ThinkProgress received a response to Goode's comments from Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA): "It sounds like Virgil is having some sort of existential crisis. There's no 'real' or 'fake' Virginia. We're all Virginians regardless of our political views."
This just in from Think Progress:
Yesterday at a campaign rally in Pittsylvania County, Virginia Del. Don Merricks (R) spoke about his support for Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA), echoing recent remarks by McCain campaign surrogate Nancy Pfotenhauer that "real Virginia" is only where McCain is winning. Both Merricks and Goode implied that the "real Virginia" is where people are "philosophically in-tune" with Republicans:
Merricks: There's a lot in the national headlines about real America. Folks, this is real Virginia, right where we are. And Virgil represents real America and real Virginia.
Goode: "I can't tell you how important it is to have a philosophically in-tune group representing you in the Virginia General Assembly. They work together well. You can go up to Fairfax County and they probably got 4 or 5 different factions up there.
Goode and his surrogates are going all-out on the "real Virginia" vs. New York meme. From today's Martinsville Bulletin http://www.martinsvillebulleti... :
"Anyone who suggests that Virgil Goode is not an effective representative must be here in Southside Virginia for the first time," said state Sen. Robert Hurt, a Republican who formerly represented parts of Henry County in the House of Delegates. Goode, Hurt said, has been involved in numerous announcements of economic development successes in the area, which he called the region's top priority. "If you just got here, you wouldn't know that," Hurt added. Goode has said his opponent in the Nov. 4 election, Democrat Tom Perriello of Ivy in Albemarle County, is a "New York lawyer" who returned to the district to run for office. Perriello has said that he passed the bar exam in New York because that is where many international relations cases - his key focus - are heard and that he has worked as a national security analyst, with foreign relations and on community issues in West Africa, Darfur, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
It's all over his mailers and ads, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
http://issuu.com/alanlingerfel...
Tom's parents even had to write a letter to the editor
Dr. Perriello Clarifies Son's Roots
Our son, Tom Perriello, is running for US Congress from the 5th District of Virginia. Recently his opponent, Mr. Goode, ran an ad with an altered photograph of Tom that made him look more like a terrorist than our son. Additionally, the ad suggested that Tom was a carpetbagger from New York. My wife and I want to clarify that Tom was born, raised, and educated through high school in Albemarle County. Tom received his Eagle Scout Award from Troop 114 of Stonewall Jackson Area Council and was a page for Delegate Mitch Van Yahres in Richmond. He was based in New York for a couple of years while serving abroad in Afghanistan, Darfur, and Kosovo working as a National Security Analyst.
From an early age Tom demonstrated an uncanny compassion and concern for those in need that grew into a lifelong commitment of working for the common good. After years of working in the non-profit sector, Tom feels that he and his generation are ready, able, and obligated to lead. He returned home to answer that call to service in a community of friends, family, and mentors that helped him develop the core values and work ethic, that embodies who he is today. He believes America's best days are ahead if we have the courage and determination to seize the opportunities and take on the challenges we face.
Tom's position on issues like his Seven Point Economic Revival plan for Southside and his support for drilling as part of a plan for energy independence that is critical to our economy and to our national security can be found at perrielloforcongress.com. He understands the need for new leadership with a vision for solving the problems facing all parts of the 5th District. Tom is part of a new kind of politics that focuses on right and wrong, not right and left and that provides leadership that brings divergent views together to find bipartisan solutions. Please learn the truth about who Tom Perriello really is and what progress and pride he could bring to our district.
Dr. and Mrs. Vito Perriello, Jr.
Box 15
Ivy, Virginia 22945
(434) 295-0745
So the Palin-McCaine ticket's creation of the wedge non-issue of "real America" as against fake, un-American America is the new narrative for the Republican Party. No wonder they are rapidly spiraling down to regional, minority party status, and a self-righteous, perpetual victimhood. Have they no shame? No smarts? Is this an excuse in advance for trying to jigger voting machines and suppress voting because those fake Americans should not be allowed to have their votes counted? Such mindsets are the foundation of tyranny.
There's plenty legitimate to attack Virgil on. The fact that he distinguishes between supposed "real" and "fake" Virginias and Americas is one. His propensity for being a "conservative" while shoveling millions of dollars in federal earmarks to his cronies and buddies is another. Twisting his words isn't an attack that is in any way intellectually honest.
And I repeat. I hate Virgil. Go Tom.