Don’t Waste Time on Ken Cuccinelli

After two weeks of protests, I wouldn’t be surprised if some folks are a little worn out. First the Westboro Baptist Church loons visited. Then Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli offered his opinion (and then offered it again) that Virginia’s state colleges and universities needed to rescind their policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

After being faced down by hundreds Westboro hit the road to peddle their hate elsewhere. After his boss heard from thousands, Attorney General Cuccinelli got spanked.

The Attorney General is a distraction. He’s a man with an agenda, and little ability to implement it. His letter to college and university presidents was universally condemned. He must be watched, but our focus should be on the boss.

Bob McDonnell has the ability to do more than offer an unenforceable policy against employment discrimination. As Governor and the leader of Virginia’s Republican Party, he has the ability to make his policy law. The Governor can:

1. Expand his Executive Directive 1 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression. 
2. Expand the directive to provide protection to students at Virginia’s public colleges and universities. 
3. Issue an executive order that provides the force of law to his statements stating that employment discrimination is prohibited. 
4. Most important – Governor McDonnell can lead. He can work for the passage by the General Assembly of comprehensive legislation that prohibits discrimination not just on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, but also on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability and veteran’s status.  

The Attorney General’s letter was a political document expressing one man’s opinion. The Governor’s statement is an administrative directive expressing one man’s opposing opinion. If Governor McDonnell feels strongly about insuring equal treatment for state employees and students, he has the tools available to make his opinions law.