Jim Webb Explains His Remarks On Civil War, Confederacy

Sen. Jim Webb responded to an article this morning suggesting that as a vice presidential candidate he would have difficulty explaining past comments about the Confederacy and the Civil War.

Webb repeatedly pointed out that his work as a historian is more complex than the treatment in the press. However, he stood by his statement that war service during the Civil War was motivated more by concerns of states' sovereignty than by the issue of slavery.

Watch Webb discuss the history of Appalachian voters and their effect on the 2008 election.

Read the case against Jim Webb for Vice President.

Read the myth of Jim Webb's "anger issues."

Comments

[AntonBursch]

Talk about the perfect person to work with Barack Obama to help unite the nation. This just made Jim Webb my first choice on my wishlist for VP. I love how he's just as passionate and calm and thoughtful and intelligent as Obama. What a perfect match.

[UNR]

The problem I have is with that sleazeball reporter, not Webb or his answer. "SOME people are seeing this as a potential problem with the African American" community. As an African American, I can tell you that this is not an issue or a potential issue, and I'm getting pretty tired of these media types trying to intentionally inject controversy between races where there was none existing. I would have loved for Jim Webb to simply ask him, "What's your source on the fact that this may cause an issue." That would have made him think twice about creating controversy out of thin air in the future.

[ecksman]

this is also true ... i hate when they say how a group of people feel or what they will and won't like ... they are just looking for fights. fights increase ratings. the media is like one big don king.

[sillyseason]

Obama/Webb 08'

From a 57 year old African American vet, husband, father, and grandfather who was born and raised in the south.

These pathetic pundits are reaching on Webb. They can't handle someone who tells it like it is, regardless of their race.

For anyone who would try to paint Jim as racist or bigotted, is beyond reaching. It would be desperation.

[CeciliaBertrand]

In regards to the "sleazeball reporter" - what a jerk!! Do these "reporters" actually go to school and learn history or anything else besides haircut 101? The Civil War is a overtly well documented part of our history and there are a ton of authors all coming to the same core over and over again. How does his histrionics bring exception to the "African American"??? What a dunce ball.
That Webb would be asked such a bloody stupid question when he is abviously an academic; i.e. historian - hello?

Since corporate media wants to be HOLLYWOOD, ala tabloid, at the very least they should require these 'reporters' become actual graduates of the Actors Studio. That way we could enjoy a more professional approach to illusion than what we are experiencing now. These TV news 'people' are amateurs and it has become an embarrassment that they represent the USA. Geez. In the meantime, is anyone actually taking journalism in school anymore? Why are the stupid ones on TV and the intellectual ones on the WEB?

Thank you God for the Internet..and other things too!

[WarriorLemming]

We hardly started the GE and the media already giving me heartburn hangon 'cause the rides going to get a lot rougher it's disgusting I know.

[chaz69]

As an African-American student of history, I'm not in the least offended by my Senator. In fact, I'm hoping he IS selected as the VP choice.

[Trill]

Although I totally disagree with Senator Webb, he is entitled to his opinion....EVEN if he is dead WRONG!

[clearthinker2008]

I believe I've heard that many times, this is all they got? The powers that be don't want Webb as veep.

[lynnn]

Really this is so stupid. NOt like AA's are voting for McCain.

[lynnn]

See that Strickland that's how you say "I'm not running for VP"

[SHOPARAZZI]

what's so bad about that? i mean, really. im african-american. im not offended by what webb says, writes or standby as it relates to the civil war. it happened and it's a part of our history. the union ultimately prevailed.

i live in the kennesaw/acworth area of georgia, which played a major role in the civil war. many descendants of the confederate soldiers still own land there and hang their confederate flags proudly. i've never had a problem -- it's the safest place to be, quite frankly. i really wish somebody (other than jesse jackson) would explain to me why i should be offended by a confederate flag. i mean seriously! wouldnt that be an example of unpatrioticness just as much as burning an american flag or a congressman not wearing a flag pin?

[laurinek]

Are you really african american?

[PSRinNJ2]

This is a common remark made by liberals that really gets under my skin. Can't an African American have any opinion that differs from the Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton racial-ambulance-chasers without being accused of "not being black".

It may surprise you to know that African Americans are quite capable of holding a variety of opinions, and are actually smart enough to think for themselves!

[drea31]

you beat me to it.

[UncommonSenz]

The problem many have with the confederate flag is how it was used a a symbol of oppression during the 50's and 60's to intimidate minorities (and those that supported civil rights). Leaving the history and heritage of the south aside, the flag was used as an overt symbol to indicate the ideals of a time when african-americans "knew their place".

