Sorry Mark, Jim Webb is not George McGovern or Edmund Muskie.  Thank God, I want to win!!  A little populism and backbone are good things for Democrats to espouse and possess these days, especially when the opponent is the Urban Cowboy.  “Ideological Purity" is the kind of bullshit that helps grab defeat from the jaws of victory!  Besides, if Plotkin would bother to do his homework he would find that the REAL DEMOCRAT in this race is JIM WEBB not “The Shiller”.  Since when did the championing of outsourcing of American jobs become part of the Democratic Party platform?! 

Questions re Webb's opinions on Clinton, Kerry, and other Democratic stalwarts, his relationship with African American Democrats, his recent Republicanism, etc. etc.--we may not like them, but they are out there and need to be addressed. We can't expect reporters not to ask about this, any more than Miller can expect a free ride on his dismal record of outsourcing and lack of support for working Americans.

Frankly, it's normal, I think, for people to be slightly skeptical of someone who worked for Reagan (and still seems to respect him a great deal) and was, until very recently, Republican. I mean, the guy voted for Bush and Allen in 2000! Sure, they've got to get over it just as we have, but it might take some convincing. That's Webb's job (and ours, as much as we are able.) 

Anyway, I've been listening/watching Plotkin for years and find him smart, informed, and open-minded on all but one subject--D.C. voting rights. And, obviously, Plotkin was VERY pleased with Webb's answer to that one. 

Real Player format
http://media.bonnint.net/wtop/2/224/22461.ram

Plotkin was very excited that Webb agreed that D.C. should have at least congressional representation, if not statehood. Apparently, that's more than cagey Mark Warner has done.

I have also heard the Plotkin-Shiller friendship rumor “somewhere along the line”.  It certainly does make sense. “The Shiller” is part of the Fairfax “establishment” (even though a number of Fairfax regulars claim “Shiller” never bothered to come to the meetings on a regular basis) and Plotkin was/is a part of the DC city party “establishment”. 

I have heard Plotkin before, whenever in WTOP listening range and occasionally on line at work.  Yes, he is a tough interviewer.  Yes, it is good that Jim gets tough questioning in preparation for the inevitable ATTEPMT at “swift-boating” that lay ahead.  That said, some of the more petty lines of questioning sure seemed like something right out “The Shiller’s” playbook.

If Plotkin is as tough on Miller as he promises he will be, then I will have as great a respect for him as I did before his interview with Jim. I will be especially impressed if he hammers “Shiller” on OUTSOURCING.  And I sure would like to hear him ask Miller about any “strategy” Miller might have for competing with “Boy George” in the rural areas, the “fighting 9th”, the 6th CD, Southside VA and for attracting “crossover voters” in the general election.  If Plotkin does that, then it balances out the question to Jim, “African American voters?  Can't get elected without them”.  Plotkin promised to be just as tough on “Shiller”. As I said earlier, we will see. 

Plotkin: Primary June 13...anyone can vote.  You're a celebrated author, sort of a star celebrity...best selling offer...Secretary of the Navy...screenwriter.  Roger Mudd question: Why did you throw all of this away, this wonderful persona, to enter public life and run for public office?

Webb: Well, I've never really had a specific identity on either side.  When you talk about being a writer and having served in government, those are...contradictory.  I'd sit in Secretary Weinberger's staff meetings and they'd look over and see what was I really writing in the notebooks... What I've done is I've tried to find things in my life that I really care about, that I can really be passionate about.  Right now, with the state of leadership in the country, this is what I feel strongly about, attempting to help move this country where it needs to go.

Plotkin: Let me meet something head on that people constantly who are not your supporters say about you.  Why don't you address this: Jim Webb is not a Democrat. He served for Ronald Reagan as Secretary of Navy.  For argument's sake, if I'm a Democrat in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I want to nominate a Democrat, Jim Webb is the wrong guy, even though I'm admiring of his career and his courage on the battlefield, but he doesn't deserve to be in my party.  What would you say to that?

