Goode outlines goals if elected president

martinsville bulletin ^ | Wednesday, June 6, 2012 | PAUL COLLINS

[SoConPubbie]

Presidential candidate Virgil Goode, speaking in Martinsville on Tuesday, cited the need for significant, across-the-board cuts in federal spending to balance the budget; congressional term limits; repeal of Obama health care reform; tougher immigration policies; and reigning in federal secondary education regulations.

Goode, the Constitution Party’s candidate for president, addressed the Martinsville Rotary Club at its dinner meeting at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. About 20 people attended.

Goode, 65, of Rocky Mount, was in Virginia’s Senate from 1973 to 1996. He then served six terms in Congress before he lost his seat to Democrat Tom Perriello in 2008. Perriello was defeated by current 5th District U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, two years later. A Democrat when he was first elected to Congress, Goode later became an independent and then a Republican.

Goode said the federal government needs “a balanced budget soon, not in five to 10 years.”

He said President Obama’s proposed budget, with a $1.3 trillion deficit, and the House Republicans’ budget plan by Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, with a deficit of more than $600 billion, both fall short of what this country needs.

“We’ve got to make hard choices. It’s difficult to do it,” Goode said of the need to cut spending and balance the budget.

“To get a balanced budget, you have to cut discretionary spending,” he said.

He noted the House GOP budget increases defense spending. But he said spending shouldn’t be increased in one area when the budget needs balancing; spending needs to be cut across the board. He noted he has been a supporter of defense spending in the past.

He added, though, he would not want to cut direct benefits to veterans or military pay.

Goode said the federal government should withdraw from “its over-reaching regulation of local school systems.” He added those regulations are tremendously expensive to local school systems and the state. He noted that he voted against No Child Left Behind legislation. His campaign website says he is opposed to national testing of public school students, he supports ending the federal Department of Education, and that local education decisions should be left the states and localities.

Among the other examples he listed where he thinks federal spending cuts are needed are foreign aid, agriculture, commerce and energy. “The list goes on and on,” Goode said.

He said term limits are needed in the U.S. House and Senate for a number of reasons. A major reason, he said, is that he thinks federal legislators are more interested in raising money to get re-elected and avoiding controversy so as to not make people or groups mad than they are about doing what’s right.

On immigration, he expressed opposition to what’s known as “anchor babies,” in which illegal immigrants come into this country, have a baby and the baby automatically becomes a U.S. citizen and is entitled to many benefits.

He also said it has been estimated that more than 64,000 illegal immigrants graduate from U.S. high schools every year. Using a conservative estimate of $10,000 a year to educate a student, that’s $640 million, according to figures Goode provided.

He said tougher immigration policies are needed.

His campaign website says he supports reducing legal immigration and stopping illegal immigration.

On a number of other issues, he said:

• He would give “zero” foreign aid to Pakistan.

• If Social Security benefits were extended to same-sex couples, the financial impact would be enormous.

“You’re talking billions,” he said.

Goode is opposed to gay marriages/civil unions and supports the federal Marriage Protection Amendment, according to his website.

• He said he thinks “it’s very unlikely” Obama health care reform will be repealed, even if presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney wins the election and Republicans have a majority in both houses of Congress — because of the vote margin required for repeal.

However, Goode said he favors repeal of “Obamacare.” He said he thinks such a repeal would benefit small businesses.

He said “we all want affordable health care,” but with the large federal deficit and federal debt, the country can’t afford Obama health care reform.

In an interview, he said “we’ve got a little over 4,000” of the signatures required to get on the Virginia ballot and are working to collect more. More than 10,000 signatures of registered voters — at least 400 from each congressional district — are required.

Enough signatures have been collected for Goode to be on the ballot in 17 states, he said.

[DannyTN]

"Which Conservative are you voting for? Right now the liberal vote is split between mitt and obie, so tell me which Conservative you think we should rally behind? I will gladly pull the lever for the best Conservative."

I plan on voting for Virgil Goode of the Constitution party.

I looked briefly at Tom Hoefling of the America's party. And his platform looks okay, but I don't see where Tom has ever run for anything or won an election. And he also doesn't physically look very presidential to me, perhaps its the yellow teeth.

