not a protected class (wasn’t THAT long ago it wasn’t the case). Are you saying that in, say, 1964, the Governor of Virginia couldn’t have prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of race in state employment even if he wanted to?

We truly have a Republic that is just like Animal Farm, where some citizens are now, “more equal” than others.

Let the revolution begin!

Second, I do think McDonnell is wrong here.

Third, this issue is a legislative one.

So, an action by Democrat=wrong, same action by Republican=right. Am I missing something?

FWIW, I agree with both governors–it’s senseless to evaluate state employment by criteria other than qualifications and performance.

I think many people are a little skiddish re: the new Governor and see his early moves (guns in bars, no school breakfast for needy children, etc.) as unnerving shifts to the right. Whether or not these concerns are founded, the general feeling is he is moving our state embarrassingly backwards. Let’s hope the Governor proves his naysayers wrong.

One’s sexual orientation has absolutely nothing to do with how well you do a job. It is, and should be, a non issue.

I think these statements put it in no uncertain terms. Discrimination because of sexual orientation will not be allowed in the State while Bob McDonnell is Governor.

“In recent days, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued a letter to Virginia’s colleges and universities informing them that their internal employment discrimination policies could not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation because such prohibitions were not authorized under state law.”

So, can they prohibit discrimination or not? Has the A.G. amended his statement? or does this recent statement by the Governor cancel out the A.G.’s statement?