Weekly Standard Attacks Virginia Reactionary...Creigh Deeds?

The Weekly Standard is firing back at Democrats and the Washington Post for hammering away at Bob McDonnell, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, over his hard-right thesis/political manifesto that he wrote at age 34.

The Standard has now unearthed some campaign literature from Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds, published in a 1999 legislative campaign, in which Deeds defended his qualifications as a social conservative, after his opponent accused him of supporting "special rights" for gays:

NO SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR GAYS
I don't believe in discrimination, but I don't believe in special rights for anyone. I have never voted to allow gay partners to receive medical insurance -- or any other benefit -- from the state. It's sad that Mr. Collins has to resort to bigotry and hate-mongering.

Granted, it's not as bad as the out-and-out theocracy from the McDonnell thesis, but the Standard sees the opportunity to drive a wedge into the Dem coalition, saying the comment "might shock the sensibilities of socially liberal Northern Virginians."

TPM has contacted the Deeds campaign for comment, but they do not have a comment as of this time.