Comments on: Webb Skepticism

By: Webb and Iraq « Wintry Smile

Webb and Iraq « Wintry Smile — Thu, 15 May 2008 05:16:55 +0000

[...] I definitely can’t contest that point, so I’ll mention his worry that Webb will undermine Obama’s national security credibility: Another argument against Webb is that instead of acting as “insurance” that Obama would be [...]

By: Corey

Corey — Thu, 15 May 2008 04:27:14 +0000

As a fellow Virginia resident, I also think that Webb is a seat we don’t need to lose–to say nothing of the fact that Webb isn’t going to work the White People magic some progressives think he will. Webb is a good senator, not necessarily a good VP.

Also, a quick funny story. In college I (briefly) dated a Republican girl who wrote her senior thesis on women serving in the military (her father was a colonel, albeit a dentist). Her conclusion was that women could serve in combat positions. When I asked her if she considered her work “feminist” or that women *should* serve in combat positions, she demurred–which made no sense. Women should be allowed to serve in elite combat positions (and the front lines). Period.

By: Jamelle

Jamelle — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:35:14 +0000

I’m pretty sympathetic to the idea of an Obama/Webb ticket (but then again, I’m a Virginian). Yes, there’s the danger of Webb accentuating everything Obama isn’t, and yes, he does have a great deal of sympathy for the Confederacy. But for me at least, that’s part of the appeal; Obama/Webb would have powerful narrative significance – a symbol of multicultural America campaigning with a son of the Confederacy. Having Webb in the VP slot represents the possibility of a very real kind of reconciliation, and that’s powerful.

Now, I also happen to think that having Webb on the ticket isn’t worth a Senate seat, so I think Obama should look elsewhere. But still, I think there are some very powerful narrative advantages that Webb could add.

By: Jasper

Jasper — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:11:52 +0000

I second the sentiment that Webb is a poor choice. There’s something in the faux macho swagger he demonstrates I really find offputting. I recall he insulted the president a while back at a social function at the White House. Yes, there are plenty of insults we can all think of when it comes to Bush. But no, that does not justify behaving boorishly and rudely at a party, especially when the recipient of the insults occupies an office that deserves respect. Also, wasn’t there a tidbit about Webb’s bringing a loaded gun into the Senate a while back?

None of this means Webb isn’t a very accomplished human being, and a very impressive man in many respects (caught an interview of Webb a couple of months ago on Stephanopoulos’s show, and indeed I was impressed). Still, I’d rather not elevate him to the Vice Presidency. If Obama wants a defense heavyweight, better in my view to go with Nunn or Hagel, or that Marine General I’ve been hearing about. Better yet go with Ed Rendell and let McCain’s misjudgments on foreign policy speak for themselves.

By the way, I don’t know if anybody saw Stephanopoulos’s show this past Sunday, but if I were McCain, I’d give serious consideration to Carly Fiorina as my running mate. I’m completely serious. The woman’s got gravitas. I know she had her problems at HP, but the company is kicking ass now, so she must have done something right to leave it in such good shape. Maybe given his age that would be a risky choice, politically, but it would sure put the heat on Obama to put Clinton on the ticket.

By: Dylan Matthews

Dylan Matthews — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:23:02 +0000

I don’t know where people got this idea that Webb is experienced, or more experienced than Obama. He was Navy Secretary for less than a year, from 1987-1988. The logic for picking him is disturbingly similar to the logic for picking Kerry in 2004, namely that military service is equal to foreign policy credibility. I think it’s a crappy pick, and someone like Clark would fill the same role (he’s Scots-Irish, even!) without Webb’s flaws or racism.