Virgil Goode Keeps on Digging

By: Lowell
Published On: 1/2/2007 1:45:34 PM

Isn't the rule that when you're in a hole, your best option is to stop digging?  Well, apparently Virgil Goode never heard that one.  See here for more of his bizarre, bigoted, muddle-brained, anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rantings.  Where on earth do people like this come from, and who in God's name votes for them?

Comments



Fearmongering (RayH - 1/2/2007 2:39:52 PM)
"I believe that if we do not stop illegal immigration totally, reduce legal immigration and end diversity visas, we are leaving ourselves vulnerable to infiltration by those who want to mold the United States into the image of their religion, rather than working within the Judeo-Christian principles that have made us a beacon for freedom-loving persons around the world." --Virgil Goode

Don't these words sound a lot like the same fearmongering polemics used by conservative Muslim reactionaries in the Middle East?



How is it that (summercat - 1/2/2007 2:45:09 PM)
Trumanesque (imo) candidate Weed lost to this clown?  Goode and Allen have made Virgnia a laughingstock.


"Not" Goode (hereinva - 1/2/2007 3:04:49 PM)
Somehow Mr. "Not" Goode has linked a U.S. citizen and fellow congressman's decision to convert to Islam (as a college student) to illegal immigration: very strange.

Digging holes:

"He makes a pit, digging it out,
  and falls into the hole which he has made."
  Psalms 7:15

Congressman Ellison of Minnesota's 5th Congressional District

Congressman Goode of Virginia's 5th Congressional Distict...Coincidence ?? :)



Well . . . (Kryndis - 1/2/2007 3:13:34 PM)
In my opinion it's not as bad as the first letter at least.  Don't get me wrong, still nutty as a fruitcake, but at least he's slowing down on his trek in the Land of Stupid, even if he hasn't yet figured out how to turn around.


Criticism is ok, Ridiculing is not (MV Democrat - 1/2/2007 3:13:35 PM)
Actually, Virgil Goode comes from Franklin County which is where my mother's family comes from (I'm 1/2 Franklin County moonshiner, 1/2 Northern VA (Brooklyn) Jew).  People in that part of Virginia are very different than people in Northern Virginia and frequently its hard for us to understand from up here. 

During the Great Depression, Franklin County was best known for its moonshine production (because there was nothing else to do except make illegal liquor).  The county is in the Piedmont and is too hilly for any kind of farming, has no rails, and no major roads going through it.  It is a beatiful place smack against the Blue Ridge with one of the best stiped bass fishing in the United States (Smith Mountain Lake).  Traditionally and still today, it's also a place beset with little economic opportunities, long-term lack of educational investment, and very little population density although that is changing some as the lake gets more developed.  In other words, it's typical of the south. 

I don't think ridiculing Goode and "the people that vote for him" for where "they came from" helps bring any new voters to the Democratic Party or change any minds.  These people used to be our voters and still should be our voters, but we turn them off every time we make fun of them - I think that was one of the major points of Jim Webb's campaign and something he intends to continue the conversation on.

Calling Goode racist and insensitive is fair game.  Calling him close-minded and maybe even naive is fair game. 

However, ridiculing and demeaning Goode and his constituents for where "they come from" doesn't do the Democratic Party any good at all.  In fact, it practically stoops to their level.  I'm pretty sure Jim Webb would second me on that.



Very well said, MV (Kathy Gerber - 1/2/2007 3:17:40 PM)
Thanks. 


Just to clarify (Lowell - 1/2/2007 4:18:07 PM)
I certainly wasn't talking about everyone in Virgil Goode's district when I asked who in God's name voted for that jackass.  Obviously, some people just like the guy and had/have no idea what Goode's views are on Muslims.  I'm not sure what percentage of Goode voters actually agree with his bigoted beliefs, but I hope that it's small.

As far as the "where on earth" comment is concerned, I was specifically referring to Virgil Goode and his bizarre anti-Muslim worldview.  I welcome all people of good will and tolerance to help rid the beautiful 5th District of this embarrassment to Virginia.



Not so much your comments Lowell (Kathy Gerber - 1/2/2007 4:37:22 PM)
as some I've run into lately or just about all my life. Some of the folks downstairs had a pretty good piece up about white trash.  I don't know if it's still out there or not.

The problem though is that people who are vocal about defending this culture, tend to slide into racism so who wants to affiliate with them?



Who are the (Mark - 1/2/2007 7:36:50 PM)
'folks downstairs'?

(And BTW, Happy New Year!!)



Happy New Year, Mark (Kathy Gerber - 1/2/2007 7:40:44 PM)
I was at work - I was thinking it was IATH, it was xroads, and now I can't find it... I'll look again. I think it was a student piece.


Here it is. (Kathy Gerber - 1/2/2007 7:51:50 PM)
It's not new but you get the idea

http://xroads.virgin...



