Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall is under fire for remarks he made about disabled children. But today he defended his words before lawmakers in Richmond. While he admits he could have chosen better words, he stands by the comments.
There is an internet movement to throw Marshall out of office, with hundreds signing online petitions calling on him to resign.
Today he told NewsChannel 3 "Hell no." when asked if he would quit.
"I don't mind taking flack for words I said but something I never did...that's not correct."
The lawmaker is unapologetic, saying news reports twisted his words.
Marshall ignited the firestorm at a news conference last Thursday organized to promote cutting state funds to Planned Parenthood.
But it was how he framed his argument against abortion that angered parents of children who have disabilities.
"The comments attributed to me or put in my mouth by a college news service with respect to children and being handicapped I never said."
Our sister station WTVR has a copy of the tape of that event:
"The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion who have handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, Nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children"
'Vengence on children' is what people heard, but Marshall says the second part of his comments would have clarified what he was trying to say.
"In the Old Testament, the first-born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord . There's a special punishment Christians would suggest, and with the knowledge they have from faith has been verified by a study by the Virginia Commonwealth University."
Paige Shaw, mother of four, chose not to abort her 13 year old son PJ, even though she knew he would be born with disabilities.
She thinks Delegate Marshall just doesn't get it.
"if he understood a little bit more he would know who he's hurting making these comments. Then he would think twice or three times about the comments that he's making."
Advocates of the disabled tell NewsChannel 3 that perhaps Delegate Marshall could use some sensitivity training. He said in a phone interview he doesn't need it.
Fellow Republican Governor Bob McDonnell also denounced his comments, calling them offensive.
To that Marshall said the governor was likely misinformed like everyone else.
There is an internet movement to throw Marshall out of office, with hundreds signing online petitions calling on him to resign.
Today he told NewsChannel 3 "Hell no." when asked if he would quit.
"I don't mind taking flack for words I said but something I never did...that's not correct."
The lawmaker is unapologetic, saying news reports twisted his words.
Marshall ignited the firestorm at a news conference last Thursday organized to promote cutting state funds to Planned Parenthood.
But it was how he framed his argument against abortion that angered parents of children who have disabilities.
"The comments attributed to me or put in my mouth by a college news service with respect to children and being handicapped I never said."
Our sister station WTVR has a copy of the tape of that event:
"The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion who have handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, Nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children"
'Vengence on children' is what people heard, but Marshall says the second part of his comments would have clarified what he was trying to say.
"In the Old Testament, the first-born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord . There's a special punishment Christians would suggest, and with the knowledge they have from faith has been verified by a study by the Virginia Commonwealth University."
Paige Shaw, mother of four, chose not to abort her 13 year old son PJ, even though she knew he would be born with disabilities.
She thinks Delegate Marshall just doesn't get it.
"if he understood a little bit more he would know who he's hurting making these comments. Then he would think twice or three times about the comments that he's making."
Advocates of the disabled tell NewsChannel 3 that perhaps Delegate Marshall could use some sensitivity training. He said in a phone interview he doesn't need it.
Fellow Republican Governor Bob McDonnell also denounced his comments, calling them offensive.
To that Marshall said the governor was likely misinformed like everyone else.
