Why Jim Webb Is Different -- And It's Not Just the Military Background
Jim Webb has gotten a lot of attention lately in the veep speculation game -- the one that has substituted for real political reporting over the last month. Most stories focus in on his military and government career, but what I've always found so intriguing about Webb is the thing that makes him such a unique political animal: namely, that he comes from the world of writing, rather than from professional politics.
We get a bit of a glimpse of how this makes him different in his first-person Washington Post essay today. Here's my favorite part:
"When the Reagan administration came in and offered me a job in '81, I said, "No, I really want to go write again." So I went out and did some really interesting journalism and wrote [another] novel...Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to write something that I believe is really good. Writing is what I will always do, no matter what. My mind always writes. You never stop writing if you're a writer."
Personally, I really relate to this -- especially (in my exhausted book tour state) the part about being devoted to the craft of writing, and therefore having a mind that is always writing, even when your pen isn't physically on the paper. As it relates to Webb, this focus -- this glimpse into his mind -- explains why he is so interesting and unique. If you are serious about the actual craft of journalism and writing as Webb is -- and not just using the written word as a self-glorifying propaganda tool -- you end up looking at the world in a far different way than a hack politician.
I met Webb at the last Take Back America conference. A staffer of his told me that (unbeknownst to me) I made a two-page appearance in Webb's latest book, A Time to Fight, and that I should introduce myself (I actually hate meeting politicians who work in D.C., Democrat or Republican -- most of them make me feel like I need to go take a shower. I especially hate introducing myself to them, as I don't want to add to their burdensome schedule -- they have enough constituents, superfans, job-seekers, climbers and self-important journalists to deal with as it is. But since I was encouraged, I did so). And though it was a brief conversation, I definitely got a much different feeling in meeting him than in meeting almost any other politician I've met -- and I've met a helluva lot of them at this point. There's a substance and an intensity to this person that is rare in the cheapened world of politics.
Lots of Webb cheerleaders in the progressive blogosphere love him because he's berated George Bush and given a terrifically blunt State of the Union response. His toughness on military issues and his career makes victimized progressives feel like we finally have our own bodyguard of sorts -- that we have a strongman with a strong military record who is tough in opposing the neocons and the war in Iraq, a guy who shows we don't have to take chest-thumping intimidation from chickenhawks. I certainly get this rationale, and honor his long military service and solid record on military issues. But what intrigues me most about the freshman Virginia senator has little to do with him making the Left feel less wimpy on only those issues.
No, what most separates Webb from other Democratic politicians who seem tough only because of their military resume is that Webb isn't really a politician -- and I don't mean that in the ridiculous "Barack Obama, a career politician, isn't a politician" way, but in the real sense (by the way, no disrespect to Obama at all here -- I'm just stating a fact about Obama actually being a career politician, despite protests to the contrary by some of his fans).
This is a guy that regardless of the issue, displays an intense outrage -- which is a very good thing, as there's lots to be angry about. We've seen it most pronounced from Webb -- at least rhetorically -- on economic class issues -- the issues you aren't allowed to talk about in Washington, D.C.
This Wall Street Journal op-ed that he wrote before ever entering the millionaires club of the U.S. Senate remains one of the hardest-hitting, best-written pieces of economic commentary I've seen from anyone -- politician or otherwise -- in the last decade.
I'm convinced that at least some of that outrage comes from his grounding as a writer -- that if you are serious about writing and reporting, then you inevitably meet realities that quite justifiably superheat your outrage beyond the point where the machinations and spin of career politician-ism get in the way.
That someone like Webb even made it into the U.S. Senate is a good thing. And sure, while he's far from perfect, and while I'm not endorsing him as the VP choice, I am saying that the mere consideration of someone like him as a vice-presidential nominee is, unto itself, a signal that American politics is shifting rapidly -- and that's a good thing too.
This is an ongoing series from the national tour for THE UPRISING. You can order The Uprising at Amazon.com or through your local independent bookstore.
