I'm sorry, but Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia doesn't get a pass from me for his feeble attempt to put out the firestorm he and his Attorney General have created over eliminating protections for gays and lesbians in Virginia.
Former governors Warner and Kaine (both Democrats) included sexual orientation as a protected class in their anti-discrimination executive orders.
However, upon taking office McDonnell refused to include sexual orientation as a protected class in his executive order.
I'm certain that is what gave Attorney General Cuccinelli the impetus to write to Virginia higher education officials and tell them they lacked the legal authority to include GLBT protections in their policies.
So what does McDonnell do?
"I hereby direct that the hiring, promotion, compensation, treatment, discipline and termination of state employees shall be based on an individual's job qualifications, merit and performance," the McDonnell directive reads. "No employee of the Executive branch shall engage in any discriminatory conduct against another employee."
I'm sorry, but all I read here is that he's saying you shouldn't discriminate, but he's not going to include gays and lesbians as specifically named classes, nor is going to make it illegal.
And since gays and lesbians aren't protected by Virginia's anti-discrimination orders, he can certainly make the case that his directive doesn't include them since it's not discrimination to treat them differently.
All I can say is "thanks for nothing". BIG FAIL