The Republicans ran in 1994 for the House and Senate to be the solution to the corruption problem. Now, just 12 years later, they're the problem, not the solution.
Congressman Duke Cunningham (R-CA) was recently found guilty of taking bribes and sentenced to jail time. Congressman Bob Ney (R-OH), and of course, our buddy Tom DeLay are under investigation, with DeLay already facing a trial. Congressman John Doolittle (R-CA) and Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) may soon be investigated. Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Scooter Libby, is under investigation. For a party that constantly harps on morals, the Republicans could stand to go back to Sunday school for a few weeks.
And this is not to say our party doesn't have it's share of corruption (Bill Jefferson), but at least in our case, the Democratic House leaders have called for Jefferson to step aside of his post on the Ways and Means Committee.
It is ridiculous to me that members of Congress - the peoples' house - think that they can do whatever they want to do and get away with it.
James Webb is as honest, ethical, and principled as any politician I have ever heard speak. He won't yield to unethical practices in Washington that other candidates in this race might.
We need a voice in the U.S. Senate who will honorably represent us, and not just say what sounds the best at the time. He will stand up to lobbyists and special interests and do what's best for our state.
As for the question of moral issues ("wedge issues," to be better described), James Webb will be an honest and progressive vote. He's against the Virginia Marriage Amendment, and, presumably, the Federal Amendment, too. He's for civil unions, and has an excellent reason to not support gay marriage; his personal religious belief. He's pro-choice, in keeping with his "the government ends at my front door" belief.
James Webb is on the right side of the issues when it comes to ethics and morals. James Webb will be a shining example of what is good about the Democratic Party.
-Neal
(Coming tomorrow: The one I'm really looking forward to; Labor and Outsourcing. Stay tuned.)
We may seem crabby now about him being in the race, but a Miller win in the primaries would bring in tons of money for Allen and negative publicity for a party normally pro-labor.
I'll be tuning in for your perspective on the labor issues. You know, the one things I don't have a good perspective on is Virginia labor. I would like to think they are probably the same as everywhere else, but many union members there work for the federal government. I wonder how that changes thigs, if in fact it does.