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  Al Weed for Congress P.O. Box 608 Lovingston, VA 22949 434-220-2434
Cost of the War in Iraq:
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Monday, October 9, 2006
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"We must protect our American Democracy, and we must open the voting process. I am concerned by recent bills and votes in Washington. The right to vote is one of the most fundamental American rights. It is the foundation of our government, separating us from dictatorships," said Democratic nominee for Congress, Al Weed. Republican incumbent Virgil Goode voted for four amendments attempting to weaken the Voting Rights Act (VRA). More recently, Goode voted for, and strongly supports, a new bill requiring a federal photo ID as a requirement to vote. Goode voted to institute the equivalent of a literacy test, by removing aid for those who need help reading the ballot. Goode defends his stance by claiming the language requirements in the VRA are "burdensome" andan "unfunded mandate". This does not stop the career politician from supporting the perversely titled Federal Elections Integrity Act. A Congressional Budget Office report plainly states the ID card program will be an unfunded mandate. "Mr. Goode will give any rationale to justify his attacks against our democracy. He says it is too bad that it has come to this and illegal immigrants are to blame. He is dead wrong. No reason justifies the destruction of a basic American right. Voter turnout on Election Day is already abysmal. Goode, like the rest of the Republicans, is just too scared of what will happen when all Americans have a voice," Weed said. Goode also wants to make it easier for localities to exempt themselves from the VRA. Nearly the entire state of Virginia is under the provisions of the VRA. Only Greene County is exempt in Virgil Goode's district. Prince Edward County and Charlotte County have made inquiries into possible removal from VRA provisions. Localities have made long strides in improving race relations, but the institutionalized racism of Jim Crow is fresh in memories. Many feel the safeguards of the VRA in rural southern localities such as Prince Edward and Charlotte Counties are still necessary. Aubrey Fane, Chairman of the Charlotte County Democratic Committee, was told the county needs to save money. He fears that should Charlotte be exempt from the VRA, the county would promptly close polling places. Fane expressed worry because, "It's difficult to get people out now. It would be difficult to get African-Americans out (if polling places were closed), especially the older ones. They (Republicans) want to make it difficult for anyone who disagrees." |
  Podcast of Al Boxing on K92 FM Morning Show! Podcast of Al on K92 FM Morning Show! Podcast of 9/29 Talk with Cumberland H.S. Students Podcast of 8/27 Albermarle County BBQ Podcast of 8/29 Senior Statesman Forum Podcast of 03/13 Town hall meeting on Iraq war Podcast of 02/01 DFA candidate forum Podcast of 01/21 candidate forum |
 10/10 Goodyear Picket Line 10/9 Sierra Club Endorsement 9/19 Specialist James Wilson at D-Day Memorial
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