A Contentious Debate

A Contentious Debate

Virgil Goode and Tom Perriello squared off in one last debate tonight, election-eve 2008, in Martinsville. The hour-long event was broadcast locally on Star Cable and on WVTF public radio.

Virgil's favorite line was "That's ah-nutha New York City slick answer, Tom."

Perriello tended to give his answers in English, but some seemed to stray from the question. In fairness, some of the questions were repetitive. "What do we do about jobs in Southside?" or "I lost my job, what are you going to do about it?"

Virgil didn't seem capable of pronouncing Perriello's (Perro...) last name. After a few aborted attempts, he just referred to him as "Tom."

Virgil chose to attack Perriello at every turn. He was especially vicious and pointed regarding the 2nd Amendment and the A+ NRA endorsement he received. Goode, in an angry, shaking voice, claimed Perriello was lying on his campaign signs where he claims to have "received the NRA's highest rating." Perriello responded in a much calmer voice that he supports 2nd Amendment rights and that the rating is the highest rating a non-elected official can receive (A-q).

The most pointed moment in the debate came as Goode was launching into yet another attack. Goode, for probably the third or fourth time, made a sharp point that Perriello is supported by people who support Obama. At that moment, a member of the divided partisan, vocal audience shouted to Goode, "He's not running with Obama, he's running against you!" Goode screamed back, "He absolutely is running with OBAMA!" Then Goode calmed slightly and explained how by electing Perriello and Obama, the Supreme Court would be in the hands on people who would take your 2nd Amendment rights away. He said that people like Obama and his friends were against selecting "Ahlootoe" and Roberts for the Supreme Court.

The debate ended abruptly when the hour time limit was reached.