Fellow citizens of the Fifth District:

DO NOT BELIEVE VIRGIL GOODE. This mail piece is a gross misrepresentation of my views. It is wrong. Virgil is only trying to scare you, and it won't work. These are the last acts of a desperate man, someone who knows that change is coming, and that in a matter of hours he will be out of a job. He figures his only chance is to trick you into believing that someone currently receiving social security would ever proactively do ANYTHING to reduce benefits.

These claims about my wanting to reduce COLAs as a priority of my legislative program are ridiculous and insulting. Have I mentioned it? Yes. Have I listed it on an online survey as something I would be in favor of learning more about? Yes. Virgil Goode has destroyed the sanctity of social security with a tax-cut-and-spend mentality that has turned the largest surplus in American history into the largest deficit. Congressman Goode did that, with the help of this President who he follows like a lost child. They are the ones who have jeopardized your benefits, and that is what makes this mailing so atrocious.

If our government continues to run record deficits, and spend money we don't have, your social security will be at risk. If we are going to continue to run record deficits, we will HAVE to consider reducing COLAs as a way to preserve the system of social security overall.

The point of all of this, and the reason for our outrage is that when I am elected as this district's congressman, I will work first for a balanced budget, and for fiscal sanity, so that we NEVER have to even CONSIDER reducing COLAs. Saying anything that would lead someone to believe otherwise is a lie.

Virgil Goode and I have been going around this district, running into each other from time to time, and whenever we do, I find myself wondering: how can people claim to know Virgil as a fair and honorable man when his politics are so mean? Let me say to all Virgil Goode supporters, wherever they may live, that you thought you knew Virgil, but you don't. This is the real Congressman Goode; a man who will say or do anything to make you afraid, and get reelected.

In my life I have been a farmer, a soldier, a community leader, a father, and husband. I believe that this district needs jobs, and I will work to end the catastrophic job loss in places like Henry County, Martinsville, and Danville. I believe in providing healthcare for all Americans, because in times of economic crisis, the best we can do is help people when they are sick. I believe in being honest, and in the valor of hard work. That's what this election is about, and that is what we are fighting for, and that's what I'm going to begin to do on Tuesday.

Thank you, and don't forget to vote.

Sincerely,

Al Weed, November 1, 2004