Al Weed debates Virgil Goode in Charlottesville

By: Mark
Published On: 8/10/2006 4:30:58 AM

According to the Daily Progress and Bob Gibson, around 300 people showed up last night for a debate between Al Weed and Virgil "I didn't know they were illegal" Goode at the Senior Center in Charlottesville.

A largely partisan and divided crowd of about 300 people at the Senior Center of Charlottesville heard Weed attack Goode as a career politician who takes questionable contributions and supports Bush more than 80 percent of the time, including on the war in Iraq.

Weed, who has a son about to serve a second tour as a surgeon in Iraq, said Goode +óGé¼+ôfollows the Republican lead at every turn+óGé¼-¥ and has never questioned Bush on his war policy in +óGé¼+ôthe failed occupation of Iraq.+óGé¼-¥


One of the main subjects for debate was the now-infamous MZM contract with the Defense Department, who recently cancelled the contract for the Foreign Supplier Assesment Center (FSAC) and closed the doors the following Monday, July 31, 2006.

Wade+óGé¼Gäós guilty plea stated that he made the illegal pass-through contributions to Goode+óGé¼Gäós campaign and that of Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Fla., because he believed they +óGé¼+ôhad the ability to request appropriations funding that would benefit MZM.+óGé¼-¥ Goode denied knowing the contributions were illegal and has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

They also discussed immigration, and Virgil had the predictable answers that have made him the laughing stock (along with Tom Tancredo (R-CO)) of the country when it comes to real debate on that issue.

Virgil IS in denial about the financial windfall he received from Mitchell Wade, the convicted felon.

The Republican said he had +óGé¼+ônever heard somebody so uninformed as Mr. Weed was in his comments about [MZM and Martinsville]. He said I got nearly $100,000 in illegal contributions. Not so. It was about $46,000 that was straw contributions, but I gave every donation that I could tell was related to MZM to charities around the 5th District.+óGé¼-¥

Why did you give away over $90,000 then, Mr Goode? For good measure? Do you think that since you gave away more money than you now claim to be 'straw' donations, people will forgive you? Again, do you think we do not know differently?

Virgil Goode is a horrible Congressman for a great District in Virginia. We need to change that to match, with Al Weed, a great man, representing us in the Fighting Fifth District.

Weed blasted Goode for taking what the Democrat called +óGé¼+ônearly $100,000 in illegal contributions from a now convicted felon [Wade], and in return got that man $15 million for a useless federal contract - $15 million that could have bought proper body armor for our troops in Iraq.+óGé¼-¥

+óGé¼+ôNow that the felon is in jail, the Pentagon has terminated the contract and the taxpayers of Martinsville may owe up to a half-million dollars+óGé¼-¥ for the facility that the defense contractor and its successor abandoned, Weed said. +óGé¼+ôWe deserve better.+óGé¼-¥

Goode joked that Weed must be smoking marijuana if he thinks MZM got anywhere near $15 million. +óGé¼+ôLet+óGé¼Gäós get to his assertion that MZM got $15 million. Totally false,+óGé¼-¥ Goode said. +óGé¼+ôHe must be smoking something like what he+óGé¼Gäós named for."

Uh, Mr Goode, are you really asking us to believe that things didn't happen the way they have been publically disclosed? Or is it that you still think that none of us can read or use the internet to find out the real truth? The truth is, you accepted almost $100,000 in contributions from the employees and PAC of MZM. You say you had no idea they were illegal, but I find that statement as hard to believe as anything your boss George W. Bush says.

Not only that, but do you really think that it is seemly to criticize Mr. Weed by making jokes about his name? How childish. You yourself made long and loud complaints in the 2004 race because you felt someone was making fun of your name. Maybe that is the standard for a turncoat that calls Republicans his best friends (like George Allen) and refuses to listen to the illogic of his own statements.

If you really think that we believe that you didn't know that the contributions were illegal, then you are too dense to be in Congress. If you did know, then you are a criminal, and should go spend time with your buddy, convicted felon Mitchell Wade.

If you think for a moment that you scare us or that we are going to roll over and cede this race to you, you are mistaken. We will be taking it to you in every way we can. On the internet, in the streets, and at events. There will be no shortage of volunteers to unseat you.

Cross Posted at Daily Kos


Comments



And also found this morning (Mark - 8/10/2006 4:56:29 AM)

A brand new advertisement on DKos!

Enjoy, and thanks for reading.

Mark



Question (Kathy Gerber - 8/10/2006 9:33:32 AM)
While reading Bob Gibson's article, I realized that I do not have a listing of the charities and amounts of the MZM money that Virgil gave away.  Is the complete information available?


Yes It Is (Mark - 8/10/2006 10:03:48 AM)
I have it right here. Would you like a copy? How should I get it to you?

$91,900 given away on Dec. 24, 2005.



Thanks, Mark (Kathy Gerber - 8/10/2006 10:26:31 AM)
You can email me: kath at skatha dot net

and attach if it's electronic, or I'll send you a snail mail address.



"The investigation is still ongoing" (Bubby - 8/10/2006 12:21:34 PM)
The Director, and Deputy of CIFA have resigned.

Counterintelligence Officials Resign

Undersecretary of Defense Stephen A. Cambone last March ordered an internal study of how funding earmarked in defense bills led to CIFA contracts for MZM. The Defense Information Systems Agency, which has been given responsibility for the inquiry, said in a statement yesterday that "the investigation is still ongoing."