[bandycpa]

Well, that didn't take long. Apparently, "misimpression" is the new term du jour.


Bandy


http://www.newsleader.com/article/20.../-s-punishment

Marshall backs off
'punishment' comments

RICHMOND — State Del. Bob Marshall said Monday he does not believe that disabled children are God's punishment for having an abortion.

Marshall, a Republican from Manassas, was responding to a Capital News Service story quoting remarks he made last week at a press conference to oppose state funding for Planned Parenthood.

The CNS story "conveyed the impression that I believe disabled children are a punishment for prior abortions," Marshall said in a statement posted on his Web site.

"No one who knows me or my record would imagine that I believe or intended to communicate such an offensive notion. I have devoted a generation of work to defending disabled and unwanted children, and have always maintained that they are special blessings to their parents.

"Nevertheless, I regret any misimpression my poorly chosen words may have created as to my deep commitment to fighting for these vulnerable children and their families."

On Thursday, Marshall spoke at a press conference in the General Assembly Building to urge the elimination of state funding for Planned Parenthood because the group's services include abortion.

At the news conference, Marshall said:

"The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children.

"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."

Marshall was among more than 20 people, mostly Christian pastors and clergy, who assembled for the press conference, which was held by a group called Virginia Christian Action. Its members presented a petition calling on Gov. Bob McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to stop funding for Planned Parenthood. All three top officials are Republican.

The petition was signed by a number of prominent Christian leaders, including the Rev. Jonathan Falwell of Lynchburg and the Rev. Pat Robertson of Virginia Beach.

McDonnell has publicly supported calls to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood. His predecessor, Democrat Tim Kaine, supported funding for Planned Parenthood.