First of all, thank you for speaking at the conference in Martinsville this weekend and helping to make it the success that it was.

At the conference, you spoke a bit about the Task Force focusing on gang violence that your office has worked with and how effective it has been. Do you feel there’s a way to build on this initiative? In the past weeks we’ve seen some troubling gang incidents and despite this program, many communities in Virginia feel the threat of gangs is greater than ever. What can our government and the citizens do to really put a lid on this violence?

Bob: My office is currently leading a major initiative in Richmond, funded by a federal grant (one of only 4 US Cities), to intensify efforts of law enforcement, prevention, and interdiction to curtail gang activity. The Richmond Police Chief has reported violent crime reductions of nearly 35% in the 10 targeted communities. We have 40 community partners from health care, faith-based, and civic organizations working with state,federal, and local law enforcement to target these dangerous criminals. We also have a gang task force in Northern Virginia focused on MS-13 and other dangerous gangs. Several weeks ago we announced a Shenandoah Valley Gang Initiative, and assigned a prosecutor to handle the multi-jursidictional grand jury investigations and indictments of gang members in the Valley.

In summary, we are aggressively pursuing partnerships with local and federal authorities to root out gang activity wherever it exists in Virginia.

Bob: The key is not to start at running for office, the key is to start encouraging civic activism and understanding of government in our schools and other institutions. It kills me that in 2005 47% of Virginians voted, but in Iraq, where my daughter serves today, roughly 70% of voters turned out, under the threat of violence. We need good people of all races to run for elected office who want to use their talents and abilities to make Virginia better.

P.S. I already suspect that your answer is going to be…”I’m just focusing on the AG’s office now and am trying to do the best job for the people of Virginia.”

Bob: Your suspicion is correct, the Attorney General’s office has 400 people and I’ve been working tirelessly to make the state’s law firm excellent. On the political front a top priority for me is the re-election of our great Senator George Allen, who has been one of the most pivotal figures in Virginia government over the last two decades. No Governor in recent history has accomplished as much as George Allen for Virginia, with the abolition of parole, truth-in-sentencing, welfare reform, high academic standards etc etc etc. It’s a record of outstanding results. Further, I want to see all of our Virginia Republican congressman re-elected, particularly Congresswoman Thelma Drake who represents Virginia’s most military friendly district.

Beyond that, I do have a distinct interest in the elections in 2009, and plan to be on the ballot. Being Attorney General is a great job, but I believe I can accomplish alot for the citizens of Virginia as Governor.

We had a meeting on August 15 with investigators from the Loudoun County Gang Intelligence Unit and they expressed the opinion they would be very much in favor of receiving such training if the “higher ups” would authorize it.

(My understanding is also that they don’t so much need the “training” – because most of them know what to do – but rather the certification to be allowed to help with cases that involved immigration law enforcement).

Can you provide any update on where those negotiations stand?

Bob: Joe, great to see (or at least blog with you) you
again. As long as ICE is understaffed in performing its mission, we must look for new ways to enforce laws dealing with illegal immigration, particularly those illegals who commit crimes in Virginia. I am continuing to work on this important public safety issue. I have spoken with ICE officials and others and continue to support additional tools for Virginia law enforcement.

Bob: I will have to look into the specifics of the hazardous duty supplement and what is occuring in the General Assembly. However, as you know I introduced legislation in my last year in the House, and again championed this year, to increase the retirement multiplier for law enforcement officers to 2.7%. This increase is needed to allow for the tools necessary to recruit and retain the best and brightest law enforcement officers. I will continue to work for passage of a bill to increase the multiplier for law enforcement officers.

At the time the explanation was passed, the Washington Post reported:

Several constitutional scholars and a House staff attorney who penned the original language for the committee said in interviews Wednesday that they believed the approved language went beyond the limits of state law.

The language “carries with it some problems under the neutrality standard . . . because it argues points that proponents and opponents have already brought before committees,” the attorney, Mary Spain, told the committee.

“Discretion is the better part of valor here,” said Carl Tobias, a constitutional law professor at the University of Richmond. ” . . . This could potentially be very misleading for voters, and that’s not neutral.”

You say the committee passed the lanuage with “strong-bipartisan support” but the vote was 12-6 vote (nays: Scott, Brink, Alexander, Sickles, Dance, Englin – all Democrats). Do you still believe that the explanation was neutral and not in violation of the Code?

As Attorney General for the Commonwealth, do you not have a responsibility to advocate for all of its citizens?

Bob: Virginia now has the tragic distinction of having 8 law enforcement officers who have fallen in the line of duty in 2006, the second highest total in the nation. It is a stark reminder that freedom is not free, and that the people in uniform that protect us 24 hours a day are doing truly dangerous and heroic work. My office is reviewing these and other law enforcement shootings to determine what statutory or other changes should be implemented. Currently, the killing of a law enforcement office is one of the 13 circumstances of murder which make a criminal eligible for the death penalty. I have regularly been encouraging all Virginians to go out of their way to thank our men and women in uniform for their unique service to protect the liberties of our people.

