Delegate Apologizes Del. Vincent F. Callahan Jr. tearfully apologized today to fellow House members and said he would no longer give the annual lampoon speech.

By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 13, 1998; Page B01

RICHMOND, March 12 – It began as the latest chapter in Del. Vincent F. Callahan Jr.'s annual lampoon of fellow House members, a roast of a floor speech in which no one is left unscathed.

But by the time Callahan had wrapped up a monologue in which he said one female colleague's "pinup photo . . . regaled horny GIs" and referred to another member's menstrual cycle, the Fairfax Republican had become the latest target of a growing number of female lawmakers who say they're tired of inappropriate comments by the good ol' boys who run the General Assembly.

Del. Vincent F. Callahan Jr.

"We have got to step back from the line of improper insults. . . . Let's step back from the line of crudeness. . . . Sexual harassment of all nature needs to end," Del. Vivian E. Watts (D-Fairfax) said on the floor today moments after Callahan's performance, which several male delegates – including House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr. (D-Norfolk) – said offended them as well.

"It goes on year after year with all of his remarks, sexual innuendo, crudeness," Watts said later. "It just has no place on the House floor."

The episode reflected in part the rising tension in a legislature rushing to deal with dozens of bills before Saturday's scheduled adjournment, and it followed an unrelated flare-up in which the House's lone black Republican ripped the Assembly's black caucus over a perceived snub.

"We are working day and night, and it's not unusual for people's fuses to be a little shorter," said Democratic floor leader C. Richard Cranwell (Roanoke).

But some lawmakers said the reaction to Callahan's comments also symbolized the gulf between many of the legislature's 22 women – a record number – and 118 men. For generations, naughty, fraternity-house humor has punctuated the male-dominated legislature.

Callahan, 66, a 30-year lawmaker who made his first satiric, session-ending speech 13 years ago, said Watts was being too sensitive.

"I'm flabbergasted that someone would be so thin-skinned . . . that we can't laugh at ourselves anymore," he said. "In this age of political correctness, people can't say what they want because they're worried about hurting people's feelings."

He suggested Watts owed him an apology. "She, in effect, challenged my integrity," he said.

"I'm incredulous," said Watts, 57, when told of Callahan's later remarks. She said she also was offended by Callahan's end-of-session speech last year, in which – according to Watts – he said another male delegate would like to "jump-start Vivian Watts."

She said she did not call Callahan on it then because she thought "it would be forgotten as, 'Vivian's being oversensitive.'"

She added that she thought Callahan would tone down his speech this year after a Washington Post article last week highlighted remarks Del. Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) made March 5 about Del. Jeannemarie Devolites (R-Fairfax).

In a floor speech, Armstrong impersonated President Clinton and jokingly said Devolites was "coming over to my place later." At a party that night, again in jest, he compared Devolites to former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky.

Devolites said the comments – particularly those made on the House floor – humiliated her. Armstrong apologized to Devolites the next day, saying he never meant to offend anyone. Devolites said she also found some of Callahan's remarks offensive.

Callahan's speech today skewered virtually everyone in the House, including Speaker Moss, who was clearly not amused by his comments. Among them: "You should know . . . that at least six women have been seen wearing T-shirts that say, 'I worked on the speaker's staff.'"

"This speech was worse than last year's," an irate Moss said afterward. "That's the last time that's going to happen!"

Moss said he would prevent such orations in the future, citing a House rule that says, "No member shall in debate use any language or gesture calculated to wound, offend or insult any member."

"If he doesn't want me to do it, I won't do it again," Callahan said.

After her floor speech, Watts got a note from a female legislative aide, thanking her for voicing objections that "one always feels humorless and obstructive" in expressing. Watts said that several male House members also praised her for speaking out.

Callahan's remarks weren't the only source of tension on the floor today. Del. Paul C. Harris (Charlottesville), the legislature's only black Republican, blasted the nine House members of the legislative black caucus for not inviting him to take part in a floor ceremony honoring Newport News resident Robert Jones, an African American who last year received the Navy Cross for his World War II service.

Harris, who said he is the only black House member to have served in the military, said it was "an affront" that he was not asked to participate. Several black caucus members noted that Harris had declined an invitation to join their group.

Caucus Chairman Jerrauld C. Jones (D-Norfolk) said that Harris has made a point of not wishing to be singled out for his race.

"But now, it seems to me he is asking to be treated specially," Jones said.