Bob McDonnell on Virginia ultrasound law: Let’s talk about the budget
posted at 4:30 pm on February 22, 2012 by Tina Korbe
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell originally said he would sign into law a Virginia bill to require women to have an ultrasound before they have an abortion — but, now, he’s not so sure. He met with Virginia legislators and members of his staff to discuss the issue last night:
Legislators and governor’s staff met Tuesday night to hash out a compromise that would make the ultrasounds voluntary, but not mandatory, before an abortion, several people with knowledge of the meeting said Wednesday.
The meeting took place after the governor and legislators learned that the ultrasounds could be more invasive than first thought, according to two officials who were aware of the meeting but not authorized to speak about it publicly.
Have these reconsidering legislators been moved by the left’s argument that mandated ultrasounds amount to rape? Or by the presence of some protesters who, at a rally in Richmond on Monday, wore T-shirts that bore the sophisticated slogan, “Virginia is for lovers, not probes”? Surely not.
But Gov. McDonnell wouldn’t answer any questions about the meeting or the ultrasound law at a news conference today. “You know I’m concerned about?” he asked. “I’m concerned about the budget.”
The deflection was sound politics, a model for what the GOP could do in the race against Obama in November. No matter what Obama brings up, the GOP candidate could always retort, “You know what I’m concerned about? I’m concerned about the budget.”
But social issues come up again and again and again because they’re important and get to the heart of what kind of a society we want to be. It’s fine for politicians to delegate solutions to social ills to cultural crusaders and to not seek to solve every problem through legislation. It’s possible for McDonnell to oppose this law and yet be pro-life. But it’s not OK for politicians to be disingenuous about what they believe or about the facts of an issue.
While I understand why he didn’t, I wish McDonnell would have engaged: Not only could he set the record straight about what the law really mandates (it doesn’t mandate the invasive transvaginal procedure that liberals are supposedly so up in arms about!), but he could also take the opportunity to state a few facts about abortion. Abortion itself is an incredibly invasive procedure that leaves women to cope with severe physical and emotional consequences. McDonnell could state again that he wants women to have the full story one way or another — if not through this law, then by the efforts of sidewalk counselors and others — before they decide to go through with such a truly life-altering procedure.
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Out: Making government cool.
In: Making government repugnant.
beatcanvas on May 16, 2013 at 10:37 AM
Dang, that’s some iceberg we only see the top of, ain’t it?
Bob's Kid on May 16, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Silencing Dissent…How very Fascist.
workingclass artist on May 16, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Give up your First Amendment rights if you want to be tax-exempt…. just like the group we’re telling you that you can’t protest against.
Happy Nomad on May 16, 2013 at 10:39 AM
I have always said that those among us who claim to be the most tolerant are actually the least tolerant of all.
I hate it when I’m right.
kingsjester on May 16, 2013 at 10:39 AM
A day without scandal is like a day without sunshine.
trigon on May 16, 2013 at 10:40 AM
Who is directing this? Who sending out the matching orders?
Oil Can on May 16, 2013 at 10:41 AM
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/05/busted-conservative-group-changes-name-to-greenhouse-solutions-granted-nonprofit-status-in-3-weeks/
davidk on May 16, 2013 at 10:42 AM
The rat-eared passerby said yesterday that he was outraged and was going to hold people to account. Well, were those empty words or is Ms. Richards going to be fired or what?
Happy Nomad on May 16, 2013 at 10:45 AM
I suppose we could add what other progressive organizations besides Planned Parenthood was the IRS partnering with on it’s Special Litmus Test for Tax Exempt Status for conservative organizations?
“Beyond the classic question, “What did the Administration know and when did it know it?”, a myriad of questions remain unanswered. Here are just a few:
1. Who inside the IRS hatched the plan to target conservatives and what, if any, connections do they, their associates, or superiors have to the Obama White House, campaign team, or other political organizations?
2. Who at the IRS leaked confidential tax documents to the progressive-leaning journalism group ProPublica, an action which the IRS official manual says can result in up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000?
3. Who are the two “rogue” individuals disgraced former IRS Commissioner Stevens said went “off the reservation” and acted “overly aggressive” and what, if any, connections do they have politically? If, as the Inspector General report alleges, political motivations were not driving the targeting of conservatives, then what was? Also, what “discipline” did the two rogue agents receive?
4. Did IRS agents coordinate with Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) or his staff to “go after them [conservative groups],” as he told the New York Times, following Levin’s letters to then-IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman and Director Lois Lerner?
