Virgil H. Goode Jr., a Republican from Rocky Mount who represented the 5th District in Congress for six terms, has joined the conservative Constitution Party - but he says that doesn’t mean he’s quitting the GOP.
“I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive,” Goode said.
Goode was the keynote speaker the Constitution Party’s spring National Committee banquet Friday in Minneapolis. At the event, Goode paid the party’s $35 membership fee. Goode said that he has not quit the Republican Party and is current on his membership dues with the Franklin County GOP.
The Constitution Party, Goode said, has staked out several positions that Goode feels are superior to the platform of the national Republican Party.
The Constitution Party recently adopted a resolution praising Arizona for enacting a law that requires police officers to check the immigration status of anyone they suspect might be in the country illegally.
“On some national issues, the Constitution Party is much better than the Republican Party,” he said. “The Constitution Party passed a resolution supporting Arizona’s new policies on illegal immigrants. I have yet to such a resolution come out of the Republican Party.”
Goode said he also prefers the Constitution Party’s stance on trade agreements. The GOP, he noted, is fairly absolute in its support for free trade agreements. The Constitution Party, meanwhile, supports withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement and other international trade agreements.
Furthermore, the Constitution Party wants to abolish the U.S. Department of Education and repeal all legislation related to education, as the party believes the federal government lacks the Constitutional jurisdiction to be involved with education. Goode said he supports the Constitution Party’s views on education, whereas the national GOP does not.
Despite his new membership with the Constitution Party, Goode tamped down speculation that he might run for his old congressional seat as a Constitution Party candidate. Goode said he is not currently planning to run for his former seat as a Constitution Party candidate or for any other party.
He said he stands by his statement of last year in which he announced he would not run against U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Ivy, who unseated Goode by 727 votes in November 2008.
Goode’s earlier statement goes on to say that he hopes and expects the GOP will nominate a candidate who supports cracking down on illegal immigration, is pro-life and wants to cut government spending.
He has not ruled out an independent run in the future, but said he currently is not planning to.
“My statement is my statement,” he said
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