McDonnell will have to defend himself against another quid-pro-quo during his governorship

The idea that lending a political candidate $50,000, $100,000, or a million dollars without an expectation of some form of return is as ridiculous as Gov. Bob McDonnell’s hair after he’s been cruising in Jonnie Williams’s luxury convertible. The game of politics is not a new one; the rules haven’t changed for thousands of years: you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.

Over the last few months, Virginians have become aware that a number of wealthy individuals have been scratching Gov. Bob McDonnell’s back. According to McDonnell, however, these “gifts” never amounted to political quid-pro-quos, they’re just friendly gestures! Right, and I’m Mickey Mouse.

Now, however, a new revelation has surfaced that might be the straw that broke McDonnell’s political career: Paul Davis, a Virginia Beach radiologist, lent $50,000 in 2010 to a real estate corporation owned by McDonnell and his sister, MoBo Real Estate Partners (this is the name of the corporation, not his sister). That same year, Dr. Davis was offered an appointment on the Radiological Technology Advisory Board, which Davis subsequently declined.

It is a story that is perhaps the most revealing to date about how McDonnell used his position as governor to reap benefits that aren’t typically thought of as ethical, or legal, under the historic-cultural umbrella of American politics.  

Among many of the interesting facts of this unfolding story, according to Davis, Bob McDonnell and his brother-in-law informed him that they were “behind in payments” on two beach houses they were owned by MoBo Real Estate Partners. Davis eventually agreed to make a $50,000 loan to “MoBo” as a “pure business loan.”

Even though the loan was a financial loan, Gov. McDonnell apparently felt compelled to offer Dr. Davis a role on one of Virginia’s influential medical boards, perhaps to blackmail and control Davis as much as to thank him for his generous financial support.  

Thus, this story provides a more cogent look at McDonnell as an enterprising business man with expensive tastes and a willingness to use the office of governor to promote both of the former. It also paints a picture of a man who thought he could get away with just about any political indiscretion as long as his actions were not blatantly evidencing an abuse of office.

McDonnell’s ‘defense’ for his behavior with Jonnie Williams was never convincing. Now, however, a clearer picture and pattern has formed around just who McDonnell is, and it’s not the ‘governor next door’. McDonnell is more like a rapacious wolf in sheep’s clothing who got too greedy and finally exposed himself before the people of Virginia.