He can file lawsuits on the HC bill, but not this? I hate him more than Bob, he's a bigot and just nuts...VA will regret ever voting for this clown.



Gov. Bob McDonnell appeared to distance himself today from Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's stance on a lawsuit brought by the father of a slain serviceman.

On Tuesday Cuccinelli's office announced that it is not joining 48 other states in filing a supporting legal brief on behalf of Albert Snyder, the father of a Marine killed in Iraq. Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas, a hate group, picketed the Marine's funeral in Maryland.

While not explicitly criticizing his fellow Republican's decision not to file a brief on behalf of the father, McDonnell's spokesman said today:

"The decision to join an amicus brief is made by the office of the attorney general. The governor finds both Fred Phelps and his organization abhorrent."

Albert Snyder, the father of slain Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, won a $5 million lower-court verdict against the Rev. Fred Phelps and his church after the church group picketed and held up hateful signs at the son's funeral.

But the Richmond-based 4th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision on free-speech grounds. Snyder has appealed that reversal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The statement from McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin noted that: "As attorney general, he supported successful legislation making it illegal to disrupt funerals or memorial services, and he threatened the group with arrest or prosecution if they violated that statute. As a veteran, and the father and son of veterans, the governor will not tolerate any disruption of military funerals."

Martin declined to comment when asked whether the governor disagreed with the attorney general, who cited free-speech grounds as a rationale for not joining the other states in support of a legal brief on behalf of the father.

Among other things, the church pickets funerals of American service members, claiming God has killed them for defending a nation of "sodomite hypocrites."

Del. Ward L. Armstrong, D-Henry County, the House Democratic leader, sharply criticized Cuccinelli today for not filing a brief in support of Snyder's position. Maine is the only other state not to do so.

"It's beyond the pale," said Armstrong.

Armstrong said free speech is not unlimited.

"You can't yell fire in a crowded theater," he said. "You can't disrupt a teacher in a classroom. You can't advertise cigarettes on television."

Cuccinelli is pursuing an agenda that is making Virginia "a laughingstock," he said, during a conference call with reporters.

Cuccinelli noted that Virginia already has a law curbing disruptive behavior at funerals. That is the law McDonnell referred to in his statement. Both Cuccinelli and Armstrong voted for the law in 2006.

McDonnell appears to distance himself from Cuccinelli&#39s stance | Richmond Times-Dispatch