Bob McDonnell Opposes Marshall's Bid to Bar Gays from National Guard

I have addressed in previous posts the threat by Del. Bob Marshall - one of the puss filed boils on the rump of Virginia politics - to introduce frivolous legislation in the coming session of the Virginia General Assembly aimed at barring gays from membership in the National Guard notwithstanding Congress' repeal of DADT over the weekend. While certainly no friend of LGBT Virginians, Governor Bob McDonnell has stated that he does not support Marshall's latest anti-gay effort. Perhaps McDonnell realizes that Marshall's bill even if enacted would fall in the face of federal regulations. Or perhaps he even has come to recognize the generational changes taking place in terms of LGBT acceptance. Or, more likely, he has aspirations for higher office and realizes that gay bashing is becoming a losing proposition. Even a majority of Republicans in recent polls have supported the end of DADT. Here are highlights from WAVY-TV 10 on McDonnell's statements on this issue:
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Gov. Bob McDonnell says he would not support an effort to ban gays from serving in the Virginia National Guard.
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After Congress voted over the weekend to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the U.S. military, Republican Del. Robert Marshall of Manassas said he would introduce legislation to ban gays from the Guard.
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On his monthly question-and-answer show on WTOP radio in Washington, McDonnell said Tuesday that he disagrees with Congress' vote to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy based upon his own military service. But he thinks the state's National Guard should adhere to federal guidelines.
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Again, if McDonnell has dreams of running for higher office, he needs to court moderates and independents, the vast majority of whom support DADT repeal and are not fans of gay bashing as a GOP blood sport.