Back in September 1996, here's how Paul Weyrich, President of the Free Congress Foundation and "an important strategist for the social and religious conservative movements," felt about George Allen and the issue of women at VMI (bolding added for emphasis):
A tragedy occurred in the State of Virginia last weekend for which the whole nation will pay. By a one-vote margin, the Board of Visitors of the Virginia Military Institute voted to end its 157 years as an all-male academy. Beginning with the 1997 school term, VMI will admit women.By the same 9-8 vote, the Board also rejected a plan to take the school private - a move by which the board could have avoided a court order requiring the admittance of women.
The Board of Visitors could have maintained VMI's all-male status by voting to take VMI private, thereby placing the school out of the reach of the court ruling. But the board voted not to. What was tragic about that narrow decision is that it was dictated not by what is right for the country, whose military VMI serves, nor by what was best for the students attending VMI, nor by the wishes of the alumni who were prepared to raise the money to buy the school, but by the liberal media and its accomplices in the political community.
Virginia's Republican governor, George Allen, who had originally supported VMI in its court case, changed his position a few days before the Board of Visitors meeting. Mr. Allen got a case of political correctness and declared VMI should not go private because the media would make it into a pariah institution. That statement was enough to tip the balance in favor of admitting women. Several of Mr. Allen's appointees to the Board of Visitors voted to reject the motion to take the school private.
Thanks, Mr. Allen - the supposed conservative Republican with national ambitions. We'll remember this when you seek whatever office it is you want after leaving office next year.
What is the excuse of the majority on the VMI Board? That their governor considers them an embarrassment? That they would be attacked by the national media? Just when are we going to get some people in this country who will say, "I don't care if we get attacked. This is the right thing to do. We are going forward"?The pseudo-macho majority on the VMI Board said they aren't going to change a thing at VMI when it admits women. Right. They claim that the tradition of treating freshmen cadets as rats, with shaved heads, will continue. It will never happen. But even if it did, I would be against it. Women, even if they desire this kind of punishment, should not be treated this way -and as The Citadel has proven, at the end of the day, they won't be.
It is all part of the effort to pretend that men and women are the same. It is the same sort of pretend world that the Soviets invented with their concept of the "new man." It defies reality. But this sort of fiction is permitted to continue because politicians such as Mr. Allen refuse to stand up and fight for what is right.
It is no wonder that Robert Bork was motivated to write his new book, "Slouching Toward Gomorrah." The culture is collapsing, not just because forces of evil such as elements of the media are pushing it in that direction, but because in public life there are no real men left who are willing to stand up and say "enough is enough."
Interesting, eh?
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not necessarily represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.
Get off it.
Gov. Allen didn't have a vote on the Board of Visitors. The overriding issue for consideration at the time was the threat that the Clinton Administration would pull ROTC funding.
I'm quite certain that you've never set foot on the VMI Post...just as I am certain that Paul Weyrich never did either.
So, move on and find someone/something else to slander.
No Macaca, Sherlocka.
This is the D. James Kennedy group, you know, Coral Ridge Ministries---"Dr. D. James Kennedy is the most listened-to Presbyterian minister in the world. His broadcast messages are televised from the nearly 10,000-member Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale to 40,000 cities and towns across the United States and nearly 200 nations." --
This is also a group in thick with the Dobson/Family Research crowd, one of the big groups in those Justice Sunday events where Bill Frist appeared:
Oh, oh, lookie here -- one of the guests is Ed Meese:
Justice Sunday III also included guest appearances by:
Dr. D. James Kennedy, Coral Ridge Ministries
Edwin Meese III, Heritage Foundation
A big part of the religious right very strongly believes women should stay at home, e.g., Phyllis Schafly types. If you go to a lot of their sites (including local church sites) you'll see that this tenet is a big deal. (Really well organized religions are sure to keep women subservient.)
Allen and His Women Thing[Kathryn Jean Lopez 09/14 11:52 AM]
I’m not looking to help Jim Webb out here in his senatorial aspirations. I want George Allen reelected to the Senate. But George Allen’s staff could help me out a little. They’re keeping on this Webb-misogynist line of attack (See Corner yesterday afternoon for more.). I can’t imagine how it’s a good idea. ***
Contrary to the e-mail I received from an Allen staffer yesterday, this press release directly points to the “ideas†in a Washingtonian magazine article he wrote almost 30 years ago. Allen’s campaign put the article up on their website.Mistake. It’s a compelling piece whose "central ideas" stand the test of time – and are of the type we’re still dealing with. Concerns about issues revolving around women in the military and in combat – standards (! No small thing), living condictions… are legitimate and should not be dismissed, which is the impression Allen’s camp is certainly giving me that he’s inclined to do if he thinks this magazine piece is such a big deal. Great way to keep a few Virginia vets home on Election Day.
That's my point exactly. I think Allen is going to tick off as many people as he gains.
I don't profess to know Virginia though I've been here since 1970. Some of the goofballs they vote for here . . .
Just a the Webb folks have pushed this racist crap about George Allen dating back to whether or not he wore a rebel flag in the 1970s, background information about article's most definitely written by Jim Webb are fair game.
Would you not say that people form an opinion on someone after learning a little about the background of that person?
When you meet someone on the street, you form an initial impression. Subsequent information regarding that person can change opinions.
The same holds true in elective politics. Just on a larger scale.
Allen's behaviors as a racist delegate and Governor are, first and foremost, from the late 80's and into the mid-90's. That's pretty recent, and tied to Allen's record as a Virginia politician.
Now Webb's record as a Navy official (ALL FOUR YEARS OF IT) are relevant. Oh, look-ee, that was under REAGAN, who praised Webb on numerous occasions! And even his writings are fair game, I'll give you that.
We can't help it that you guys fail to understand HOW to use it so that it doesn't come across as vicious personal smear that is not true to the candidate's real stance and record on important issues.
Y'all will pay the price for that kind of work on Nov. 7th. Virginia voters are not South Dakota voters, Dick.
I work in Charleston, West Virginia during the week as a corporate litigator. I live in Lexington, Virginia and maintain a home there. In a sense, I am a duel resident. I return to Lexington every weekend to take care of my father -- who is dying of multiple myeloma cancer.
In addition, my son lives in Martinsville. We spend our weekends together in Lexington. All in all, I spend as much time in Lexington, Va. as I do in Charleston, WV.
Lexington, Virginia is my hometown. I went to Lexington High School, graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1991 and later from Washington and Lee University School of Law.
So, I don't believe that my Virginia bona fides can be questioned. Additionally, I retain my Virginia voter registration. I have a longstanding background in Virginia politics.
I don't claim to be an expert on the VMI case but rather claim to profess more knowledge than most who have posted here on the subject. Personal knowledge overrides rhetoric most any time.
So, don't challenge me on this. You just don't have the facts and I do not know where you get your information.