In his own words: Sen.-elect Jim WebbI skipped over the part about Webb saying he ran a positive campaign. We all know how truthful that statement is.
By Peter Hardin, Times-Dispatch Washington Correspondent
Q: As an experienced journalist, how would you grade the job the Virginia press corps did during the campaign?
A: It was a vicious campaign. And quite frankly, from the primary on, I stopped reading all analysis and stopped watching all analysis ...
... And I think that we presented a campaign that truly gave people alternatives ... (link)
More important going forward is the "I think that we presented a campaign that truly gave people alternatives" comment. Can anyone name them? Even with regard to Iraq (in reality his only issue) can anyone tell me what Webb proposed besides getting the troops out?
Beyond that, look at the issues brought up in this interview and Webb's responses. This will give an indication as to just how many alternatives this guy offered or even understands (ellipses in the original):
Q: Sen. George Allen would allow visitors to carry a concealed firearm into a national park. You wrote a letter during the campaign on gun issues; do you intend to introduce a bill that would repeal the gun ban in national parks?The answers (and the depth of Webb's understanding of the issues before him) remind me of Admiral James Stockdale (God rest his heroic soul) when he participated in the vice-presidential debate with Al Gore and Dan Quayle in 1992, famously saying, "Who am I? Why am I here?"
A: I'm willing to look at that.
Q: Your thoughts on Bush's nomination of Robert Gates for secretary of defense?
A: The things that I've seen about him that I believe are affirmative are he seems to have a very realistic approach to the Middle East, and he was a member of the Iraq Study Group, which gives him a fresh and independent look at the problem.
So I'm inclined to believe ...
Q: You're not willing to say whether you would support or oppose him, if you had a vote?
A: I've not been able to examine ...
Q: Do you have a position on proposed federal Food and Drug Administration regulation of tobacco manufacturing?
A: We'll have to take a look at it ...
Q: Is the fact that you're a tobacco user likely to influence your position?
A: I'll have to see what the proposed regulations are ...
Q: Do you have a position on filling the seat on the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated by J. Michael Luttig?
A: Senator [John W.] Warner has approached me about that. I've sent the name out [that Warner gave him] to some people whose views I trust. . . . [Warner] asked for my input. We're working on that right now.
Q: Do you have an opinion on Bush's nomination of William J. Haynes, the Pentagon general counsel, for the 4th Circuit?
A: I have no opinion yet. (link)
Webb however knows the issue that matters most; the one that got him elected:
Q: Will you be accessible to the media?There were in this article eight questions posed with five follow-up questions. You see nine of them here. You also see in his answers Webb's complete lack of understanding of the issues before him: "I'm willing to look at that." "... I'm inclined to believe ..." "I've not been able to examine ..." "We'll have to take a look ..." "I'll have to see what the proposed ..." "We're working on that right now." "I have no opinion yet."
A: Absolutely. And . . . I will expect [reporters and editors] to be fair to me.
Much was made during the campaign about Jim Webb being a Vietnam War hero. Presumably that meant he would be a great candidate for the United States senate. Admiral Stockdale too was a hero of the Vietnam War and, based on the answers given above to the pressing issues of our day, he is as qualified to be our senator. And he died last year.
Who am I? Why am I here?