Webb on sex passage recital: 'It's smear after smear'

[jefferson_dem]

Webb on sex passage recital: 'It's smear after smear'
From Joshua Levs
CNN
RICHMOND, Virginia (CNN)

<SNIP>

Webb responded Friday morning on Washington Post radio. "Let me explain what that was," he said. "I actually saw this happen in a slum of Bangkok and when I was there as a journalist. A man placing his lips on his son's private parts ... and the duty of a writer is to illuminate the surroundings.

"There is nothing that's been in any of my novels that, in my view, hasn't been either illuminating surroundings or defining a character or moving a plot," Webb said.

<SNIP>

Webb told Washington Post radio that to pull excerpts from his writings "and force them on people, sort of, like pound them over the head with them," rather than having someone read the entire book "is just a classic example of the way this (Allen) campaign has worked. And you know, it's smear after smear."

"This is a Karl Rove campaign," Webb said, referring to the head of President Bush's 2004 re-election bid. "We have known this one was coming for quite some time."

Webb said advisers had warned him his opponent would pore over his novels to find incendiary passages. Webb accused Allen of not having "a record to run on" and attempting "character assassination."

<SNIP>

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/27/webb.allen

[demnan]

1. If Allen keeps this up

he'll drive all the parents away that understand when something is in adult literature but can't stand the idea of their kids hearing it on T.V. and the radio.

[underpants]

3. There is some serious debate here in the state of Virginia ...

about who is actually running for Senate, George or Susan?

Seriously from the ads that are on TV around here (and we aren't used to having this many ads) it would appear that Mrs. Allen is the one running for office.

That being said please see this thread about an interview done with both Allen and Webb. It is funny in one way and very well done (by Webb) in another.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2909311

[No Exit]

22. Gee, maybe he can have his mommy do some ads, too.

Oh, wait... I forgot... he doesn't claim his mommy because she's... Jewish!:wow:

Sheesh, even Joe Lieberman knew enough to exploit his mommy when running for office!

[wicket]

2. K & R

:kick:

[jefferson_dem]

4. Allen Labels Webb Writing 'Demeaning to Women' (AP focuses on "smear" not salaciousness)

Allen Labels Webb Writing 'Demeaning to Women'
Friday October 27, 2006 2:02pm

Harrisonburg, Va. (AP) - Republican Senator George Allen said Friday the sexually graphic fiction of Democratic challenger Jim Webb is demeaning to women and fair game for criticism in their campaign.

<SNIP>

Earlier Friday, Webb reacted angrily when the host of a WTWP radio program raised the issue of sexually explicit passages, and read one on the air.

Webb said he didn't think it was "appropriate" to read the excerpt from the book "Something to Die For" on the air. But he defended the passage, calling it "an observation about how the human species lives."

Webb said the Allen campaign has been one of "smear after smear."

He also rejected the Allen campaign's claim that his novels consistently portray women as servile, inept and promiscuous.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1006/371631.html

[ShortnFiery]

5. Allen is scum for inventing these smears.

It was thirty some years ago that Webb wrote against women entering Service Academies. He has since changed and apologized for his comments.

His opinion has changed and he has supported women in leadership positions.

As a woman veteran, I'm voting for Webb.

We're sick of Allen - everyone in VA, please VOTE!

[Miss Chybil]

6. God forbid somebody write fiction... Let's talk about Mrs. Cheney's book! nt

[wryter2000]

8. It's Lynn Cheney's book

Or did Mary write one?

The point is hypocrisy. From what I've heard about Lynn Cheney's book, I have no problem with it (except for bad writing, and I've been accused of that). The point is she claims to be the arbiter of "family values" after writing a book extolling exactly the sort of sexuality she wants to condemn.

It's the hypocrisy, stupid. (Talking to La Cheney, not to anyone here.)

[shain from kane]

9. Does anyone know how many copies did Mary Cheney sell of her book?

[DrDan]

16. yeah - less than 6,000

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/06/12/mary-cheneys-book-sales-_n_22815.html

[Miss Chybil]

10. Yes, I meant Lynn Cheney. I forgot her name. Shows how much I think of her.

But, you are right it is about the hypocrisy.

As far as the writing and this case in particular... it would be very hard to be an artist and a politician at the same time. An artist must be honest.

[NOLADEM]

7. Ole Felix Macaca is now a feminist, eh? That's rich.

Someone should corner him with some questions about a woman's role in the home, workplace, bedroom, kitchen and public office. That should show his real colors here.

Ask him to talk about the work he has done as Senator to promote women's health, welfare, family issues, child care issues, women's rights, etc. Should be a blank stare followed by a pretty long pause.

This motherfucker is a sad excuse for a Senator or an American. What is more sad to me, however, is how representative of the people of Virginia he seems to be, leading me to believe (as is true for my home state) that many of the citizens too are poor excuses for Americans.

[ShortnFiery]

11. Attacking someone's creative work of fiction as well as digging up

a thirty some year old article that has since been retracted is the mark of a desperate bully.

Allen should be ashamed. I hope there's a profound backlash.

George "Macaca" Allen is crying and blowing snot. He's VOMIT! :puke:

[Kagemusha]

12. Not that the content being harped on the most is 'made up'

but rather, based on reality. I believe Jack Nicholson said it best...

"You can't HANDLE the truth!!"

[shain from kane]

13. In high school, didn't Allen's father coach him to approach fellow students

from the rear, and put his hands between their legs?

[cali]

23. Nothing this election cycle has angered me more than this

and I also find it rather ominous. It's fiction, and fiction isn't supposed to be tidy and wholesome. It's supposed to cut deep regarding human nature. All the people (even some here on DU) braying about how disgusting the passages from Webb's books are, are nothing but a bunch of ignorant, reactionary philistines. What do they have to say, I wonder, about Faulkner's Sanctuary, or Nabakov's Lolita or "The Cement Garden", or dozens and dozens of other novels with themes and scenes that examine some of the darker corners of human behavior?

[rudy23]

14. Why doesn't he just play the Scooter Libby card? The O Reilly card?

Didn't Scooter write about a bear raping a young girl?

Wasn't O'Reilly's "work" about as horrifying?

[shain from kane]

15. Horrifying isn't the word for it. Oh, sorry. You're talking about his fiction.

Don't know anything about his novel.

[RedSock]

17. scooter -- yep.

if i recall, she was 10 years old and in the cage with the bear. lovely!

others may know for sure.

[thingfisher]

18. Gee,

does anyone campaign for office any more on the basis of what they see as the most important issues to be addressed and how they would try to do so if elected? I have heard precious little debate like that.

Political debate has become so debased that it resembles a drunken bar brawl. Are we supposed to vote for the candidate who demonstrated the most ruthless techniques of brawling and therefore his "electability"?

[w4rma]

20. The DNC noted that in the last paragraph of the article. (nt)

[jaysunb]

19. The next time he's asked about this, he should

calmly say, " If my opponent wants to go back in time to try and find things totally unrelated to today and this campaign in 2006, maybe we should start talking about his high school days out in California. There are plenty folks who attended PVH who remember your "little prank, " that almost caused a race riot. I'd rather stick to the issues at hand and the race we are in, but if you insist......

[LibDemAlways]

21. Absolutely perfect comeback....

I'd love to see a Webb commercial showing the covers of his books with the following voiceover:

"George Allen has attacked Jim Webb for the content of works of fiction based on Webb's experiences as a soldier in Vietnam many years ago. George Allen never served his country and has no firsthand knowledge of the Vietnam conflict.

While Jim Webb was serving his country, George Allen was spraypainting the walls of Palos Verdes High School with graffiti that classmates and a school administrator alike assert was racist.

On November 7th, you have a choice...Webb or Allen...Which man deserves your vote?"