Jim Webb: Hero, Leader, Straight Talk Patriot, Senator
huffingtonpost.com
08.18.2006
A bold prediction: Jim Webb will be elected United States Senator from Virginia in the election shocker of 2006.
A brief word about George Allen. I had never heard the word Macaca until it came out of the mouth of the incumbent Senator from Virginia. And I am even willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn't exactly say it, or didn't mean it, or didn't know exactly what he meant by it. Whatever.
Senator Allen said something that was far, far worse than that. He pointed to an American of Indian descent, and said: welcome to America. This is the kind of tactic that has no place in America, the idea of demeaning and ridiculing the Americanism of a fellow American, whether the color of his skin is the same as mine, or different.
Jim Webb has been at war with bands of brothers and sisters of all races, colors, creeds, backgrounds and descents and this kind of politics would never occur to him. His America is our America, the real America, and the true America, which is a large house with many rooms, a large family with many members, from diverse backgrounds, all worthy of respect and honor.
Jim Webb's Virginia is the Virginia of Mark Warner, who governed with integrity and competence, who showed respect for political supporters and opponents alike, and who won huge victories by bringing many of the best people into government, and bringing out the best in people.
Jim Webb will enter the Senate with some of the most awesome qualifications of any new Senator ever elected, and will be a major national figure from his very first day.
He was an authentic hero in war: interested parties should read the book The Song of the Nightingale which chronicles Webb along with John McCain and other peers.
Jim Webb has been a major author of brilliant works that tell the stories of war. And trust me, in an age when national security is the front burner issue:
If I were surrounded by terrorists with guns and missiles aimed at my head, I would be rather be alone with one Jim Webb than twenty George Allens or a hundred Dick Cheneys.
If I were asked who should make the decisions about war and peace, I would rather it be someone who has been there, done that, in combat and as Secretary of the Navy rather than those who view war as political weapons, dinner party fun, or big talk at neocon seminars.
The Senate could have used Jim Webb's voice, experience and judgment in 2002 when he was warning about the perils of an Iraq War. The country could have used Jim Webb's fierce devotion to our troops and military families for all these years when too few fought the fight in the Congress for armor, bandages, helmets and health care for our vets and troops.
George Allen is certainly not the best that our national democracy has to offer, and sadly, in truth, he is not the worst either as reprehensible as his recent comments were. But Jim Webb is the best of America, courage, honor, straight talk, judgment, experience, and integrity.
Jim Webb possesses that gift that is so rare in our democracy today: the willingness and the daring to challenge our people to be better and braver, and to reject those who pander to fear, division, and smallness.
George Allen may sneer at someone with the words "welcome to America." The voters will make a statement to that kind of politics that says: welcome to the modern Virginia, and to the fighting Marine who talks straight, welcome to the United States Senate. |
