Brian Moran: "Uncomfortable" with gay marriage; voted for Bob McDonnell anti-gay resolution

Brian Moran, the pro-gay-rights candidate in the Democratic field? The Moran campaign is certainly pushing that line hard. Unfortunately for them, a reporter is doing a great job and has discovered some interesting, relevant information on this subject:

In 2004, Moran cast a vote in favor of a resolution sponsored by now Republican nominee Bob McDonnell that encouraged the U.S. Congress to adopt an amendment to the federal constitution banning both gay marriages and civil unions. The voting history on the resolution, a companion to a senate resolution sponsored by now attorney general candidate Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, is complex.

Moran had three opportunities to vote on the issue during the 2004 legislative session. Once, the General Assembly's records showed that he did not vote. Next, he voted against the resolution. But on the last vote, on March 10, 2004, he voted for the idea.

So, Brian Moran opposed not just gay marriage but also civil unions. But first he supported them. Or something.

But wait, it gets funnier. Check out the "dog ate my homework" excuse by the Moran campaign:

...His spokesman Jesse Ferguson said today that his vote in favor of the measure doesn't "accurately reflect Brian's position" and raised the possibility that his vote might have been incorrectly recorded or that he might have accidentally hit the button for "yes" when he intended to vote "no."

It does happen in the General Assembly that delegates hit the wrong button when voting. And it's true that Moran was voting against measures dealing with amending the Virginia constitution in the same time frame. But usually lawmakers who hit the wrong button notice the error and ask that the vote be retaken before the matter is saved for posterity.

Unbelievable. But wait, the story gets even MORE absurd!

UPDATE: In a Washington Times story that ran on Jan. 24, 2004, Moran explained why he did not vote on the resolution. "Those of us that are uncomfortable with the state recognizing a gay marriage would have difficulty not supporting the resolution. But the fact is it's premature. It was a loaded resolution, and we really need to spend more time on the issues that are before us," he told the Times.

Aside from the convoluted, nearly incomprehensible syntax (do they teach English in Boston?), the bottom line is that Brian Moran was "uncomfortable with the state recognizing a gay marriage" and "would have difficulty not supporting the resolution ["by...Bob McDonnell that encouraged the U.S. Congress to adopt an amendment to the federal constitution banning both gay marriages and civil unions."]." Doesn't sound very pro-gay to me.

Flash forward to 2009, with Brian Moran trying desperately to win a primary where turnout could be largely comprised of the liberal activist base. All of a sudden, he's morphed from supporting a FEDERAL BAN on gay marriage and/or civil unions into the gay rights candidate extraordinaire, the champion of gay marriage and/or civil unions. Suuuuure. Just like the guy who voted for the Wise County coal-fired power plant, for offshore natural gas exploration, for "clean coal" technology (defined explicitly as NOT including carbon capture and sequestration), and for increased construction of oil refineries in Virginia is now the environmentalist candidate in the race. And if you believe that, I've got a nice coal-fired power plant in Surry County to sell you.