Jim Webb on Obama's "elitist" comments.

[Hamlette]

"The politics of the Karl Rove era were designed to distract and divide the very people who would ordinarily be rebelling against the deterioration of their way of life. Working Americans have been repeatedly seduced at the polls by emotional issues such as the predictable mantra of "God, guns, gays, abortion and the flag" while their way of life shifted ineluctably beneath their feet," - senator Jim Webb, famous elitist.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/04/quote-for-th-11.html

(Yes, I know. Many of you hate Sullivan and yes, that is where I read the quote. But get a gather of his quote from Sullivan about Obama:

"I'm not betting against him. You know why? He's not afraid. And by jettisoning fear as the lodestar of liberalism, he is doing us all a favor, right and left. Man, he cheers me up")

[Stephanie]

1. Obama/Webb?

Suits me.

[DLnyc]

12. Yes, a certain sweet logic to that ticket.

I like this idea.

[mod mom]

22. YES!, I just commented on a Lawrence O'Donnell blog @ Huff Po after he suggested Clark

because Obama needs a military man for the VP slot. I suggested Sen Webb, not only because Virginia is turning into a swing state, but because I believe he shows true leadership. His speech just before the Kyl Lieberman vote shows the statesmanship that compliments Sen Obama's. Those who suggest Wesley Clark fail to recall that Clark has jumped into the cesspool known as the Clinton campaign. He elected not to stay neutral and adopted to back the smear tactics promoted by Clinton. Sen Webb, I beleive is a much wiser choice.

[mod mom]

24. Link to Sen Webb's speech just prior to Kyl Lieberman vote:

Won me over :patriot:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/09/25/sen-webb-blasts-liebermankyl-amendment-this-proposal-is-dick-cheneys-fondest-pipe-dream/

[AspenRose]

23. Yes, yes, yes

A thousand times, yes

[progdog]

36. Absolutely!

He also has a son in Iraq.

[billyoc]

39. Me too, but I fear he'd be hard to replace with another Dem in VA.

OTOH, he and Obama could have some mighty long coattails... :hi:

[progetto]

43. Webb would be an excellent choice. n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Webb gets it

Thanks you Webb

[Blue_State_Elitist]

4. If only the average GE voter was as intelligent as Webb.

[The Doctor.]

10. That's very elitist of you...

... oh.

[Hippo_Tron]

6. Webb gets a whole lot of things

He was one of the people who knew that invading Iraq would be a fucking disaster and pretty much everything he predicted came true.

I don't agree with him on everything but the guy is sharp as a tack. I know that keeping his senate seat is problematic but I really hope he's on the short list for Secretary of State or Defense.

[maximusveritas]

3. That quote was from before this whole "controversy"

But the point stands that if Obama said it, he'd be getting blasted for being elitist.

[Hamlette]

5. Ouch. My bad.

I should have tracked back the link.

Still, the point does stand. It's the same thing Obama was saying.

[DUyellow]

7. i like Webb

[TML]

8. I like Sullivan

There are times when he makes perfect sense. This is one of them.

[ClayZ]

9. K and R

[TragedyandHope]

11. Well said

[TSGracchus]

13. Webb/Obama

Prefer Jim Webb's phraseology and would prefer Webb at the top of the ticket.

[bagimin]

34. forget it

Obama hasn't accumulated all these delegates to play second fiddle.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Agree with other posters about Obama/Webb

Webb will draw in Reagan Democrats and would help throw VA into the Democratic column in the GE.

The only downside is that if such were to happen, finding a replacement in the Senate because the Dems certainly can't lose any Senate seats. Also Webb has some skeletons there that might cause some problems.

[rox63]

17. But wouldn't VA's Dem governor (Kaine) get to pick Webb's replacement?

I'm not sure how this works in VA. :shrug:

[Scurrilous]

15. K & R

:thumbsup:

[AP]

16. fear has never been the lodestar of liberalism.

[Hamlette]

25. I agree, in the general sense it is not the lodestar of liberalism, just the opposite

However, if you were just looking at the last 7 years and had seen the dems cower to the bullies in the GOP you might say it is the lodestar of democratic leaders of late.

I took it in that context.

The part of the quote I love is "fearless". If Obama could get "painted" in America's mind as he is in Sully's as fearless it would be great.

Everyone wants a fearless leader.

[CK dexter]

30. Agreed: fear is the lodestar of the failed democratic party

The official party strategy of apologize, cower, and pander has lost us election after election. It's a shameful irony, since caving to fear goes against the core values of the party. Obama's success is due to his refusal to act from or pander to fear and in that respect, whether it's what Sullivan meant, it's an enlightening comment.

