Goode Grief

By: JohnCos
Published On: 7/6/2008 11:17:08 PM

The Fourth of July Parade in Scottsville provided a telling story on the differences between Democrats and Republicans, and 5th District Nominee Tom Perriello and Rep. Virgil Goode.

Perriello, flanked by bluegrass musicians and volunteers, rode around in a float pulled by a bio-diesel tractor. Perriello threw candy to those he passed and was greeted warmly by all.


Now after Perriello and Smokey the Bear came Congressman Goode. This is what Goode has said on his own website about alternative energy:

"The United States must develop various alternative fuel sources. I am pleased to have sponsored legislation that has brought almost $2 million to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Southern Virginia for a project that includes deriving biofuel from switchgrass, miscanthus and hybrid poplars. When fully developed, the results of this program could significantly enhance agriculture and forest products throughout the 5th District of Virginia."

The average price of gas in Virginia is $4.02. Tom Perriello has come out advocating that this country needs to be energy independent within a generation. Congressman Goode talks a lot about alternative energy. What were the Fluvanna Republicans in the Scottsville parade driving?












































That looks like a Hummer H2. An H2 gets about 13 miles per gallon in city driving. Rep Goode also walked around followed by a red PT Cruiser.

It's easy to talk about gas prices and alternative energy, but the Scottsville Parade showed who is serious about the price of gas, and who doesn't seem to get it.

Full disclosure: I am a staffer for Tom Perriello because I believe he is the type of leader the 5th district deserves.

Comments



Who was he trying to impress? (Tiderion - 7/7/2008 1:48:34 AM)
Not even Californians drive H3s anymore.

"The economy is doing just fine guys!"



Looks like an H2 to me (perkinsms - 7/7/2008 6:58:41 AM)
H2 doesn't have to meet fuel economy standards because its GVWR is greater than 6000 lbs.


What a mow-ron! (chspkheel - 7/7/2008 9:50:36 AM)
If Goode ain't tuned into the realities of the day, it don't matter how good your Constituent Services are or how many folks knew Virgil's daddy, this has to cause a double take even for Virgil's strongest supporters.  It's painfully obvious that Virgil doesn't quite get that he has to connect the dots between the perception of leadership, taking credit for work that others do on legislation, and practicing what you preach.  

Congrats on adding your name to a bill that brought $2 million to the Institute for Advance Learning and Research.  Maybe he ought to use some practical application of that reasearch in his daily life.  

Yeah, a Hummer looks real cool, but looking cool ain't putting food on the table, clothes on your back, paying for the new Dominion Coal-Fired plant, your rent or mortgage, or paying for a college education which continues to clime out of reach for most of his constituents.  

Tom, if you are listening, this is how you are going to beat Virgil.  Clueless and out of touch.  It's time for Virgil to go.  It's time for real change.  



I also love the comparative amount of work... (jsalt - 7/7/2008 11:20:31 AM)
in putting a sign a on hummer vs. organizing a blue grass band on a trailer bed with volunteers and haystacks.  Who's taking this parade more seriously?


So rich in symbolism (aznew - 7/7/2008 11:32:19 AM)
While this shows the hypocrisy of the GOP and Goode's positions, and is good for a laugh, it also contains a message.

In my mind, what this really shows is that Virgil Goode is out of touch with his own constituents. Perhaps it is because he is a millionaire, and so in reality $4.00/gal. gas is merely a nuisance, not life-changing for him.

Perhaps he has just been in Washington, DC too long.

It is as if he just doesn't realize the strain that $4.00+/gallon gas puts on working families' lives -- people for whom gasoline is not a luxury, but a necessity for them to get to wrk, get to the sup[rmarket, get their kids to schools, get to church, and on and on.

So, either he doesn't realize, or perhaps he is thumbing his nose at us peasants, saying, "Your petty problems, like trying to make ends meet when gasoline eats up all your income, do not affect me."



Look at the symbolism (Maude - 7/7/2008 1:22:14 PM)
... of an open hay wagon, with friendly banjo pickers and kids in Tshirts, vs. what is essentially a military vehicle-- looking as if Goode and Bell are either under seige (of course, they SHOULD feel that way) or about to make a military assault on Scottsville.

But, is that really the message they want to send to voters?