I just talked to Paul Tyahla of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (FCCC), and I'm simply going to lay out what he had to say regarding their forum invitations to Jim Webb and Harris Miller. *The FCCC "approached both campaigns a month ago" and offered a date "sometime in the first 2 1/2 weeks of May."
*According to Paul, "the Miller campaign got back within days," but "the Webb campaign did not respond."
*Also according to Paul, the FCCC waited 30 days, then contacted the Webb campaign again. At that point, according to Paul, the Webb campaign said "we're gonna decline that."
*Paul emphasized that "the invitation is still open," but that eventually they "had to pull the trigger" on a date for the forum (now set for May 15, 8 AM-9:30 AM at the FCCC's office in Vienna).
(more after the jump)
[UPDATE: Paul from FCCC wrote me to say that "we had contact with the Webb campaign during the month-long process of trying to schedule a date. The post (and probably my interview) makes it sound as though we made an offer, waited a month, and then called again." Thanks for clearing that up, Paul. I appreciate it.]
*Paul stressed that "we took every possible step" but finally decided to go ahead, even if it's only Harris Miller and not both candidates at the event.
*Paul mentioned several times that the FCCC has been described by the Washington Post as "Northern Virginia's most powerful business group." He also asserted that "nobody has ever declined" their invitation, including many other politicians (Jim Moran, Dave Albo, Gerry Connolly, etc., etc.). In fact, Paul said that "normally, folks are very excited" to meet the FCCC's members (and vice versa).
*According to Paul, this is not a debate, but a policymaker series, including a "meet and greet" with the NOVA business community, statements from candidates, and questions from members and media in attendance. It's basically an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other.
So there you have it. We'll see whether or not the Webb campaign ends up attending this event or not. Personally, I hope they do. Last year, the FCCC hosted a debate in September, moderated by Tim Russert, between Tim Kaine and Jerry Kilgore. In early October, the FCCC's political action committee, NOVABizPAC, endorsed Jerry Kilgore and Bob McDonnell. At the time, we Kaine supporters were very frustrated, although Kaine ended up winning the election easily, romping in Northern Virginia. So, perhaps the FCCC's not as powerful as it claims to be?
Be that as it may, the FCCC remains an important, influential group, and if I were part of the Webb campaign, I'd accept the invitation if at all possible.
Honestly, Webb should attend. He should clear out his schedule for a good whup-ass of Miller.
From what I have been told by old friends out in Loudoun, the Webb campaign (this is what I've been told) indicated that they would attend Loudoun'd J-J Dinner on April 28th and purchase a table at the event, as Miller's campaign is doing, and pay the LCDC $1,500 for this table privelege. Well, it was just recently brought to light that the Webb campaign now says Jim Webb will attend the event as someone's guest and will not be purchasing a table. As you can imagine, unfortunately, this seems to have really alienated most of the players on the LCDC and apparently swung many of them back to Miller.
I'm sure the campaign has their side of the story. But how is this campaign allowing these types of expectations and perceptions to be put out there? Frankly, as a Webb supporter, it really bothers me when I hear these kinds of stories, including the Chamber one you mentioned where they didn't even respond for a month. That's just crappy.
What is up with this campaign?
When are they going to stop alienating likley Democratic primary voters, and start being respectful of committees and organizations they should be working with?
I am aware that the JJ dinner is the biggest fund raiser that LCDC has each year but this, to me, smacks of demanding a offering from each campaign (Pay-to-Play if you will). This is another example of why money, rather than leadership, principles, and ideas are what determines our candidates and I am getting tired of this ("I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!!!"). If this is what drives support by some members why doesn't each County Committee simply auction off their support?
We know that campaign cash is an issue for the Webb campaign and I would rather that the resources they have be used to make Webb a household name in Virginia rather than as some kind of "party tax".
I carve a portion of my monthly budget for political contributions (some times more than is prudent) and LCDC gets a slice of it each month (we need to maintain our modest office and efforts) but if this is where the LCDC leadership is driven I might have to increase my monthly contribution to the Webb campaign with my LCDC funds.
My criteria in choosing which campaign to support is the candidate themself. In this Senate primary race the choice is so obvious as to be laughable.
I SUPPORT JAMES WEBB... I said it.
Still, the fact that the campaign has allowed these perceptions (or misperceptions) to fester without squashing them is not a good sign.
My rant was not aimed at you (I didn't intend to shoot the messenger) but rather at the group-think that discounts the quality of the candidate in favor for whichever staff "plays the game" more effectively.
