Jim Webb as VP?

[NeedleCast]

How do you guys and gals feel about Jim Webb (Senator, VA) as Obama's VP candidate? As a (slightly biased) resident of Northern Virginia I think he'd be a good choice. As a veteran, I'm really happy with Webb's on going fight for veterans rights and to help active duty military quality of life. As he said on the Daily Show yesterday, these service people didn't ask to be put in the position they're in and are still willing to make great sacrifices for us, they deserve a great shot at "the good life" when they get out.

I think Webb would help significantly with the touted "white, working class vote" and would make Virginia a sure thing in the General Election. I think he'd fit well with Obama's desire for open-government as well. Webb is well spoken (from what I've seen) and has a good sense of humor - any politician who goes on Daily Show or Colbert gets respect from.

[mikelgb]

1. no

this thread is posted every 5 minutes here

[hisownpetard]

2. "...gets respect from... from... ? ? Oh, damnit, the suspense is killing me!!

:hi:

[NeedleCast]

5. oopsie

"gets respect from me."

(And, I think, with a lot of the youth vote)

[hisownpetard]

6. Heh heh - I know. I was just bustin' you.

:hi:

[JimGinPA]

3. I Like Both Biden & Webb

[Zenmaster]

4. Personally, I like him best, However...

...I'm not sure how much he helps Obama, unfortunately.

With that said, personally, I really like him best of all the choices. If we can win with him as VP I want him to get it most of anyone.

[ericgtr]

7. After seeing him on Stewart last night I say hell yes to this guy

He is wonderful, thinking about our people at war and proposing the new GI bill.

[NeedleCast]

9. Yeah, that was really impressive to me

I like that, without being to divisive about it, pointed out that it was the Bush administration that was the primary blocker for the new GI Bill (and many other veteran's rights). My service was split between Bill's 2nd Administration and Bush 1st Administration. Under Clinton we got tolerable annual raises and they came through right on time. Meanwhile, War Child Bush has fought tooth-and-nail to keep military pay low and to wreck any attempt at giving a better quality of life to both active duty and veteran troops.

[Douglas Carpenter]

8. Gerald Pomper, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Rutgers: Webb adds the most to the ticket

For the record: Sen. Webb is not my personal first choice, Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana is. However, I have gathered from my own reading and research that there is considerably more buzz going around about Sen. Webb - and he is in fact almost certainly at the very top of the short list.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_gerald_m_pomper/obama_s_vice_president

"Virginia Senator James Webb should be the Democratic candidate for vice-president."

snip:"Webb fits Obama's true needs. The Illinois Senator's greatest deficiency is his lack of experience in foreign policy and military security. Clinton has made that her chief point of attack -- as in the now-classic "3 A.M. telephone" ad -- and this area is obviously McCain's greatest strength. There is no way for Obama to match McCain, even if he could manufacture some "sniper fire," but the right running mate could give him a measure of credibility, in much the same way as Cheney helped Bush.

Webb is a former Navy officer and Vietnam veteran (exactly matching McCain), and a former Secretary of the Navy bringing directly relevant executive experience. He won four military medals in Vietnam, and was wounded twice, a record that, along with awards from the American Legion and VFW, would repel attacks by SwiftBoaters. His term at the Pentagon came under Ronald Reagan, when Webb was a Republican, an advantage in Obama's effort to achieve a new electoral coalition. With this military background, he reinforces the Democrats' case against the Iraqi intervention, a position he has articulated from the beginning of the war and with particular force, including a direct confrontation with President Bush at a White House reception. As a novelist, non-fiction author and Emmy-winning television reporter, he also shows intellectual distinction.

Webb also would bring specific political advantages to the Democratic ticket. His rural roots, vigorous language and championing of working class values would compensate for Obama's evident weaknesses among these voters. Webb provides a populist platform on corporate regulation, trade, taxation and health care that would further extend the party's appeal to its lower-income base. Born in Missouri, educated in Nebraska, California and the Naval Academy in Maryland, he encapsulates a national electoral appeal. Finally, to the limited extent that state residence matters, he would help to switch Virginia into the Democratic column for the first election since 1964.

Webb may have some deficiencies as a candidate, related to sexist writings done thirty years ago and his occasional indelicate language. He, and Obama, would need to make special efforts to clear those hurdles to bring women voters back into the Democratic fold. They can succeed by emphasizing the evident differences between them and McCain on both economic and social policies, as well as the Iraq war.

On his own, we can expect Webb to outshine any of the pallid Republicans being considered for the McCain ticket, to close the party's "security gap," and to provide the necessary appeal to white male voters. For Senator Obama, Webb's selection would show both audacity and hope. "

Gerald Pomper is the Board of Governors Professor of Political Science (Emeritus) at Rutgers University. He has written extensively on U.S. politics, including seven quadrennial books on presidential elections since 1976.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_gerald_m_pomper/obama_s_vice_president

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. Comparing the Senate voting records of Sen. Obama, Sen. Webb and Sen. McCain

Sen. Webb has not been my first choice for the Vice Presidential nomination. However, it is clear from a wide variety of insider sources that he is near the top of the short list of those being considered.

Rasmussen Reports rates him as probably the potential candidate who would stategically add the most to the ticket:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_gerald_m_pomper/obama_s_vice_president

At first I was a bit skeptical of him. But after taking a closer look, I have to admit being somewhat impressed.

My most important reason from my point view is that his writings while teaching at the Naval War College in Monterey, California reveal that he is a foreign policy realist and pragmatist and thus not the sort to rush into ill advised military interventions. Equally important he shares with Sen. Obama the sense of importance with opening dialog with adversaries and making a sincere effort at diplomacy in resolving conflict.

But, just how liberal is he on other issues? I would have to say, more than I thought:


First, here is just one example: In 2007 The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law gave Senator Webb a grade of A+.

Here are some more along with a comparison with Sen. Obama’s and Sen. McCain’s record:

All figures are interest group ratings from 2007.:

The link for Sen. McCain's ratings on Project Vote Smart:

http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=53270&type=category&category=45&go.x=10&go.y=12

The link for Sen. Obama's ratings on Project Vote Smart:

http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=9490

The link for Sen. Webb’s ratings on Project Vote Smart:

http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=60043

Abortion Issues

In 2007 NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Senator Obama a grade of 100.

2007 NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Senator Webb a grade of 100.

In 2007 NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Senator McCain a grade of 0.

_________________________________

Civil Rights and Human Rights Issues

2007 American Civil Liberties Union gave Senator Obama a grade of 80.

In 2007 American Civil Liberties Union gave Senator Webb a grade of 71.

2007 American Civil Liberties Union gave Senator McCain a grade of 50.
______________________________________________________________

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 85 percent in 2007

Senator Webb supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 85 percent in 2007.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 15 percent in 2007.

________________________________________________________________________

Conservative Issues

Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Conservative Union 7 percent in 2007.

2007 Senator Webb supported the interests of the American Conservative Union 16
percent in 2007

Senator McCain supported the interests of the American Conservative Union 80 percent in 2007.
_______________________________________________________________________

Education Issues

In 2007 National Education Association gave Senator Obama a grade of A.

In 2007 National Education Association gave Senator Webb a grade of A.

In 2007 National Education Association gave Senator McCain a grade of F.

________________________________________________________________________

Environmental Issues

2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to League of Conservation Voters's position, Senator Obama received a rating of 67.

2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to League of Conservation Voters's position, Senator Webb received a rating of 87.

2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to League of Conservation Voters's position, Senator McCain received a rating of 0.
______________________________________________________________

Family and Children Issues

In 2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Children's Defense Fund's position, Senator Obama received a rating of 60.

In 2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Children's Defense Fund's position, Senator Webb received a rating of 90.

In 2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Children's Defense Fund's position, Senator McCain received a rating of 10.
________________________________________________________
(The Family Research Council is an extremely right-wing organization found and lead by Dr. Richard Dobson)

In 2007 Family Research Council gave Senator Obama a grade of 0.

In 2007 Family Research Council gave Senator Webb a grade of 0.

In 2007 Family Research Council gave Senator McCain a grade of 42.
_______________________________________________________________

Foreign Aid and Policy Issues

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Council for a Livable World 81 percent in 2007

Senator Webb supported the interests of the Council for a Livable World 72 percent in 2007.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the Council for a Livable World 0 percent in 2007.

______________________________________________________________________.

Health Issues

Senator Obama supported the interests of the American Academy of Family Physicians 100 percent in 2007.

