Jim Webb Kickoff- UPDATED

That was the most impressive first event of any campaign I have ever seen.

The kickoff press conference was scheduled for 10 a.m.  I drove down with Too Conservative and we arrived and parked around 9.  I wasn't sure exactly where to go, but luckily as soon as we exited the garage we ran into the Harris Miller opposition researcher who was toting a video camera for the Webb announcement.  He knew where to go, so we headed up into the GAB.

I took some time to go socialize on the fifth floor, and by the time I got back it was about 9:40.  Webb spokesman Kristian Denny Todd (wife of hotline editor Chuck Todd) was there, and handing out press packets which included staff sheets, biography, op eds, etc. 

Then, James Webb appeared.  At this point less than 10 people were in the room, and he went around to introduce himself.  One of the things I immediately liked about him was he didn't know who anyone was, and that didn't bother him in the least.  The other thing I liked, his fabulous red tie, which looked very Senatorial. 

As the room started to fill up, Webb disappeared, only to reappear about 9:55 with Steve Jarding, Mudcat and others.  The Richmond press had filled the room at this point, with some of the Richmond lions like Tyler Whitley, Bob Lewis and others.  This was a tough crowd, and I was giving it a 50-50 shot for a candidate slaughter at their hands...

But the moment Webb started speaking, he took total control of the room.  Webb started by saying this was going to be "tough", but he was going to give it an "incredible shot". 

Webb spoke generally, and one of the things he did well was setting himself above Miller, Allen or any other opponent with specific lines like "We have too many followers and career politicians in Washington."  He also mentioned his lobbying on behalf of veterans that asked for his help, but he "would never take a penny from people for lobbying on their behalf."

(I got a little distracted at this point, it was 10:10 and Dave Marsden walked up to the window of the room Webb was in.... stopped until he caught my eye and started glaring at me, then walked away... back to the press conference).

By now Webb was talking about "reinvigorating the legislative branch in its constitutional responsibility in relation to the executive branch". 

About 10:15 Webb was ready for questions.  The opening statement had some introductions, and some soaring rhetoric, but the real test was now...

The first question was basically "You're on the right (ideologically) side of this primary which usually doesn't work for Democrats.  How can you win June 13th."

Webb shrugged this question off saying "I'm going to be myself, focus on issues of concern and hopefully people will recognize those issues"

Another reporter asked him about his endorsement of Allen in 2000.

Webb said "In 2000 I endorsed George W. Bush and George Allen.  I did not support Bush in 2004."   Why not Allen again?  "George Allen went to Washington and became part of the machine."

At this point, Webb got passionate.  "We need to be taking care of people who don't have a voice..  That's Jacksonian Democracy...  535 members of Congress, and we have 33,000 lobbyists for them.  It's unbelievable" Webb explained that he would be a Democrat the rest of his life, because he could see they were the only party willing to stand up for people who didn't have a lobbyist.

Webb was asked about gay marriage and he said "We can not have a government that gets in the way of people's happiness"  Webb supported civil unions, and while he wasn't taking an official position on this fall's marriage amendment he opposed the wording of the amendment.

More questions about the party affiliation.  Webb said "I have always been Independent... The Republican Party of Reagan is not the Republican Party of Bush".  Webb admitted "in the past, like most Americans I have had trouble with both parties", but looking ahead Webb said "In the future, I see the answers coming from the traditional base of the Democratic Party."

The final questions came on Iraq.  Webb said "We need to get out of Iraq", and he was asked for his timetable.  His response: "I respect John Murtha.. but timetables never work".  He called on the Bush administration to publicly say the were not interested in being there as a long term occupier.  Webb added that one statement from the President could go a long ways to calming the situation in the Middle East, but he didn't anticipate the administration saying that because he believed they were interested in staying at some level in Iraq for decades.

Webb knew his material.  He confidently answered every question, and answered them honestly.  As one reporter said on the way out "If he lied, I think his tongue would fall off".

Comments

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

Is this more of your veiled irony?

[Virginia Centrist]

Nope - I think he means it.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

Or should I have said sarcasm?

I hope you're right, VC.

[not gretchen bulova]

He means it.

[lenny]

ok Ben, fill us in.

[Alicia]

Can't wait!!

[Josh Chernila]

You thought we were just makin' sh*t up...
lol

[not gretchen bulova]

Josh, you must admit, assuming NLS is correct that this announcement was that good, that there was little to be excited about before this, except for his resume.

Wow. He sounds great.

[Not Larry Sabato]

Doug, no sarcasm or irony.

[LeftBehindChild]

Very impressive. Thanks for the report.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

"Webb was asked about gay marriage and he said "We can not have a government that gets in the way of people's happiness" Webb supported civil unions, and while he wasn't taking an official position on this fall's marriage amendment he opposed the wording of the amendment."