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SeanGardner
Sen. Webb's views of white working class is pertinent; as a black anti-racist, this is very important move.The democrats need to move towards broader social justice agenda and away from narrow policies such as affirmative Action
"(Webb) is a guy that regardless of the issue ... "
This is the most assinine statement I ever heard. It's the ISSUES stupid! So what if Webb is passionate, mad even. With the exception of his opposition to the war in Iraq, in most cases he's as mad as a hatter e.g. a right-wing democrat in opposition to gun control who carries a gun with him onto the senate floor, abortion rights, Gay rights etc. This is not someone progressives or even middle-of-the-road dems should support. So what if he's a writer? So is Newt Gingrich etc. That doesn't make them good candidates for high office.
Yea but ..........as long as people like Sirota get the voice, people like Webb get supported regardless of the issue. HIS PASSION counts; his past mistakes do not. On the other hand, in the world according to this author and his pals, Hillary Clinton's past mistakes are unforgiveable, and her passion for improving the rights of women and the oppressed of the world, and of course all the deed that went with that passion, is irrelevant. Funny how double standards work....
I have liked Webb as VP for sometime. I agree with many of the opinions cited. He is certainly my pick.
His selection would mean another first. “First Asian American wife of a VP”;
Quite a melting pot that would be on the convention stage in Denver.
What do you all think?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/02/AR2006110201673_2.html
I have liked Webb as VP for sometime. I agree with many of the opinions cited. He is certainly my pick.
His selection would mean another first. “First Asian American wife of a VP”;
Quite a melting pot that would be on the convention stag in Denver.
What do you all think?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/02/AR2006110201673_2.html
I am black African and a woman; I saw sen. Jim Webb speak to the media only on few times and from from that limited knowledge I see him as a man of letters and so far the best candidate for VP for Obama. In my view, Jim Webb comes across as a serious and a worthy candidate.
I like particularly his views on bring together poor whites and poor blacks, if we do that, it will end the GOP hold on poor whites!
Sarahjan, I would love to see Jim Webb as vp.
I have been following a thread here on Huffpo, from an Off The Bus article - "Gail McGowan Mellor: What Fifty State Strategy?" Today she has an update at the bottom of her article where she goes into detail about the historical roots of the tension between poor whites and poor blacks in Appalachia. And I remembered watching Jim Webb speak of the idea that both groups have much in common from economic concerns to social marginalization and it's been political maneuvering that's made them not realize this. By rights they should be allies.
I think Jim would be a great balance to Obama. And like you, I like that he's a deep thinker, and a writer. With his military background thrown, including his recent achievement in passing the GI Bill, they would make one heck of a team.
It's the boots!
i can't tell you how gratified i am that "progressives" finally have a real military man to sell out to and adopt as their very own militarist-centrist beard. the concern has always been that if the people really moved to the left, "progressives" would be left with no alternative but to back another progressive- something they are not psychologically capable of. when barack's centrism crashes. progressives will have to vote for nominal- if not real- republicans. otherwise the left would be stuck backing a real liberal like dennis or bob wexler- something absolutely unthinkable for the american left. webb looks like a real safe harbor for left-liberals who would otherwise have to support a left liberal like themselves.
MAYBE WHAT WE NEED IS A "NOMINEE FROM MENOMONEE".... SEN RUSS FEINGOLD FOR VP!!!
i was trying to be realistic. russ feingold is too good for this country. it doesn't deserve him.
What happened to the fact that VP is a heart beat away from the Presidency? A VP needs to be able to be the leader of the free world should the worst occur. Webb is not any more qualified to be President that my dog Shep. President of the NRA maybe. POTUS? Not on your life. Frankly Mitt Romney is more qualified.
lol....mitt the professional flip-flopper???....it's obvious you never lived in or experienced his governorship in mass.....mitt was left of ted kennedy when he ran against him for the senate....yeah, he's my choise for vp with mcsame....that would be too much fun....lol
Sorry, as long as he thinks Vietnam was an honorable cause and that those of us vets who stood up against it were wrong and "shameful" I'm not buying it.
It took republicans to recognize his talent. Could we be looking at a restructuring of the parties? Republican progressives finally taking control of the party? Fiscal discipline combined with social awareness and a strong defense?
Say hello to President Webb. Sorry Hillary, it's Webb in 2016.
My only concern about Sen. Webb was his pronouncements about "white anger" over affirmative action. I almost laughed myself silly because actually, according to both private industry and government records, WHITE WOMEN have benefitted more from affirmative action than anyone else - in both education and the work place. This is not conjecture, supposition, or emotionalism. This is fact. Anyone can look this up.
Since its inception in 1970, WHITE WOMEN have always benefited more. But that's not what the media projects. The media has always given the program a "black" or "latino" face when they do profiles, but that isn't accurate. So when Sen. Webb talked about how whites in Appalachia are angry abour race-specific preferences, its amusing because if someone agrees that affirmative action needs to have a more "class-based" approach, which I support, then that's cool.
But to oppose affirmative action based on lies and half-truths about blacks and latinos "supposedly" taking "white jobs", well, that's not cool. And, I hope Jim Webb, if he's selected, can point all of this out.
Let's refine, refocus, and reinvent affirmative action to address the gravest, most serious class situation in this country since the early 1900s. Let's do it. But it is moust be done fairly, and the demogoguery.
Many "liberals" have been accused of supporting obama because he is black, allegedly assuaging their racial guilt. I have to think that the same could be said about "progressives" and webb--it is so unusual and fun to love a former-republican military man. Ugh, jim webb! Women-do-not-belong-in-active-duty webb. Angry, narccissistic, southernern-centric jim webb. Florid-faced ready-to-pop jim webb. If obama chooses him, he will be pleasing all the republican pundits who claim he has no foreign policy smarts; he does, or he did before knuckling a bit to the centrists.
I can't verify most of what you say, so I will comment only on one of your statements which I dissent with.
No man in his right mind could live with himself letting a woman go in the way of harm in his stead. The reason is simple. Regardless of all the chatter about sexism, progressive thinking and all that, it all boils down to one thing: survival.
Women are the only resource that can perpetuate the human race. For a man, to put them in the heat of battle is a source of potential disadvantage on the battlefield because they are too precious. Men can die and be replaced as long as there are women. The death of a woman is the death of a whole family. The death of 10 women is potentially the death of a battalion. If a women is unable to conceive or chooses not to for the duration of active duty service, then she may go to the forefront of the battlefield among men. Is that unfair?
I think not. Yet, formulating that into a fair law without a zillion people kicking and screaming discrimination and abuse seems impossible.
I think not. Yet, formulating that into a fair law without a zillion people kicking and screaming discrimination and abuse seems impossible.
Not unless we want THIS to happen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid's_Tale
I think Senator Webb has that maverick appeal that McBush use to have. He thinks independently on every issue. I think in the end the progressives will have a major problem with him because he is far more centrist than Obama. After all it's all about progressive purity with the left these days.
That being said I think him and Even Bayh are the front runners to be on the ticket and I like both of them.
Webb has a depth of understanding of economics -and his understanding and focus on the needs of the poor is reminiscent of John Edwards.
Webb will bite the head off of any Republican attack dog - a refreshing change in a Party that sinks when Swift-boated.
He also tells it like it is - a first step towards solutions to problems . That makes him a valuable inner-circle confident to the President and anybody who is a heartbeat away from the Presidency should be well inside the loop.
If Webb becomes the VP, the Democratic Governor in Virginia who would very likely appoint himself the interim Senator in Webb's place. Virginia has become one of those Democrat-rich States and that phenomenon has been occurring over the last 8 years - much of the time while the National Dems were still struggling - that;s why Webb stayed close in that race.. The National Tide and George Allen's mouth simply put Webb over the top.
If you believe that Senator Obama's Team of Rivals theory of building consensus has merit (it worked for Lincoln), then those issues on which Webb and Obama differ may be healthy. They're both reasonable men and both solution-oriented.
Most importantly. Webb delivers an already blue-leaning Virginia in November - and Virginia will secure the nomination.
Finally, he's everything that Cheney isn't - starting with human and ending with honest.
Yeah, I'll take Jim Webb - enthusiastically.
That's what I love about this country.
The diversity.
In one political tendency, the key qualification for high office is having been a pilot (with extra points for getting shot down).
In another, it's being a writer. And in line with that political tendency's tradition of egalitarianism, one doesn't have to be Proust or Mann.
And in another it is being a community organizer. Go figure.
But never a serious thought by the MSM about what the candidates stand for.
Sound bites, fancy slogans, superficial focus on appearances - all to feed hungry empty minds.
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