I would have loved to sit with James Webb last night, but he was already taken up by the VIP tables as the guest of Equality Virginia's Jay Fisette who introduced the keynote speaker. The Arlington group was honored with Equality Virginia's community award.This event was really huge, and a few times it was difficult to have a conversation. Last year EV honored Julian Bond and this year the honoree was Chuck Robb. Robb is a former USMC officer turned statesmen. He spoke about attending the military wedding of a friend, and looked forward to the day when we all are comfortable going to both GLBT weddings and military weddings. Of course, a number of us USMC veterans are already in that comfort zone.
Recall that Robb lost his Virginia Senate seat to George Allen, primarily due to his courageous support of GLBT issues and his amazing speech on DOMA. Dailykos commenter, tiponeill, would do the GLBT community, Virginia and the nation a service by reading between the lines here, as should Northern Virginians where the climate is friendlier.
At least I had an opportunity to meet James Webb and his wife Hong, and we chatted for a few minutes. I do wish I had been able to meet everyone at the earlier event. I did meet a couple of Webb people, and many thanks to Kevin Druff for helping me find my way around!
Of course, our congressional candidate Al Weed was there, and I think that's the third time I've seen him in a week. Here's a UVA Pride article that I wrote a couple of years ago, about Al and the 5th CD caucus. Time to revisit incumbent Virgil Goode in a serious way.
The youngest attendee had to be baby Max, son of Bekah Saxon and Charlene Green over at the next table. We were with our friend Ellen Bass. Ellen, UVA grad student, Leigh Baumgart, and myself are currently working on a paper on university diversity policy. Ellen - being Ellen - actually brought a draft to the dinner thinking we would get a few edits in. Leigh will be presenting it later this month at the policy section of the IEEE Systems and Information Engineering Design Symposium.
We also were able to talk with Creigh Deeds and our disappointment in his stance on the proposed amendment to our state Constitution.
More Miller Insider Tactics
Read no further if you have had enough of Harris Miller's approach to campaigning.
As the dinner was breaking up, I saw a couple of young men with Harris Miller stickers. I asked them if they worked for Harris Miller, and they all but stumbled over themselves. One of them was actually on the Miller payroll. He pointed out that he had just joined Virginia partisans that very night, and pointed to his new lapel pin.
This was my chance finally to learn Miller's position on same-sex marriage. First the staffer recited the list - affirmative action was in there - and noted that Miller supports civil unions. I asked again about marriage, and he took the course that Miller and he personally disagree on marriage, then he returned to his talking points and said that Miller supports the repeal of DADT. AND Miller's opponent supports it.
So I asked what opponent, George Allen? No, he said. I mean yes, he said. He was clearly flustered, and said, no, no, no - I mean the other guy.
Me - what other guy?
Him - Harris Miller's opponent.
At this point I began to suspect that he was taking quite literally some instructions not to mention James Webb's name unless the potential voter did so first.
So I asked him what opponent is that? And finally he said James Webb and that Webb supports DADT. Then he started talking about DADT. I asked him if he was in the military.
No, I'm not in the military... (long pause) but I want to join! I want to go in, but because of people like Webb who support DADT, I can't.
Oh, no! I exclaimed. I thanked him for his help, he fumbled around in his pockets, but had distributed all of his business cards.
My Opinion
This young man's professed military aspirations may well be genuine, but I wouldn't take that to the bank.
Here is the real issue. Yet another community being played on divisive social issues. We are people. We are more than factors in a computer generated optimization problem.
I can sit down and talk with sincere candidates and legislators with whom I disagree and emerge with mutual respect. This is Virginia and to be truly involved means talking with those holding views other than my own. I'm in this for the long-term, and I know how to advocate for the changes that are important to me - now and in the future. I know we need more Democratic legislators.
This is my life, and I really can't stomach getting played. We live day in day out navigating the theocratic context with reminders like this sign posted at the dumpster in Amherst.
At EV Lobby Day in January, five of us visited our Delegate, Watkins Abbitt. In his office as we each spoke in turn I was deeply moved to learn that another former Marine was in this small group speaking up for justice. We learned that we were in boot camp at Parris Island at the same time, but in different platoons. And different paths brought us together again over 30 years later.
We've been around the block a few too many times to fall for disingenuous politicking. We're the folks who sucked up our fears and marched with Soulforce at both Pride events and face down the jeering from the radical right fringe. We're the ones who take our vacation days to lobby our State legislators.
