Imnotemeril has a good post up about the SWVA accent.

•  I have also worked all over the world and have experienced the automatic stigma that is attached to someone with a SWVA accent. I have the accent when I am here; I don't (as much) when I am in L.A. I have never had voice lessons in order to lessen the accent. As my Grandfather used to say, "it's a damned poor dog that won't wag it's own tail." But his statement did not take into consideration a sincere politician who really needed to appeal to closed-minded individuals who place so much importance on an accent as you seem to.

Imnotemeril has a great blog so check it out.