At the same time, I'd avoid the language of "fearless leader" -- it invites parody or paranoia. Courage is acting reasonably in the face of fear, not the absence of fear. Obama is a courageous candidate. I hope he sticks with this strategy--it's been working for him.

[jefferson_dem]

18. That settles it. Where can I get my Obama/Webb bumper sticker?

:patriot:

[DemVet]

19. Webb is obviously "sucking up"

I'm almost ashamed that he's my Senator.

[catgirl]

26. Webb doesn't suck up

remember when he called out Bush on the war to his face?

[scheming daemons]

28. Please.... why do you have such a problem with truth? Oh yeah.....

....because your candidate does.

[davidpdx]

20. Actually Webb is an author as well

I have one of his books, but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. My mom gave it to me and I didn't make the connection until I looked at the book sometime later.

[GoesTo11]

21. I just read up on Webb. As VP, he would neutralize the war hero issue. Dang.

Text of his citation for the Naval Cross, from Wikipedia

"The Navy Cross is presented to James H. Webb, Jr., First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 10 July 1969, while participating in a company-sized search and destroy operation deep in hostile territory, First Lieutenant Webb's platoon discovered a well-camouflaged bunker complex that appeared to be unoccupied. Deploying his men into defensive positions, First Lieutenant Webb was advancing to the first bunker when three enemy soldiers armed with hand grenades jumped out. Reacting instantly, he grabbed the closest man and, brandishing his .45 caliber pistol at the others, apprehended all three of the soldiers. Accompanied by one of his men, he then approached the second bunker and called for the enemy to surrender. When the hostile soldiers failed to answer him and threw a grenade that detonated dangerously close to him, First Lieutenant Webb detonated a claymore mine in the bunker aperture, accounting for two enemy casualties and disclosing the entrance to a tunnel. Despite the smoke and debris from the explosion and the possibility of enemy soldiers hiding in the tunnel, he then conducted a thorough search that yielded several items of equipment and numerous documents containing valuable intelligence data. Continuing the assault, he approached a third bunker and was preparing to fire into it when the enemy threw another grenade. Observing the grenade land dangerously close to his companion, First Lieutenant Webb simultaneously fired his weapon at the enemy, pushed the Marine away from the grenade, and shielded him from the explosion with his own body. Although sustaining painful fragmentation wounds from the explosion, he managed to throw a grenade into the aperture and completely destroy the remaining bunker. By his courage, aggressive leadership, and selfless devotion to duty, First Lieutenant Webb upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."

[ShortnFiery]

27. Kick for my (VA) Senator: Jim Webb

:dem:

[mod mom]

29. You're fortunate to have him. Care to share him in the role of VP? ;)

[thoughtcrime1984]

31. That quote sums it up perfectly!

Many of our electorate are so distracted by wedge issues, and petty differences, that time and again, they vote against their own interests.

[Barack_America]

32. Any idea when Webb made these comments?

Nevermind, I see from the Kos link that they were made in 2006.

Great comments though!

I'm really starting to embrace the idea of an Obama/Webb ticket, with "making the government work for the people" as the platform.

:thumbsup:

[kentuck]

33. And he desribes the problem with a lot of DUers also...

"...And by jettisoning fear as the lodestar of liberalism, he is doing us all a favor, right and left. Man, he cheers me up"
=============================

We need to rid ourselves of this cancer of fear within our Party and within our nation.

[knixphan]

35. Man, he cheers ME up!

[Armstead]

37. kick

[williesgirl]

38. He's my Senator and usually makes me proud. Don't like his stand on the telecom immunity, but other

than that, he's been doing some good things. I donated to his campaign a few times and get regular updates of what he's up to. Interesting stuff. rec'd

[RBInMaine]

40. Would be a very good VP choice. I also like Gov. Schweitzer of Montana.

[quantass]

41. wow

[nsd]

42. Webb's an interesting guy and I'm glad he's in the Democratic party.

We need his perspective on things. I'm not sure how he'd be as a VP pick -- he's only been in the Senate 2 years and his tenure as Navy secretary was 20 years ago -- but I, for one, would be open to the idea.

And, I might add, I also really like Sullivan. Over the years I've disagreed with a lot of his positions, and found some incomprehensible, but I've always thought that he was a person of goodwill and I've always enjoyed hearing his arguments.

[ashtoncusher]

44. Webb is my hero

Greatest senator in the nation.

[CitizenLeft]

45. no Sullivan bashing here... he's firmly pro-Obama...

...and has been for over a year.

I don't agree with everything he says - he is, after all, a staunch Republican - but he was one of the 1st Republicans to criticize Bush back in 2004 and wouldn't shut up about it.

[Pisces]

46. I have thought Obama/ Webb for a while. He will bring in conservatives