I sincerely hope that Harris Miller's group does not continue to use the gay community as yet another political football to further his political aspirations, whether openly or behind the scenes.
He also was under no instruction to not mention Webb's name. He quickly stated after you asked that Webb was for Don't Ask/Don't Tell. Oh, by the way, good editorial slant there, leaving out the fact that Chuck Robb slammed DA/DT harder and longer then the marriage amendment. Then the staffer stated that Miller was taking the stance that he believed marriage is between a man and a woman, however, he backed civil unions and was against Don't Ask/Don't Tell.
The staffer did say that he would have liked to have joined the military, citing that he is still young. He never onced blamed Jim Webb for not being able to do this. Where did you come up with this stuff?
For you to try to spin that conversation you had last night in any way is really pretty sad. That staffer even gave you his name and a way to get in touch with you if you had any more questions to ask. He wasn't flustered at all, and if he was, it was because he had gotten no sleep the night before and was working all day long. Not to mention when you tried this silly little "ambush" it was 11 o'clock.
Doesn't matter anyway, cause you think Miller supporters are less then human anyway, right?
Attacking Bush for trying to pull off the whole "cowboy/im just like you" thing was the right thing to do. Jim Webb saying that he appeals to the working class, not so much. There are other things to go after Webb for.
Let me tell you this much: I work with my family. We're involved with construction and, of course, its very hands on, very tiring. There have been more than a few times lately where I've had to show up at a meeting wearing construction boots and my work clothes. So I, on a very basic level, like to see politicians who appreaciate the working class.
Now, if we could get more politicians to do that, Democrats would be in great shape.
Nice to hear!
Hey, we're all Democrats. And we all hate George Allen. I don't care if the guy running against Allen killed my dog, I'd still want to see the dem win against someone like allen.
Since Miller said he would support the marriage amendment at the Feb. Loudoun Democratic Committee meeting standing right in front of me, and it's now supposed to be common knowledge that he's against, what would a rational person think?
Can you not understand why I might choose (honorably) to not really trust Harris 100% knowing what I heard from him before versus what I hear him saying now on the amendment?
I certainly hope that Miller means what he says, and that he would support civil unions. I have not heard him say that when asked, and I look forward to hearing that.
Don't insinuate, please, that people with an honest distrust of what Millers has to say are laying or just trying to smear him. That's not fair. The facts are the facts, and I know what Miller said originally because I was there.
For what it's worth, I'd be delighted if Miller truly changed his position to one that embraces equality. It hasn't always been there. But you should respect the fact that I've made my choice based on what I've heard come from the horse's mouth. And don't call us dishonest for setting the record straight.
Also, I sure hope the fact that such clearly biased persons on the Partisans' Board doesn't mean the "questionnaire" was designed to flault Webb. For me personally, DADT is not nearly as important an issue as where they stand on equality of the huge range of rights that go with legal recognition of couples. It is not that DADT is not important, but it is a small difference in the large picture of GLBT rights. And just as I am open to change in Miller's opinions on civil unions, I sure hope the Partisans' Board will be open to Webb's change of heart on DADT, especially if he has changed his outlook in light of Senator Robb's incredible speech highlighting the issue.
Keep up the good work Sean, clearly you are engaged and excited to be part of the process, and that's certainly a great thing!
Since Miller said he would support the marriage amendment at the Feb. Loudoun Democratic Committee meeting standing right in front of me, and it's now supposed to be common knowledge that he's against, what would a rational person think?
Can you not understand why I might choose (honorably) to not really trust Harris 100% knowing what I heard from him before versus what I hear him saying now on the amendment?
I certainly hope that Miller means what he says, and that he would support civil unions. I have not heard him say that when asked, and I look forward to hearing that.
Don't insinuate, please, that people with an honest distrust of what Millers has to say are laying or just trying to smear him. That's not fair. The facts are the facts, and I know what Miller said originally because I was there.
For what it's worth, I'd be delighted if Miller truly changed his position to one that embraces equality. It hasn't always been there. But you should respect the fact that I've made my choice based on what I've heard come from the horse's mouth. And don't call us dishonest for setting the record straight.
