Look closely at the 'source' on each of his attacks.

There's no doubt that we need comprehensive immigration reform. I think our starting point has to be enforcing laws that we know work while making sure that our enforcement strategies are not dehumanizing to immigrants, most of whom play by the rules and work hard in search of the American dream. The single best strategy for reducing illegal immigration is to reduce the availability of their jobs by holding employers accountable for hiring undocumented workers, starting with the most egregious cases. But I also believe we need to think beyond zero-sum games. For example, we need to work for better trade agreements and support international rights to organize so that we can help create job parity across borders to reduce the pull for illegal immigrants to this country and for our jobs overseas.

How you get amnesty and open borders from that is beyond me.  

Calling Virgil names, no matter how much he deserves it, is not the way to combat this. It isn't a question of right or wrong to me, it is a question of what will work. (That said, Jim, I fell your anger, so this isn't meant as a knock on your expressing your frustration and support of Tom).

I would also put together a lie busting fact sheet that is strong on documentation and eschews political argument as much as possible deconstructing each of these. Send it to every news outlet in the district. I suspect the Perriello folks are already doing this.

This should be accompanies by a second piece setting the record straight about Tom's actual policies on these issues.

There should also be a cover letter saying the media in the 5th District, no matter who they support, should favor people being told the truth.

Finally, Tom should get on the air ASAP saying something like:

"A recent ad broadcast by Virgil Goode lied about and distorted my record and positions. These are serious times that need serious solutions, not the usual political lies.  You deserve better than a congressman who favors oil companies at the expense of citizens, who takes money from lobbyists and who has failed to represent your interests in Washington, and then lies to you about it."

Or something like that - something that attacks the content, but not Goode.

Calling Virgil names, no matter how much he deserves it, is not the way to combat this. It isn't a question of right or wrong to me, it is a question of what will work.

You're absolutely right, and I'm glad to see you say that.

The nastiest thing about this ad isn't anything that's said, it's the image of him that's been used. The campaign has darkened his face, using a photograph of him with a full beard, to lead a reasonable viewer to conclude that Tom is of Middle Eastern extraction. Now, you and I may not consider that to be a damaging thing to say about us (what do I care if somebody thinks I'm Saudi?), but obviously in a political campaign in a district that's quite suspicious of such foreigners, that's quite a cudgel.

Perriello Campaign Calls on TV Stations to Pull Goode's Libelous Ad
Campaign and Lawyer to Hold Press Conference Monday at TV Studio

September 29, 2008-Ivy, VA-Today, the Perriello campaign released a letter (attached) from their lawyer to ad managers of television stations asking that they pull Rep. Virgil Goode's ad from the air for a verifiably false lie about Tom Perriello's position. The first negative attack ad of the race, Rep. Goode's ad falsely states that Perriello opposes offshore drilling, although he has been on the record supporting offshore drilling for months. In addition, it uses a doctored image of Perriello, adding hazy lines across his face.

"It's unfortunate, though not surprising, that Virgil Goode was the first one to go negative in this race. The economy is in freefall and he has no answer for the crisis except to put the lobbyists first; it's no wonder why Rep. Goode has nothing positive to say," said Jessica Barba, communications director for the Perriello campaign. "The fifth district deserves a leader who doesn't resort to lies and smears. We call on television stations who want to serve the public good to stand up against this libelous action and immediately pull the ad."

The Perriello campaign will hold a press conference on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. in front of WVIR studios (503 E. Market Street, Charlottesville) to discuss its legal action against this ad. For more information, please contact Jessica Barba at 434-882-4163 or jessica@perrielloforcongress.com.

Citations for Perriello's position on offshore drilling:

"'I support more drilling as one piece of a much bolder strategy for relief,' said Perriello." [Danville Register & Bee, "Perriello, Goode differ on offshore drilling," Arkin, 6/18/08]

"The fact is: I support drilling, too. I support drilling off the shelf and I think that we need to explore it." [Perriello, Sorensen Institute Candidate Forum, Danville, 9/3/08]

"Perriello, 33, said he too supports offshore drilling." [Daily Progress, "Goode, Perriello spar over oil," McNeill, 8/14/08]

"Like Goode, Perriello supports off-shore drilling." [Daily Progress, "A Fight in the 5th," McNeill, 8/16/08]

"...[Perriello] is not opposed to domestic drilling for oil and gas." [Daily Progress, "Energy focus of 5th Race," McNeill, 9/13/08]

"Regarding energy, both candidates said they support various offshore drilling..."  [Danville Register & Bee, "Goode, Perriello debate issues," Thibodeau, 9/4/08]

While the ad misrepresents Tom's position, I'm not quite sure how one argues that opposing offshore drilling damages one's reputation.

But perhaps I am missing something legally.

Litigation Overview:  

1. Slander, defamation and libel are all treated the same in Virginia.  
2. Defamation is a false statement of fact published or communicated to another person that causes injury to the reputation of the subject of the statement.  
3. Truth is an absolute defense to a defamation law suit
4. Some defendants will escape liability if they spoke made the statement to a person who had a reason to hear the statement and the defendant did not know the statement was false when it was said - this defense is known as a "qualified privilege."
5. In Virginia you must plead the exact words used
"Defamation per se" -- When the defamatory statement involves defamatory words that (1) impute commission of a criminal offense involving moral turpitude, (2) impute infection with some contagious disease, (3) impute unfitness to perform the duties of an office or employment, or want of integrity in the discharge of such duties, or (4) prejudice a person in his profession or trade, you do not have to prove damages as they are presumed, otherwise you must prove how the statement damaged you.

It's such a high bar that it doesn't merit the slightest bit of discussion. And in political campaigns, it's kind of like a campaign complaining that their signs are being stolen: it's a sign of amateur hour.

I've never read any case law regarding the concept of public figure thresholds. In a town of 100, are the ten most well-known people "public figures" within that town? In a market of 7,000,000, does a blogger with 5,000 regular readers count as a "public figure"? Would a newspaper columnist with 5,000 regular readers meet the same test? I don't know the answers to these questions, but I'd like to.

One of the ways you can help is by contacting the TV stations that are running this ad, and tell them you won't stand for it.

In Charlottesville:

WVIR, NBC 29: 434-220-2900
WCAV, CBS 19: 434-243-1919

In Roanoke/Lynchburg:

WSLS, NBC 10: 540-981-9110
WDBJ, CBS 7: 1-800-777-9325
WSET, ABC 13: 434-528-1313

Ask to speak with either the sales manager or the general manager.

they have no ability to pull the ad

I called Goode's HQ instead: 540-483-9030  

The lines must be hot with calls on his no vote, sounded busy..