Both parties suffer from this syndrome. All this backroom maneuvering and deal making stifles creative, outside the box ideas and candidates that can innovate and invigorate the political discourse. Our party in particular has become so afraid of it's own shadow that it shouts down many of the very types of candidates that could bring in tens of thousands (or more) of the disinterested and detached non-voters that could lead to real and continued change in our government (Paul Hackett anyone).
Campaigns should be about ideas and leadership, not process.
I have read everything I can find about and by James Webb and while I don't agree 100% with everything he has written I am more inspired by him than any candidate I can remember, I can only imagine that this is how my parents generation felt about JFK. If we can get people to know Jim Webb (especially the majority of citizens who have disengaged from politics) we will not only overwhelm in the primary election but also in the general election.
I firmly believe that Webb can motivate the ignored masses of citizens that haven't voted in years. I agree with the post a few days ago that cited the old saying "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."
America is SO ready!!!
Having been in the race for less than two months, of course the Webb team will make mistakes and are a bit green and we owe it to them to point these out (it ultimately will make the team stronger) but, anyone who abandons them because of something like this already has an agenda and isn't looking for a reason so much as an excuse.
Just my 2¢
If you read "Born Fighting" you would understand Webb's comfort with a movement born of the people. He is influenced heavily by Andrew Jackson and also by the Marine Corp model of independently operating platoons feeding into companies and brigades but with each platoon being capable of making decisions as the situation on the ground changes.
Because this is Jim Webb's personality and MO he will continue to butt heads with the political establishment but if there was every a time to break the mold of "this is how we have always done this" it is now...
If not us, who? If not now, When?
There... I feel better now...
Regardless of your party affiliation, the chamber continues to influence the political dynamic in NOVA regardless of who won last years elections. I think having both candidates, Webb and Miller at the Chamber will be a great opportunity to get to know the candidates intimately.
Your post was simply misleading.
You and Josh know me fairly well by now...
I am not a liar.
Webb did say no.
In my activities as an anti-outsourcing activist, I have come to consider the Chamber of Commerce an outspoken advocate of "free trade" agreements, outsourcing and global labor arbitrage.
In this context, I don't believe that it is unreasonable to say that Harris Miller has proven himself a valuable ally of the Chamber of Commerce of outsourcing and worker replacement issues.
The Chamber of Commerce is a lobbying group -- not a civic improvement group or anything akin to the League of Women Voters...
I caution readers not to immediately accept the commments or actions of the FCCC at face value.
Thanks for being so straight-forward in your post about our discussion and for noting the one nit I had. I hope everything on all ends is cleared up.
If anyone has any questions, you can still post them on our blog (www.policysoup.blogspot.com) or e-mail me at ptyahla@fccc.org
Good luck everyone!
Paul
As for Loudoun Dems, I, a resident of the City of Fairfax, received an invitation to their J-J dinner, too. We all understand (or, I do, now that I've become a Dem) that J-J is a fund raiser whenever and wherever it occurs. So somehow Loudoun and FCCC are not quite comparable in this case. And when did the conflict in dates become apparent to the Webb campaign?
I am uncomfortable with this situation; Miller has schmoozed his way about the state, sucking up to each Democratic base and collecting support, money, and endorsements, pretty much under the radar. Right now, let's keep our eyes on winning the Primary--- so maybe the Loudoun J-J is the place for Webb to be, especially if he's to be given an opportunity to speak. The FCCC will undoubtedly hold a debate for Geo. Allen vs. the Dem opponent before the general election; so much for FCCC.
The only reason I can see for Webb to be at FCCC rather than Loudoun is: MONEY. He might pick up some heavy hitting donors at FCCC. At Loudoun, he might pick up primary VOTES. What a choice.
Everybody goes to their events for the publicity, but as has been pointed out, they didn't support Kaine, they don't generally support Democrats except the most pro-business ones. And that's not what Webb got into the race for.
On the other hand, I do see a disturbing pattern of turning down too many invitations that can help his campaign. And I'm going to add to the growing list because whoever is doing his scheduling and strategy is starting to scare the crap out of me.
Webb's people also turned down an invitation to the Northern Virginia Central Labor Council's COPE dinner in May.
The labor people are his natural constituency, given his propensity for running a pro-worker populist campaign. These people don't like Miller and want to like Webb. And they are the ones who will do the heavy lifting like putting up the signs, phone banking, going door to door to other working people and giving money.
And Northern Virginia working people, what about wanting them on your side does Webb's campaign staff not understand?
As a friend of mine said, while rolling his eyes: "God I hate working with the amateurs"