Sen. James Webb of Virginia, earning a national name his first year in office, still treads with divided public sentiment at home. Photo by Virginia Beach Democrats.org
by David Lerman
From the moment Jim Webb arrived on Capitol Hill 10 months ago, the Marine-turned-senator was more rock star than freshman lawmaker.
Eager to take on President Bush over the Iraq war, Democrats seized on Webb as the perfect poster boy for the fight: a Vietnam combat veteran and former Navy secretary from Ronald Reagan’s Pentagon.
Within weeks of taking office, the Virginian was tapped to deliver the Democratic response to Bush’s annual State of the Union speech. Webb has since become a regular guest on the Sunday talk-show circuit and the nightly cable news shows, where he advocates for a change of course on the war.
``He’s had a tremendous impact,” gushed Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., chairman of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee. ``I use Jim Webb to recruit new members. He’s an example of how one new person can do a great, great job.”
But Webb’s national fame has yet to translate into broad-based public support among Virginia voters, a new poll suggests.
The statewide poll by SurveyUSA found voters about equally divided, with 46 percent approving of Webb’s performance and 42 percent disapproving.
Webb, who beat Republican Sen. George Allen last year by a razor-thin margin that could have led to a recount, said he had not seen the poll but was not surprised by the findings.
``I’m doing what I think needs to be done,” he said. ``I think people are still beginning to get to know me."
By contrast, Virginia’s senior senator, Republican John W. Warner, registered approval ratings of 65 percent—a relatively consistent ranking during his 30-year tenure.
Beyond the challenge of making himself known to constituents as a freshman senator, Webb acknowledged frustration with Democrats’ inability, at least so far, to force a change in war policy.
In addressing the nation following Bush’s State of the Union speech in January, Webb called on Bush to follow the example of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who brought the long Korean war to an end.
``If he does, we will join him,” Webb told viewers at the time. ``If he does not, we will be showing him the way.”
But that promise, Webb acknowledged, has proven difficult to meet.
Many Democrats and anti-war voters backed Webb last year at least partly because of his outspoken opposition to the Iraq war and his commitment to bring the war to an end. But Democrats have been unable to win enough Republican votes in the Senate to break a filibuster and force a policy change.
Paul Sullivan, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense, applauds Webb as a ``great senator” but said the lack of progress has contributed to voter frustration.
``That’s where Webb has his shortcoming,” Sullivan said. ``The Senate needs only 41 votes to block funding for the war. Webb needs to stand there and say, `We will not continue to throw our soldiers into the meat grinder of Iraq.’ “
About a quarter of Democratic voters in Virginia disapprove of Webb’s performance, the poll found, while 61 percent approve.
``I’m as frustrated as anybody else,” Webb said. ``We’ve been filibustered every single time.”
Webb tried to push a bipartisan measure aimed at restricting troop deployments by requiring soldiers to spend as much time at home as they spent in Iraq before being allowed to return. He fell four votes short of winning the 60 needed to advance the measure in the Senate, after Warner announced his opposition.
And for all his outspoken criticism of the war, Webb has been unwilling to heed the pleas of anti-war activists who want to cut off funding and bring troops home immediately.
``I hear that, but I was very clear during the campaign that this has to be done responsibly,” Webb said.
The solution, he says to almost anyone who will listen, lies in a regional diplomatic settlement that would clear the way for a phased withdrawal of troops.
Beyond the Iraq challenge, Webb’s Marine toughness has at times clashed with the genteel ways of Capitol Hill.
Webb, who acknowledges carrying a concealed gun, drew headlines when his aide was arrested for carrying the gun into the Capitol complex. And the senator caused a stir last winter after a testy private exchange with Bush was leaked to the media. Bush had asked Webb about his son, a Marine who was serving in Iraq at the time, and Webb refused to discuss it.
``Maybe he and I both had a bad day,” Webb said of the encounter, noting that he has since taken his son to meet the president. ``I don’t have anything personal against George W. Bush.”
