Memo to Former Rep. Goode: Election's Over, You Lost

Anyone who has served six terms in the House of Representatives can take credit for bringing home the bacon to his or constituents. And that's exactly what Republican Virgil Goode - after twelve years in Congress - did this week.

Goode has been going around his district, in the Roanoke area of Virginia, touting the hard work he did to win $1.5 million worth of earmarks in the omnibus spending bill approved by the House this week.

The only thing is: Goode isn't the district's congressman. He was defeated in November by Democrat Tom Perriello.

But that's not stopping Goode. He beat Perriello to the punch this week, holding photo-ops, news conferences and even handing out oversize ceremonial checks to the beneficiaries of the federal funding set-asides. As you can see in this story in one of his district's local newspapers, Goode's constituents credit him with the funding to build their new visitor's center at the Booker T. Washington National Monument.

No doubt, Goode worked to get the earmarks in the spending bill while he was still in office last year, before his constituents tossed him out. Yet here he is, nearly four months after losing his reelection bid to Perriello, still very much playing the role of... congressman.

Maybe his view is once a congressman, always a congressman?

Perriello's office had no comment on Goode's upstaging the new congressman. But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which delighted in defeating Goode on Election Day, and rarely holds back, says Goode needs to get a grip on reality.

As DCCC spokeswoman Jessica Santillo put it: "Memo to Virgil Goode: You're not in Congress anymore."

Comments

I don't know about "once a congressman, always a congressman" but in Virgil Goode's case "once an a-hole, always an a-hole" is definitely true.

Posted by: kguy1 | February 27, 2009 3:55 PM | Report abuse

Goode....why are you doing this just to get national attention? YOUR TIME HAS BEEN USED UP! Stealing Perriello's shine was much an a-hole move. "Once a congressman, always a congressman" that's not true. Yes you were a congressman, but you should've retired a long time ago, and let Perriello have his spotlight.

Posted by: chaniquafrazier | February 27, 2009 6:58 PM | Report abuse

What a lowlife. I am sure Goode knew Perriello's dad, Dr.Perriello had a major stoke this past week and is not expected to recover.

Posted by: Bridget2 | February 27, 2009 7:23 PM | Report abuse

It's easy to figure out. He has free time right now and is campaigning for his former job. He didn't lose an election. He was just "laid off".

Posted by: FairlingtonBlade | February 27, 2009 8:58 PM | Report abuse

Wow. That's just a gutter move for someone who's more ass-out than Kim Kardashian.

Posted by: jcbcmb68 | February 28, 2009 12:05 AM | Report abuse

This is what republicans do.
When in the minority, stop and
vote against everything, and
stop the other party, when ever
possible,their only thought is
to lower taxes for the rich, and
take credit, for everything good
that happens.

Posted by: StevG | March 2, 2009 9:39 AM | Report abuse

Maybe someone could send this same Memo to Norm Coleman.

Mary Ann, would you mind writing a column about how ludicrous Coleman's legal challenges have become. Maybe going on to mention that his "well intentioned" court dates are costing his donors millions while depriving his former constituents of any representation at all in DC? I think it would be funny if you quoted his election night speech where he said of Al Franken being so close as to mandate a statewide recount (state law says .5% = recount) "If it were me, I'd step down," when in fact, it is now him, and we're still waiting.

Thanks for considering it.

Posted by: Nemotoad | March 2, 2009 10:34 AM | Report abuse

Thanks for the link Mary Anne. This is Virgil's hometown newspaper, and I assume they are in the tank for him. His people are fighting Perriello every step of the way. They don't accept the legitimacy of the election and think that the correct social order will be restored in 2010. It's ugly. Tom was elected by people that Virgil and his ilk write off and they can't deal with it.

Posted by: utec | March 2, 2009 10:51 AM | Report abuse

I second Nemotoad's motion that Mary Ann write a column about the Norm Coleman plot to delay the conclusion of the Minnesota senate race. I suggest, Mary Ann, that you occasionally update us on this charade: it's a national issue because as long as the GOP can keep Senator Franken from taking his seat, the better they can obstruct the recovery programs of the President. Coleman and the GOP disgrace this country.

Posted by: rocks18 | March 2, 2009 11:02 AM | Report abuse

Oh yes, Mary Ann -- as a former resident of Roanoke... (since 1932) I suggest you might as well pick up your Democrat Party Card at the the DNC... I'm sure they're holding it for you. -- Jack

Posted by: JackButtram1 | March 2, 2009 11:15 AM | Report abuse

Why is it that ANYONE is bragging about spending our money on their earmarks? Stop the spending, please!

Posted by: georgewood | March 2, 2009 11:38 AM | Report abuse

The Borgen Project has some good info on the cost of addressing global poverty.

$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget

Posted by: atsegga | March 2, 2009 4:10 PM | Report abuse

I am reminded of the congressional republicans who voted en mass against the stimulus plan going back home to take credit for the dollars that the plan will be bringing to their districts.

Posted by: catherine150 | March 3, 2009 9:36 AM | Report abuse

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