Rep. Virgil Goode (VA-R) has repeatedly made disparaging and xenophobic comments about Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-D) and his religion of Islam.
- in a letter to constituents
- on national television
- in a national newspaper
How has the Virginia Republicans responded? Thus far, with silence. And with comments like these from a fellow Republican, silence is affirmation. We'll be updating the list below with information as needed. Any information you may have would be greatly appreciated - please post your updates in comments to diaries like this one tracking the vigil.
United State Congress
Senator John Warner - vague statement about freedom of religion, but nothing specific about Virgil Goode's comments about Islam:
Sen. John Warner (R-VA) released a statement yesterday in which he offered that he respects the right of all members of Congress to freely "exercise the religion of their choice, including those of the Islamic faith utilizing the Quran." No mention of Goode's proposed immigration restrictions on Muslims.Rep. Jo Ann Davis - obvious comments about oaths of office, but still utterly silent on Virgil's xenophobic characterizations of Muslims.
Virginia Executive
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling - silent.
Attorney General Bob McDonnell - silent.
Virginia GOP
Edward Gillespie - silent.
Pat Barksdale - I agree!
"I support what Virgil is saying about illegal immigration being a drain on the states," [Halifax County Republican Party Chairwoman] Barksdale said.Virginia Senate
Virginia House of Delegates
David Albo - silent.
Clifford Athey, Jr. - silent.
Robert Bell - silent.
Kathy Byron - silent.
Vincent Callahan, Jr. - silent.
Charles Carrico, Sr. - silent.
Benjamin Cline - silent.
Mark Cole - silent.
John Cosgrove - silent.
M. Kirkland Cox - silent.
Anne Crockett-Stark - silent.
Allen Dudley - That's our Virgil!
"That's Virgil exactly," said state Del. Allen W. Dudley (R-Franklin), who grew up with Goode and attended Franklin County High School with him in the mid-1960s. "He's very strong in what he believes and doesn't mind speaking what he believes."William Fralin - silent.
Hogan said most people in the district "agree with Virgil."William Howell - silent."He is good Congressman and we are fortunate to have him represent us," Hogan said.
"From my perspective, when I look at Fairfax County where they are teaching in 50 languages or more, I've got to wonder how our melting pot of a culture is going to survive when we have groups that have views that are different from those of the general public and want to be treated vastly differently," Hogan said. ["]We do, after all, have a relatively homogeneous culture and I am concerned about the survival of that culture."