Who is Gordon Klingenschmitt? Part 1

Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty’s direction to police chaplains to stick to non-sectarian prayer when acting in a governmental capacity has created quite a storm across our state. The news even led House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith and Delegate Charles Carrico to release statements attacking Governor Kaine for the actions of his Police Superintendent.

It is ridiculous enough that in a time of economic distress and war our elected officials would attempt to distract us with a non-issue, but simply Google the name of the man who is driving this issue and you will find that we have reached a whole new level of absurdity.

Gordon Klingenschmitt, who was convicted by a Navy court-martial in 2006, is the former Navy Chaplain whose cries were among the first on this issue, and continue to be the loudest and most vitriolic.  In a press release, Mr. Klingenschmitt created the “Attack Governor Kaine Bandwagon” upon which Delegates Griffith and Carrico now sit, calling the deeply religious Governor Kaine a “persecutor” and implying that the former missionary campaigned on his faith only to abandon it once elected Governor.

This issue is near and dear to Klingenschmitt, who faced the court-martial for disobeying a direct order and wearing his service uniform at a religious protest in front of the White House. Klingenschmitt was protesting the Navy’s non-sectarian prayer policy.

In his trial, Klingenschmitt’s boss, Capt. Norman Holcomb, head chaplain at Norfolk Naval Station where Klingenschmitt was stationed, described him as:

…untruthful, unethical, insubordinate, contemptuous of authority… and a totally frustrating independent operator.

Klingenschmitt’s defense did not call a single witness on the last day of his trial. Why? This article explains:

Commenting on why his attorneys called no witnesses in his defense Wednesday, Klingenschmitt said he reached that decision after hearing God’s voice three times the previous evening.

“In the trial of Jesus Christ, he never opened his mouth in his own defense,” the chaplain said

How did this man get the attention of the media, several elected officials and a number of church organizations? I’m not sure, but I do know this story gets better… Stay tuned for “Who is Gordon Klingenschmitt? Part 2.”

Enough is Enough

For the past several weeks the political news of the day, here in Virginia and around the United States, has centered on the same theme: We are awash in a sea of difficulty and while some work for solutions, they are hamstrung by a small few who use political games to block progress that offends their narrow-minded constituencies.

The economy and job creation, the war in Iraq, global climate change, stem cell research, each of these critical issues demands action and each is being held hostage by a group of fringe partisans who would sacrifice the greater good to preserve their political power.  They are creative, savvy and good at what they do, but they are wrong and they must be opposed. By whatever means necessary.

This blog is dedicated to fighting those in the Commonwealth of Virginia who stand in the way of progress.  There is no reasoning with these people, no consensus. Until they are marginalized or defeated Virginia will be stuck in the mud.

Enough is enough.