Reading tea leaves, one day at a time
Former Fifth District Rep. Virgil Goode often complained about runaway federal spending while simultaneously working hard to get federal money for local projects.
Goode believed that as long as someone was shaking the Washington money tree, the Fifth District ought to get its share.
In today’s politically charged atmosphere, that contradiction might have been enough to get Goode branded a “RINO” — or “Republican In Name Only.”
If that’s the case, then maybe Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Fifth, stole Goode’s playbook. Perriello tucked $500,000 for a Halifax County sewer project into an appropriations bill, voted against the bill because he thought the entire piece of legislation was too fat with government waste and then proceeded to praise the individual earmark.
“There’s an inherent contradiction there,” said Andy Sere, regional spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, “and I would just say that no matter the excuse, it’s simply unacceptable to take credit for an earmark that you voted against, and that’s the issue here.”
Instead of being happy that Perriello voted with 163 Republicans to oppose the overall bill, Sere made an interesting philosophical point about taking credit for something you actually voted against.
Perriello should promise to never do it again.
Perriello’s political obituary was written by his opponents the moment his upset victory over Goode was certified last year. The recent gubernatorial election only increased the chatter. Sere’s group has been working on Perriello since at least February.
It’s hard to say what the political landscape will look like in a year. Democrats, the winners of two consecutive national elections, are being warned to take heed of this year’s gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey.
But Democrats like Perriello ran to apply new ideas and energy to solve long-standing problems, not to increase the comfort level of people who will never vote for them regardless of what they do.
Just a year ago, the experts were writing off the Republican Party. So how can anyone say with any certainty what the political landscape will look like next year?
The real lesson of this and every election is that most voters are willing to vote the candidates and issues they feel most strongly about on Election Day. It’s the partisans on both sides who claim they vote for the man, not the party that always wind up voting for the same party’s candidates.
It’s much better for Americans — and the American political system — if we leave the business of selecting our leaders to the voters instead of the talking heads. Let Perriello continue to represent us as he sees fit — and let the ballots fall where they will.
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Reader Reactions
Thank you R & B for your truthful comments on the hypocritical xenophobic congressman we had representing our district for way too many years.
Rep. Perriello is certainly a breath of fresh air, and much more articulate and brighter than the “country lawyer” from Rocky Mount.
‘Nuff Said. Peace.
“The editorial board comes through with another partisan push for Tommy boy.“
Hmmmm wonder where that “partisan push” was when the R&B endorsed McDonnell and Marshall the other week?
Those who are complaining about Tom Perriello’s vote for the recent health care bill remind me of a story I once heard. A religious young man had been praying earnestly for something he wanted to no avail. Becoming more and more frustrated, he finally went to his pastor to share his frustration. “I’ve been praying steadfastly for weeks and God is not listening to me” he said. “Why isn’t he answering my prayers?”
The minister looked at his young parishioner and said gently, “God listened to you and answered your prayer. He said, “No.”
I attended five town hall meetings that Rep. Perriello conducted. He listened carefully and respectfully to each speaker, no matter how disparaging or demeaning their remarks. I never saw him show disrespect to anyone, and he never raised his voice in anger. In some cases the audiences were overwhelmingly pro-health reform. In others, the opposite was true. If one of the more strident opponents voiced his disgust and the audience booed, Tom quickly pointed out that everyone has a right to be heard and demanded quiet.
Now that the House has voted and Tom voted with the majority on the health care bill, there are many who accuse him of betrayal. According to “Perriello Backs Bill To Mixed Feedback” in the Nov. 9 issue of THE DAILY PROGRESS, Robert Hurt, who plans to seek the GOP nomination to run against Perriello, accused him of not listening to his constituents and “putting his liberal beliefs and party loyalty ahead of what’s best for us.”
Nothing could be further from the truth. He listened to all who would speak, read their letters, and received their phone calls. Then he voted with all the feedback he received in mind. Those who disagree with his vote have accused him of not listening. He listened and voted for what he thought was in the best interests of the majority of his constituents.
Gerry Kruger
Albemarle County
The editorial board comes through with another partisan push for Tommy boy. Let’s allow Tommy boy to vote as he sees fit or make that as Pelosi sees fit. We might have a country left by the time we can get rid of him in 2010. Unemployment at 10.2%, the dollar sinking ever lower in value, and big government spending shooting to the stratosphere. Wonder what our country will look like in a year?
You are downright un-American. How can anybody say that we have too many American flags? It is a symbol of what is good in this country. I can see you (like some of your fellow travelers) hate this country. What a sad person you are.
YES.
Danville has too many American flags?
Get over yourself NP.Oh-danville has too many d—n flags any way!
Geez Louise, Normal Person, give dog chaining spam a rest already!
This site is owned by GoDanRiver. Ownership means control. Control means they can do whatever they please, whether we like it or not.
I wasn’t particularly happy about the comments being shut down, but I figure I have two choices: suck it up and deal with it, or start my own forum where I get to moderate the comments. You have the same two options as I. And it would appear that neither of us is choosing the latter option.
People need to start flagging your numerous comments when they don’t pertain to the article under which they appear.
i don’t understand what this story has to do with the dog chaining law that is trying to be passed right now? Why did godanriver block all the comments from that dog chaining story? When I found out that the comments were removed I went out and took the american flag right off my front porch! Danville wants to talk about the dog chaining laws! Reactivate the comments!!! Reactivate the comments!!! Reactivate the comments!!!
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