Neither party platform is perfect.

The Constitution party platform calls for a gold standard, a ridiculously backward and stupid idea. Fortunately Goode hasn't seem to adopted that as his own.

The America's party wants to repeal the income tax. Another ridiculous idea that would leave governmental revenues completely dependent on the whims of consumer psychology.

The Constitution party has been around since 1991. The America's party was founded by Alan keyes in 2004 after he lost the Republican primary and wanted to run as an independent and decided he couldn't ally with the Constitution party.

In 2008, Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution party got 0.15% of the vote, while Alan Keyes of the America's party got 0.04% of the vote.

[DannyTN]

"Even a nominee with a zero name recognition four months prior to the general election will get some votes. But is that the hill you want to die on?"

Beats the hell out of dying on the Obama or Romney hills. Yeah, since those are the choices, I'll vote for someone who shares my values. And if I die on that hill, then I'll die knowing I never voted for a flaming liberal for President.

[JLLH]

One could say the same of the insults and ad hominem attacks leveled at ABO voters from the ABR crowd. I’ve been told I’m going to Hell for voting Romney if he’s the Rep. candidate, that I will need to “repent” and God “MAY” forgive me, that I’m complicit in whatever Romney’s sins are (I assume that applies to the other side as well since no one is above reproach according to Scripture).

I’ve also been told I’m no kind of conservative, that I “LOVE” Romney (untrue), that I am “worshipping” him (QUITE UNTRUE), that I “lick his boots” (so ridiculous as to not even be worthy of discussion), blah blah blah. All because I am convinced without the shadow of a doubt that Obama is far more dangerous to this nation than Romney at the moment. The very things you are describing are tactics being used here against ABO voters. Those are indeed leftist tactics and I doubt the conservative credentials of anyone who uses them.

[COBOL2Java]

Quotes, please?

[JLLH]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2901416/posts

Long thread, but you can find the requisite posts. They are there. Happy reading!

[JLLH]

See specifically posts 120, 122, 131, 133, 146, 154, 159, 167, 175, 178 of the thread linked.

[SamAdams76]

I would prefer Virgil Goode to Mitt Romney but being a realist, his prospects are not encouraging. He's only on the ballot in 17 states and here we are approaching the middle of July. There must be deadlines coming up soon that he will surely miss. If it's not even mathematically possible for him to win 270 electoral votes, why even bother? I might as well write myself in and to that end, I've posted a bit of a platform on my profile page here.

I think it is possible to someday elect a third party candidate as president but it is safe to say that the window of opportunity has been pretty much closed for this go-around, due to lack of funds, organization and being on the ballot in all 50 states. It also doesn't help when only 20 people show up at your big fundraiser and you lost your last two bids to be a congressman in your home district.

I bucked the trend in 1992 and voted Ross Perot. At a point back there in June of 1992, it looked like Perot could actually win! He was ahead of both Bush and Clinton in the polls and he was willing to spend his own money (had over a billion dollars) to run a first class campaign.

Wasn't so much a big fan of Ross Perot as I was disgusted with the two choices of Bush (Sr.) and Clinton. I stuck with Perot even during that wacky summer when he was dropping out and dropping back in and his inner circle were bailing. I was much younger back then and more naive. I thought we'd be better off with Perot regardless of his bizarre behavior.

All I know is that on election night, when Clinton and Gore were dancing around like fairies to Fleetwood Mac songs, I had a sick feeling in my stomach about the whole business of voting for Perot.

I will consider voting third party again but only if that candidate has a credible campaign and a decent chance of winning.

[COBOL2Java]

Well I’m sorry if you got attacked by idiots who don’t tolerate alternate opinions. The temptation to get hot under the collar is always there, especially in this election season and I’ve fallen prey to it myself. I hope I’m less vitriolic.

[JLLH]

You have no reason to apologize. I just wanted to “show the other side” so to speak. I get why there are those who don’t want either likely choice for November. I’m there also (as are many who are ABO), but recent history hasn’t proven to my satisfaction that a third party candidate can win the Presidency and as unhappy as I am at the prospect of Romney being the R. candidate, I’m far unhappier with the idea of another 4 years of a wanna-be dictator and I feel compelled to do everything I can to see that that does not happen. I do fear a conservative split-vote - which recent history has shown will throw the election to the Dem.
God preserve this nation if that happens.

Thank you for your kind words. Both sides ARE passionate about their views, and that’s to be expected because of what’s at stake, but we’re in deeper trouble than we can imagine when we begin to eat our own. Take care.

[Perdogg]

"He said he thinks “it’s very unlikely” Obama health care reform will be repealed, even if presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney wins the election and Republicans have a majority in both houses of Congress — because of the vote margin required for repeal. "

I wonder how some freepers would have reacted if Mitt Romney had said this.

[DannyTN]

"Picking which pretend candidate to “vote” for: all the stupidity of arguing angels on the head of a pin, but now with dangerous consequences. How quaint."

You think it's more stupid than picking which extreme liberal you are going to vote for president for fear your vote won't matter if you don't choose one of the two liberals the establishment has given us? The fact is your vote does matter. You'll will be responsible for everything the liberal of your choice does.

[DannyTN]

They are targeting over 40 states. They were on the ballot in 37 in 2008.

I'm not voting for Goode thinking he is going to win in 2012. I'm looking down the road. I'm voting for him in hopes of one of the following outcomes:

• Goode gets 4 to 5% of the vote and it's too large a percent to ignore. So either or both parties move right in 2016 in hopes of appeasing these voters.
• If Obama wins, I'm counting on the checks and balances to hold. Congress has already held his AG in contempt. The states have already challenged the constitutionality of some of his legislation with some success. Obama will have a harder time implementing liberalism than will Romney. The republicans will take the mid-term elections and increase their power in the House and Senate. The Republicans will probably put up somebody new in 2016 and if the Constitution party managed to get significant votes, they'll think twice before writing us off again and nominating another liberal. And if they do nominate another liberal then the defection of GOPers to the Constitution party will continue.
• If Romney wins, the GOP will rubber stamp his agenda. Romney will be the Republican nominee in 2016. The democrats will take the mid-term elections weakening the republicans in the house and senate. So you'll have the incumbent liberal vs the Democrat liberal vs the Constitution party.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

if you’re so intent of voting onanisticly, then grow a pair a vote for yourself since you refuse to understand ‘responsibility’

[DannyTN]

"if you’re so intent of voting onanisticly, then grow a pair a vote for yourself since you refuse to understand ‘responsibility’"

"onanisticly" doesn't apply to me. You're the one in bed with the liberals, not me.

And I'm not running, to vote for myself would truly be a wasted vote. I'm voting for a party that was on the ballot in 37 states during the last presidential election and hopes to be on it in at least 40 this election.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

If I’m in bed with someone, then onanism doesn’t apply. And golly gee, good luck with that awesome goal of pretending to be relevant in 80% of the states. Maybe you can even get the backing of those 4 out of 5 dentists who endorse Trident.

[DannyTN]

The main definition of Onanism according to Dictionary.com is coitus interuptus. It would definitely apply to you. The second definition wouldn’t apply.

But if you are going to be rude on this site, don’t hide your foulness behind medical terms. Just go ahead and say it in laymans terms and take the ban when it comes.

[GlockThe Vote]

Voting for a third party in this upcoming election is the height of insanity in so many ways.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Man - if you dare remind one of these 3rd-party Einsteins how math works, suddenly you become the rude one. Deranged it is...

[Hegewisch Dupa]

(psst - it’s more a Biblical term than medical one, but it was cute of you to do some research. May be hope for you yet.)

[GlockThe Vote]

I don’t understand what they seek to accomplish with this little temper tantrum.

They want obama to have a second term, to what end? Do they want the entire nation to collapse because their little pony did not run in 2012 and get the GOP nod?

Do these narrow minded folks think that in 2016 some coservative hero is going to save the day? At that point this country will be so far beyond repair that it wont matter who is elected since we will be that farther from even the remote possibility of coming back!

Yeah, lets all waste a vote on an unknown, impossible choice, with no money.

Real brialliant plan right there if I ever heard one.