5. Did Sen. Max Baucus (D-MO) or his staff communicate or coordinate with IRS agents after Baucus wrote this September 28, 2010 letter instructing then-Commissioner Douglas Shulman to have his “agency survey major 401(c)(4), (c)(5) and (c)(6) organizations to determine whether they are acting as conduits for major donors advancing their own private interests”?
6. What communications took place between IRS agents and the following senators and their staffs following the delivery of this jointly written letter demanding the IRS crack down on “abuse of the tax code by political groups focused on federal election activities”: Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO ), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)?
7. What communications existed between Obama reelection campaign co-chair Joe Solomonese, whom the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) alleges received its confidential tax returns, and IRS agents?
8. What portion of Obama’s 79% increase in audits of charities were of conservative groups?
9.If political motivations were not driving the selective targeting of 500 conservative organizations, then why were a similar number of liberal groups not harassed?
10. What role did IRS Rulings and Agreements Division Director Holly Paz, who in 2008 donated $2,000 to Obama, play in ratcheting up IRS investigations, as she promised she would in June 2012?
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/05/16/10-Questions-Obama-Must-Answer-On-IRS-Scandal
workingclass artist on May 16, 2013 at 10:46 AM
Using the IRS to punish political enemies. There is just something so stalinesque about that.
It’s not surprising that IRS agents and officials tend to be rabid statists and thus supporters of authoritarians like Obama. The IRS is not the kind of organization that a freedom loving conservative would naturally gravitate toward. The objectives of the organization, the necessarily intrusive nature into citizens’ private lives, the ability to sieze bank accounts and assets, without warrant or court order — those attract hardcore statists who love power. The laws were written with some protections, for example making it a felony to “share” private information. The problem is that those laws don’t help when you get an administration that ignores the law and a willing press that ignores the administration ignoring the law. The founders were absolutely wise in prohibiting direct taxes on the people for many reasons, one of which is the need for an organization like the IRS that would attract despots. But our progressives thought themselves more wise and in trying to be “fair” and “equitable” in being able to redistribute wealth got themselves the power to see into the minutest details of citizens’ lives through access to the citizens’ financial transactions in support of enforcing tax laws.
… but we don’t need to worry that the IRS has the main responsibility for Obamacare.
/one would think that this was designed to be a feature rather than a bug.
AZfederalist on May 16, 2013 at 10:46 AM
…YEP!…2 guys in Cincinnati did this!
KOOLAID2 on May 16, 2013 at 10:47 AM
Did the IRS partner up with Unions and Gun Grabbers too?
workingclass artist on May 16, 2013 at 10:48 AM
WOW. Scratch the veneer of a fascist and underneath you find another fascist.
You can exist as a non-profit but don’t do anything other than stay indoors at your own houses and sit quietly.
So lefties, is this the Hope or the Change because the definitions are getting kind of blurry on this end; a little help? Where are all of you freaks anyway, it’s been a curiously troll-reduced presence the last few days.
Bishop on May 16, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Just another rogue agent.
Liam on May 16, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Evangelical sharia 2.0
–ch
tom daschle concerned on May 16, 2013 at 10:48 AM
The diabolical Cincinnati Four strikes again.
Happy Nomad on May 16, 2013 at 10:49 AM
…saw that!…maybe the MSM will have that as their leading story on every channel tonight!…what?
KOOLAID2 on May 16, 2013 at 10:49 AM
Dear Obama voters,
We were right.
Love,
The Tea Party
Chris of Rights on May 16, 2013 at 10:50 AM
Tea Party and Pro Life. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that the victims are right at the top of Obama Campaign’s enemies list. We’ll find out is short order that whomever is next on the enemies list has been attacked by the IRS too.
forest on May 16, 2013 at 10:50 AM
What did CAIR have to “give up” to get/maintain their tax-exempt status?
These exposed acts of political bias (extreme political bias at that) by the IRS …NO WAY… were devised by “rogue employees” — they’re so extreme, outrageous and criminal that there’s no way they didn’t arrive down-the-line as commands from Obama/Holder/DNC.
Lourdes on May 16, 2013 at 10:51 AM
Not that long ago on this very site, labeling Obama a fascist was dismissed as absurd name-calling. Looks like it wasn’t so far off the mark. Economically, Obama met the definition of fascist by favoring government control of the economy through regulation of corporations. But by using government power to silence dissent and intimidate not just his enemies, but people who simply disagree with his politics, there is no longer any doubt that Obama also fits the popular conception of a fascist.
