Virgil Goode
| Virgil Goode | |
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| In office 1997–present |
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| Preceded by | Lewis Payne |
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| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
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| Born | October 17 1946 Richmond, Virginia |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lucy Dodson |
| Religion | Baptist (convert from Presbyterian) |
Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. (surname rhymes with mood, not would)[citation needed], born October 17, 1946, is an American politician and a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. He represents the 5th congressional district of Virginia (map), which takes in the Southside region and extends north to Charlottesville.
In late 2006, he elicited widespread criticism from some, and praise from others, because of comments he made about Congressman-elect Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Islam, the Bible, and immigration.
Early life
Goode was born in Richmond, Virginia; but has spent most of his life in Rocky Mount. Goode graduated with a B.A. from the University of Richmond (Phi Beta Kappa) and with a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He also served in the National Guard from 1969 to 1975.
State politics
Goode grew up as a Democrat.[1] He entered politics soon after graduating from law school. At the age of 27 he won a special election to the state Senate from a Southside district as an Independent after the death of the Democratic incumbent. One of his major campaign focuses at the time was advocacy for the Equal Rights Amendment.[2] Soon after being elected, he joined the Democrats.
Goode wore his party ties very loosely. He became famous for his support of the tobacco industry, where he spoke about his fear that "his elderly mother would be denied 'the one last pleasure' of smoking a cigarette on her hospital deathbed."[2] He was an ardent defender of gun rights while being an enthusiastic supporter of L. Douglas Wilder, who would become the first elected black governor in the history of the United States. At the Democratic Party's political convention, it was Goode who nominated Wilder for lieutenant governor in 1985. However, while governor, Wilder cracked down on the sale of guns in the state.[2] Goode ran for the U.S. Senate in 1982 and 1994 and was defeated in the Democratic primary both times, by Richard J. Davis in 1982 and by incumbent Senator Chuck Robb in 1994. He angered much of the leadership of the Virginia Democratic Party during his second run, when he challenged Robb.[2]
After the 1995 elections resulted in a 20-20 split between Democrats and Republicans, Goode seriously considered voting with the Republicans on organizing the chamber. Had he done so, the State Senate would have been under Republican control for the first time since Reconstruction (the Republicans ultimately won control outright in 1999). Goode's actions at the time "forced his party to share power with Republican lawmakers in the state legislature," which further upset the Democratic party.[2]
Del. Bob Hull, who served with Goode in the Virginia House of Delegates, says “Virgil can best be described as a
Congressional career
When Congressman L.F. Payne retired in 1996, Goode won the Democratic nomination to succeed him. He won election easily, as his state senate district was virtually coextensive with the southern portion of the congressional district. During his first term, Goode compiled a very conservative voting record, even by Southern Democratic standards. Like many Southern Democrats, Goode strongly opposed abortion and gun control and vigorously supported the tobacco industry. He is also a long-time opponent of same-sex marriage and gay civil unions.[citation needed] His contrarian streak resulted in him being isolated within the Democratic caucus, which later led to his subsequent party switches.[1]
Goode came under considerable fire shortly after being unopposed for a second term in 1998, when he voted for three of the four articles of impeachment against Bill Clinton.[citation needed] In January 2000, he declared himself an independent and began caucusing with the Republicans, who gave him a seat on the Appropriations Committee. He was handily re-elected that November, touting himself as a congressman who was "as independent as the people he serves." He officially became a Republican in August 2002 before the primary election, making him the first Republican to represent this district since Reconstruction. Republicans had been lobbying him to switch parties since 1998. Reflecting on Goode’s record at the time, David Brown, the mayor of Charlottesville and a former chairman of the city's Democratic Party said "It was obvious he didn't really fit in the Democratic Party anymore."[2]
For the 2001 congressional redistricting, Goode allied with Republican Bob Goodlatte and Democrat Rick Boucher to ensure that none of them would be put in the same district. Goode's home in Franklin County is only about 20 miles (32 km) south of Goodlatte's home in Roanoke, which is in the 6th district. The counties to the west of Franklin County are in Boucher's 9th District, which had to expand due to lack of population growth. He won his first full term as a Republican in November, 2002, with 63.47% of the vote,[3] and was elected to a fifth term, and his second full term as a Republican, with 63.68% in 2004.[4] In 2006 Goode won 59% of the vote, with challenger Al Weed garnering 40% of the vote.
He also serves on the Liberty Caucus (sometimes called the Liberty Committee), a group of liberty-minded congressional representatives from both sides of the aisle.[5] Congressman Ron Paul hosts a luncheon for the Liberty Caucus every Thursday. Other members include Jimmy Duncan of Tennessee, Walter B. Jones of North Carolina, Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Zach Wamp of Tennessee and Jeff Flake of Arizona.[6]
Political positions
His primary policy initiatives are anti-amnesty immigration reform, veterans' healthcare, and the enactment in 2004 of a $9.6 billion buyout for tobacco farmers. Goode has sponsored legislation to permit deployment of the U.S. Armed Forces to the U.S.-Mexico border. He voted in 2002 to authorize the Iraq War and in support of an $87 billion Iraq War supplemental spending bill.
