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Published: October 2, 2008
Congressman Virgil Goode’s announcement Wednesday that he wouldn’t be participating in next week’s debate with Democratic challenger Tom Perriello came as a surprise to news executives who had already slotted the time for the televised showdown.
Goode, R-5th, has said that he never confirmed the Tuesday debate in Charlottesville, and will be unable to attend because he will be attending a fundraiser.
Since the debate was set to take place at NBC29, the station was set to produce it and WSET in Lynchburg was planning on airing the coverage.
“As far as we were concerned, yes,” the debate was on, NBC29 news director Neal Bennett said Thursday.
The station had blocked out time on the schedule for the debate, he said.
Bennett said he had what he thought was a “firm verbal commitment” from Goode’s campaign manager, Tucker Watkins.
“I don’t know how it could have been interpreted in any other way,” said Neal, who said other political debates he’s covered have always been set up by campaign managers.
Bill Foy at WSET 13 said he received an e-mail Wednesday informing him that the debate was not going to happen.
Goode said in a telephone interview Wednesday that he is the only one who schedules his debates and never agreed to Tuesday night’s event.
Goode also told WSLS 10 on Wednesday that he had already scheduled the fundraiser when the debate request was made.
“I want to do another debate,” he told WSLS. “I can’t do it when they want me to do it.”
Perriello’s campaign said it worked with the stations for months to set up the debate.
“It’s just wrong that in a time of economic crisis, when voters most need to hear their representative’s plans for getting the economy back on track, Congressman Goode would prioritize fundraising from lobbyists ahead of the voters’ interests,” Perriello said in a written statement.
Bennett said NBC29 is working with Goode to set up a new time for the debate, and hopes to have something confirmed by the end of the week.
• Contact Sarah Arkin at or (434) 791-7983.
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Reader Reactions
Can’t come up with anything other than spell check? What a shame. Db if you have nothing to say quit wasting space on here. Remember what Jesus said about the first stone? I guess we would make other countries happy to put in Socialists like Obama biden and Perriello.
Won the debate, which debate are you talking about? Surely not the one that I saw. Sarah Palin, did not answer one question put to her, all she did was say over and over what she was trained to say, and “wink.“ After eight years of lies, an economy in shambles, and a never ending war, I cannot believe that there are still people out there who are willing to deceive themselves, by believing even more lies. WHY? FOR WHAT?
This country is becoming the laughing stock of the world, based on the intelligence of the people we are willing to put before the world as representing us.
Come on, Johnster, get a spell checker!
(Why is it that those who are the most devoted to the leadership that has failed us all so badly are also those who cannot spell even the simplest words???)
I was there, my husband was there, and there are photos on Perrillo’s web site.
Proove that Perriello did that. How much does he pay you for your services on here. I would say that he is probably getting his moneys worth.
Goode had an expensive fundraiser on 9/11/08 while Perriello and his crew boxed up care packages to send to our brave service men and women overseas.
According to NBC29, the debate has been scheduled since last April.
According to the Danville News:
(1) “Goode said in a telephone interview that he didn’t agree to the NBC29 debate.“
(2) “If someone wants to set up a debate, they need to talk to him, not his staff.“
(3) “‘I make the decision about debates,‘ Goode said.“
What does this mean…
- That back in April Virgil’s staff agreed to a televised debate without his permission?
- Is Mr. Goode’s management over his staff really that bad???
- Has Mr. Goode’s staff, for six months, somehow not told him of this debate until just now?
- Or they did tell him, but somehow Mr. Goode simply forgot to object until just now?
- Incompetence or cowardice! What else is there to think?
This is ridiculous! Goode should reschedule his fundraiser, not the debate. He cares more about the big money people than the people of his district.
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