There Goes the Neighborhood on May 16, 2013 at 10:52 AM
probably…those two guys in Cinci haven’t had time to sleep…in three years!
KOOLAID2 on May 16, 2013 at 10:52 AM
But it was just 4 rogue employees…
sandee on May 16, 2013 at 10:52 AM
There is no “democratic” party any longer.
If you are not on the side of freedom and the constitution then you are against it.
All of those against must be destroyed.
The Marxist, Communist cabal is trying
to destroy you and now we have clear evidence.
redguy on May 16, 2013 at 10:53 AM
Well it does manage and enforce one of the 10 Planks of The Communist Manifesto:
A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
So its not surprising that it would be prone to be stalinesque in its operation.
hawkeye54 on May 16, 2013 at 10:53 AM
Update on a six year scandal: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/05/16/US-jobless-claims-jump-to-highest-level-in-6-weeks
davidk on May 16, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Yep, for government employees those two (I guess it’s up to four now) dudes were pretty busy. Shows an awful lot of motivation and initiative for folks at lower levels of civil service, doesn’t it?
AZfederalist on May 16, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Does anyone believe that the IRS instituted these procedures on their own, with no direction from the new administration in the WH? After observing BHO and his troops for the past 4-years, it is inconceivable that with all the czars, and Executives Orders he’s issued, that his hands weren’t on the throttle of this machine!
tomshup on May 16, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Our criminal government at work. We pay these people, too!
Punchenko on May 16, 2013 at 10:55 AM
People that wrote books about Obama and his Marxist leanings were called racist and bigots.
Go back and look at some of those books and see if it does not ring true.
We are at war.
redguy on May 16, 2013 at 10:56 AM
When the SHTF, no quarter will be taken…
PatriotRider on May 16, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Meh, our gangster government will just cook the books some more and get a more favorable number. That’s what they’re doing with GDP now, right?
Punchenko on May 16, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Has anyone tracked the rate of 501 application approvals before Dog Eater took office, there’s a start to prove correlation.
Bishop on May 16, 2013 at 10:56 AM
…zzzzzzzzzzzztttt!…someone’s on fire today!
KOOLAID2 on May 16, 2013 at 10:57 AM
I would just like to say, “God bless the New Media.”
davidk on May 16, 2013 at 10:57 AM
It’s Not Fascism When We Do It!
Resist We Much on May 16, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Such a Merry band of characters huh?
This makes for a great mini series..
..Blackmail-IRS, Extortion-See Kathleen Sea Hag,
Cover up-See some guy named Ben, who couldn’t get any Beano
for his gas problem….
I pray to God the Republican Party, as it is currently
constituted, holds every last one of these Corrupt to
their Core parasites accountable. I don’t care if it takes
10 Years, there damn well better be some investigation
of these thugish Clods.
I email my elected officials almost daily to press them
to stand up for us, the voter. I wonder how many others do?
ToddPA on May 16, 2013 at 10:57 AM
So, has obama been arrested yet?
Pork-Chop on May 16, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Agents of the cabal have infiltrated both parties leadership. Its just that the dems have completely embraced them while the GOP leadership has been a bit more discrete about it.
hawkeye54 on May 16, 2013 at 10:57 AM
The silence from our Trolls is deafening.
kingsjester on May 16, 2013 at 10:59 AM
It’s what they do.
davidk on May 16, 2013 at 10:59 AM
We gave the Lois Lerner of the IRS $42,000 + bonuses in freshly printed money in two years.
*spit*
workingclass artist on May 16, 2013 at 10:59 AM
AZfederalist on May 16, 2013 at 10:46 AM
Exactly why the 2nd Amendment is so important!!
Deano1952 on May 16, 2013 at 10:59 AM
Resist We Much on May 16, 2013 at 10:59 AM
I will keep resisting the IRS and pay as little as possible to not attract attention.
At a certain point an all out tax revolt will be needed to bring this corrupt administration down.
Let’s see what they do when no money is coming in and they can’t borrow anymore…
It is not years away – this will happen in the next few months and Obama and his progressives will truly be blued and screwed.
I mean really – if the Republicans give in now – then they are part of the cabal and must be destroyed as well.
redguy on May 16, 2013 at 10:59 AM
That includes HotAir and the commenters here who have their own blogs.
I hesitate to mention any for fear of leaving some pout. Thank you for the hard work you do.
davidk on May 16, 2013 at 11:00 AM
It’s looking like 4 rogue employee positions..
With a Job Swap Program..
Electrongod on May 16, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Especially when the only folks involved in ILLEGAL activity was the IRS!