Inclusion, not exclusion (Silver Fox - 1/2/2007 3:57:04 PM)
I agree totally, MV.  We should work to invite people into  our tent, not turn them away by ridicule.  They aren't the ones busily making bad worse so let's give them a chance to show their divergence from this scared and spiteful man.  They won't be able to vote to rectify their mistake in electing Goode until '08, but if we offer them a chance to start distancing themselves from the mean spirit of Goode and his ilk by working to elect and then electing Democrats to their State Senate and House of Delegates, as well as the local elections, they can begin to show that they do NOT in fact support bigotry.  Any local Republican candidate, no matter what office, low or high, who does not specifically condemn Goode's stance should be called on that issue and voters should be reminded that a vote for a candidate who doesn't distance him or herself from Goode puts him or herself squarely by Goode's side.  It can be an issue all over the state...condemn it or be tarred by the same brush...but it would be especially specific and appropriate in the 5th.


First of All (Gordie - 1/3/2007 12:33:30 AM)
There are 16 Counties and 4 Cities in the 5th District. 13 Counties and 3 Cities voted for Virgil and most by an overwhelming majority. Only Albremarle, Nelson and Brunswick Counties voted against Goode.
So to only talk about Franklin Co. is a big mistake. But what every one is missing is that those people did not vote Goode into office the Democrats in those Counties and Cities voted Goode into office.

Yes they voted him in by staying HOME. The rest of the state and the 5th District D party is missing the big picture. For some reason the Democrats in those counties and cities have given up. They are not going to the polls.

Why do I say that? Because the Democrats in Nelson County were starting to stay home, also. In 2000 Bush carried Nelson County. Then in 2004 they woke up and Kerry carried the County by 4 votes. In 2005 Kaine ran away with the vote and then in 2006 Al Weed ran away with the vote. Yet in 2004 Al Weed lost Nelson County. Why the big turn around for Weed from 2004 to 2006? Nelson County woke up and returned to being Democrats. We took our county back and this time we are keeping it.

Now if Nelson can wake up so can the rest of the 13 other counties. The big question is WHO, HOW, WHAT will shake the people, that the Democratic Common Sense returns to their brains.

Wake up Democrats, and the Moderates will follow, just because everyone loves a leader and wants to be a winner.



Absolutely Gordie (MV Democrat - 1/3/2007 7:05:23 AM)
My point was that Lowell was ridiculing where Virgil and the people who vote for him "came from."  That's not helpful.

Goode is Franklin County born and bred.  His father was also a Democratic state senator from Franklin County and was one of the better orators in the Party.  Goode has deep roots there and people there (many of which of whom were also born and bred (excluding the new people around Smith Mtn. Lake)) are DEEPLY loyal to him.  He knows that which is why he held his press conference at the Franklin County Courthouse.

It's important to remember that congressional seat was held by a Democrat (L.F. Payne) for 10 years before Virgil won it.  It's winnable with the right candidate, party organization, and lots of hard work.  There is serious economic depression in that part of the Commonwealth.  As Jim Webb argues, those people should be ripe picking for Democrats, but we keep chasing them away. 



No Religious Test for Jews and Christians (Josh - 1/2/2007 6:17:36 PM)
Apparently, Virgil Goode doesn't see himself as a bigot, but he doesn't see himself as an American either.

His defense:  "Judeo-Christian principles that have made us a beacon for freedom-loving persons around the world."  Clearly, Virgil Goode has neither regard nor an understanding of the values at the heart of the real America.

It was the enlightened revolt against strict Judeo-Christian principles as espoused by Thomas Jefferson that made America a beacon for freedom loving persons around the world. 

The more that Virgil Goode postures and twists, the more he proves himself an ignorant bigot.  What an embarrassment he is for Virginia.  What and insult he is to America.



Using America as a cover (Rebecca - 1/2/2007 7:00:06 PM)
People will use all sorts of things to justify their xenophobia. In the slave days people would say the Bible justifies slavery because the big names actually had slaves. Of course Jesus says there is no Greek or Jew in God's eyes (Greeks being the pagans of their day). Basically this means all this predudice is BS and God is above all this.

Some people also like to rewrite American history ignoring the abuses of the theocrats and ignoring the struggle to worship as one pleases or not at all. What Goode would like to say is "I'm scared of people who aren't like me."



They're afraid (Teddy - 1/2/2007 7:56:57 PM)
Mr. Goode is expressing another facet of the cultural fear many, many folks have at the changes coming in the world. You could say it's a ripple from the backlash against the 1960's, which gave rise to much of the conservative agenda ever since. It sounds like bigotry to those who consider themseves more enlightened, but it sounds like defense of what they regard as the way it used to be, and should still be in their own country.

Change and growth are painful. And, when you think about it, Mr. Goode has a point in protesting what he (and those who voted for him) see as an assault on their values... they are out of their comfort zone. It behooves the rest of us to lead them hopefully into the 21st century, since they won't change if "outsiders" attack them. Their reaction will be hostile and they will dig in their heels, exactly as the frightened Shiites and Sunnis do when attacked. No one said it would be easy.