Also, I sure hope the fact that such clearly biased persons on the Partisans' Board doesn't mean the "questionnaire" was designed to flault Webb. For me personally, DADT is not nearly as important an issue as where they stand on equality of the huge range of rights that go with legal recognition of couples. It is not that DADT is not important, but it is a small difference in the large picture of GLBT rights. And just as I am open to change in Miller's opinions on civil unions, I sure hope the Partisans' Board will be open to Webb's change of heart on DADT, especially if he has changed his outlook in light of Senator Robb's incredible speech highlighting the issue.
Keep up the good work Sean, clearly you are engaged and excited to be part of the process, and that's certainly a great thing!
Actually it's worse than passing around copies of Harris Miller's card on Equal Rights at Thomas Road Baptist when they were intended to target the GLBT community only.
I stick by what I wrote, regardless of the audience.
The candidates' positions on DADT are well-known. Chuck Robb's position on DADT is also well-known, and I don't need to repeat it. I am pointing out in my diary that a question on marriage was quickly shifted to DADT, hammered and then personalized. I am more than aware of this approach, but really did not expect to encounter it so directly and so personally.
I wouldn't encourage your friend to go into the service right now for reasons unrelated to sexual orientation. Along with corruption and cronyism, this adminstration is fast bringing this country to its knees. I prioritize that well above the DADT issue, however important DADT is to me personally.
It is a bit of a surprise to learn that same-sex marriage is not on the VP questionnaire. If this is because you understand that marriage is a hot button issue, then perhaps you can appreciate that affirmative action and DADT are being used in the same way.
I was there at the beginning of the event, gathering signatures in the foyer. Wow! What an incredible crowd! The positive energy and sense of purpose was infectious. We collected many, many signatures last night. My favorite was when a group of thirty-something men exited the escalator and we called out to them, asking the to sign for Jim.
One of them paused and asked "Is he the one that was Navy Secretary?"
"Yes!" I said. He turned to his partner and said "He's the one we're voting for!" Then they all lined up to sign.
Nichole and I were using two or three clipboards each in order to keep up with the steady stream of people who wanted to sign for Jim. What a great crowd (better and more animated than JJ, in fact).
I hope EV will continue to grow and prosper and that next year we'll be celebrating a victory over the bigots in the GA who proposed this amendment.
I posted a quote on my blog today that EV would do good to take to heart: "Ultimately in a democracy, your influence depends on putting people in power to represent your interests."
Until and unless EV takes that stand, I'll not support them.
And I think what is most amazing about this organization is that they are so good at working with a huge network of like-minded organizations. They practice absolutely NO territorialism over gay rights. Click on their Resources link and learn about 6 or 7 organizations just within the Tidewater area that share their concerns. There's even a link to a PFLAG group in Norfolk that I've already emailed in hopes of learning more as a friend of many gays whom I consider the most wonderful people on the face of this planet.
If I'm to understand your quote and your "threat" to not support EV correctly, you plan only to support EV provided a gay person in the Hampton Roads gains a position of influence? Well, I'm sorry that we lose you in that fight then. No such person will attain that position between now and Election Day. I don't understand your riditity here. Time is of the essence. Yes, you can have qualms over which Senate candidate to support in a Democratic primary and unrealistically wish for a 3rd candidate. But EV is it! They are in the driver's seat on this amendment. Unless you know something that I don't. I know Coretta Scott King spoke out so magnificently for the cause of gay rights, and maybe there are civil rights groups in Norfolk willing to step up to the plate just like or even better than EV has. Please let us know if this is the situation.
I know you're fairly new to the area so you probably know nothing about my campaign for treasurer last year. Google my name & you'll find out more than you ever wanted to know. And let me know when you find the story where Dyana was quoted as saying that gay candidates didn't get beat up last year.
Yeah, Equality Virginia is not the highly skilled, amply staffed, deep pocketed advocacy group we'd like to have at the forefront of the effort to defeat Virginia's dreadful amendment.
But Equality Virginia is what we have now. Today. This year. We all should have been working harder starting many years ago. And we should have been contributing much more. And we should have been much more involved.
But none of that happened. And here we are, less than seven months from the election, with the Equality Virginia we have. It's too late to reform and regroup and rearm. We have a battle to fight -- a sideshow in the national battle, admittedly, but a big battle for those of us in the war.
So we have to rally 'round Equality Virginia and the coalition fighting the amendment, and we have to work hard to rally others to our side, and we have to fight our best in the months ahead. After all, what's the alternative?
