VA-05: Virgil Goode Flip-Flops; Now Refusing to Debate

In a statement from the Al Weed Communications Director Curt Gleeson, Al lets loose on Virgil Goode for last week agreeing to debate and this week announcing he would not debate.

Al Weed Shares a Moment with Judy Feder at the July Unity Rally in Charlottesville

Virgil Goode Jr., the Republican incumbent of Virginia's Fifth Congressional District, has declined to debate his challenger, military veteran Al Weed. This comes less than a week after Mr. Goode released a statement calling for debates and inviting civic organizations to organize the events.

Previous to Mr. Goode's call to civic organizations, he had been scheduled to speak to the Fieldale- Collinsville Rotary Club on August 23rd. Mr. Weed was scheduled to speak a week later on August 30th. The Rotary Club responded to Mr. Goode's call and invited Mr. Weed to debate on the 23rd, turning the event into a debate. Weed happily accepted. Mr. Goode, despite already being scheduled to appear on that day, refused to debate.

"He would rather have lunch and hand out pencils than have to defend his record.", Weed said. "“He can flip-flop his positions and dodge the issues at every turn, but the voters see through the smoke screen.", Weed continued.

In Mr. Goode's release he challenged Mr. Weed to a debate on August 9th with the Senior Statesmen in Charlottesville, but a document dated June 17th from the Senior Statesmen of Virginia inviting both candidates to appear on August 9th states, this meeting is a showcase, not a debate.

"Mr. Goode is just playing politics." Weed said. "If he would like to debate on August 9th, I am fine with that. But since he ducked an invitation to debate at the Fieldale-Collinsville Rotary Club, it's clear he is more interested in talking about debating rather than actually debating.", Weed continued.

"The voters deserve to hear the truth. For too long Mr. Goode has pretended to work for the people of this district, only to vote with George Bush and support fellow millionaires. Mr. Goode is home for the month of August. If he is truly dedicated to the people of this district he will accept the Rotary Club's invitation. But of course won't. He doesn't want to explain to the Martinsville taxpayers why he sacrificed them to get a failed multi-million dollar contract for a felon. It is really too bad that he doesn't care enough about the hard-working people of this district. I'm eager to talk about my positive vision for future of our district. A future where agriculture thrives, jobs are stable, wages are competitive, and healthcare is affordable.", Weed said.

{emphasis added}

Virgil Goode is naive. He is up to his neck in it. Virgil would do well to explain to those of us in the district that don't want to play politics as usual, don't want to listen to his drivel about he didn't know, don't want to vote for a cash-taking, George Bush-loving,do nothing Congressman anymore. It is too important now that Bush and his minions and cronies have screwed it all up.

Go See Al. He will tell us the truth and never let us down like Virgl Goode (R-MZM) has. Enough of all this madness.

•  No Tips please

  Instead, visit Al Weed's website and read his issue papers. Look at what he has been saying all through this campaign.

  I'll be around, in and out while I get some dinner.

  Enjoy the GOP Meltdown.

  by Dems2004 on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 04:38:40 PM PDT

  •  Gotta tip. :) n/t

    by phriendlyjaime on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 05:02:09 PM PDT

•  How can you not like Weed?

  Better than Goode ... totally, dude.

  I shall visit the site now. Thanks for the prompt, my good man.

  by JuliaAnn on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 04:41:06 PM PDT

  •  Weed is Goode-r n/t

    by phriendlyjaime on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 05:02:33 PM PDT

  •  This race is a rematch of '04

    Last time, Goode smoked Weed.

    by being released on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 05:16:03 PM PDT

    •  As long as Weed

      doesn't smoke himself, we'll be doing fine.

      by JuliaAnn on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 05:18:48 PM PDT

•  Not a good year to be a Republican

  not a good year 'tall.

