I don’t know that the candidate or his campaign ever engaged in it. But there was the entire earmark for a theater in Danville whose owner produced a gay coming of age movie (Eden’s Crush or something like that) deal.

Posted by tx2vadem on 22 October 02009 @ 9am

I think he’s saying that Goode (or a third party) sent negative mailings which helped Perriello win. (I didn’t keep all that lovely campaign literature from last year so I can’t go back and check who sent what out.) He’s comparing Neff’s campaign to a losing campaign by stating they both went negative.

But you’re right, it’s rather inscrutable.

Posted by Stormy on 22 October 02009 @ 10am

I guarantee you that Delegate Bell is comparing the Neff campaign to Congressman Perriello’s campaign. Whether it’s a fair accusation or not, Del. Bell knows that the way to rile up his supporters is to tie Cynthia Neff to Tom Perriello. As a supporter of Cynthia Neff, I’d like to say thanks.

Posted by fishingincrisis on 22 October 02009 @ 10am

I guess I could see it either way. Either he’s comparing Neff’s (negative) campaign to Goode’s (negative) campaign, or comparing her to Perriello’s (negative) campaign (which may or may not have actually been negative).

Off to the researchmobile!

Posted by Meri on 22 October 02009 @ 12pm

I got a mailing from Cynthia Neff the other day that convinced me not to vote for her. It was full of the most inane, unfounded crap that I have ever seen in campaign literature. She’s for ‘protecting our children!’ but failed to say exactly how. Then she claimed that having been an executive at IBM somehow makes her an ‘expert’ on fixing the economy. The bit about cracking down on the ‘perks’ of being a legislator were especially absurd. These people get paid next to nothing, and she seems concerned that they might be taking paperclips home or something.

In truth, it was her derogatory comment about “the Shiftletts and the Morrises” some months ago that turned me off. Someone who just moved here 5 years ago should not be rewarded for insulting the people who built this community over the last 300 years.

Posted by Jack on 22 October 02009 @ 12pm

What did she say about the “Shifffffflettttts and Morrises”? Must have missed that one.

Posted by Meri on 22 October 02009 @ 12pm

Higher taxes on groceries? Eggs? Bread?

The food tax one sticks out in my mind.

The special interests ones stick out too.

Posted by Shaun Kenney on 22 October 02009 @ 1pm

I guess the key for me was the use of the word innuendo. Google Virgil Goode and Eden’s Curve if you don’t remember. That was clearly the innuendo that I remember.

Posted by tx2vadem on 22 October 02009 @ 1pm

I guess the key for me was the use of the word innuendo. Google Virgil Goode and Eden’s Curve if you don’t remember. That was clearly the innuendo that I remember.

But the Perriello campaign didn’t touch that. There’s no way that was in any of their mailings.

Posted by Waldo Jaquith on 22 October 02009 @ 2pm

It was the Danville paper that made a story out of Eden’s Curve. How is that Perriello’s fault?

Posted by Cecil on 22 October 02009 @ 5pm

Jack,

I cannot find any reference to Neff disparaging the Shiffletts etc. Could you provide a citation?

Posted by Rolf on 22 October 02009 @ 5pm

I think it was 527′s since he doesn’t mention Periello by name. I don’t think anyone is saying that Periello did anything wrong-you’ve just read that into it. Of course the really issue is being missed-is it OK to say some is LIKE a cheating husband? I mean let’s go to “it’s like he beat his wife and kids” next. Where does it stop?

Posted by perlogik on 22 October 02009 @ 5pm

Shaun,

You think either of those are “innuendo” or “personal attacks?” Pointing out Goode’s special interest donations and accompanying votes is not innuendo. It’s a legitimate comparison.

Posted by John on 22 October 02009 @ 5pm

Waldo, as with my first comment, I am not saying Perriello’s campaign had anything to do with that. And further, I don’t know of any evidence that would substantiate that he or his campaign had any involvement.

What I am saying is that this is probably what Rep. Bell is referring to, irrespective of the fact that there is no evidence that Perriello’s campaign had any involvement. But when someone says innuendo that helped defeat Virgil Goode, that’s the first thing that comes to mind for me anyway.

Easiest way to clear that up would be to ask Rep. Bell. But that is my guess.

Posted by tx2vadem on 22 October 02009 @ 5pm

It is a major charge from Bell to claim that there were negative mailers attacking the personal character of Congressman Goode, from Perriell or some 527. The issue with Eden’s Curve was entirely driven by the news media, both the Danville paper and the Roanoke stations like WSLS. There were no mailers on the issue, either from Perriello or independent organizations. To attack Perriello and his supporters of personal attacks on Virgil Goode, in a district that Perriello won handily, is a pretty dumb move by Bell. Luckily turnout looks solidly in favor of the Republicans this fall and McDonnell’s coattails will save Bell . . . this time.

Posted by NotAndySere on 22 October 02009 @ 7pm

Could someone, anyone show me where he said it was Periello? This is mock outrage, where is the really anger at what Neff said. That was really stupid and I’m at a lost to figure what she gained. It’s the “New York Lawyer” ad of this campagin so far

Posted by Perlogik on 22 October 02009 @ 10pm

Could someone, anyone show me where he said it was Periello?

That’s a tall order, since Bell clearly did no such thing.

Posted by I.Publius on 22 October 02009 @ 10pm

I think it was 527’s since he doesn’t mention Periello by name. I don’t think anyone is saying that Periello did anything wrong-you’ve just read that into it.

Who else sent out negative mailers in the 5th District? It’s plausible that a third party did, unauthorized by Perriello, but I have no recollection of them, and it strikes me as unlikely.

Of course the really issue is being missed-is it OK to say some is LIKE a cheating husband? I mean let’s go to “it’s like he beat his wife and kids” next. Where does it stop?

I’ve got a post up about this at cvillenews.com. I didn’t have a chance to scan in the mailer until this evening. Without actually seeing the mailer, I think coverage of this kind of thing isn’t really helpful.

Posted by Waldo Jaquith on 22 October 02009 @ 10pm