On Monday, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell addressed Rick Santorum’s comments about his concern with women serving in combat. Santorum said last week that having women on the front lines could compromise military effectiveness because of the emotions involved (via The Blaze):
“But I do have concerns about women in front-line combat, I think that could be a very compromising situation, where people naturally may do things that may not be in the interest of the mission, because of other types of emotions that are involved,” he said. “It already happens, of course, with the camaraderie of men in combat, but I think it would be even more unique if women were in combat, and I think that’s probably not in the best interest of men, women or the mission.”
Santorum later clarified that he was talking about men’s protective instinct for women and that he was not saying women were too emotional to fight. McDonnell said on CNN that he accepts his explanation:
I accept the Senator’s explanation, if that’s what he meant. There was at least an inference to the contrary that women are not up to speed and aren’t capable of leading. That I disagree with. That’s the context of my remarks. I accept his explanation.
