Wade eyes Goode at a ribbon-cutting ceremony
The local papers have also started to get interested. Yesterday, the RTD dove in:
Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. of Virginia is facing political fallout from California Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham's acknowledgement of taking $2.4 million in bribes.Cunningham, a Republican who resigned from Congress, implicated the former president of defense contractor MZM Inc. in his guilty plea.
MZM's political action committee, company employees and immediate family members have given more than $89,000 to Goode, R-5th, since 2003.
In addition, the RTD has several of the congressman's lines of defense. Let's go through them each, shall we?
Goode said he has returned $600 that was sought by two MZM-linked donors in response to a letter he mailed out offering refunds. He would consider, he said, further suggestions about the money if [Democratic challengers Al] Weed, [Bern] Ewert or other citizens in his district wrote to him.
He wants suggestions from his challengers on what to do with the money? Shouldn't he be a bit more proactive himself - and have his own ideas on how to deal with allegedly tainted fundraising dollars? Regardless, it's notable that he recognizes that the money is problematic - as shown by these "letters." Any chance you might show one of these letters to the public, congressman?
Goode added that he has gotten letters from MZM-linked donors stating they gave their money freely and voluntarily and they support his effort
Wait a second - then what's the story with the $600 he returned?
Goode said that such leading Democrats as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California have received large donations from employees and political action committees of businesses in their states or districts -- and that the issue of campaign finance is a legitimate one.
Sure - but were any of those companies guilty of bribing a congressman? A nice attempt to muddy the water, but certainly an irrelevant point - a red herring, if you will.
"I don't have half a billion [dollars] or however much Jon Corzine has," he said, referring to the wealthy Democratic senator who won election as New Jersey governor. "I have to take donations."
Another red herring. Everyone takes donations. Not everyone takes them from a company neck deep in a bribery scandal.
After Cunningham's ties to Wade drew scrutiny earlier this year, Goode said his own efforts to help MZM were based on his opinion they did a good job and on the importance of bringing jobs to his district.
Does Goode own a fishery? Because he loves these red herrings. MZM could do the best job in the world, it's still an unethical company that bribes politicians. Also, this is wholly irrelevant to why so much of Goode's fundraising came from this company. Many companies do good work - only one "lead[s] his contributions list."
The challengers nail these points home, and blow these herrings out of the water:
About MZM and its political giving, Democrat Ewert said, "Because of the company's record, there is impropriety, and those funds in my opinion are therefore tainted regardless of what letters [Goode] has sent out." He plans to announce his candidacy on Saturday.Democrat Weed said, "We see a company that had a business practice of bribing congressmen. The question people will be asking is, 'What did MZM think it was getting when it was giving these big donations to Virgil Goode?'"
A question that will dog Virgil all through 2006. Say cheese, congressman!
Wade eyes Goode at a ribbon-cutting ceremony