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Jim Webb
How great a pick would Jim Webb be for Obama's VP? Let us count the ways:
1. Brings a military background with gravitas on Iraq.
2. A Scot-Irish of Appalachian roots.
3. A swing-state office holder.
4. A former Republican (praised by Reagan when he became Secretary of the Navy) who has stated that it is now "time for Reagan Democrats to come home (to the Democratic Party)".
5. Brings the fresh, Washington-outsider perspective that Obama has staked his campaign on.
6. Ballsy, more-aggressive counterpart to Obama's lofty approach (what he'll need from VP on the campaign trail).
The only missing piece one could argue would be executive experience (does Secretary of the Navy count?).
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gravitas. GRAVITAS. G-r-a-v-i-t-a-s. This is the name of the game for the VP pick.
As for the last point, Tom Ricks in "Making the Corps" argues that Jim Webb (along with Gen. Al Gray) was responsible for rehabbing the Marine Corps after Vietnam and the poor-standards of the 70's into the elite fighting force it is today. So, yep, I'd say he's got executive experience.
May 9, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Webb is a rude middle management level military bureaucrat. Simply being in the Military doesn't make you and expert on the Military unless you feel the Chow Hall cook could run missile tracking station. Webb is famous for one thing. Having a BIG mouth.
May 9, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Webb is a rude middle management level military bureaucrat. Simply being in the Military doesn't make you and expert on the Military unless you feel the Chow Hall cook could run missile tracking station. Webb is famous for one thing. Having a BIG mouth.
May 9, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's interesting that Webb seems to be the hottest VP pick on the blogosphere, but isn't really denting the Top 5 lists of the professional pundit class or the MSM more generally (see, for instance, today's piece by Cilizza:http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/05/the_friday_line_veepstakes_1.html ). Why might this be? I'm not entirely sure, except that Webb doesn't seem to be a very "safe" choice. This relates not just to his hotheadedness, but also to the fact that he's a (very) freshman senator, and that his dubious feminist credentials may have a hard time winning over the stereotypical (read: Hillary supporting) female voter. He doesn't like campaigning (who can blame him?) and he's no good at it. Most important may be the fact that he's WAY outside the democratic establishment (which, to many of us, is actually a good thing), and he's not the type to refrain from criticizing his party (or, in the event he's VP, his President).
Being outside the establishment, not having any patience for hacky political or media bullshit--these are things we interweb-types love, and that the MSM hates (see: Colbert at National Press Club dinner). The media does not take kindly to folks that point out that they aren't wearing any clothes. That they like a Washington where everyone is in bed with everyone else; a Washington that prizes power and access above all else; a Washington where the Carvilles and Matalins go home together at the end of each day. They'd want to take Webb down, and hard.
Would I like Webb as VP? Probably, yeah. But given the media's propensity for seizing onto distractions, blowing up statements made long ago or taken out of context, and loving the assholes that play their game, I get the feeling he'd provide lots of grist for their mill and not be granted much of a media honeymoon.
May 9, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
No good at campaigning? Really?
That implies Allen LOST the 06 Va. Senate race rather than Webb WINNING it. I wasn't there, and I know the race was very narrow. But is it as simple as that?
May 9, 2008 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
That implies Allen LOST the 06 Va. Senate race rather than Webb WINNING it.
Google for "macaca" and you'll have your answer on that one.
May 9, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I certainly recall the whole "macaca" flap, but, viewing the race from the far, saw it as merely a "last straw" not the entire explanation for Allen's loss. I had the impression that Webb was a pretty good campaigner, but that's based on second- and third-hand info. So I'm genuinely curious about what people who've seen him campaign say about his skills--or lack of them--in this arena...
May 9, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
FWIW what stands out in my memory is that up to that point, Allen was regarded as a potential GOP presidential candidate, and according to some he killed his chances with his "macaca moment." But looking back I'd have to say that my impression was also rather far removed from the actual events, so I retract my earlier comment.
May 9, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't forget. If Obama doesn't pick Hillary he is expecting her supporters to fall in line behind him. That's a lot of people to be convinced. They constitute roughly half the Democratic party. And an alarming number of them have said they will not vote for Obama. Some will change their mind, but some won't. His was not an easy win by any means. He could use the help.
May 9, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
So Otto, do you think Hillary would take the VP spot?
May 9, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
If he does pick Hillary, he'll gain some Hillary supporters and lose some of his own supporters who want nothing whatsoever to do with Hillary. Think about how this would turn off Obama supporters who disliked the idea of Bush and Clinton dynasties being in control for a generation, and supporters who liked the idea of Obama challenging the Washington insider status quo, and supporters who preferred Obama's foreign policy ideas over Hillary's hawkishness and "totally obliterate them" style of tough talk, etc., etc.
