TAMPA, Florida — Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, the chair of the GOP convention platform committee, told reporters Monday that in light of recent embarrassing stories involving Republican lawmakers, he will warn his delegation to stay in line.
"I can say that I’m the chairman of the Virginia delegation and I will certainly talk to everybody about the fact that they represent eight million Virginians and we want to make sure they comport with highest standards of good behavior while they’re here — and my guess is that my colleagues will say the same thing as well," he said Monday, less than a day after POLITICO revealed that one GOP lawmaker was caught skinny-dipping in the Sea of Galilee last summer.
"I heard a little bit about the Sea of Galilee incident," McDonnell said. "The leadership in the House has spoken out correctly on that."
McDonnell explained his comments to his delegates, saying Republicans have to walk the walk to get independents on board in the fall.
"Because we think that it’s not only what we say on paper, but it’s how we act that makes a difference and whether or not people buy our message and independent voters champion our cause," he said.