Muslim-Baiting Rep. Virgil Goode Concedes Defeat
It's official: Rep. Virgil Goode, the Virginia Republican best known for denouncing the election of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) as the first Muslim member of Congress, has conceded defeat against Democratic Rep.-Elect Tom Perriello.
Goode asked for a recount after the certified total gave Perriello a 745-vote lead out of over 300,000 votes cast. The chance of turning around that kind of deficit was nearly non-existent, and now that the recount has finished Goode has conceded via press release.
The interesting thing here is that Goode was an absolutely safe occupant of this seat until this cycle -- to most people it didn't even seem possible that he could lose this year until the final week or two of the campaign. One has to wonder if his angry remarks against Ellison made the difference, turning him from a secure incumbent into a cartoon character.
Big-ass typo in the headline. But given the content of the story, it's a pleasure to read.
December 17, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a constituent, and was fortunate enough to get to spend some time around Tom and his incredible staff during this campaign.
Tom Perriello is a juggernaut candidate. He is an actual real person, who engaged the people of his district well, and spent time organizing early in the rural southern part of his district. Tom has an incredible resume as an international negotiator in conflict zones, and he is incredibly intelligent.
The real story of this race is not Virgil losing. It is Tom Perriello winning.
While Virgil Goode certainly sparked the ire of many people in his district with his remarks on Goode, he made more of a bad impression on voters with his nasty "foreigner" TV attacks on Tom Perriello, and by being a Bush-bot Republican. The district split roughly 49-48 for McCain. Tom Perriello actually outperformed Obama in the district.
I look forward to being represented by such a great American as Tom Perriello, and I think he will do America proud.
peace,
faithfull
December 17, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Incredible.
December 17, 2008 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
G O O D E !
December 17, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is he going to be part of the inauguration now too?
December 17, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
nice
December 18, 2008 1:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Goode riddance.
December 17, 2008 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hah!
- Your local Muslim American. (really)
December 17, 2008 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ray Lahood for Secretary of Transportation. Not Muslim, but Arab-American...
December 17, 2008 8:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Before Goode, that district had another interesting figure... George Allen, Jr., later of Macaca fame.
December 17, 2008 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to agree with faithful up there--the race was less about Goode losing than Periello winning. The latter ran an inspiring, Obama-like campaign that appealed to people's hope rather than their fear. I am so excited to finally have true representation in both houses of Congress!!
December 17, 2008 11:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
The interesting thing here is that Goode was an absolutely safe occupant of this seat until this cycle -- to most people it didn't even seem possible that he could lose this year until the final week or two of the campaign.
I agree, but it's sad to think this MZM criminal lasted this long.
Goode riddance!
~
December 18, 2008 12:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
MZM?
December 18, 2008 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink