Why Jim Webb Should be Obama's Running Mate

If Barack Obama is nominated by the Democratic Party - every day that appears more and more likely - he will have an interesting dilemma in selecting a running mate. On the one hand, he will want to anchor the ticket with someone who can compliment his perceived weaknesses - age, experience, accomplishments. At the same time, having spent more than a year running on the banner of a new-kind-of-politics, Obama would be poorly served selecting a running mate who was borne out of the politics of old. The quandary Obama may find himself in is no easy feat to overcome; it seems almost entirely implausible that someone could anchor Obama with national experience without weighting him down with Washington experience.

There is one man, however, who fits the mold so utterly perfectly that his presence on the ticket, his presence in the universe for that matter, is the stuff of fiction, a choice that makes one wonder if any of this is real. But, in the unlikely story of Barack Obama, one should no longer be surprised.

Senator Jim Webb was elected to the U.S. Senate in a bitter battle against George Allen, a man who at the time was viewed as a likely presidential contender, and who will, instead, long be remembered as the creator of the "Macaca moment." Prior to the Senate, Webb served as Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan and before that, he was a decorated Vietnam Veteran. His rise in the Senate was remarkable in its speed and depth, and would likely be the subject of closer attention had his fellow Senator, Barack Obama, not coined the meteoric rise only two years before. On his first day in office, he introduced the 21st century version of the GI Bill, designed to provide identical benefits to post 9/11 veterans as those of World War II. He has offered amendments requiring that soldiers be given the same time at home as length of deployment, and most recently, he has threatened legal action against the Bush administration for reneging on its promise to redeploy 30,000 troops out of Iraq. He serves on the Foreign Relations Committee, the Armed Services Committee, and the Committee on Veterans Affairs. In short, his military credentials are substantial and his position on Iraq, unimpeachable.

Senator Webb has the ability to provide perspective to an Obama administration, and military gravitas to the ticket. As he has shown on Meet the Press and elsewhere, he is exceptionally talented at aggressively confronting Republicans on military issues, a skill that will be invaluable as he hammers John McCain. And having gone through a grueling Senate election fight, Webb has already been the target of the Republican attack machine. The worst they could find was a sexually explicit passage in a novel written by the Senator, a bizarre attack that did little other than to make George Allen look silly, if not sad.

What's more is that Senator Webb, despite his decades of experience in Washington, fits the post-partisan mold that Obama advocates. As a former Republican and Reagan Navy Secretary, Webb embodies the kind of change that Obama seeks and has the ability, perhaps, to attract just as many Republicans and national security Independents to the ticket as Obama. His style of speaking is firm, but eloquent, and his baritone may be matched only by Obama himself.

Vice-presidential candidates are often picked, not for their leadership, but for the geographic advantages they can offer the ticket. Virginia, which hasn't voted for a Democratic president since Lyndon Johnson in 1964, is enjoying a Democratic renaissance of sorts, with a popular Democratic Governor in Tim Kaine, a popular Democratic Senator in Jim Webb, and a soon-to-be second Democratic Senator in Former Governor Mark Warner. Democrats retook control of one of its two state houses in the 2007 elections, and numerous major Republican political figures in the state are retiring, including Senator John Warner and Congressman Tom Davis (a fact that led Chris Matthews to refer to Virginia Republicans as "a party in retreat").

Earlier in the election cycle, general election match-ups between a generic Democratic presidential candidate and a generic Republican showed Democrats in the lead. And in Saturday's primary, Obama won 120,000 more votes than all of the Republicans combined. Jim Webb could help deliver Virginia to the blue state column, once and for all.

The advantage here cannot be understated. President Bush won the 2004 election with a swing of only 17 electoral votes. Virginia is worth 13 electoral votes. Add Iowa into the mix, a red state that saw a 91% increase in turnout in the Democratic caucus, and where recent polls have shown Barack Obama with a dramatic lead over John McCain, and you have yourself an electoral victory. Virginia could provide a victory to the Democrats that would need neither Florida, nor Ohio. It would not need Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico nor Missouri, states, all of which are sure-fire battlegrounds, leaning Democratic. With a Virginia win, picking up any combination of those states and others means more than just a win. It means a landslide.

Which brings me to my final point. Jim Webb does not have the perfect progressive credentials that much of the Democratic Party would expect from their Vice Presidential nominee. Though he was a co-sponsor of every major Democratic proposal in the last legislative session, and though he has been one of the most ardent and well-spoken proponents of redeployment out of Iraq, he has done things to frustrate progressives. Most recently, he voted to give immunity to telecom companies for their participation in an illegal spying program, an indefensible position.

But, counter-intuitive though it may be, Jim Webb will allow Barack Obama, and with him, the nation, to take larger strides toward moving a progressive agenda forward. Webb plugs any perceived holes in the Obama candidacy and helps deliver a state that could produce a landslide victory in November. With a landslide comes a mandate, the proof that the new majority that Obama aspires to has been built, and is ready for action. With a mandate comes the political capital that Obama will need to pass our most cherished domestic policies. Jim Webb will have a voice in the administration, but when President Obama disagrees with him, no one will need reminding of whose chair it is behind the desk. And Jim Webb, who will be 70 years old in 2016, will be unlikely to seek the presidency at the end of eight Obama years.

Throughout modern American history, there has never been a vice president who could offer all that Jim Webb can: an affirmation of political philosophy, a geographic electoral advantage, and an anchoring effect. Barack Obama will have a serious decision to make if he wins the nomination. The choice however, should be easy.

**To read more from Dylan Loewe, please visit Loewe Political Report.

Comments

[dearmurray]

Anyone campaigning to disqualify Jim Webb from consideration should be campaigning just as hard to disqualify Hillary Clinton from either top office.

Because, on the bill, Senator Clinton used the ages old strategy of conspicuously voting "NOT PRESENT".

[mmerose]

Aha! I was giving some thought to this, particularly what Democrat would be able to confront any Republican successfully in debates, especially since the Republican Vice Presidential choice is going to be emphasized due to Mc Cain's age. I've seen enough of Webb to feel immediately, really good about this idea. Obama-Webb 2008!

[jhNY]

Jim Webb probably needs a few more weeks of senatorial experience at least before he's sufficiently seasoned to join the ticket, no?

[CanadianinNY]

I think Tim Kaine is a more suitable runing mate for Obama than Webb because:

1. He has a crossover appeal to Republicans.
2. He won a state that is been historically a very red state.
3. He can deliver the commonwealth of Virgina. 4. Kaine and Obama like each other immensely
5. He can draw Latino voters because he speaks Spanish.

I really would have liked Kathleen Sebelius but her state is not at play and two first might scare the white male.

Finally, I think two senators in the the ticket might be problematic.

[DennyCrane]

I think Obama will probably pick either the governor of Arizona or Kansas. I can't remember their names, but they're both women and that might help make up for not having Hillary around. It might also help counter McCain if he picks Condi Rice as his running mate.

[JasonEverettMiller]

Obama will certainly pick the woman he sees as being ready and able to be our first woman president.

[liz]

I am a late-middle aged woman, who has memories of life before the civil rights and women's movements. I hope he picks the very best person to be president in waiting, and to defeat the Republican party in a landslide. I don't think this would be either of two women for women's sake governors whose names you cannot even remember when you recommend them.

[jorge999]

I moved to Virginia in July of 2006 --just in time to follow the gutsy inspiring senatorial campaign of Jim Webb. (his campaign slogan: 'Born Fighting')

I am so proud of him, of his fearlessness, his willingness to 'talk back' to Bush at a White House reception...he is a REAL straight talker.

Although I disagree with Webb's vote on telecom immunity, I'm willing to forgive it.
He could be a very appealing VP candidate

Having said that, I confess to a slight uneasiness. The flip side of his 'straight talk' asset is a previous reputation as an occasional 'loose cannon.' I would not want him as VP if he could not fully embrace the Obama message and program. Teamwork and loyalty more than 'Independence' are essential requirements of a VP.

He and Barak would have to determine beforehand whether they could work well as a team.

That said, I'd LOVE to see Barak Obama and Jim Webb on the ticket!

BTW He has endorsed Obama.

[Sumocat]

I know people are upset about the whole wiretap issue, but offering the telecoms immunity is a strategically sound decision. They didn't open up their system for just anyone; they opened them up for the NSA. The NSA did the actual spying. The NSA and the Bush administration should be held accountable. Prosecuting the telecoms would distract from that. Ignore the pawns, pursue the grandmasters.

[jvarga]

Yeah its strategically sound. Piss on the constitution, piss on Americans, piss on our rights.