Anyone who has ever personally seen the flag used in that context would not ask "why it is offensive"

[robXdion]

50s and 60s? It didn't really slow until the late 90s.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

wow, Obama "Children of the Corn" is willing to do whatever it takes to the guy can win in the fall... what if Obama pick Cheney, you people will find a positive spin for that too

[RoloTomassi]

"...what if Obama pick Cheney, you people will find a positive spin for that too"

No, but I can see how you would think that, as humans do tend to project, and what you speak of is efinitely a GOPer characteristic....

[freshnotbitter]

I just saw Webb's explanation and I think it was excellent. whether or not there is more where this came from I have no idea but Webb's response as given here was actually a net plus for him as candidate for Veep.

[PoliSci2008]

AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORIAN, WEBB'S statement is fairly accuarate and does not offend me, and certainly should not be used against him for consideration of the VP position. HOWEVER, his volatile demeanor is not characteristic of a VP nor a statemen.

OBAM & NO-WEBB '08

[bookon]

>>his volatile demeanor is not characteristic of a VP nor a statemen.

It is LATELY. I like him, but I see your point. Still, I like the idea of a butt kicker on MY SIDE for a change. He's the Democratic Chuck Norris.

[RonNYC]

We would be lucky to have a wonderful man and solider as Webb as a VP. Especially with all those spineless people in DC. I don't think Jesus would pass the vetting process.

[realistxxx]

Jesus was a communist who hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors and he was not opposed to Roman taxes, but opposed violence.

He would be cooked as a candidate.

[robXdion]

Unfortunately, being an AA historian doesn't grant you special insight. Others can read too. As an AA, I think Webb is a historical revisionist and most buy into this because they haven't read up on the issue since high school. And many people don't want to rock the boat. It is what it is. They fed southern soldiers the same line they're feeding soldiers today: "They want to take your freedom." And you didn't have to own slaves to want to enforce the mentality behind it. The KKK, Jim Crow, lychings, Tulsa, OK 1921, Rosewood Massacre, and Black Codes prove that. If it wasn't about slavery or the spread of slavery, why didn't the South just let them go free in the first place? Why retaliate against blacks after the failed Reconstruction? Why was John C. Calhoun pushing for secession over slavery since 1837? And why did secessionist cite him as their inspiration? And yes, Webb should stay home. If Obama is going to cite slavery in every other speech, he can't have a historical revisionist acting like it was a minor blip as his VP.

[philosopherkingtomas]

Scarlett Johansson for vide president! anyone but hillary or siebelius the rookie.

[portchester]

The Civil War is part of HISTORY, can we please get on with our current lives that matter most.

Thank you.

JIM WEBB for VP from a New Yorker.

[ghd]

Lincoln authored the Emancipation Proclamation in order to solidify the north in its war with the south, and not out of a aching love for African Americans. It was an astute political move rather than a moral one. Of course, those who write the history books romanticize Lincoln which is not uncommon about great influential leaders.

[chasanne]

Clearly, Webb is correct that the Confederacy believed that they were fighting for states rights. However, much of the Confederacy was in denial -- they were fighting to protect slavery because they feared economic ruin without it.

Webb is a bad VP choice anyway. The Dems might ultimately lose his US Senate seat if he were to vacate it.

[stephenswain]

Look:

Jim Webb wasn't advocating slavery, or anything like it. If you check the economic statistics from 1860, you will see that the South was generating most, the largest share, of the US income from foreign trade, mostly from cotton and tobacco. You will also find that there were onerous taxes charged to Southern exports in US ports by Northern states. This fact has been carefully glossed over in the histories that were written by the "winners" of the Civil War.

Does that mean that most Southerners owned slaves? No. Does it mean that slavery would have continued to be an economically viable alternative to the industrial revolution that followed in the wake of the war? Not too likely. Agricultural production would have become more and more mechanized anyway, as it subsequently did.

As a Southerner whose ancestors were planters, I can say without hesitation that slavery was a horrible institution, an indefensible institution. I regret it, and I do not seek to justify it. Neither does Senator Webb.

How long do we have to go on beating this theme over its dead head?

[RoloTomassi]

Another gloss over:

At his inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln attempted to avoid conflict by announcing that he had no intention "to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." He added: "The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without yourselves being the aggressors."

If not for hard-headed southern elitists determined to go to war...well, who knows how long slavery would have persisted. If they had known then how things would turn out, they'd have likely been much less ready to break from the union.

[realistxxx]

Wars are never started by those who are completely rational and have 100% of all of the information needed to even make a rational decision.

They are also not started due to a single moral issue like slavery.

Most in the North were completely willing to let slavery persist. Secession forced their hand and after that most in the North were motivated by preserving the Union rather than ending slavery.

Likewise most in the South were motivated by defending the new Confederacy. Slavery was an important aspect of their economic power but the poorly conceived secession was not driven by defending slavery (it wasn't under attack from the North). Secession was driven by the erroneous vision that the South could stand alone and no longer have to be obliged to work with the North on a variety of levels.