This is music to my ears. Based on what I heard Miller say at the Loudoun County Committee meeting while sitting right in front of him, I'm am now officially a Webb supporter.

Say no to Mr. Old Testament, say hello to a man who values his country's true heritage, and everyone who should have a stake in that.

Thank you, James Webb. You have my support.

[novamiddleman]

Interesting... If Virginia was national blue AND he had more cash AND it was an open seat.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

IMHO, also a brilliantly effective job of dispelling the irritated questions about whether Webb was a "real Democrat" or not. I must admit I had similar thoughts at first, but please fellow Democrats, let us NOT be like the Republicans and label people as "DINOs" and such. That serves no purpose for the party of the people, especially when the people really are that diverse.

[novamiddleman]

one more

AND he had prior political experience (staffers help with that a little bit)

[J.C. Wilmore]

Well done Ben.

[Josh Chernila]

Cha Ching!

NGB: Thing is, I've been in a really backwards position on all this, because I've known all these positions for months.

When Lowell Feld, Lee Diamond and I sat down with Mr. Webb in December we went over nearly every one of these issues and nothing he said then has canged to this day. We've had to sit on this info, because he asked us to give him feedback and keep everything off the record.

It's been tough, but completely worth it.

Even though each of the three of us are Democrats of different stripes, after spending time with James Webb we couldn't contain our enthusiasm. We KNEW he was the right guy for the Democratic party, for Virginia and for America, now, here, today!

I've never seen anything like it.

This has been a real exercise in keeping the faith, but there's real substance there the likes of which Virginia politics rarely sees. This is a vast and potent opportunity for the party.

Storm's comin', get ready. People are starting to feel a real change coming.

[Not Harry F. Byrd, Sr.]

Nice report NLS. Webb may sound nice now, but he has some making up to do with the base of the Party.

As was most recently shown by John Kerry's primary victory & Chap Petersen's primary loss (and Sean Connaughton's), primary participants are made up of the more extreme voters of the parties.

If Webb wants core party people to support him, he needs to do some better explaining of:

- His endorsement of George Allen over a fellow Marine, Chuck Robb;
- His attack/criticism on John Kerry last year in a NYT Op Ed piece;
- His participation in the Reagan Administration; and
- His calling the Clinton Administration "corrupt."

While he may be sounding progressive themes today, he doesn't have a clear history on this and he's got some making up to do and/or deflection of criticism to come if he wants support from the regulars over someone who has a clear history of involvement with the Democratic Party.

Sometimes I (wearily) get the feeling that political consistency by modern measurement is incompatible with personal honesty and candor. Sounds like Mr. Webb has decided not to worry too much about political consistency, but has instead dropped his hook in the uncharted anchorage of personal honesty. An absolutely novel approach. We'll see if Virginia voters are willing to put up with it.

Comments like the one from Josh show exactly why most people are nervous about Webb. Does he know how much he hurts Webb?

Webb can win this if Lee, Lowell, and Josh will just be quiet and let the campaign do its work.

Webb is an incredible candidate. His campaign needs to be unencumbered by the draft movement!

[Not Larry Sabato]

There is another thread for Webb sniping, keep that there.

[Virginia Centrist]

Lowell and Josh are easy to make fun of...but they're not doing any harm.

Nobody reads the blogs anyway...

Several thousand people will probably google James Webb and run across one of their gushing articles. That certainly can't hurt Webb...

As long as the blogger-types don't demand any responsibility in the campaign or any other role (besides promoting Webb's campaign events).

The difference between Clark and Webb is that Virginia is a smaller place. It's easier for drafters to muck things up in a national race where they can try to push around some small-time state coordinator.

[Josh Chernila]

It's a good point, anonymous posters. This thing doesn't have anything to do with me or lowell or anyone but James Webb, the "Kickass Troubador for a Generation of Viet Nam Vets".

http://www.webbforsenate.com/issues/index.php

;)

Jeez this is fun.

[Thegools]

NLS,
Thanks for that. I commented on your earlier Webb/Miller post to suggest that it was not clear that you even seemed to like either candidate.
I am glad to see I was wrong. I appreciate your addition of many details from the Webb press conference that were not covered in the press. Webb pledging to be a democrat for the rest of hiw life is important. I think we can trust he will keep his word.

To everyone else,
I think it interesting that people jump on Webb's GOP connections but do no such thing about Miller. In both men, you have troubling past support for GOP candidates. (Miller has given thousands of $$$ to GOP PACs, Senators, congressmen, and GOP candidates. It's true! Go check.) I say both men should have their feet held to the fire and see what they say. So far Webb has answered well and honestly, though I want to hear more.

No one has asked Miller. So far he has gotten off scott free.