May 9, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
And imagine the ads McCain will use if Hillary is the veep nominee.
Imagine video with Obama's own running mate saying that Obama isn't qualified to be commander in chief, but McCain is.
What's she going to say, that she was lying? That he wasn't ready to be commander in chief a few weeks ago, but she thinks that being on the campaign trail and giving lots of speeches has made him ready now?
May 9, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know much about Webb, but I listened closely to everything I saw him say on TV, and he strikes me as sober and thoughtful. Also, he refused to shake George Bush's hand, which I considered a highly honorable and rare repudiation. I only wish Webb had cold-cocked Bush instead -- I have no doubt he would have liked to.
May 9, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Building the case for Webb:
http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_gerald_m_pomper/obama_s_vice_president
May 9, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now look what you done did. I have to re-evaluate everything now that I read the link about Webb. I hate when that happens.
Now I've heard some negatives along sexist (as pointed out in the article) and racial lines (some speech having to do with the confederate flag or something?). Is that accurate?
May 9, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, that's a very persuasive article. But still, something tells me it's not going to happen. It could be something as a simple as Webb not being interested. Hmm. If Biden wasn't a hair-plugged "clean and articulate" gaffe machine, I'd say he'd make a good pick, too. Brings many of Webb's foreign policy strengths to the table, he can be just as tough in his rhetoric, and no one would accuse him of lacking experience.
Ultimately (and to contradict what I just said), I'd hope that the VP decision get made not in "checklist" fashion (experience - check; shores up weaknesses - check; mirrors strengths - check; geographic diversity - check), but by picking someone who can add a big fat booster shot of the excitement and possibility that Obama brought to the table when he began his candidacy. Might that person be Webb? We'll see.
May 9, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm telling you, it's got to be Sebelius. She's outside of Washington, will get the female vote, possibly the working class vote. Born in and attended school OH. Catholic, and has a strong history of reaching across the isle. She even got the Kansas GOP leader to switch parties and join her as the LT Governor.
I like Webb some, but we would lose a Senate seat.
May 9, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think you worry about senate seats when choosing VP or cabinet spots - you take the most qualified person. Obama is supposed to be the great uniter and runs on his ability to reach across the aisle - you can't campaign on that but then worry about giving up senate seats and possibly the majority.
I mean those in elected office in purple states have won in the lions den. Winning a safe seat is a kin to winning the party primary.
I think there is a real possibility of a fair number of Hillary die-hards will stay home on election day if they are not catered to. I don't think many will vote for McCain, so it won't be a double whammy, but Obama is going to need all the votes he could get.
I know it's not the best strategy but in all likelihood McCain will choose his running mate first and who he chooses could effect Obama's choice.
May 9, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Point taken.
May 9, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is a good point that Webb does not particularly help (and could perhaps hinder) the womens' vote.
But unfortunately - as hard as this may be to take for the women this year - the need for Obama (or any Democrat) to shore up the white male vote in the face of typical Republican attacking points (i.e. 'strength and security' issues) has to weigh much greater.
Unless McCain picks a pro-choice female Republican, we are at worst in danger of some Hillary women staying home, not going Republican.
May 9, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
The wikipedia page on Webb has some things on it that don't sit well, such as:
Did he really say "towel-heads"? Also the comment about the "right genetics" below that.
If Webb has a tendency to say things like this, even if he doesn't really mean them the way they sound, that would give me some qualms about him as a veep candidate.
But I'm confident Obama will make a good selection, whoever it turns out to be.
May 9, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jim Webb is a horrible choice for VP. Why would a freshman senator pick another freshman senator? Thats too much Senate and not enough "executive" in my opinion.
Besides, Webb's senate seat is safe as long as he's there. If he's on the ticket, that seat more likely than not goes back to George "Maccacca" Allen. Webb's victory was a perfect storm of events and occurences we're not likely to see again. So why risk losing his seat?
Besides, i think Richardson would be a good pick if you wanna look at what he can add to the electoral math. Wed win new mexico, probably colorado too , and put the mountain west in play and make mccain play defense there.
I also kind of like Kathy Sebelius, but i don't see her adding any states to the math. She'd probably shore up the women supporters, but i have a feeling they'll come home anyway.
Also, Joe Biden would be good, but like Sebelius, i'm not sure he puts any states in play, and his downside is he's been in washignton forever.
Ed Rendell would win us Pennsylvania and probably Ohio too...if you want to go the tradition "rust belt" way...but he's too "boring" of a pick. Which is why he might be good.
May 9, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink