THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 11, 1995 TAG: 9511100021
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
State Sen. Virgil Goode is a conservative Democrat, even by the standards of a state that regularly produces them. Wednesday, he decided to keep on being what he's always been. That's a decision that deserves respect for two reasons.
First, Republicans who got within one seat of a majority in the Senate thought Goode might be persuaded to switch parties and put them in power. It was rumored that they were prepared to offer him powerful incentives if he'd cross the aisle. He declined.
We live in an era of expediency when loyalty to company, team or party is rare. It therefore wouldn't have been surprising to learn that a legislator - like an employee, free agent or sports franchise owner - had decided to make the best deal he could. But Goode apparently decided some things are more important than grabbing the main chance - things like loyalty, consistency and principle.
Second, in sticking with his party Goode uttered some home truths. We have just been through an election when Democrats were repeatedly characterized as big-spending, hard-core liberals. But such creatures are few and far between in Virginia. They are more likely to be found flying over the state than running for office in it.
That's just the point Goode took pains to make about Democrats. ``The party in Washington and the party in this area are not the same,'' he said. ``It's a mistake to say that.''
It's a mistake Governor Allen, who grew up in California, frequently makes. But Virginia is not far-out California or high-tax Massachusetts, and its Democrats are not Jerry Brown or Barney Frank. Such comparisons rankle men like Goode, Virginians proud to be Southern Democrats but by no stretch of the imagination liberal.
That's one of the dangers of over-the-top campaign rhetoric. It may turn the partisans on but may turn out to offend and alienate just those people who a day or two later you hope to win to your way of thinking. Governor Allen has now promised to tone it down. In the case of Senator Goode, he's too late. by CNB