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VA Legislator Calls Disabled Kids “God’s Punishment”
A Virginia legislator who called disabled children “God’s punishment” for their mothers who aborted a previous pregnancy just became reason number two for the month of February that I’m glad I no longer live in Virginia. (In case you’re wondering, here’s number one.)
State Delegate Bob Marshall of Manassas, one of the authors of Virginia’s anti-gay marriage amendment, held a press conference last week to oppose state funding for Planned Parenthood. That’s where he dropped this humdinger (courtesy of the Williamsburg/Yorktown Daily):
““The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children. In the Old Testament, the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest.”
Hey Bob, since you’re talking “Christians,” how about going back to that age-old Christian value of treating everyone like they’re God’s child? Even children with disabilities?
For a man who opposes abortion based on “a duty to protect the sick, elderly, handicapped, pre-born children, and those truly unable to care for themselves,” (straight from his own campaign site), the sudden shift from considering all children a blessing to considering certain kids a “punishment,” is more than a bit ironic. Not to mention disgusting.
Senator Marshall, they’re kids. Period.
And dare we mention how few parents of disabled children actually went through an abortion at any point? Marshall hasn’t given a source for his claim, but based on informal polling of parents I know, there are a number who had abortions in the past and have perfectly healthy children. Still others have never had an abortion and have children with autism, Down syndrome and more.
Which doesn’t make them feel screwed over by God – as tough as their lives might be, some of these parents even knew what handicaps their children stood to face and still opted to go through with the pregnancy rather than abort.
In fact, Mr. Marshall, abortion in the face of these types of adversity is still rather uncommon, but if you’re going to argue that woman are too abortion happy – and they’re bringing these problems on themselves, wouldn’t it stand that these same woman would be more likely to abort a child with fetal anomalies?
Then again, Mr. Marshall hasn’t been shown to research much. The Williamsburg/Yorktown Daily reports Planned Parenthood doesn’t get some huge chunk of state funding from the commonwealth anyway. All it gets is the same Medicaid reimbursements any other healthcare agency would get.
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23 Comments
[...] Bob during a press conference last week: “The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased [...]
Virginia’s View On Abortions Now Firmly Entrenched In Dark Ages | Scanner commented on Feb 22 10 at 5:00 pmThe Well-Versed Mom commented on Feb 22 10 at 9:10 amWonder how his fellow Repugnican, Sarah Palin, would feel about his comments?
Makes me glad I no longer live in Virginia as well. Although, I’m now living in Texas…albeit in the enlightened city of Austin.
Manjari commented on Feb 22 10 at 9:24 amI don’t understand how someone so clearly off his rocker can hold any job at all. What a disgusting POS.
PlumbLucky commented on Feb 22 10 at 9:45 am(Please note that the sarcasm mode has been flipped to “full”)
Makes me wonder just what the heck Virginia did to be punished by having this buffoon in public office…
@The Well-Versed Mom…I’m really kind of waiting for this tripe to hit the main pages so we can hear exactly what she thinks, if only for the irony-factor that he seems to be using a completely warped “pro life” and “Christian” political platform.
Lucky commented on Feb 22 10 at 9:50 amBet this guy’s an avid creationist too. Don’t be surprised if he goes after science text books next. ‘Won’t somebody think of the children?!’ Cause ya know… we can’t let facts get in the way of pushing our own social agenda…
Shannon commented on Feb 22 10 at 12:58 pmBob Marshall. That name is now burned into my memory. I hope VA parents stage a protest, virtually or physically; fighting for our kids’ rights is challenging enough without ignorant, fear-mongering legislators in the way.
Black Sheep commented on Feb 22 10 at 3:05 pmWhere are the calls for this a-hole to resign? One of the most offensive things I have heard come out of a politicians mouth.
Joeymom commented on Feb 22 10 at 3:23 pmFrickin GREAT. I *AM* stuck in Virginia. #*%&*#)&*$&)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jennifer commented on Feb 22 10 at 3:56 pmHere is the petition demanding an apology and resignation!http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.petitiononline.com%2Fmod_perl%2Fpetition-sign.cgi%3Fdisable1&h=b46938764fc6a61e003fb40ccdf1dac9
I added when I signed that my autistic son with cerbral palsy is a GIFT from God. I live in VA and fight for my son’s rights every day….the sad fact of the matter is we have these misguided people in government that seem to develop a God complex of their own and show their ignorance by making comments like this……he needs to be out-TODAY!!
Jess commented on Feb 22 10 at 4:48 pmIt continues to amaze me how supposedly devout Christians are so prone to saying the most awful, cruel, deceitful things.
I wonder if Sarah Palin will denounce him. Or will she think what he said is satire?
MzBrat3 commented on Feb 22 10 at 5:25 pmhttp://delegatebob.com/news/statement-on-recent-news-story-by-capital-news-service
Yeah, right.
goosiegoose commented on Feb 22 10 at 6:31 pmHe’s denying that he said it, or at least that he meant it. Too bad there’s audio! He also has contact info on his site:
For inquiries please contact spokesman Robert Maistros, rmaistros[at]aol.com, 703-728-1648
http://delegatebob.com/
Victor commented on Feb 22 10 at 9:53 pmHe is an idiot. I’ve worked with children as he spoke of. I believe these handicapped children are angels. All children are miracles. Handicapped or not he’s stupid.
