A little more than two weeks ago, I wrote the following about Delegate Bob Marshall.
Marshall in the Middle
Has anyone noticed just how often Bob Marshall shows up right in the middle of all the recent hot button controversies? Marshall was first to the Virginia post in calling the health care bill unconstitutional. He was the first to ask for Michael Mann’s emails at UVA. And his requests for AG opinions and a gubernatorial executive order are referenced in the major stories about immigration. Want to know what’ll be in the headlines next week? Just find out what Bob is asking the AG to opine upon.
Yesterday, Ken Cuccinelli observed that Virginia could administratively decide to impose stricter regulations on abortion clinics. This observation came in a request for an opinion from Senator Ralph Smith and, surprise, surprise, Delegate Bob Marshall.
In the past, requests for an AG opinion have periodically been used to support and sharpen a policy agenda. But it’s becoming clearer by the day that Bob Marshall and Ken Cuccinelli have perfected the RFO (Request For Opinion) as a creative political strategem.
Bob’s requests for Ken’s opinion is framing a significant portion of the policy debate in Virginia.
And it enables the Attorney General to be far more visible and prominent than any of his predecessors.
It’s become a genuinely new entry in the Virginia political playbook.
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