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"FARMVILLE
- Rep. Virgil Goode, D-5th, invited the speaker [Congressman John Lewis]
to a key Democratic fundraising dinner in his home district, then failed
to attend the dinner himself" (Associated Press, The Daily Progress,
January 10, 2000).
"Friday night's Jefferson Jackson Day dinner is 'the premier
fund-raising event for the year for this [5th District] committee,' executive
director of the Virginia Democratic Party Craig Bieber said, and Goode's
failure to appear only fueled the firestorm of speculation about his plans"
(Associated Press, The Daily Progress, January 10, 2000).
"In a battle that has raged for more than a year, or since Goode
angered voters in his rural southside district by joining four other House
Democrats in voting to impeach President Clinton, signs of tension between
Goode and his party are everywhere, but no answers are forthcoming"
(Associated Press, The Daily Progress, January 10, 2000).
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| Congressman John Lewis, 5th District
Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, 1/7/00 |
"The dinner was considered special because the speaker was Rep.
John Lewis, D-Georgia, known for his work in the civil rights movement.
Lewis came to Farmville in part because Goode wrote encouraging him to attend,
5th District Democratic Chairman Carl Eggleston said" (Associated
Press, The Daily Progress, January 10, 2000).
"Eggleston said he was disappointed that Goode didn't show,
adding that it was his understanding that Goode had another dinner engagement"
(Associated Press, The Daily Progress, January 10, 2000).
Lewis, who voted against the impeachment, nonetheless urged the crowd
to "'Keep Virgil Goode a Democrat" and clearly conveyed the message
throughout his wonderful speech with his refrain, saying "'Don't Leave
the House'".
"State Sen. Emily Couric, D-Charlottesville, said she thinks
the 150 or so party activists in attendance would have welcomed him, even
if they don't approve of his independent streak" (Associated Press,
The Daily Progress, January 10, 2000).
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| Congressman John Lewis and former Congressman L.F. Payne
(2nd from the right) with Franklin County Democratic Committee at the 5th
District Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, January 7, 2000 |
"'Even those that question his past votes would have liked to
see him,' she said" (Associated Press, The Daily Progress, January
10, 2000).
"Goode also failed to attend last year's dinner after district
Democrats angered by his voting record broke a 20-year tradition and did
not invite him to co-host a reception there. Eggleston said then that Goode
had voted 74 percent of the time against Clinton and his programs"
(Associated Press, The Daily Progress, January 10, 2000).
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| Congressman John Lewis with Nelson County Democratic Committee
at the 5th District Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, 1/7/00 |
"Goode spoke with former representative L.F. Payne Jr. (D) about
his thoughts on switching parties last Friday. 'He is leaning toward being
a Democrat or toward being an independent, but I'm not sure which way he's
going to come down on that,' said Payne, who is keeping Democratic leaders
apprised of Goode's thoughts. 'That's just my read on a conversation I had
with him last week'" (Spencer S. Hsu and Juliet Eilperin, The Washington
Post, January 13, 2000).
"'My fondest hope is that he does run as a Democrat and I have
encouraged him in that way,' Payne added" " (Spencer S. Hsu
and Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post, January 13, 2000).
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