Sunday, October 12, 2008
Goode politics at its worst
From the RoundTable blog
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David B. Campbell
Campbell is a journalism teacher in Franklin County.
Rep. Virgil Goode has sunk to a new low.
Goode is running a grainy television ad showing a darkened face of opponent Tom Perriello with full beard.
What is the intent? To portray Perriello as an African-American? A Muslim? Or worse, a black Muslim -- the most egregious of all ethnic backgrounds (insert tone of sarcasm). Regardless, the ad smacks of racism.
The Roanoke Times, in its Sept. 30 edition, ran the Goode campaign's version of the photo alongside the "un-retouched" version. One need not be a forensics expert to see something has happened to the photo. The Perriello campaign has accused the Goode camp of doctoring the photo. The Goode camp will neither deny nor confirm the accusation. Even a denial would give Goode more credibility. But as of this writing, Goode has made neither an apology, a refutation nor has he pulled the ad.
The original photo was taken after Perriello returned from Afghanistan in 2005. Just in case there is any misconception, Perriello was in Afghanistan as a national security consultant with the Century Foundation working on strategies to defeat the resurgent Taliban.
During the entire campaign, Perriello has not had a beard. Given the general negative connotation associated with those who wear beards, it is understandable why Goode would prey on such primitive and elementary emotions. This is the type of tactic taught and proliferated by the Heinrich Himmler of the Bush administration, Karl Rove. Goode has been a good student.
Another aspect of the clash is Perriello's words surrounding more oil drilling. Goode's campaign has used partial quotes. Also present in The Roanoke Times' story are Perriello's full quotes that show Goode's distortions. Suffice it to say the quotes were pulled completely out of context.
Looking at Goode's financial disclosures, it is easy to see why he is such a proponent of drilling.
He stands to make a lot of money.
If Congress passes pro-oil legislation, Goode's financial portfolio will grow even more. Since Goode has been in Congress, he has become a multimillionaire. The Sunlight Foundation, an organization tracking and recording congressional wealth, reports that in 1995, Goode's average net worth was $763,760. His average net worth in 2006 had increased to $4,022,530.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Goode has taken more than $110,000 from Big Energy corporations for his campaign. That is only money he received directly from these companies. What about stock holdings?
Of the 435 members of Congress, Goode ranks in the top 3 percent of personal holdings in Big Oil. At a time when oil company profits and gas prices are at record highs and under such scrutiny, it would seem imprudent to make so much money off taxpayers' hardships.
Currently, according to the Sunlight Foundation, Goode ranks 13th out of 435 in Big Oil holdings. His numbers show holdings of between $100,000 on the low side to $200,000 on the high side.
There is nothing inherently wrong with making money, but if there is an obvious conflict of interest -- or a perceived one -- then perhaps discretion should be the better part of valor.
Finally, the debates. Channel 10 reported on Oct. 2 that Goode reneged on his verbal agreement to debate Perriello on Oct. 7.
The debate was to be broadcast on both NBC 29 in Charlottesville and ABC 13 in Lynchburg-Roanoke -- although ABC 13 will not comment on the issue saying, "It's Channel 29's debate. You have to ask them."
The station in April offered both camps dates. Both camps finalized in July, and Channel 29 began soliciting questions from viewers. The Goode camp claims there was no agreement. But, according to NBC 29 news director Neal Bennett, "We felt like we had a commitment."
The Goode camp gave verbal commitment to the event, using the words, "Good to go," Bennett said.
Bennett also said Goode said only he (Goode) had the authority to schedule a debate -- not his campaign. The question at this point would be the same one to John McCain after he "suspended" his campaign but his workers still campaigned on his behalf, and he still raised contributions: Do you instruct your people to lie, or do you have no control over your campaign?
Additionally, there are questions over the traditional Hamden-Sydney debates, the culminating event for the House of Representatives campaign each election cycle. Four dates have been kept open for two months, but Goode has yet to commit.
Now that is Goode politics. Not good politics, but Goode politics.
