WSLS profiles Tom Perriello

You rarely get through a conversation with Tom Perriello without him mentioning God. During our interviews with him, it came up countless times, with Perriello dropping lines like “walking humbly before God” and “I think we need more God and less government in marriage.“

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He even referenced a Biblical figure, saying, “That’s the prophetic call from Micah down to today.“

It’s even been a part of his advertising. In an ad on the campaign’s tithing program, Perriello says, “Growing up around here, I learned the importance of living a life of service to others. I felt called by my faith to work in conflict zones in Afghanistan and Africa.“

It’s an unusual theme for a Democrat, one that’s raised some eyebrows.

WARREN: “SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE CRITICIZED YOU, SAYING YOU TALK ABOUT GOD TOO MUCH. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM?“

PERRIELLO: “I think voters want to know what makes someone tick and this is what makes me tick.“

And for Perriello it’s faith. A devote Catholic, the Charlottesville native and Eagle Scout’s views were shaped by church and family. Growing up, he spent a lot of time at his grandparent’s farm.

“About every other weekend, I’d come down with a fishing pole and camp out and write in a journal,“ he said.

It gave him time to ponder, as Perriello tried to figure out “who I was and what my calling was.“

WARREN: “AND YOUR CALLING IS POLITICIAN?“

PERRIELLO: “Well, my calling is social justice. I think there are a lot of ways to do it.“

That would include his first career. After law school, Perriello turned down the big-money law firms for Africa. He was there during the Blood Diamond Wars.

“This was one you can’t sit on the sidelines for. If there was anything I could do to stop that kind of intense human suffering, I needed to do it.“

He helped build clinics there and was instrumental in negotiations that overthrew Liberia’s longtime dictator. Of the experience, Perriello says, “It was addictive. From that point forward I have wanted to work to support the ending of those kinds of conflicts and the beginning to security efforts.“

WARREN: “WHAT LESSONS DID YOU LEARN OVER THERE THAT YOU THINK TRANSLATE TO BEING THE NEXT REPRESENTATIVE IN THE 5TH DISTRICT?“

PERRIELLO: “The main thing you figure out when you’re in a conflict zone is who is interested in solving the problem and who’s interested in collecting a pay check. I think the same thing is true up in Washington right now.“

So, to fix that Perriello launched a long shot bid for Congress against a longtime incumbent. It’s beginning were humble, out of his house.

WARREN: “YOU STARTED THE CAMPAIGN RIGHT OUT OF HERE?“

PERRIELLO: “We did. Before we had a headquarters, we had 10 or 12 volunteers coming over here pulling all-nighters trying to get the word out.“

That message was simple and familiar: it’s time for change.

“To me, this is a situation where the people in the 5th district have not been getting a fair shake and decent representation.“

On the issues, Perriello is all over the map. He’s a hawk on the budget and foreign policy, saying, “I believe we have to be extremely aggressive, but we need to be smart about it.“

He sounds like a Republican on the 2nd Amendment and gun rights.

“Liberals can’t pick and choose which amendments they like,“ he declared.

But, he’s pro-choice and against the death penalty which he says is “immoral.“

Perriello also opposes a federal amendment banning gay marriage.

“I think we need more God and less government in marriage,“ he said. “Right now I do think we have a marriage crisis in the country, but frankly I’m less interested in what Adam and Steve are doing in San Francisco than what what’s going on with Adam and Eve right here and the flaws that we have all inherited in our tradition.“

So, where is he on the political spectrum?

“When it comes to an issue, you don’t ask what your party thinks about it or what the liberals or conservatives think about it, you ask what is the right thing to do.“

It’s a question Perriello asks himself a lot. It goes back to the guiding light of his life: faith.

Perriello’s goal: “At the end of my days, to be able to say that the world is a little more fair because of what I’ve done.“