Webb: I would say that the Democratic Party is an inclusive party.  If you look at my beliefs that I have, they fit with the Democratic Party...I spend a lot of time talking with people in the Democratic Party committees... If you look at the endorsements that I have, I think they speak for themeselves.  I have on the state level endorsements all the way from Leslie Byrne, who is the most passionately liberal statewide figure in Virginia, to people like Sen. Phil Puckett in SWVA who is probably the most conservative member of the Democratic Party.  Many endorsements on the county level, school board levels, etc.  Plus at the national level;  Bob Kerrey, the one who encourage me to run in the beginning. Max Cleland.  We just had 8 endorsements yesterday, 5 of them from sitting Senators, including people like Sen.  Chris Dodd, who was at one time running the Democratic Party. Harry Reid, who is the minority leader of the Democratic Party.  The bigger question is:  are the people who have been actively involved over the past 25 years ready to allow the Reagan Democrats to come home? 

Plotkin: Are you a Reagan Democrat?  Have you backed away from that label?

Webb: For some people, that's an inflammatory term.  At the same time, my view is this: there are a lot of people like me who basically considered themselves to be Democrats until the end of the Vietnam War.  I've never run for office...this is not someone who was a sitting member who decided to switch parties.  I've helped people from both sides from parties for years, including Bob Kerrey when he ran for President. There are a lot of people like me who became very frustrated at the end of Vietnam War...very angry at where the Democratic Party had gone on issues of national defense.  At the same time, this is a group of people who traditionally were the core members of the Democratic Party.  Jacksonian working class people...Andrew...I was an admirer of Scoop Jackson.

Plotkin: The most damning charge...6 years ago, you supported George Allen vs. Chuck Robb. To many Democrats, that's unforgiveable.  How do you defend that?

Webb: In terms of the endorsement, I realized pretty quickly that was the wrong endorsement, as of '02. After 9/11, going into Iraq.  I wrote the first major piece basically saying do we really want to be in Iraq for the next 30 years...  I came very quickly to the conclusion that the Senate would have been a lot better place if Chuck Robb had been in it.  I've made my apologies to Chuck Robb.  I had lunch yesterday with at least 8 staff members who were his staff members...His entire staff almost endorsed me yesterday then you will see that that's a non-issue today..

Shear: How about we do another hard one. This is another thing that people say about you, your opponent says about you. Jim Webb is a one trick pony, Jim Webb's campaign is all about one thing...early opposition to the Iraq war.  When it comes to a host of other issues that Virginians care about, you haven't formulated opinions, you haven't had a long track record.  Harris Miller is a more well rounded candidate. How do you answer that?>

Webb: People are going to have to look at Harris Miller's background to make up their mind whether he is well rounded or not...I've been very clear about issues I want to focus on.  ...it's not just Iraq, it is reordering our national defense priorities and Iraq is part of that... The first book I wrote when I was 28 years old was on national strategy.  So, if there's an allegation that I have a great deal of concern and expertise in that area, that is true...I was warning against the Iraq war, but I've also been talking about China for 19 years.  In the whole strategic perspective...I think I bring a set of credentials that are sorely needed in the Democratic Party.

But we're also running on issues of fairness.  I was saying well before I decided to run that this country is breaking into 3 pieces, that the people at the top have never had it so good. And that the people in the middle are losing their place...we're in danger of creating a permanent underclass.  I've been talking about social fairness in very specific ways...about my theories about where the power of the government should be. I'm an attorney. I'm very familiar with the separation of Departments in the federal system.  One of the major issues that we're talking about is Presidential overreach...that has nothing to do with specifically national defense.  It's the balance in the Federal system between the executive and the legislative branch.  I was a committee counsel in the Congress for four years...the House Veterans committee  I was the first Vietnam Veteran to work as a full committee counsel in the Congress.  And I also, I think, have more experience in different professional fields than almost anyone in the political process. I've made movies, I've been a journalist, I've got an Emmy for TV work, I've traveled all over the world...I've interviewed heads of state. That doesn't, to me, add up to what the allegation is.

Plotkin: You talk about Presidential overreach. If you were elected to the Senate, would you vote for censure of President Bush?

Webb: The problem with the censure motion...and I greatly respect Russ Feingold; I've said many times, he's one of the few people who really is standing up and fighting back right now. The problem with censure on one specific issue at this moment is that it would tie up the legislative process.  But there needs to be accountability for things like the NSA wiretapping, for the lack of information in terms of how we got into Iraq, for the way that Executive branch people have been blowing off the legislative branch...the way you do that is you get strong people in there who are not tied to lobbying interests...

