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Those allegations were that he was gay, and that several
voicemail messages he left on a phone sex service
came into the possession of gay activists, who posted
one on their blog.
Schrock said only: “In recent weeks, allegations
have surfaced that have called into question my ability
to represent the citizens of Virginia’s Second
Congressional District.” He would not elaborate
on the allegations.
Over the past two weeks, a Washington-based Web site
has spread claims that Schrock was gay. Rogers said
on his Web site that Schrock had been recorded several
years ago using a telephone service on which men place
ads to arrange liaisons with other men, the Washington
Post reported on page 2 Tuesday.
Michael Rogers, who runs the site, told a local paper
he posted the allegations because of what he described
as Schrock’s anti-gay voting record.
“No one doubts that it’s him,”
Rogers said. “It’s pretty clear that he’s
trying to hide from people what the truth is. He had
no way out of this.”
Rep. Schrock was one of several dozen to cosponsor
the Federal Marriage Amendment of July 2004, which
aimed to constitutionally prohibit gay marriage.
The alleged tape one of Schrock’s calls is
now available on the Internet, at BlogActive.
Raw Story's transcript of the tape is as follows
(click here to access
the audio file).
"Uh, hi, I weigh 200 pounds, I'm 6'4" (inaudible)
blond hair....very muscular, very buffed up, uh, very
tanned, uh, I just like to get together a guy from
time to time, just to, just to play. I'd like him
to be in very good shape, flat stomach, good chest,
good arms, well hung, cut, uh, just get naked, play,
and see what happens, nothing real heavy duty, but
just, fun time, go down on him, he can go down on
me, and just take it from there... hope to hear from
you. Bye."
Rep. Schrock was one of several dozen to cosponsor
the Federal
Marriage Amendment of July 2004, which aimed to
constitutionally prohibit gay marriage.
A ranking Daily Kos member noted, "The National
Journal ties him as the second most conservative person
in all of Congress in 2003, behind only Dennis Hastert.
A strong family man with a wife and kids, Schrock
was a co-sponsor of the Federal Marriage Amendment
and opposes any possible rights for gay people, including
non-discrimination in employment."
The Virginia Pilot reported in October 2000 that
Schrock favored ending the Clinton administration's
''don't ask, don't tell'' policy on gays in the military,
BlogActive noted.
"He supports asking enlistees whether they have had
homosexual experiences in an effort to to try to keep
gays from serving. 'You're in the showers with them,
you're in the bunk room with them, you're in staterooms
with them,' Schrock said."
Schrock has a 92 percent vote rating from the Christian
coalition, a 100 percent voting record for the right
to life movement, and a zero percent rating from the
Human Rights Campaign.
Schrock said he would not seek reelection in a press
release.
"After much thought and prayer, I have come to the
realization that these allegations will not allow
my campaign to focus on the real issues facing our
nation and region," Schrock said
"Therefore, as of today, I am stepping aside and
will no longer be the Republican nominee for Congress
in Virginia's Second Congressional District." All
three of Rep. Schrock's offices stopped taking phone
calls on Friday.
Here's some information on Schrock from his House
biography.
Congressman Ed Schrock represents Virginia's Second District which comprises
the cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk (part) and
Hampton (part) and the counties of Accomack and
Northampton on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. He was
sworn in on January 7, 2003 for a second-term.
In Congress, Mr. Schrock serves on the House Armed
Services, Budget, Small Business, and Government
Reform Committees. In 2003, Mr. Schrock was chosen
to serve as Chairman of the Regulatory Reform and
Oversight Subcommittee of the House Committee on
Small Business. In this capacity, Mr. Schrock works
to address federal regulations and policies that
hinder the ability of American small businesses
to compete and provide excessive financial and paperwork
burdens on small business owners.
Mr. Schrock also serves on four other subcommittees
and the Postal Reform Task Force. In his first term
in Congress, Mr. Schrock was elected President of
the Republican Freshman Class. He founded and remains
a co-chair of the House Navy/Marine Corps Caucus
and the House Special Operations Forces Caucus.
The Navy/Marine Corps Caucus was formed to advocate
the issues important to the Navy and Marine Corps,
their members and their families. The House Special
Forces Caucus supports issues related to Special
Operations Forces, including the Navy SEALs, Army
Airborne, and Air Force Special Operations.
Ed Schrock was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio
and is married to the former Judith Adnee Crawford
of Long Beach, California. Judy is retired, after
teaching children for almost thirty years, including
teaching kindergarten in the Norfolk Public School
System for fifteen years. The Schrocks have one
son, Randy. They reside in the Witchduck neighborhood
in Virginia Beach and are active members of Atlantic
Shores Baptist Church.
DEVELOPING...
*** Correction: An earlier headline said that Congressman
Schrock had cosponsored the Defense of Marriage Act,
which was in error. Schrock cosponsored the Federal
Marriage Amendment, a more restrictive measure aimed
at constitutionally banning gay marriage, in July
2004.
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