Former Congressman Virgil Goode of Virginia spoke with Wikinews reporter William S. Saturn about his newly announced 2012 presidential campaign.  Goode is currently seeking the nomination of the Constitution Party, a U.S. third party.
Goode served in the Virginia State Senate for twenty-three years.  In 1996, he was elected to represent Virginia's Fifth U.S. congressional district as a Democrat, and was re-elected two years later. Goode left the Democratic Party before his second re-election campaign in 2000, and ran as an Independent. He joined the Republican Party ahead of the 2002 election, and was re-elected three additional times until his defeat in 2008. Since then, Goode has joined the Constitution Party, and has served on its executive committee.  
The Constitution Party was founded in 1991 as the U.S. Taxpayers Party.  Eight years later, it changed to its current name.  The party advocates states' rights, gun rights, limited government, protectionism, and non-interventionism. It strongly opposes abortion and illegal immigration.  In terms of voter registration, it is the third largest U.S. political party with 367,000 members. Pastor Chuck Baldwin won the party's 2008 presidential nomination, and appeared on 37 state ballots receiving 199,314 votes (0.15%). 
Goode had been speculated to make a run for the party's presidential nomination since last year. In fact, the executive committee passed a resolution last spring to convince him to run.  Goode filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on February 10, and announced his candidacy to the Daily Caller six days later.   
The 2012 Constitution Party National Convention will be held in April. Other candidates seeking the nomination include former Savannah State football coach Robby Wells. National chairman Jim Clymer described Goode last summer as the frontrunner for the party's nomination.
To Wikinews, Goode affirmed his credentials for the presidency and shared his view on the Obama administration.  Among other issues, he addressed immigration, spending, energy, and foreign policy. 
((William S. Saturn)) First, I’d like to get some background. What are your proudest political accomplishments?
((WSS)) What exactly did you do during those years?
((WSS)) Why did you decide to join the Constitution Party and seek its nomination?
((WSS)) If you win the nomination, are you concerned you will take votes away from the Republicans and help re-elect Barack Obama?
((WSS)) If you were elected in 2008, what would you have done differently than Obama?
((WSS)) Would you have ordered the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen?
((WSS)) But was it right to take out Anwar al-Awlaki?
((WSS)) Yes, the internet al-Qaeda leader.
((WSS)) Well he was an American citizen, so do you believe that we should treat American citizens overseas that are considered to be dangerous differently than others?
((WSS)) I believe he did.
((WSS)) I don’t know for sure.
((WSS)) Okay, let’s talk more about foreign policy.  In 2002, you voted to authorize the Iraq War and you supported the troop surge in 2007.  However, the Constitution Party platform opposes undeclared wars, and supports a non-interventionist foreign policy. Do you stand by your previous votes?
((WSS)) As president, how would you address the nuclear situation in Iran?
((WSS)) How will you turn around the American economy?
((WSS)) My last question is what necessary freedoms are currently lacking in American society?
((WSS)) Such as any of our natural human rights.
((WSS)) But do you believe any of those are being hindered right now in the United States?

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Wikinews interviews former Congressman Virgil Goode, Constitution Party presidential candidate