I'll say another thing, by the way, since you're bringing up my opponent. I have lobbied for a lot of bills in my life and I've never taken a penny and I've never sat on a corporate board for money. I've sat on not-for-profit boards and never taken compensation. I've got 5,000 hours of pro bono work that I've done for veterans and for people in the Vietnamese community.  I can come in and ask the questions without being hamstrung by any past relationships.

Plotkin:  Do you think that his past relationships...Harris Miller...does hamstring him...does preclude him?

Webb: You'll have to ask him.  Well I'm just saying...I did not make a charge. I'm just saying, you were saying things that are being alleged about me. I am telling you how I've lived my professional life.
Plotkin: You're drawing comparisons between you and Harris Miller. Right?
Webb: You may.
Plotkin:  Let me ask you...at any time would you vote for censure?p>
Webb: I think what we have now, with the information that came out yesterday about the widespread possible abuses...the federal system is not working.  Another piece I was reading this morning...in a court action, the NSA was saying that people who were supposed to look at this information lacked appropriate security clearances.  So, who is looking at this information, other than the people who are using it.  That's not the way the federal system is supposed to work.

Plotkin: Jim Webb, if you were a Senator today...would you vote yes or no [on General Hayden to be the director of the CIA]?

Webb: Nobody is voting yet today...it's not a fair question...here are the questions that I would ask.  This is someone who is an active duty military person.  I have a long record of saying, that if an active duty military person is going to take a civilian position. Colin Powell should have retired.  I think if he takes the position he should retire, yes.  But also, I haven't looked at his overall credentials so I can't tell you if I'd vote yes or no.  I would say, as a principle...I think it appplies to anyone who is a military officer who wants to take a political position, that they should retire.

Phone calls...

Ellen from Arlington: My general concern is that Mr. Webb because he supported both Senator Allen and President Bush in 2000, that he won't provide the strong opposition we need in the Senate to Bush's domestic policies.  But there's two areas of specific concern that I have...affirmative action and women in the military.

Webb: I've been criticized in some message from Mr. Miller about my position on AA. I have always believed in AA for African Americans.  That is different from present diversity programs. ...distinction that I've made in writing again and again.  Affirmative Action was originally based on the 13th Amendment, which is the slavery amendment... That to me is sacrosanct.  When that program expanded into diversity programs for people of all ethnic backgrounds EXCEPT for Caucasians, I think that's wrong.  Less advantaged white cultures...the Appalachian mountains, where a lot of my dad's family came from.   The program itself should be protecting African Americans.  If you're going to widen it, should include disadvantaged Caucasians.

I was a huge strong opponent of women in direct combat, this was a huge fight 27, 28 years ago. At the same time, I opened up more billets to women than any other Secretary of the Navy.

Ron in Alexandria: Bush Administration inherited a budgetary surplus when they took office. Since then, they have cut taxes to mainly benefit more affluent people.  "Starving the beast."  Cutting programs that help the middle class and working class people.

Webb: It's not just the tax cuts that are hurting domestic programs.  It's also the incredible spending on the Iraq War.  Spending not being held to account.  Mark Shields - good friend of mine, former advisor to Robert Kennedy - has said again and again that this is the first time we have had a war while cutting taxes and not having a draft. I'm not saying we should have a draft. I would favor tax cuts that would favor a broad spectrum of America.  Where are we spending our money? I know how to ask the questions. There is so much fraud, waste and abuse going on in the Iraq War.  We need to get out of Iraq within the next 2 years.

Plotkin: How do we do it?

Webb: This Administration has never said that we have no long-term interest in Iraq.  No desire for a long-term occupation. Bring the countries in the region to the table diplomatically.  I'm thinking of Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.  Start backing up logistics into Kuwait.  I'm trying to be realistic...I don't believe in deadlines.  My son's going to be in Ramadi.  I really do have skin in the game here.  We went in precipitously, but we must get out in a way that won't destabilize the region.

I can ask the right questions and evaluate where the money is going.  The big cost in Iraq that is not being examined enough, the quasi-military programs.  Blackwater Group stuff.  High cost  Nobody really knows what they're doing and what the actual cost is.