"But your honor, I'm not guilty of murder. The real murder asked me for the gun, I just loaded the gun and gave it to him."

[Sumocat]

Your analogy needs work. In this case, it would be a federal agent demanding your gun, you giving it to him, and him shooting someone he claims is a terrorist. Who's culpable in this case?

Furthermore, the Bill of Rights protects us from abuse by the government, not by private companies. Only the government and its agents can "piss on the Constitution". The telecoms did not violate the Constitution by helping the NSA; the NSA violated it by searching files and seizing data without a warrant.

[hopeless277]

The telecom fold knocked Webb right off my list. He must be a Republican at heart.

[jvarga]

You might not be aware, but Senator Webb voted yesterday to give the telecoms immunity for spying on American citizens. Sorry but 8 years of Vice President Cheney was enough for me.

[Beckyjo]

I agree completely!! Two weeks ago, maybe longer, I told my daughter that Jim Webb would be the perfect candidate for VP with Sen.Obama. He has impressed me since he came on the scene. He was so proud of his son who was serving in Iraq, but he did not think it was right for the US to be there in the first place. I was delighted to see him each day as he went into the Senate chambers to "open" the sessions, in order to keep the president from making recess appointments. He is knowledgeable and so smart. I do hope Mr. Obama will put Jim Webb on his short list for Vice President.

[Chachi]

Very compelling argument. I've long thought Biden would be hands down the best VP Obama could choose. But, you make an good case for Webb. And, with Webb as VP Biden could be Sec of State and then you've got a hell of a start to a powerful administration.

So, I think either of those 2 tickets (Obama/Webb or Obama/Biden) is unbeatable. I'd still lean towards Obama/Biden because Biden is more proven than Webb and more of a traditional Democrat. And, on the most important issue: who would be the best president if something happened to Obama - Biden still gets the nod.

[Moose49]

I like Biden a lot. The problem with him as a running mate is 1) Delaware has three electoral votes and 2) every time he opens his mouth, you never quite know what's going to come out. You also don't know when he's going to shut up. Biden with an edit button would be fine. Without it, I don't know...

[rubyjewel]

Let's drop this Jim Webb for VP meme. Webb's announcement of his plan to file suit against Bush/Cheney was nothing but a smokescreen to cover for his intention to buckle to Bush/Cheney and support retroactive telecom immunity for spying on American citizens. The empty rhetoric of Senator Webb wont cover for his complete lack of effort as a member of the Democratic majority to stand up to the most unpopular American president in history.

As a lifelong, liberal Democratic voter I am committed to purging these "Republican-lite" Democrats from positions of power. The only way President Obama can lead our country to recovery from the hideous fallout of the Bush/Cheney regime is with the support of genuine, progressive Democrats in Congress. Webb can"t hold a candle to the real heroes in Congress (Conyers, Kennedy, Feingold, Kucinich, Waxman, Dodd, Biden, Saunders and Obama) who have been leading the progressive agenda for decades. There is a huge, deep pool of talent in the progressive Democratic ranks from which to choose a VP for the Obama ticket. Webb is paddling around in the kiddy pool with the likes of Joe Lieberman.

[LawHoo97]

What a great idea. However, it would be a huge loss for the Commonwealth.

[Moose49]

I agree that Jim Webb would make an intriguing choice as Obama's running mate, should Obama get the nomination. Webb was right from Day One (pardon the expression) on Iraq and on economic issues, he's a true populist, taking positions that could help shore up Obama's support among working class voters. He's definitely not part of the Washington establishment. And one benefit of his Republican past is that he's not stuck in the defensive/cautious mode of so many Democrats in Congress (including Hillary) when it comes to taking on the Republicans on national security and other issues. He knows how to kick ass.

My one fear about Obama putting Webb on the ticket is that it's hard for a senator with four years in office to pick another senator with two years in office. That's why I think Obama should also take a look at Wesley Clark. Yes, he's a Hillary backer. But, like Obama and Webb, he also opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. He would improve the ticket's military/national security credentials. He's a bit of an iconoclast and not tied in with the D.C./lobbyist/special interest establishment. So I think he could be a good choice, too.

[tcpgh]

I agree. Clark would be an excellent VP. Should Obama win the nomination, I don't think he would feel any further obligations to Hillary, and could go with Obama.

[ThatsNotFunny]

I would agree with you if he didn't just cave on telecom immunity this week. He's lost a lot of respect in a many progressives' books.