The Virginia gubernatorial debate is going on (a live stream is available here) and moderator David Gregory kicked off the questions by asking Republican nominee Bob McDonnell about his single worst Achilles’ heel: The thesis he wrote in grad school, in which the 34-year old McDonnell denounced working women.
McDonnell responded by citing his own personal family life: His wife has been a working woman and mother for his whole political career, and he encouraged all three of his daughters to pursue master’s degrees. He especially cited his oldest daughter, Jeanine, who has served in the Army in Iraq.
“I would say that’s the ultimate working woman,” said McDonnell. “I supported her going into the military and being able to defend this nation, and I’m proud of her.”
Deeds then responded: “I didn’t write when I was 34 years old that working women are a detriment to the family. I didn’t write when I was 34 years old that Roe v. Wade ought to be overturned. I didn’t write when I was 34 years old that contraception decisions ought to be subjected to the government.”
Gregory asked Deeds why he didn’t raise this in 2005, when McDonnell narrowly defeated him for state Attorney General. Deeds continued with the point that McDonnell’s whole record of staunch social conservatism was predicted by the thesis — and said it was a mistake to not know about it. “The thesis puts in context his entire record,” he said. “Now we didn’t know about the thesis in 2005. I’ll take responsibility, we didn’t have that research done.”
And Deeds accused McDonnell of willful dishonesty: “It contains a provision that says people don’t want this kind of leadership, they’re not ready for this kind of leadership, and you can’t tell them what you’re gonna do until you’re elected.”
McDonnell insisted again that he does not oppose working women. “I support equal pay for women,” he said. “I support equal pay for any other character, other than merit.”