(But, dammit -- isn't there anybody out there to at least help Equality Virginia with the wretched web site?)
The DPVA could learn something from EV about getting people involved and active. The JJ crowd seemed half asleep compared the the EV folks.
I don't know the background on the previous poster's situation, so I can't offer an opinion there. But I hope she is able to find a way to make a difference that is meaningful to her.
So here's one of the stumbling blocks that keeps me from supporting Webb right now. Kathy's great post (thanks, Kathy!) reminds us that Chuck Robb was defeated "primarily due to his courageous support of GLBT issues and his amazing speech on DOMA".
I'm still disgusted that someone like George Allen beat Chuck Robb. And I still honestly can't wrap my head around the reality that James Webb really thought that George Allen was a better leader than Robb. I've heard Webb supporters say he supported Republicans in the past for "military reasons", but given Robb's vastly superior military creds compared to Allen, I just don't get it.
I welcome James Webb into the Democratic family. I think it's GREAT that he believes that the Democratic party more closely matches his values. But the difference between Chuck Robb and George Allen is VAST...and it's a HUGE gulf to traverse in just six years. So I'd love to hear from Webb exactly why he supported Allen in the first place, and then I'd love to hear a repudiation of those reasons if he does repudiate them. I mean, does Webb now think he made a mistake and that Robb really would have been better, or does he think that Allen is at least preferable to Robb, but that he would be preferable to Allen? I think there's a big difference between the two viewpoints.
Because he was a Republican, questions about his loyalty to Democrats could hinder Webb as he seeks his new party’s nomination.“I’m like I think a large number of people in this country, who … during the Vietnam War became alienated from the Democratic Party, basically feeling like they weren’t welcomed there, and went to the Republicans on national security issues but never were really comfortable on the social issues over there,†Webb told Chris Matthews on MSNBC’s “Hardball†last month.
More recently, he called his 2000 endorsement of Allen “a mistake,†citing Allen’s subsequent support for the Iraq invasion, according to the Hampton Roads Daily Press.
It is an issue on which McCain and Webb differ sharply.
“Jim has different views on how things stand right now in terms of the country and the direction of the country, especially when it comes to defense and foreign-policy matters,†said Webb spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd. “Mr. McCain supports the president, and Jim does not.â€
Webb also has said numerous times, publicly and privately, that he never supported the right-wing Republicans on social issues.
Does this help?
By the way, Harris Miller supported Dennis Hastert and Spencer Abraham, two far-right-wing nutjobs by pretty much any standard. And before you say this was just in Miller's capacity as ITAA head, Miller has made it VERY clear that "I am the ITAA." ("L'ITAA c'est moi?) So how does Miller explain his support for Hastert and Abraham?
I'm on board with the *idea* of Webb being "Republican for national security issues, Democratic for social issues" in the past. It's just that in the case of Robb, I see him having immeasurably superior national security credentials compared to Allen. I don't get how Webb could have supported Allen. It's not enough to say he is disappointed that Allen later supported the Iraq War. (I mean, plenty of Democrats did, too.) Is the Iraq War the only point of divergence (other than social issues) between Webb and Allen? I sure hope not! :-)
I should probably get out of the "who is more WRONG" mindset, though. It's just hard not to fall into that when so much of the coverage in the blogosphere has been slanted to the negative:
Webb: wrong on Bush and Allen (and generally all Republicans from 1970-2004?) in the past
Miller: wrong on Hastert and Abraham and some other donations
Webb: wrong on DADT
Miller: weird "Old Testament Sort of Guy" characterization
Miller: wrong on outsourcing
Webb: wrong on ________
blah blah blah. You know what I'm saying? It's kinda depressing. These guys are supposed to be on my side!
Webb wrote his article against going to Iraq in September of 2002. Though the Dixie Chicks comments were attacked right before the war, I anchor my emotional recollection of the absolutely rabid responses. I still find it hard to believe that there were things going on like CD burning parties.
And yes, many others spoke out as well. Emily Warn, at the time was living in Lynchburg, and she too found the courage to speak up. She too had an opportunity, an invitation to a poetry reading at the White House by Laura Bush. Here's Emily's response to Laura. Emily is a hero as well. What do you think James Webb would have done if he had been in Emily's shoes? And what would Harris Miller have done?
