You may have read that Virgil Goode is opposing the expansion of SCHIP to millions more kids on the false grounds that it will allow illegal immigrants to receive benefits.
First, Goode's likely opponent, Democratic attorney Tom Perriello said in a statement, "Providing health care to low-income children is not just a question of good economics and good public health, it's a question of right and wrong and what we stand for as a society."Goode said he opposed the bill based on its cost and what he saw as lax citizenship requirements. "If my opponent wants illegal aliens to get health care paid for by hard working Americans, I'm opposed to that position," he said. "I opposed it before he was in the race."
Needless to say, what Goode says is not true. As an editorial writer in the Roanoke Times explained the other day:
The worst offense against truth has been the mindlessly repeated allegation that expanding SCHIP would allow more illegal immigrants to participate. Illegal immigrants never have been eligible, and the changes Congress has passed, and the president has vetoed, would not let them in.
Don't believe the Roanoke Times? How about Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah?
Many have suggested, in error, that our bill allows illegal immigrants to be covered under CHIP... Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, our legislation has specific language stating that no illegal immigrants will be covered... under Section 605, entitled No Federal Funding for Illegal Aliens... let me just read what it says... "Nothing in this Act allows Federal payment for individuals who are not legal residents. [Floor Statement by Senator Orrin Hatch, 9/27/07]
Or, how about Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa?
This bill does not make it easer for illegal immigrants to get benefits. The bill clearly states that funds cannot go to illegal immigrants. The desperate efforts I heard on the House side to suggest the bill makes it easier for illegal immigrants to get benefits simply strains credibility. [Senator Chuck Grassley Release, 9/26/07]
The bottom line is that in Virgil Goode, we have finally found the missing village idiot. Either that, or Goode is purposely spreading his falsehoods in order to cover up the fact that he has screwed poor kids in his district just to march lockstep with President Bush on this issue. Either way, it's a great reason to throw this bum out of office.
Speaking of which, the #1 "winner" in the Washington Post Virginia Politics blog this week was none other than Virgil "Village Idiot" Goode's Democratic opponent, Tom Perriello. You think Goode might be getting a bit worried?
P.S. In comparing Virgil Goode to a "village idiot," I mean no offense to villages or idiots everywhere.
grrrrrrrrrr tom has lenty of ammunition against Virgil-if only rh folks would listen.
We need some common sense Democrats to run. I don't know much about Virgil's opponent, but I hope he goes after Virgil by going straight after Virgil's base of good ole boy types who may be sick of the drunken sailor spending and crooked GOP antics.
After all, he served in the Mississippi legislature and was rumored to be thinking about a Senate run in 2006. He'd make a great spokesman for the Democratic Party.
Linda R. Monk
Author of The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution
www.lindamonk.com