GarandFan on May 16, 2013 at 11:01 AM
He is calling
HugoI mean Assad to see if he will grant him Asylum.redguy on May 16, 2013 at 11:02 AM
davidk on May 16, 2013 at 11:00 AM
It not work. It’s venting. :)
kingsjester on May 16, 2013 at 11:02 AM
https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/208004734282506241
davidk on May 16, 2013 at 11:02 AM
I miss America.
I plan to FB that; willing to withstand the sh!tstorm.
pambi on May 16, 2013 at 11:02 AM
Every single one of these IRS cases coming to light all benefited Obama.
They either helped his re-election campaign or stopped dissent against Obama policies.
Now that they are being known can’t these groups and individuals sue the US Government? Force the government to reveal who ordered these things?
And they will be doing the same thing when the IRS enforces ObamaCare. Your wife needs that special surgery? Sorry, the IRS Obamacare division says not for Republicans or conservatives.
albill on May 16, 2013 at 11:02 AM
Democracy does not have to be a bloodsport, it can be an honorable enterprise that advances the public interest.
BILL CLINTON, speech at Democratic National Convention, Sep. 5, 2012
workingclass artist on May 16, 2013 at 11:03 AM
It does have a certain therapeutic value. :)
davidk on May 16, 2013 at 11:03 AM
There are bigger problems here. Four IRS employees managed to co-opt the actions of multiple IRS offices throughout the nation.
Star Chamber, that’s what this is, these people are Illuminati sent to control us.
Bishop on May 16, 2013 at 11:04 AM
Party like it’s 1936!
ICanSeeNovFromMyHouse on May 16, 2013 at 11:04 AM
Heh: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/05/16/the-irs-just-cancelled-its-softball-game-this-week-with-a-gop-senators-staff-and-wait-until-you-see-the-team-name/
davidk on May 16, 2013 at 11:05 AM
Those “4 rogue employees” probably have called Issa to see if they can get a break…..
Every cabinet level in the Obama administration is corrupt….
The NLRB is out of control and operating illegally.
The EPA has been targeting conservatives.
HHS is itself a rogue outfit run by a facist.
Eric Holder is the biggest communist of all…..
When will our side wake up and start banging heads?
redguy on May 16, 2013 at 11:06 AM
Obama Impeachment Hearing’s
People’s Exhibit “A”
And Obama has even joked about sending the IRS after people that he does not like. When Obama found out that he was not going to be receiving an honorary doctorate from Arizona State University, he made the following statement…
“President [Michael] Crowe and the Board of Regents will soon learn all about being audited by the IRS.”
May 2009
PatriotRider on May 16, 2013 at 11:07 AM
I think you’re giving lefties too much credit. Most of them wont see this as fascism but rather the government doing its “proper” job of promoting “democracy” and defending “women’s rights”.
gwelf on May 16, 2013 at 11:07 AM
HA’s standards evolve over time. During the election campaign of 2008, Allah and Ed would warn posters over using the REB’s legal middle name.
slickwillie2001 on May 16, 2013 at 11:07 AM
The special department for the entire IRS is run out of Cincinnati. It’s all coordinated at that office.
Of course the division was expanded…but we don’t know yet by how many agents and when.
We do know that it was before a suggested hike in applications
workingclass artist on May 16, 2013 at 11:07 AM
Those who can’t handle the truth,
try to silence those who speak it.
ITguy on May 16, 2013 at 11:07 AM
I’m going to see if I can make a nice little photoshop’d image with it.
Chris of Rights on May 16, 2013 at 11:07 AM
This is what, we the people, get when a man is elected to president that wanted to “be in office” but didn’t want to take on the mantle of the being president. This guy acting as president couldn’t manage his way out of a wet paper sack. The whole administration reminds me of the Life Alert commercial where the elderly person is laying on the ground saying, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”.
These clowns need to be kicked around while they are still down.
rsherwd65 on May 16, 2013 at 11:07 AM
Over 75% of the IRS employees are Obama supporters and believe in wealth re-distribution.
The IRS has been used to wreak political havoc since it was founded – by both sides…
Abolish the IRS now.
redguy on May 16, 2013 at 11:08 AM
The Obama motto:
ITguy on May 16, 2013 at 11:08 AM
…bet you…that Shad will be fired up tonight!
KOOLAID2 on May 16, 2013 at 11:09 AM
I expect that will leak out early next week.
slickwillie2001 on May 16, 2013 at 11:10 AM
That’s what they’re telling us, but if you look deeper you can see the workings of the Freemasons, and dare I say the Jews have their Jew-Claws in this too.
