1115.org

A Democratic Congressman from Virginia has, hopefully, shamed the vast majority of his colleagues in Congress, by expressing some distinctly old-fashioned beliefs:

Rep. Thomas Perriello (D-Va.) looks like he’s making a play for the Democrats’ profile in courage list.

Responding to protests outside of his Charlottesville district office, Perriello’s spokeswoman told the Charlottesville Daily Progress that the congressman isn’t primarily concerned about his political future.

“A lot of the political pundits and all the conventional wisdom is saying that this is going to cost him the election next year,” Perriello spokeswoman Jessica Barba told the paper. “He didn’t come to Congress to get reelected.”

The freshman Democrat, representing a conservative-minded Southside Virginia district, has been taking heat from Republicans for votes in support for the health care bill and for backing the Democrats’ cap-and-trade energy legislation.

The National Republican Congressional Committee views him as one of the most vulnerable House Democrats and already has a leading challenger to run against him in state Sen. Robert Hurt.

The point, of course, is that Perrielo is not just dabbling in fine rhetoric about the whole point of public service. He’s exemplifying the spirit of public service through his actions.

We could use a Perrielo or two in the Senate, as well.