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"U.S.
Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. shed the Democratic Party like an ill-fitting suit
Monday, becoming the second independent in the House of Representatives
and setting himself up to be courted by the leadership of both parties"
(Josh Barney, The Daily Progress, January 25, 2000).
"In announcing the move, Goode, 53, said he decided to abandon
the Democrats because he believed being an independent would better allow
him to serve his constitutents in the 5th District, which includes Charlottesville
and stretches to the southern end of the state" (Josh Barney, The
Daily Progress, January 25, 2000).
"'My votes in Congress have been on the basis [of] what I believe
is in the best interest of the district, not on what the party chairman
would say or want,' he said in a phone interview Monday from his Rocky Mount
office. 'I'm going to keep on doing like I've been doing. Just voting on
the issues as I see them'" (Josh Barney, The Daily Progress, January
25, 2000).
"On most issues, Goode already is one of the Republican leadership's
most reliable votes. He voted against Clinton 84 percent of the time in
1999, according to a Congressional Quarterly survey, an increase from 74
percent two years ago and 71 percent in 1997, his first year in Congress"
(Spencer S. Hsu, The Washington Post, January 24, 2000).
"Goode was one of a handful of Democrats who broke party ranks
to vote in favor of Republican budgets and tax cuts in 1998 and 1999; to
limit class-action lawsuits against tobacco companies, gunmakers and other
industries; to oppose the use of force in Kosovo; and to deny foreign aid
in 1997, including money for family planning" (Spencer S. Hsu, The
Washington Post, January 24, 2000).
"When his attendance at a recent fund-raiser for Republican
Senate candidate George Allen came up, Goode declined to say whether he
would endorse incumbent Charles S. Robb, against whom Goode lost a primary
contest in 1994" (Spencer S. Hsu, The Washington Post, January 24,
2000).
At a recent Ruritan meeting, "Goode pledged to fight for a constitutional
amendment to ban flag-burning, a ban on 'partial-birth' abortion and an
amendment requiring a balanced budget apart from Social Security trust funds.
He didn't mention that Robb opposes the first two measures but noted that
both fell 'by a vote or two' in the Senate" (Spencer S. Hsu, The
Washington Post, January 24, 2000).
"'Virgil Goode is once again following his own path,' said William
Harvey, Albemarle County Democratic Party chairman. 'It's Virgil being Virgil'"
(Josh Barney, The Daily Progress, January 25, 2000).
"'He is an independent. Philosophically, he's a Republican,
but he likes the role as a maverick independent,' said state Delegate Mitchell
Van Yahres, D- Charlottesville. 'He likes it, and he's got a district ...
where he can get away with it" (Josh Barney, The Daily Progress,
January 25, 2000).
"Van Yahres, for one, said he will no longer support Goode.
'I think there's such a thing as dealing with party loyalty,' Van Yahres
said" (Josh Barney, The Daily Progress, January 25, 2000).
"But Rob Bell, chairman of the Albemarle County Republican Party,
said he thinks endorsements will make little difference to Goode's constituents.
'In their eyes, Virgil's very independence is something they admire and
respect,' Bell said" (Josh Barney, The Daily Progress, January 25,
2000).
"Democrats in Goode's conservative district concede that his
maverick syle has endeared him to voters of all stripes. "'The plain
truth is, Virgil could get elected running as a Rastafarian here,' said
Del. Barney K. Day (D-Patrick). 'He polls the moon'" (Spencer S.
Hsu, The Washington Post, January 24, 2000).
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