Four low-level IRS drones…yeah right. I’ve folded up a dollar bill to see the signs of a secret cabal controlling our nation, you can’t fool me.
Bishop on May 16, 2013 at 11:10 AM
…nice recall!
KOOLAID2 on May 16, 2013 at 11:11 AM
Yep, I remember when the State Run Media was all over these stories of government persecution of these conservative groups…they loved those questioning the administration’s public policies.
d1carter on May 16, 2013 at 11:11 AM
Unconscionable. Nothing else needs to be said.
NotCoach on May 16, 2013 at 11:11 AM
I’m sure that Eric Holder and his “No Justice, No Peace” Department will get to the bottom of this.
Stand by for wrist slappings aplenty.
NoDonkey on May 16, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Isn’t this what Obamacare has done to the Church?
You adopt our baby killing agenda or you don’t exist.
katy on May 16, 2013 at 11:12 AM
no conspiracy, just endemic hatred of all things good, true and right in all these government agencies.
kirkill on May 16, 2013 at 11:12 AM
These scandals must be the wrath of God.
Obama’s recent graduation commencement speech at Ohio State where he told the students to ignore any voices that warned against tyranny in government must have been one lie to far.
gwelf on May 16, 2013 at 11:12 AM
The Obama administration is starting to make the FDR administration look clean.
sadatoni on May 16, 2013 at 11:13 AM
Well after all… Obama and his wife both stated that he would fundamentally change America…
dpduq on May 16, 2013 at 11:13 AM
My favorite is actually when the IRS was auditing Romney donors and supporters. How very Nixonian of them!
Illinidiva on May 16, 2013 at 11:13 AM
Pork.
CurtZHP on May 16, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Either that, or he knew what was coming.
CurtZHP on May 16, 2013 at 11:14 AM
So where is Mooch in all of this…???
PatriotRider on May 16, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Face it, the liberals in government (the majority) took the REB’s election and reelection as marching order to exercise extreme prejudice against any organization or person that didn’t believe the way they do.
I hate what this POSPOTUS has done to my country; I hate even more the fertile ground he found.
SteveInRTP on May 16, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Anybody remember Dear Leader promising to “punish his enemies”…well, the State Run Media seems to have forgotten it.
d1carter on May 16, 2013 at 11:17 AM
I commented on that too. It’s just too funny. And sad. And scary.
Attn. Leftists: Do you actually understand that targeting your opponents via the IRS is government tyranny? It may make you feel icky to acknowledge that, but, hey, this is what you voted for.
visions on May 16, 2013 at 11:17 AM
I wonder if Code Pink got a cease-and-desist letter telling them to stop prancing around in vagina costumes
blammm on May 16, 2013 at 11:18 AM
…planning a vacation?
KOOLAID2 on May 16, 2013 at 11:18 AM
Scratch a progressive, find a fascist.
jukin3 on May 16, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Even the lowest level burger flipper can see through this “it was low level employees” nonsense. If Barack Obama ever had a real job he would know that low level employees never make decisions, they follow orders.
ctmom on May 16, 2013 at 11:20 AM
This. Ground plowed, prepared and fertilized by the education establishment and the main stream media.
AZfederalist on May 16, 2013 at 11:21 AM
PatriotRider on May 16, 2013 at 11:07 AM
I forgot about that one.
There are plenty more instances, IIRC.
That one, his encouragement to Latinos, surely more …
Wish I had more timeto look ‘em all up.
pambi on May 16, 2013 at 11:22 AM
“We want more government!”
-I’m from the government. Now stand up against this wall while I assemble the firing squad.
“But I’m on your side!”
-You’ve outlived your usefulness. Do you want a blindfold?
Bishop on May 16, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Its only been doing the bidding of the pResident. Our pResident IS the Law. Hence, doing the pResident’s bidding is not illegal.
/s
hawkeye54 on May 16, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Hmmm, where have we seen such a scenario?
Russia 1917?
Spain 1936?
China 1949?
Cuba 1960?
There seems to be a familiar pattern here.
hawkeye54 on May 16, 2013 at 11:25 AM
Even a serial liar is bound to tell the truth once in a while. If only by accident.
Lily on May 16, 2013 at 11:28 AM
Indeed.
Update:
ITguy on May 16, 2013 at 11:28 AM
You actually wrote that with a straight face. Unbelievable….
libfreeordie on May 16, 2013 at 11:28 AM
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