Purcellville Gazette, June 8
I wish to thank columnist John Flannery (June 1) for calling attention to the recent mischief of two embarrassing Loudoun County public officials.
Mr. Delgaudio is dismissible on the grounds that he even regards himself as something of a joke (although the joke is on the gullible marks who respond to his increasingly comical fundraising appeals). His “lobbying” organization doesn’t do any actual lobbying, and exists for the sole purpose of paying Mr. Delgaudio’s rather generous salary. As a third-rate hate group its influence is nonexistent, and were it not for the occasional unwanted attention it brings to Loudoun County hardly anyone would notice it was there at all.
As to Mr. Marshall, his recent disgraceful attacks on the character of eminently qualified and highly regarded deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Tracy Thorne-Begland reveal a great deal about his own character, none of it good. In particular, as Mr. Flannery notes, Mr. Marshall declared that “Sodomy [sic] is not a civil right.” To the contrary, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled unequivocally in 2003 that private sexual conduct of any kind between consenting adults is very much a civil right. Surely Mr. Marshall is not unaware of this landmark decision in favor of individual liberty, so his remark reveals him to be a man who does not acknowledge the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. And just as surely Mr. Marshall took an oath to uphold that Constitution when he was admitted to the bar, and again when he was sworn into public office. We can only conclude that he does not take that oath seriously.
The Supreme Court has on numerous occasions established that civil marriage is a civil right. It is a civil right that belongs to everyone, a position that has now been embraced by both the President of the United States and the oldest, most significant civil rights organization in U.S. history, the NAACP. To those who for whatever reason cling to the opposing view: The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King said once that the arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice. You are on the wrong side of history. Just as it has been with every other advance toward a more perfect union, when you were in the majority you were wrong, and now that you are part of a rapidly shrinking minority you are still wrong.
David Weintraub
Co-founder, Equality Loudoun
David, you only demonstrate your own ignorance with this post. Bob Marshall is not, and never has been, an attorney. Though he appears to know more about the Constitution that many attorneys and judges.
Really! Maybe he just wants to play one on tv. So did Mr. Marshall take an oath to uphold the Constitution or did he not?
Amazing! I read the statement on his website — his main argument was that a judge can’t be a judge if they don’t 100% agree with every law in the state. It’s awful how quickly he’s tried to turn Thorne-Begland’s military service against him as well. At least others seem to realize that he’s grasping for straws.
Which is pretty hilarious given that Mr. Marshall regularly expects judges to overlook little things like, oh, the Fourteenth Amendment, or the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act. I think what he meant to argue is that a judge can’t be a judge unless he or she agrees with Bob Marshall’s very special interpretation of every law in the state and everywhere else. Which is not quite the same thing. Did you see his latest in which he lectures the governor? There comes a time at which it’s appropriate to shut up, and the man just doesn’t have the sense to do it.
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