Even so, Democrats say, Webb’s fighting spirit helps explain why he may still be a divisive figure in Virginia.
``He has been a significant thorn in the side of the Bush administration,” said C. Richard Cranwell, chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party and a former state House majority leader.
``I imagine there are a number of folks in Virginia who have strong allegiance to George Bush and it wouldn’t surprise me if they’re concerned.”
Charlie Judd, executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia, said of Webb: ``I think he’s still trying to find himself. He was able to communicate just enough to the electorate, but not everything. The more they learn about Jim Webb, the less they are likely to identify with him.”
But there is little doubt that Webb has won the affection of many Democrats for defeating a Republican incumbent in a conservative ``red” state and helping Democratic congressional leaders chart a new course for the country.
``I think you’re seeing the bluing of Virginia and his victory represents that,” Cranwell said.
Fascination with Webb remains strong enough in Washington that his name continues to be floated as a potential vice presidential candidate in 2008.
Sitting in his Senate office last week, Webb broke into a wide grin when asked about the possibility, which he downplayed but did not rule out as an option.
``I’m certainly not trying to encourage it,” Webb said. ``It’s not something that I have ever wanted to do. It’s not in my game plan.”
As for his immediate future, the best-selling novelist said he is continuing to write a book due out next Memorial Day that he promises will be ``a little more personal than anything I’ve ever written.”
Asked if he sees himself remaining in the Senate for more than one term, Webb said, ``I thought I was going to be a career Marine. I feel like I’m doing good here. I’ll take a look at this in 4 or 5 years and see how I feel.”
• 
• 
• 
Comments
Well this is interesting, but WHAT does it have to do with Obama?!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 7, 2007 4:15 PM
Webb has consistently and persistently kept his promises to the voters about what he would do to solve not only the Iraq situation, but to address economic inequalities and more recently the incarceration crisis in this country. He's controversial because he doesn't kowtow and he is plain-spoken. If more of our elected officials would have his guts this administration would have been reined in a long time ago. He's the spine the Democrats need.
As for his failure to support a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq, it's clear that we made a huge mess in that country and if we withdraw while leaving a power vacuum we will open the way to the complete splintering of the Iraqi government and intervention by the Saudis and Iranians. It would be irresponsible, much as we would love to do so, to simply send home all our troops without anything else in place. We made the mess, we have to do something to try to fix it before we leave completely. I support Webb's proposal that we redeploy and send most of the troops home but leave enough to handle spot problems and training of the Iraqis.
Posted by: Virginia Voter | October 7, 2007 4:42 PM
Sen Jim Webb is a mean spirited individual who has a contrarian idea since his son is erving in Iraq we all gotta cut and run.
When W tryed to talk to him about his son during his campaign he was mean and foreboding.
George Allen is twice the man Webb is. So, what about the driveby's purge of macaca whatever.
Jim give us good GOPers' a break you ain't loyal. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | October 7, 2007 6:45 PM
Jerry White,
Go find decorated combat veteran Jim Webb and tell him (whatever you are) to man Jim Webb face to face what you have written here and let us all know how that works out.
You are a vile coward.
Not man enough to sign up for war yourself. Not even man enough to confront those you disagree with in the relative safety of of our own sea to shining sea.
You, Jerry White, stay in your safe confines of Springfield for you are a pathetic little man who is not ready or able for the larger world.
Posted by: Doug Zook | October 7, 2007 8:29 PM
Sen Jim Webb is a mean spirited individual
Posted by: Jerry White | October 7, 2007 6:45 PM
Theres the pot calling the kettle black if I've ever heard it.
Posted by: bill r. | October 7, 2007 9:19 PM
Really, Jerry? Jim Webb understands better than anyone else in the Senate, with the possible exception of Hagel, the burden we place on our people who are serving apparently unlimited deployments. We have an administration which tells us that we have to sacrifice for this war, but refuses even to raise taxes to pay for it, preferring instead to borrow money from the Chinese and pass the bill to our progeny. We have a president who professes his love for the troops, but stands in the way of proper dwell time and funding of health insurance for children of the working poor and lower middle class.
