Don’t blame GOP for fiasco

E. Vernon Smith Jr. Fluvanna County
Published: October 15, 2008

In a recent radio advertisement for Tom Perriello as a replacement for Virgil Goode, our excellent current congressman, Mr. Perriello attempted to connect Mr. Goode with the $700 billion bailout bill. This pork-laden “welfare bill for the wealthy” was created and pushed on us by the Democratic Party, Mr. Perriello’s party.

As is usual with all things wrong, the Democrats blame the Republicans for the fiasco.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, both Democratic congressmen, were supposed to be overseeing these risky dealings. They failed us all miserably.

Mr. Goode voted against this bill not once, but twice!

Mr. Goode knew a bad bill when he saw one and had the courage to stand against its passage (even as President Bush was demanding its passage). How many congressmen have any courage these days? Damn few! Thank you, Virgil!

Virgil Goode has served us well over the years and can be trusted to look out for our interests.

He is not a politician, but is instead a statesman — quite a difference.

Mr. Perriello should take lessons from him, and maybe in a decade or two he would be qualified to serve in the U.S. Congress.