Shear: Accountability.  Your motto is "Born Fighting."  You've sort of punted on whether Rumsfeld should step aside.  Why not hold Mr. Rumsfeld to account.

Webb:  I can fully understand why people want to see Rumsfeld go.  A lot of the generals who've called for Rumsfeld's resignation have endorsed me.  For me personally, I believe the Administration itself should be held accountable. The way to do that is to get people into office who will hold them accountable.  Whether it's Rumsfeld or his replacement is not as important as holding them accountable overall...

Questioner: You would never even get close to shake hands with John Kerry's hand.  Rumor that you might acccept John Kerry's endorsement.  Swift Boat veterans

Webb: I refused to shake Kerry's hand for 20 years, because of the way he testified in the hearing.  I did shake his hand, will shake his hand, voted for him in 2004.

Swift Boat Veterans - I told them if you want to discuss what John Kerry did when he came home, that's fair game.  At the same time, I believe what the Swift Boat Veterans did with regard to Kerry's military record was way over the top. No way Kerry could have manipulated that.

We need to shake hands and move forward before we die.  The Vietnam War is over.  When Jimmy Carter pardoned the draft evaders, that was it for me.

I voted for Mark Warner and I voted for Tim Kaine.  I supported Bob Kerrey and supported Chuck Robb in 1994.

Plotkin: Rumsfeld? Would you have voted for his confirmation in 2001?

Webb: Yes, I would have.

Plotkin: John Roberts?

Webb: I think I would have, yes.

Webb: I probably would have gone with the Democratic leadership on Alito.

Assume a certain level of competence when names are coming over

Anyone you would have voted against?

FEMA director?

Joyce: Votes in 2000 for Bush and Allen. How can you say it was just the mistake in Iraq, when Bush and Allen ran on giving huge tax cuts to the rich, but just bread crumbs for the rest.  It was real obvious in 2000 with respect to taxes.

Webb:  For me in 2000, taxes were not an issue that were on the table regarding where the country was at the time.  We were in a time of surplus.  I've always been concerned with a populist philosophy economically.  I started working when I was 12 years old.  I know what it's like to look at this world from the bottom up.  In 2000, that'w where a whole lot of other people were.  The Democrats are not going to have a truly national party until they can bring back the Reagan Democrats.  Carter won in part because of Nixon pardon.  Clinton - had the Perot vote.  Working class people, if they come back will transform the mountain south...

Plotkin;  You said that Bill Clinton had the most corrupt administration in modern history.

Webb: I'm a writer. I'm an opposition researcher's dream.  If Bill Clinton wanted to campaign for me, I'd certainly accept that.

Plotkin: Endorsement by Harry Reid and others? Will they campaign for you?

Webb: The support by Reid and the others was a very important part of the validation for me in terms of coming back into the Democratic Party.  You'll have to ask them why, I'm just grateful that they've done it.

Shear:  Let's bring it back to Virginia., Transportation problem?  Tax increase this year?  Where do you stand on the current debate.

Webb.  The leadership of the entire Virginia delegation should work together and unite on this issue.  Make it the highest priority.  I'm not a state level politician. I haven't followed that debate day by day.  I have great respect for Tim Kaine.  One possible model is a toll road where commercial companies would over a period of time build it, get their money back, then transfer it back to the government.

Plotkin:  Abortion.

Webb:  I'm pro choice, after much consideration. I'm with Roe v. Wade.  The issue would weigh very strongly on a Supreme Court nominee.

Plotkin:  African American voters?  Can't get elected without them.

Webb: Harris Miller knows that he has mischaracterized my views on AA.  I am one of the best friends that African Americans are going to have.  I put that black soldier on the Mall...fought for it.  I represented a so-called war criminal, a black marine, pro bono for 6 years.  Once they understand my views on Affirmative Action, they'll support me.

Plotkin: Representation for DC?

Webb: Would vote for it in the House. Would have to study it in the Senate.

"I greatly respect Russ Feingold, I've said many times he's one of the few people who really is standing up and fighting back right now."

There were some lighter notes as well:

The woman who introduced the show and handled the commercial breaks had to be reminded a few times that Jim Webb wasn't the only Democratic candidate for Senate (lends credence to the theory that the media already knows that this race is over).

The Post reporter asked Jim where he kept his Emmy.