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Feb 22 10 at 10:33 pmSarah’s too busy fighting cartoon insults to pay attention to actual insults.
onevoice commented on Feb 22 10 at 10:51 pmComments I have a child with a serious disability. I have wondered why I have had to fight so very hard every step of the way to try to get the services my child needed so badly. Now knowing that there are indeed people in public office and, no doubt, public service may have the same view as Mr. Mcdonald, I feel I now know the reason some people may intentionally make things more difficult for the parents and children with disabilities. If this attitude is shared by a majority of the republicans, it brings tears to my eyes to think of the sad sad condition of our country’s true ideals. It is worse than I thought. I see the young republicans have denounced the comment. Thank you Young Republicans. I was sexually abused when I was 13 by a relative and was given an abortion. I remember at the time I was so naive I didn’t even know where a baby came out. I thought it came out at the navel. I knew it had something to do with the navel. Maybe Mr.Mcdonal will tell me what I did to be raped at 13 and punished by having my innocence taken away ,so brutally, like he is trying to tell me my precious child with a disability is my punishment for the abortion my parents arranged. I am disgusted by the man’s comments but thankfully,I know the real truth, that not voting in the last state election is my punishment and my brothers and my sisters I WILL NOT LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN to let the likes of some who are governing us get in there again. I’m okay. Like the song says “Bring on the rain”.
onevoice commented on Feb 22 10 at 11:48 pmCommentsI appollogize for using Mr. McDonald’s name when the person who made the statement I commented on above was actually Bob Marshall of Manassas. signed onevoice
KelliW commented on Feb 23 10 at 1:52 amHelp me out here Bob. God is so angry about a woman harming her fetus, He then decides to harm the next one Himself? Sure, makes sense – in a Monty Python sort of way.
Another fine self-appointed member of God’s posse tarnishing the reputation of Christians everywhere.
Way to go Bob
PlumbLucky commented on Feb 23 10 at 10:14 am@Jess and KelliW – in regards to him being a “devout Christian”, remember two things: Christians were warned to “beware false prophets”. Many people will also say that actions speak louder than words (in this case, his words that he is a Christian). I say both apply – he is a false prophet of Christianity as shown by his actions.
MBerry commented on Feb 23 10 at 10:28 amAs the mother of an autistic child I could not have been more disgusted with the comments made by the senator from virginia. I have never considered my son to be anything but a blessing from god. Not that it even matters but for the record I have never had an abortion so the idea that it was God’s punishment to me is rediculous. All children are a gift not a punishment. It is the responsibilty of everyone to make sure that they are treated as such. And where was Sarah Palin when this comment was being made. She is always so quick to let you know that she has a downsyndrom child and how great of a person she is for raising him. Well if she was such a great mother she would be defending that precious child now to the monster that dares to call him a punishment from God.
Alison of a Gun commented on Feb 23 10 at 10:51 amSo what if you keep the first one and abort the second? All clear then right?
skdaiys commented on Feb 24 10 at 2:09 pmThere is no scientific evidence to back this claim – this guy must be hoping people will just listen to his crap like they usually do when any politician talks. And there is no Christian base for this argument either – Christians believe that God sent his only son to die on this earth so that we could have everlasting life – God doesn’t punish us for our sins – he doesn’t cause pain and suffering…And for the record, I did get an abortion the first time I got pregnant and both of my kids are not only ok, they are gifted. Genetics are an amazing and intricate science that this man neither understands, nor seems to care to.And he doesn’t know his theology very well either!
jan commented on Jul 19 10 at 8:51 pmGosh, are these people stupid or what?my handicapped daughter was born before abortion was legal, and I still got outrageous treatment by people in both TX and VA, we moved a lot. TX was the worst. I’ve had people come up to me on the street and accuse me of wanting to abort her, or that she was the result of a botched abortion, etc. This stupid man like so many others does not have the scientific knowledge to know what causes these various birth defects and handicaps. And children who have birth defects have a higher rate than normal of gifted siblings. Sounds like a pretty funny punishment to me. And both my gifted sons were born after my daughter, when she did not know how to sit up, she helped my son learn how to walk, very patiently too. With my other son, she told me she would not hurt him and she never did. As a matter of fact she will not touch a baby until he can walk, talk, and yell, because she knows babies are precious. And she is so low functioning that she is practically a baby herself.
Deb Donnison commented on Aug 13 10 at 12:55 pmComments Who would think the State of Virginia, where the seat of our government resides has such ANTIQUATED Laws? Their court system allowed my brothers’ exwife to kidnap their 2 children (who exwife referes to as HER PROPERTY-who never touched her twins til 2 weeks after they were born, even at the demand of the hospital nurses telling her she needs to bond with the babies) and to take them out of state. She won’t let him see the kids and when he does, it’s a nightmare because of all the horrible things she has been telling them. This is clearly child abuse, kidnapping and fleeing out of state with kidnapped children.
I agree that this Bob guy is NUTS. Evedently the people of Virginia could care less that this nut is allowed to make important decisions. He should be RUN OUT OF TOWN.
Glad I live in Florida where kidnapping and crossing state lines ,without the other parents’ knowledge, is illegal and heavily punishable.
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