Virginia Candidate Visits George Washington University

While speaking with young Republicans at George Washington University, Virginia gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell refused to discuss the controversial, conservative arguments he made in his college thesis, opinions that were made public earlier this month and might jeopardize the success of his campaign, the GW Hatchet reports.

In the thesis, McDonnell expressed negative views of working women, feminists, and homosexuals. Many political strategists argue that McDonnell needs the female vote to win the November election. McDonnell, a 14-year Virginia General Assembly veteran, has tried to distance himself from the thesis, telling the Washington Post that, "like everybody, my views on many issues have changed as I have gotten older."

During his speech at the GW College Republicans' fall semester kickoff event, McDonnell said he wants to tap working mothers as a resource to help simplify state government. "My wife has convinced me when I'm elected governor we're going to have a working mom government simplicity task force so all the smart women in Virginia can help tell me how to run Virginia," McDonnell said. "[They will] help cut down some of that bureaucracy."

When asked by a member of the media after his speech, McDonnell said he proposed that idea to his team before his thesis, which criticizes working mothers as "detrimental" to families, was made public.

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