Bob: I appreciate the inquiries and concern from bloggers and everyday Virginians about the safety of my daughter, First Lieutenant Jeanine McDonnell. She has been in Baghdad for 11 months, and we expect her home safely during the first week in October. I am very proud of my daughter’s service to our nation, and for her hard work and bravery in the pursuit of the cause of freedom. I know Jim Webb’s son is heading to Iraq next week. On the issue of having a child in harm’s way, there are no Republicans and Democrats, there are just concerned parents and citizens. I wish him, and all our troops, well. Thanks for your concern.

Thank you very much. I look forward to your answer

COMBINED WITH

Attorney General McDonnell: I hear you and other proponents of the Marshall/Newman amendment posture on and on about protecting marriage. What exactly does my 22-year heterosexual marriage need protecting from? How exactly should my marriage be feeling threatened by the existence of my best friends’ over 20-year homosexual marriage? Finally, what do you suggest homosexuals who fall in love and want to build a life in Virginia together to include the possibility of raising children, owning a home together, providing for their children, and supporting and caring for their family through sickness and death do should this amendment pass?

Bob: I am combining these two questions to generally address the larger legal issues concerning the marriage amendment. The General Assembly has placed the ballot question before the citizens to raise to a level of constitutional protection several statutory provisions limiting marriage to one man and one woman and prohibiting civil unions and similar relationships. The amendment was proposed in the wake of the United States and Massachusetts Supreme Court decisions which created a concern that the state’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) might be invalidated on constitutional grounds.

Opponents have stated that the constitutional amendment will affect the ordinary civil rights of Virginians concerning wills, contracts, and advanced medical directives, as well as weakening protections for unmarried partners who are victims of domestic violence. I believe legally this is absolutely incorrect. The General Assembly’s Privileges and Elections committees passed an official explanation of the Amendment with a strong bi-partisan majority, Democrats and Republicans, agreeing with that legal analysis. The central issue is whether marriage in Virginia should remain between one man and one woman. That is what November’s vote is about.

Justice O’Connor applied the principal of heightened scrutiny in cases where the legislator was motivated by animus. The debate in the VA Legislature over HB 751, carried accusations that same-sex couples are incapabable of having a long-term relationships, that people will marry their pets, and that the “promotion of homosexuality” by government will lead society into chaos and anarchy. The VA4Marriage site, contains a letter from Dr. Dobson that constructs a false dichotomy between court wins for same-sex headed families and losses for “traditional” families.

“…they are redefining words, creating new laws and looking beyond the U.S. to the advantage of homosexuals and to the demolition of the traditional marriage and family.”

Do you sense animus in these portrayals of “non-traditional” families and their historic struggle for civil rights?

Bob- Howard, of course I never miss Extreme Mortman! My favorite blogs are the ones that say nice things about me……a little joke there. Actually between my staff and I we regulary peruse just about every blog out there on the right and left. This gives us a good pulse on what’s going on among grassroots activists in both political parties. On the left, Vivian has a great blog here, and was kind enough, at the Sorenson conference, to invite me on today. On the right Commonwealth Conservative on which I have live-blogged twice, is an old favorite.

Bob: Thus far we’ve announced the mission and general workplan for the Task Force, which will start in September and be a chief focus of my term as Attorney General. We have assembled a great group of leaders in three work groups on small business, healthcare, and agriculture to advise the Task Force. We have already recieved many recommendations on regulations to change or eliminate. I am delighted that Governor Kaine has endorsed our efforts to make Virginia’s regulatory code more fair and coherent. I welcome citizen input on this project, email regreform@oag.state.va.us to make your suggestions, this project will not work without the involvement of the citizens of Virginia

Bob: Alton, thank you for hosting this conference. This one, along with the one in C’Ville a few months ago, was a great opportunity to meet leaders in the blogging community. Look forward to continuing the dialogue on matters of policy and politics.

Do you see any ramifications of elevating a particular definition of marriage to the same status as the religious liberty clause in our Bill of Rights, given that some faiths and denominations define marriage more inclusively than others? Would you be willing to champion the repeal of Virginia code that prohibits the performance of a marriage ceremony by a faith leader without benefit of a civil marriage license?

A few minutes ago the Washington Post began reporting that Governor Kaine was considering banning smoking in all state buildings and cars. Do you support such an effort?

From the WaPo:

RICHMOND, Aug. 29 — Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) said Tuesday that he is “actively considering” ordering a ban on smoking in state government buildings and vehicles, a move that would affect 100,000 employees and inch the Commonwealth closer to a growing national consensus about the dangers of secondhand smoke.

P.S. I already suspect that your answer is going to be…”I’m just focusing on the AG’s office now and am trying to do the best job for the people of Virginia.”

We had a meeting on August 15 with investigators from the Loudoun County Gang Intelligence Unit and they expressed the opinion they would be very much in favor of receiving such training if the “higher ups” would authorize it.

(My understanding is also that they don’t so much need the “training” – because most of them know what to do – but rather the certification to be allowed to help with cases that involved immigration law enforcement).

Can you provide any update on where those negotiations stand?

First of all, thank you for speaking at the conference in Martinsville this weekend and helping to make it the success that it was.

At the conference, you spoke a bit about the Task Force focusing on gang violence that your office has worked with and how effective it has been. Do you feel there’s a way to build on this initiative? In the past weeks we’ve seen some troubling gang incidents and despite this program, many communities in Virginia feel the threat of gangs is greater than ever. What can our government and the citizens do to really put a lid on this violence?

Thank you very much. I look forward to your answer