Original Text of Rep. Goode's Letter to Constituents

— -- Republican Rep. Virgil Goode of Virginia stirred controversy when he warned in a letter about electing "many more Muslims" to Congress unless immigration policies were tightened.

The letter was originally shared with C-Ville Weekly by constituent John Cruickshank.

Cruickshank had never communicated with Goode's office about Muslim immigration or uses of the Koran, and mistakenly received the letter from the congressman's office.

According to Goode's office, the letter was in response to a flood of e-mails the congressman had received in response to newly elected Minnesota Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison's decision to use the Koran, not the Bible, when he is sworn in next month.

Here is the text of the letter:

Congress of the United States

House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515-4605

Dec. 7, 2006

Mr. John Cruickshank

7-- S-- Dr.

Earlysville, VA 22936

Dear Mr. Cruickshank:

Thank you for your recent communication. When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand. I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way. The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if 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. We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration and end the diversity visas policy pushed hard by President Clinton and allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country. I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.

The Ten Commandments and "In God We Trust" are on the wall in my office. A Muslim student came by the office and asked why I did not have anything on my wall about the Koran. My response was clear, "As long as I have the honor of representing the citizens of the 5th District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives, The Koran is not going to be on the wall of my office." Thank you again for your email and thoughts.

Sincerely yours,

Virgil H. Goode, Jr.

70 East Court Street

Suite 215

Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151