Webb's spin Campaign
This will be my last post on the Jim Webb’s success Senatorial campaign (hopefully) but I just wanted to say something after the spin his campaign has been engaged recently despite winning the race.
Jim Webb in his victory speech had the nerve to claim he ran a clean campaign and won on the issues. This ridiculous as once you got past his opposition to Iraq, he really had few innovative ideas. This is in keeping with S.R. Siddarth’s recent op-ed in the Washington Post in which he claimed that Allen tried to play the “race card”. Why on Earth would someone who is up significantly in the polls and has presidential ambitions try and play the race card? Siddarth’s argument is ridiculous on its face. Furthermore, for Webb to claim he ran a clean campaign is ridiculous as he was the benefit of one of the nastiest campaigns in recent memory by his subordinates. One in which he never seemed to acknowledge or denounce.
His opponent, George Allen, was called all kind of names by Webb supporters on the Raising Kaine (the blog that was affiliated with his campaign). These included calling Allen: a racist, an anti-semite, and in one of the worst smears, macacawitz (in light of Allen’s recently discovered Jewish heritage).
Webb's record on race which was barely examined was less than ideal to say the least. He previously called affirmative action "state-sponsored racism" which likely would have been the kiss of death for any Republican politician. He has since conveniently modified his position to support affirmative action for blacks and poor whites from Apalachia. Webb could not deny that he might have used the n-word in the past or that he has written fondly of his confederate heritage.
The fact was Macaca combined with the allegations against Allen lost him the race. Allen was leading by a sizable margin before the Macaca incident. Allen, may or may not be a prick, but he was a good and popular Senator and he would have won if the campaign focused on the issues.
For a good article describing Webb’s views, please look at Andrew Ferguson’s article.
Jim Webb in his victory speech had the nerve to claim he ran a clean campaign and won on the issues. This ridiculous as once you got past his opposition to Iraq, he really had few innovative ideas. This is in keeping with S.R. Siddarth’s recent op-ed in the Washington Post in which he claimed that Allen tried to play the “race card”. Why on Earth would someone who is up significantly in the polls and has presidential ambitions try and play the race card? Siddarth’s argument is ridiculous on its face. Furthermore, for Webb to claim he ran a clean campaign is ridiculous as he was the benefit of one of the nastiest campaigns in recent memory by his subordinates. One in which he never seemed to acknowledge or denounce.
His opponent, George Allen, was called all kind of names by Webb supporters on the Raising Kaine (the blog that was affiliated with his campaign). These included calling Allen: a racist, an anti-semite, and in one of the worst smears, macacawitz (in light of Allen’s recently discovered Jewish heritage).
Webb's record on race which was barely examined was less than ideal to say the least. He previously called affirmative action "state-sponsored racism" which likely would have been the kiss of death for any Republican politician. He has since conveniently modified his position to support affirmative action for blacks and poor whites from Apalachia. Webb could not deny that he might have used the n-word in the past or that he has written fondly of his confederate heritage.
The fact was Macaca combined with the allegations against Allen lost him the race. Allen was leading by a sizable margin before the Macaca incident. Allen, may or may not be a prick, but he was a good and popular Senator and he would have won if the campaign focused on the issues.
For a good article describing Webb’s views, please look at Andrew Ferguson’s article.
posted by The partisan moderate at 11:22 AM
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