  Sheesh.

  by LeftHandedMan on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 04:54:34 PM PDT

•  Virgil Goode

  doesn't want to discuss what he's been up to in Congress.  I live in CA for now, but am from Goode's district in VA.  He's a slimy character and I hope voters in that area will see that....certainly the people in Martinsville know by now.

  by VA2CA on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 05:00:38 PM PDT

•  Outstanding resume

  Resume
  Items marked with an asterisk are organizations for which Al Weed was instrumental in the actual start-up, often being the initial impetus and leader. Al hasn't just belonged, he's made things happen.

  Business and Farming
  Founder, Virginia's Oldest Winery, Mountain Cove Vineyards - 1973 *
  President and CEO, General Wood Processors, Easley, SC 1980-81 *
  Founding Partner, Weed & Crabill Public Accountants, Lovingston, 1976-1980 *
  Assistant to the Chair. & Dir. Arthur Lipper Corp.(Investment Bankers), NY, NY 1972-73
  Assistant to the US Ex Dir. & Temporary Alternate Dir., World Bank, Wash. DC. 1970-72
  President and Director, Nelson County Chamber of Commerce, 1974-77
  Director, Jeffersonian Wine Grape Growers Society, 1988-2002
  President, Virginia Wineries Association, 1983-84, Director 1994-95 *
  Member, Virginia Agri-Business Council's State Advisory Committee, 1989-92
  Member, Virginia Winegrowers Advisory Board (VWAB), 1990-96 *
  Member, Virginia Farm Bureau Wine and Grape Committee, 2001-present
  Author, Legislation to establish the funding for and operation of the VWAB, 1984

  National Security
  US Army Special Forces (Green Berets) with service in Viet Nam, 1965-66
  Command Sergeant Major for Special Operations Command, Europe, 1996
  Retired from Special Operations Command, Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, VA, 2002
  Contract trainer for airport baggage security personnel, 2002

  Conservation

  Member, Nelson County Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, 1993
  Member and Economic Committee Chair, T. Jefferson Sustainability Council, 1994-2000
  Founding President, Rural Nelson, 1999-2003 *
  Vice President, Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population (ASAP) 2002-present *
  Trustee, Virginia Land Conservation Fund, 2002-present

  Community Leadership
  Founding Chairman, Public Policy Virginia, Inc. 2005-Present *
  President and Trustee, Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, 1976-80
  Founding President, Nelson County Tourism Council, 1992-94 *
  Founding President, Nelson County Historical Society, 1975 *
  Charter Director, Nelson Jaycees, 1974-77 *
  Organizer and Chairman, Nelson County Summer Festival, 1991-94 *
  Chairman, Capital Fund Drive, Blue Ridge Medical Center, 1990-94
  Member, Leadership Council, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture, 1995-present
  Trustee, Horizon Institute for Policy Solutions, 1998. President, 1999
  Director, Nelson County Drama Foundation, 1996-1999

  Lay Leader
  Senior Warden, Lay Reader, Trinity Episcopal Church, Oak Ridge, 1975-2001
  Chairman, Stewardship Committee, Episcopal Diocese of SW VA, 1990-92
  Member, Standing Committee, Episcopal Diocese of SW VA, 1994-96

  Education
  B.A., cum laude, Latin American Studies (With Highest Honors) Yale University, 1968
  M.P.A., Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs, Princeton University, 1970

  by phriendlyjaime on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 05:09:56 PM PDT

•  Virgil has been a flip-flopper for years

  First he was a Dem when he ran to fill the Dem seat of L.F. Payne in Payne's quixotic race for Gov.  Then for the next cycle (after waiting until just a few weeks before the election) he was an Indy, making sure no Dem could mount a significant challenge.  Then, just a few weeks before the NEXT election he switched to the Repub. party to once again block a Dem challenge.

  Virgil is also a total embarassment when he cracks innane jokes and asks really stupid questions in Committee.  This is a cover for his complete lack of understanding of either the issues or, indeed, the questions.

  On, and those damned pencils.  His idea of campaigning is to march down the middle of the street at every election year, fall event, held in the 5th, carefully avoiding any interaction with voters, while his minnions pass out #2's.

  I have met Al Weed and talked with his campaign staff.  He has my complete support.  Throw a few bucks his way.

  by Granny Doc on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 05:16:31 PM PDT