Saturday, October 28, 2006
Editorial: Al Weed in the 5th
Rep. Virgil Goode is emblematic of what ails Congress. The people of the 5th Congressional District deserve better.
From the RoundTable blog
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To understand how far ethical lapses and corruption have metastasized in Congress, one needs to look no further than the 5th Congressional District where Rep. Virgil Goode had appeared to be above the fray.
That is, until he was caught up in the Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham/MZM scandal earlier this year. Cunningham pleaded guilty to accepting $2.4 million in bribes from MZM -- the very same company whose employees gave Goode $90,000 in suspect campaign contributions. Goode brokered an unusual deal to bring MZM and the promise of jobs to Martinsville.
As troubling as that deal was, and as costly as it might be to Martinsville, so, too, is Goode's dogged adherence to the philosophy that earmarks -- projects slipped into funding bills by members of Congress with little or no debate, or accountability -- are still the preferred method for helping his district.
This alone should give voters pause. They have a much better choice to consider.
We recommend Democrat Al Weed, who brings more to the campaign than the understanding that earmarks are symptomatic of the corruption infecting the budget process.
Weed is a well-rounded candidate who has learned much since he first challenged Goode two years ago.
He has given thought and effort to figuring out ways that the 5th District can rebuild its economy through developing biofuels and improving educational opportunities.
Weed proposes a novel idea of creating a college in the district for disabled veterans. He envisions an alliance of thriving medical and educational services surrounding it so that the district can benefit while the nation repays its debt to the men and women who have made sacrifices for this country.
Weed understands the military, having spent 42 years in the Army, including the special forces during tours in Panama and Vietnam. This lends him an insight that too few members of Congress possess. Few are veterans, and few have sons and daughters in today's military. Weed does; his son is on his second tour in Iraq.
This country needs skilled and experienced people in Congress who won't roll over to every administration request. Weed brings that and more.
He pursued Latin American studies at Yale, did his graduate work at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, moved to Nelson County where he owns and operates a vineyard and has a deep résumé of community service.
Fifth District voters would do well for themselves to send Weed to Congress.