Goode voted in 2007 against a resolution opposing the increase in troop numbers in Iraq,[7] saying that he didn't want to "aid and assist the Islamic jihadists who want the green flag of the crescent and star to wave over the Capitol of the United States and over the White House of this country" and that "radical Muslims" wanted to control the world and put "In Muhammad We Trust" on American currency.[8]
Controversies
MZM
In 2005, Goode faced questions when a major corporate campaign donor, defense contractor MZM, Inc., was implicated in a bribery scandal that resulted in the criminal conviction and resignation of California congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham.[9] Although Goode insisted that his relations with MZM were motivated solely by his interest in bringing high-paying skilled jobs to his district, in December of that year he donated the $88,000 received in MZM contributions to regional charities.
On July 21, 2006 Richard Berglund, a former supervisor of the Martinsville, Va. office of MZM Inc., pleaded guilty to making illegal donations to Goode's campaign. Court papers indicated that Berglund and MZM owner Mitchell Wade (who previously pleaded guilty) engaged in a scheme to reimburse MZM employees for campaign donations.[10] There was no allegation of wrong-doing on the part of Goode's campaign.
2006 Qur'an controversy
In 2006, Keith Ellison was elected as the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Some have criticized Ellison's intended use of the Qur'an for his unofficial swearing-in ceremony. Goode has been vocal in his opposition to Ellison's plan. One of Goode's constituents recently posted a letter online from the congressman regarding Ellison. The letter says in part:
When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand. I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way. The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran.[citation needed]
Ellison has criticized Goode for this letter, stating that he is not an immigrant and that Goode does not understand Islam. He has also offered to meet with Goode to discuss the matter.[11] The copy of the Qur'an used by Ellison in his private swearing-in ceremony was once owned by Thomas Jefferson, the nation's third president and author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.[12] Monticello, Jefferson's home, is located in the congressional district that Goode represents.
In recent interviews, Goode has also stated that he is in favor of decreasing legal immigration to the United States and that he wants to do away with Diversity Immigrant Visas. Goode argues that these visas may allow people "not from European countries" or from "some terrorist states" to enter America.[13] Goode also repeated his views on a January 1, 2007 post to the USA Today blog.[14]
On his first day in office, Ellison sought out Goode and initiated a cordial exchange on the House floor.[15]
References
- ^ a b c Bob Hull, Virginia House of Delegates. "Delegate Hull's Richmond Report", Falls Church News-Press, 28 December 2006. Retrieved on Dec. 28, 2006
- ^ a b c d e f "Goode Has Often Inspired Political Ire", Washington Post, December 23, 2006. Retrieved on Dec. 29, 2006
- ^ [1]
- ^ Commonwealth of Virginia — General Election 2004; Vote totals US House District 5. Retrieved on Dec. 28, 2006
- ^ The Liberty Committee. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Caldwell, Christopher. "The Antiwar, Anti-Abortion, Anti-Drug-Enforcement-Administration, Anti-Medicare Candidacy of Dr. Ron Paul", 'The New York Times Magazine', 2007-07-22. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ Peter Hardin. "Goode's liability in scandal unclear", Times-Dispatch, February . 26, 2006. Retrieved on Dec. 28, 2006
- ^ Lindsy Nair. "Goode’s war chest turns up new MZM donor", July 4, 2006. Retrieved on Dec. 28, 2006
- ^ Rachel L. Swarns. "Congressman Criticizes Election of Muslim", December 21, 2006. Retrieved on Dec. 22, 2006
- ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/03/AR2007010300075.html
- ^ "Ellison: Lawmaker has 'a lot to learn about Islam'", CNN, December 21, 2006. Retrieved on Dec. 22, 2006
- ^ "Oppossing view: Save Judeo-Christian Values", USA Today, January 1, 2007. Retrieved on Jan. 4, 2007
- ^ "Muslim congressman shakes critic's hand'", CNN, December 21, 2006. Retrieved on Jan. 5, 2007
External links
- U.S. Congressman Virgil Goode official House site
- Virgil Goode at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Federal Election Commission — Virgil H. Goode Jr. campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues — Virgil Goode issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org — Virgil H. Goode Jr. campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart — Representative Virgil H. Goode Jr. (VA) profile
- SourceWatch Congresspedia — Virgil Goode profile
- Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Virgil Goode voting record
- Audio from Goode's August 9, 2006 debate with Al Weed
| Preceded by Lewis F. Payne, Jr. |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th congressional district 1997 – present |
Incumbent |
| Virginia's current delegation to the United States Congress | |
|---|---|
| Senators | John Warner (R), Jim Webb (D) |
| Representative(s) | Vacant, Thelma Drake (R), Robert C. Scott (D), Randy Forbes (R), Virgil Goode (R), Bob Goodlatte (R), Eric Cantor (R), Jim Moran (D), Rick Boucher (D), Frank Rudolph Wolf (R), Thomas M. Davis (R) |
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