Robb's a Democrat, but I really don't know about Emily or the Dixie Chicks. And it really doesn't matter all that much, because what they do have in common is the courage and ability to speak truth to power.
Where was Harris Miller? Rather than let increased vigilance on entry and exit from the country slow down profits, he was able to leverage the situation and help get his companies into the business of identity management.
I'm with you on the value of longstanding loyalty to the Democratic party. But that loyalty - especially on the part of those who wish to assume leadership as Democrats - is meaningless without a commitment to those one wishes to lead.
I agree that Harris Miller has demonstrated dedication and commitment. However, from all that I have read, Miller's commitment has been to the corporations that he lobbies for, and his commitment has NOT been to everyday Americans, on the contrary, it has been at their expense in lost jobs at the very least.
Jobs for Americans? Decent salaries? Miller has quite literally fought against both.
If this sounds like an outrageous campaign claim, as tedious as it may be, I urge you to do some reading on the web about Miller and his work with ITAA on the visas. If you find another individual who has worked harder to take jobs away from people in this country, I would certainly like to know who it is.
Granted, Miller is the ever present villain at "Job Destruction News," but read also his testimony before Congress, read about his work, and read also the tragic stories of some of those who lost their jobs, in particular, Kevin Flanagan. After training his own replacements, Kevin was fired from his job. He walked out of the building, to his car, and committed suicide right there in the parking lot.
We talk about various topics, but here's my number one litmus test. People. That's what Democrat means to me. It literally comes from demos, the Greek word for people. We can differ on our priorities and particulars as Democrats. But we cannot proceed if we don't share a deep commitment to the basic principle that government is of, by, and for the people.
Changing the subject, there are indeed excellent bipartisan lobbyists. They have one thing in common: their commitment to what they are lobbying for trumps their commitment to party. Miller has demonstrated that level of commitment to his industry. With a stellar record of outsourcing and replacing workers with cheap workers under visas, any campaign promises on his part to bring jobs to Virginia would be offered as a quid pro quo in return for the office for Senate.
No matter how deep Harris Miller's pockets may be, the Senate seat in Virginia is not for sale.
I don't know why Webb supported Allen at the time. Many people were disgusted by Oliver North's effective ads from an earlier race about drug use and marriage infidelity on the part of Robb.
She would still like to serve, honorably, but is not able to.
Two out of three voters believe DADT is wrong and should be repealed, many many Democratic Senators and Congressmen have supported H.R. 1059 to overturn it.
Retired Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, Army's highest ranking female officer, keynoted SLDN National Dinner urging this injustice be corrected.
I see nothing that would justify support of DADT than pure bigotry and am ashamed that Equality Virginia seems so compacent about this.
Frankly, everything in Webb's background - especially his attacks on those who opposed the Vietnam War - stinks of a Zell Miller Democrat.
Someone IS being played, IMHO, and it is Equality Virginia.
That females aren't up to combat duty ?
That "liberals" were on the "wrong side" in opposing the Vietnam war ?
Hmmm - if that works for you OK, but don't be surprised when you get another Zell Miller.
I encourage you take the time to consider the different views and histories of the parties involved. Jim Webb spoke out strongly against going taking our troops to Iraq. Bob Kerrey is the kind of Democrat who supports James Webb. Are you familiar with Bob Kerrey?
James Webb is the only Virginia candidate who is smart enough, caring enough, strong enough and passionate enough to work towards ensuring that more young people like Ramona Valdez and several thousand dead soldiers are not put in harm's way to die for a war based on fabrications. He believes that it is important that public opinion not be manipulated into bombing the shit of other countries and killing 10's of thousands of innocent people. That is a very high priority to some of us.
I won't provide links to gruesome pictures, but he also has a genuine commitment to making sure that corpses are not floating around in the streets of a major city for days or weeks. This is also a very high priority for some of us.
While it may not be a priority for you, our discourse may be enhanced if you would please take a few minutes from the DADT issue to make note that young men and women full of hope and promise are being killed needlessly every day.
It appears that you have also neglected to read the volume of background information on labor arbitrager, Harris Miller. Once you've done so, you will see that Miller's stand on DADT is taken as a point of GLBT arbitrage.
Had you bothered to read the thread, you would have discovered that Harris Miller's view on same-sex marriage changes depending upon the audience.