You say George Allen is "twice the man" that Webb is? You must be joking. Webb not only has impeccable combat credentials, but is a creative thinker whose capabilities are vastly superior to those of the affable, bullying, and ultimately rather dull George Allen. What I'm trying to tell you is that Allen just ain't too bright. In his six years in office Allen introduced no notable legislation and never asked a single probing question of a single Iraq contractor or administration official. He abdicated his responsibility to act as a check and balance on the power of the executive, preferring instead to serve as a rubber stamp. He is a non-entity, except when he's being a mean-spirited bigot or advocate for torture and no end to this war. Thank goodness Webb won that election.
Posted by: Virginia Voter | October 7, 2007 10:20 PM
I must say that I am extremely proud to have Senator Jim Webb represent me in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is making a huge difference in the body politic addressing issues the careerist politicians run away from. He is acting in the best traditions of the office and in complete faith and loyalty to the Constitution which he has defended both in prose and on the field of combat.
My only lament is that we do not have more men of his caliber serving in the Senate. I am sad to see Senator Chuck Hagel retire but I'm encouraged to know that former Senator Bob Kerry may come back. Through their service and sense of honor and decency, all of these men have been a tremendous asset to the nation.
I look forward to Senator Webb's initiatives on a range of issues and would encourage all of my Virginian neighbors to support his noble efforts.
Always Faithful in Senator Webb!
Posted by: Tony Mski | October 7, 2007 11:21 PM
Jerry,
Oooh, those mean, mean Democrats! The president tries to get a nice photo-op and that Dem Webb refused to play along. He was mean...and foreboding! Do you think he made Georgie cry? I guess he isn't loyal at all to GOPers like you. DUH!
Posted by: Tom O | October 8, 2007 3:38 AM
Well this is interesting, but WHAT does it have to do with Obama?!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 7, 2007 4:15 PM
VERY FUNNY!!! I say this even though I like Obama.
See John D we DEMONCRATS have a sense of humor even if it's at the expense of people we look up to.
Jim Webb is so kool!!! I mean the guy wanted to punch Bush out. Doesn't get any kooler than that.
"In addressing the nation following Bush’s State of the Union speech in January, Webb called on Bush to follow the example of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who brought the long Korean war to an end."
I love Eisenhower by way of disclosure. The problem is that to Bush really ending the Korean war is out of the question as evidenced by his recent remarks.
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/07/3688/
While I'm commenting I can't forget my main man Jerry White.
"Sen Jim Webb is a mean spirited individual who has a contrarian idea since his son is erving in Iraq we all gotta cut and run.
When W tryed to talk to him about his son during his campaign he was mean and foreboding.
George Allen is twice the man Webb is. So, what about the driveby's purge of macaca whatever.
Jim give us good GOPers' a break you ain't loyal." Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | October 7, 2007 6:45 PM
"When W tryed to talk to him about his son during his campaign he was mean and foreboding."
No Jery, he wanted to PUNCH HIM OUT!!!
Jerry as your hero George Allen would say...well read for yourself.
"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great," Allen said, as his supporters began to laugh. After saying that Webb was raising money in California with a "bunch of Hollywood movie moguls," Allen said, "Let's give a welcome to macaca, here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." Allen then began talking about the "war on terror."
Depending on how it is spelled, the word macaca could mean either a monkey that inhabits the Eastern Hemisphere or a town in South Africa. In some European cultures, macaca is also considered a racial slur against African immigrants, according to several Web sites that track ethnic slurs.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081400589.html
Yours truely, the republican dream slayer.
A.K.A. LOGIC PRISONER. p.s. don't drink the Kool-Aid!!!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | October 8, 2007 3:49 AM
VV, you'll have to excuse Jerry White. He is usually yelling at those darn kids to get off his grass, but sometimes he gets off topic.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | October 8, 2007 10:41 AM
Obama/Webb 08
Posted by: johnnyraygun | October 8, 2007 1:40 PM