Senator Webb supported the interests of the American Academy of Family Physicians 100 percent in 2007..

Senator McCain supported the interests of the American Academy of Family Physicians 0 percent in 2007
_____________________________________________________________________

Labor

Senator Obama supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 100 percent in 2007.

Senator Webb supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 100 percent in 2007.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 0 percent in 2007.
______________________________________________________________________

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 75 percent in 2007.

Senator Webb supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 75 percent in 2007.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 8 percent in 2007.
________________________________________________________________________

Liberal

Senator Obama supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 75 percent in 2007

Senator Webb supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 85 percent in 2007.

Senator McCain supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 10 percent in 2007.

[NeedleCast]

11. Thanks!

Wow, thanks for all the info. That's great stuff that I hope everyone will check out (reading through it myself).

[The Night Owl]

12. Jim Webb would make a great vice president. {EOM}

[On the Road]

13. He Definitely Has Some Negatives

but he seems to round out the personality of the ticket better than any other candidate. His toughness and aggressiveness commands respect. No one will be able to depict the ticket as weak on Defense with his background. Together Obama and Webb creates a face of the New Democratic party that would be very powerful.

[bain_sidhe]

14. Hate it.

Some further reading for you:

Detailing the problems he'll bring Obama, especially with women: (Note, this is not all "old stuff." A lot of it is pretty recent.)

http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/ixnay_on_the_ebbway.php


The Rolling Stone profile excerpt that the above article mentions (which notes his recent comments (within a few years) that "Liberals were 'cultural Marxists,' and 'the upper crust of academia and the pampered salons of Hollywood' were a fifth column waging war on American traditions."):

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/14980312/virginia_senator_james_webb_washingtons_most_unlikely_revolutionary/print

Hate the idea, really. He's fine as a "loose cannon" Senator, kicking ass and taking names. Not so fine as a loose cannon V.P. candidate.

[jefferson_dem]

16. Regarding his "kicking ass" demeanor - check out TNR's perspective piece on Webb's "mad skills"

--- http://www.tnr.com/story_print.html?id=ca3b5e18-b50f-4f8b-a132-9ed0b4771d6d

The other stuff hardly disqualifies him, in my opinion.

[bain_sidhe]

19. You're entitled to your opinion

The "other stuff" certainly disqualifies him in mine.

[jefferson_dem]

15. YES!

Here's why...

Webb is an authentic, principled, no-nonsense, straight-shooting, Washington-outsider who is an intellectual but cut from a "down home" working-class fabric that projects well. Hi is a former Repug with military credentials and administrative experience. He could appeal to those "Reagan Dems" if there really are any.

My take.

[BklynChick]

17. I think it's the wrong move given the current climate (his women in the military past statements),

I like him though!

[kiranon]

18. As a female veteran (US Army) - No.

He has some good points but he was against women in the military and, in my mind, it follows that he probably doesn't like women in other occupations as well.

[woolldog]

20. lol

that was 30 years ago. He has since admitted he was wrong.

[KittyWampus]

24. NO, he hasn't. He had 3 opportunities to do so and failed. His book, Senate run

and his interview with Russert who set him up nicely to disavow past statements about women in the military.

I watched the interview. Webb does NOT admit he was wrong. He dances around it and comes across as someone who refuses to either apologize or just plain old doesn't agree his opinion and words were heinous.

[woolldog]

25. well I know that's wrong becuase I saw a CNN interview

between him and Wolf Blitzer where he did admit that he was wrong. It was posted here.

[lukasahero]

26. Feel free to post it please

Because the interviews I've seen and read he did no such thing. He did, as the poster above notes, dance around the issue even smiling at his cute "horny women" comment. If the idea is to deliberately reach out to women, there are better candidates than Webb.

Additionally, Obama does not need the distraction of defending Webb through the entire GE season. Let's not give the other side a target and ammunition, please.

[Scoovydoo]

21. He's a great compliment to Obama

A southerner who will attract many working class voters. I say go for it.

[Sparkly]

22. I hope it's not Webb.

Not a draw for Clinton's supporters; too conservative; perfect for Virginia though, and his seat could be lost.

[hedgehog]

23. The biggest drawback I see is his marital history. I have no

information on why his first two marriages broke up. Given McCain's history, I doubt that the Republicans would be able to use this against him.