and no doubt heartfelt, but right now my greater self voice is yelling "throw the idiot to the curb".

In the spirit of the season, I will try to work on it.

After the season, he is fair game.

It’s just important every once in a while to remember that the ignorance of Virgil and people like him should not be the real motivator for change. Virgil should be defeated because he adds negative value to American potential. The real motivator for change needs to be a positive force.

Virgil’s defenders find it easier to play off of the outrage. That’s why I think Keith Ellison’s response was so good. It wasn’t a counter attack, it was an appeal to reason and that makes it harder for Virgil’s bigot brigade.

Democrats need more than opposition to Virgil to beat him. If Democrats get someone that can really inspire people, Virgil’s negatives will come out of the woodwork to haunt him – just like they did for Allen.

for the comments Greg. It is good to read and remind ourselves to store these values in the back of our minds to guard against superioty and arragant thinking, as we try to accomplish our goal of getting people like Virgil out of our leadership.
I would never want to take away Virgil's free speech, I just don't want him to have the platform he has, to spread his hate and racism.
As I heard the Rocky Mount citizens on CNN tonight I wondered just how much is their own thinking or how much is brainwashing.

For most of my life I have been blessed (or cursed) with an ability to see the other side. To consider that the other side has reasons to present the views they do and to try to parse those reasons as I make my own personal decisions about an issue or belief, a statement or position, or a behavior. Needless to say, this has caused great distress to those in my life who would have had me make decisions on the fly.

There are some instances however that simply defy even my ability to examine.

While I do defend Goode's right to say what he believes as a private citizen, I think his right to espouse such bigotry and hatred of those who are "different" stops at the door of the office he holds. Simply put, as an elected offical his status changes from the private citizen arena and I hold him to a higher standard. If SOME in his constituency expressed alarm at the situation of having an elected representative's wish to use the Koran for his ceremonial swearing in he could have (and should have) thanked them for their concerns and moved on. Instead he took that opportunity not only to pander to their fears, but to take it one step further and use those fears to further his own agenda. This is what is not acceptable to me.

Because of this issue I have read much these past few days about "attacks" on Christianity. That some Christians feel the "left" is out to get them and restrict and/or destroy their right to worship as they choose. I would ask, who attacked first? If your faith is based on the premise that you are right and everyone else who doesn't believe exactly as you do is wrong, where does that take you? Where does that take us? How do we compromise and all live together in relative peace and harmony?

I appreciate your diary and agree with much if not all of what you say. While I recognize and accept the need to point us to the high ground I also think that ANY elected official would do well to consider ALL the people they represent, not just those whose ideas match their own if they wish to remain in office. And yes, on many issues it would require a lot of work, but I strongly believe that that is what their job is.

Well said Greg.  Goode's redneck baiting has worked in the 5th District for years.  Forty years ago it was blatant racism that fired up the masses.  Now, it's religious intolerance and fear-mongering.  Ignorance is no virture and neither is Virgil's bigotry. 

Thank you Virgil for reminding us that we have not only freedom of religion in this country but freedom of speech, wherein people have the right to say stupid things and everyone else has the right to call that person stupid. Virgil giving a tour of Hell is right!

I'm getting there......