Says VCU students twisted his meaning; VCU stands by its story

Recordings of Marshall’s remarks posted on the Web

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, WTKR Norfolk, Virginia Commonwealth University, AP/[Newport News] Daily Press:

Virginia Del. Bob Marshall turned aside calls for his resignation Wednesday and attempted to distance himself from recorded remarks that have been construed as saying that a woman who has an abortion runs the risk of birth defects in later pregnancies as a punishment from God.

Addressing his colleagues in the Virginia General Assembly, Marshall called for a correction from journalism students at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Mass Communications. Jeff South, an associate professor of journalism who oversees the school’s Capital News Service, said VCU stands by its report “as a fair and accurate account of the press conference that Del. Marshall held last Thursday.”

The school’s website and Marshall’s website both carried recordings and transcripts of Marshall’s remarks, delivered last week at a press conference organized against public funding for Planned Parenthood.

Taking the floor of the House, Marshall denied saying that disabled children are a punishment from God at a press conference last week, or even suggesting that. In his defense he cited the fragile condition of one of his own adopted children and his longstanding support for mandating insurance coverage for a special therapy needed by autistic children.

Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell described Marshall’s remarks as “wrong and offensive,” Both McDonnell and Marshall are Republicans who oppose abortion. Speaking on WTOP radio, McDonnell said:

“I’ve known Delegate Marshall for nearly 20 years and I’m sure he regrets saying that. I think those are wrong and offensive comments. We should do everything we can for young children that are developmentally disabled and provide the best safety net that we can through state government.”

Earlier posts here.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 12:49 am and is filed under NOT2BEMISSED, politics, religion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.