Goode on TV Stands by Comments

Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Virginia) met with reporters today to respond to the press around his recent attack against Congressman-Elect Keith Ellison. Following a right-wing campaign against Ellison, a Muslim, for his choice to hold the Koran during a photo op after his official swearing in, Goode wrote a letter to constituents to assure them that “I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way” and linking Ellison’s photo op to immigration policy. "[I]f American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran.”

In today’s press conference, “he essentially did not back down one iota from his letter,” according to CNN reporter Brian Todd. Todd pressed Goode on whether he was against Ellison’s use of the Koran, and whether he favors the legal immigration of Muslims, but “he did not answer the question.”

Watch the segment from “The Situation Room”: Broadband or Dial-Up.