Conservative Babylon

Mike Duvall (R-Yorba Linda, Calif.)

Speaking of Sempra Energy, the company was quick to issue a statement:

“Sempra Energy takes very seriously any reports involving the conduct of our employees. We are investigating this matter and the recent media reports that named one of our employees. The employee has denied the speculative media reports. Our investigation will be conducted to ensure not only that our policies on employee conduct are strictly adhered to, but also that our employee is treated fairly.”

Immediate blowback: Assembly Speaker Karen Bass yanked Duvall off the Assembly Rules and Utilites and Commerce committees, and instructed the ethics committee to review the video.

(Oh, did we forget to mention Duvall was on the Rules committee, too? And that the Rules committee oversees the ethics of Assemblymembers? Well, he was, and it does!)

Duvall then resigned from office altogether, and issued an “apology”:

“I made a mistake and I sincerely apologize. I deeply regret the comments I made in what I believed to be a private conversation. This is a private matter and I ask that everyone respect the privacy of all involved.”

Gee, Mike, maybe you should have thought about the privacy of others before you stuck your big, fat nose in the personal lives of gay and lesbian Californians, eh? Then maybe we wouldn’t be so interested in your personal life now. Ever think about that, Mike?

No, we guess you didn’t. So — sorry (not)! — but all bets are off.

On his campaign site (which, like his official Assembly site, was all but completely scrubbed by end of day, September 9, 2009), his statement read:

“I am deeply saddened that my inappropriate comments have become a major distraction for my colleagues in the Assembly, who are working hard on the very serious problems facing our state. I have come to the conclusion that it would not be fair to my family, my constituents or to my friends on both sides of the aisle to remain in office. Therefore, I have decided to resign my office, effective immediately, so that the Assembly can get back to work.”

What he said on the live mic: See “Memorable quotes,” below. We don’t want to repeat every word here — some of it’s really gross (involving bodily fluids) — but you can watch/listen to the unedited video of the meeting (put your headphones on and turn up the sound), courtesy of The California Channel. Duvall’s dirty talk (and his bragging about how one of his mistresses was 18 or 19 years his junior) starts about 29 minutes in. It’s worth watching just for the reactions of his colleagues when the entire body hears the last of his remarks. (KCAL also offers mercifully abbreviated coverage.)

Memorable quotes:

Freshman Assemblyman Michael D. Duvall issued the following reaction to the California Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate the state’s recognition of marriage between one man and one woman:

“I am disappointed the Supreme Court has decided today to disregard the opinion of an overwhelming majority of California voters and overturn Proposition 22. I look forward to supporting the California Marriage Protection Act that will hopefully appear on the November ballot and amend the State Constitution, so we can end this debate once and for all.”

— “Duvall Disappointed With State Supreme Court Ruling On Proposition 22″
Press release, May 15, 2008

“Assemblyman Duvall has been a consistent trooper for the conservative causes. For the last two years, he has voted time and time again to protect and preserve family values in California. We are grateful for his support of California families.’”

— Karen England
President, anti-gay Capitol Resource Institute
March, 2009
(Read more about CRI here and especially here)

“She wears little eye-patch underwear… So, the other day she came here with her underwear, Thursday. And
 so, we had made love Wednesday, a lot! And so she’ll, she’s all, ‘I am going up and down the stairs, and you’re — out of me!’ So messy!”

. . .

“So, I am getting into spanking her. Yeah, I like it. I like spanking her. She goes, ‘I know you like spanking me.’ I said, ‘Yeah! Because you’re such a bad girl!”

. . .

“And so her birthday was Monday. I was 54 on June 14, so for a month, she was 19 years younger than me. I said, ‘Now, you’re getting old. I am going to have to trade you in.’ And she goes, ‘[I'm] 36.’ She is 18 years younger than me. And so I keep teasing her, and she goes, ‘I know you French men. You divide your age by two and add seven, and if you’re older than that, you dump us.’”

. . .

“Oh, yeah, [unintelligible], oh yeah, she is hot! I talked to her yesterday, she goes, ‘Are we finished?’ I go, ‘No, we’re not finished.’ I go, ‘You know about the other one, but she doesn’t know about you!’”

— Mike Duvall, caught on tape
July 8, 2009

Fun facts:

• Running for Yorba Linda City Council in 2000, Duvall’s top priority was to “Restore ethical behavior, responsibility and accountability to City Council.”

• Rated 100% by hardcore right-wing California Republican Assembly (2008).

• Named “Legislator of the Year for 2008″ by the California Attractions and Parks Association, “for his opposition to Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed ‘fun tax.’” Good thing there was no “fun tax” on the private little “amusement park” for two (or three) you were operating, eh, Mikey?

(See how Duvall scored with dozens of other interest groups here.)

As of this writing (September 9, 2009): Details are still breaking (like the name of the other lobbyist), so expect to see plenty more about Mike Duvall. Stay tuned!

Suggested Bible reading for Mr. Duvall:

For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.

— Job 15:34

Filed under: Duvall, Mike