This has been a short campaign that feels like a long one. For Jim Webb, it's basically been a grueling, 100-day march to the nomination. I can never sufficiently express the gratitude I feel that Jim put his wonderful life - books, movies, children, grandchildren, world travel - on hold in order to, at age 60, step forward and serve his country in its time of need. No matter what happens tomorrow, I just want to thank Jim Webb from the bottom of my heart for doing this, for putting himself "out there," and for caring enough to take risks and to make a difference.
For me personally, it's been a fascinating experience that began in November 2005, when I first exchanged e-mails with a man named James Webb. After meeting with both Webb and Harris Miller in late December, several of us - Josh Chernila, Lee Diamond, and Corey Hernandez, in particular - started a movement to "Draft James Webb." Within weeks, spending not a penny and with publicity only via "word of mouth" (mainly over the blogs), we had collected 1,000 "signatures" to our online petition, and around $40,000 in pledges. Many of the people who signed the petition had powerfully emotional things to say. For instance:
*"My father is a life-long Republican and career Naval officer....When I asked him what he thought of James Webb, he said, 'one of the most honest, brightest men I have ever known...I would go to war with James Webb any day...'"
*"Bring honor back to the Senate, and help make government the sacred trust it should be instead of the game it has become."
*"We would welcome and encourage a voice of sanity such as James Webb. The common good is the issue to me. Restoring a sense that we are all in this together...that decisions need to be made for the common good and that a responsible government is our best instrument to do that."
*"We desperately need someone to replace George Allen who do more than merely rubber stamp George Bush's policies. We need a senator who will defend our civil liberties, rights to privacy and restore our reputation in the world community as one that values human rights."
*"We NEED leaders like you to take our country back. And George Allen is a disgrace to the Commonwealth....Please run for office."
*"Sec. Webb- Your voice is vital to Virginia, and the Democratic Party. We need Roosevelt Democrats and Eisenhower Democrats in Washington to bring the nation together on issues on which all Americans agree. I am proud you served under Reagan, and can see that the present administration has departed from old-line conservatism, and happy you embrace the Democratic party and the vision of Roosevelt and Eisenhower for a strong middle class, and a humble foreign policy....Thank you for answering the call of duty once more, for Virginia and the nation."
Amazing. And yes, it's hard to believe that anyone would not have been moved by such appeals. Perhaps Jim Webb was so moved; obviously, his decision to run for Senate resulted from numerous factors, and numerous influences. Still, I feel that the "draft" played at least a small part in encouraging Jim Webb to throw his hat in the ring, mainly by demonstrating that if he did, there would be many Democrats who welcomed him with open arms. Sure, some would scorn him as a former Reagan official, but there would be far more who would welcome him. And today, we will watch as one of those men - Senator John Kerry, our 2004 Presidential nominee - comes to Arlington for an election eve rally with Webb. Amazing, huh?
As I type these words, we are just over 36 hours away from nominating James "Jim" Webb to take on George Allen this fall. This is an historic opportunity, in my opinion, that presents itself to us right here, right now in the person of Jim Webb. If we miss the moment, who knows if it will ever come again?
Personally, I see actual and potental greatness in Jim Webb. I also see a chance to reclaim the Democratic Party from the rich corporations and the lobbyists who serve them. I see a chance to start implementing Jim Webb's vision of racial reconcilation between working class whites and African Americans. I see a chance to win back the millions of "Reagan Democrats" and other American patriots who have been persuaded too many times that the Democratic Party is "weak" or culturally alien. Jim Webb offers us a golden opportunity to change that situation, and we would be fools not to take advantage of all that this moment offers.
Now, I know that we've been rather harsh and even mean at times towards our opponent. Sometimes, the rhetoric has gotten a little overheated, I will admit. In part, I think that's just the nature of political campaigns, and also of passionate people writing on the blogs. However, the truth remains about our opponent's unfortunate record, what he represents, and what the (bad) result would be if he were ever to face George Allen. None of it is pleasant to contemplate.
One thing I find fascinating about this primary is how EASY it has been for Jim Webb supporters to articulate their reasons - 10, 20, 50, whatever - whey they support Jim Webb and why others should vote FOR him. Our opponents' supporters? Not so much. In fact, among the (very) few bloggers who have endorsed Harris Miller, there's almost not a positive word to be heard about Miller, but instead, overwhelming negativity and nastiness about Jim Webb. All about how Webb "isn't really a Democrat," about how Webb's campaign "sucks," about how Webb's supporters are "over the top," even about how Webb is suposedly hostile to women or minorities. Utter rubbish, in other words.
On numerous occasions, I have directly challenged Miller supporters to provide their reasons FOR supporting Miller...all to no avail. I have offered them a platform here on Raising Kaine, but overwhelmingly they have not availed themselves of it. Either that, or they have come here to "troll," spreading untruths and attempting to hijack the discussion, as trolls do.
As far as I can tell, about the best reason anyone on the Miller side has been able to come up with to vote FOR him is this: "he's been a Democrat his whole life." Fine, I guess, although I know lots of life-long Democrats who I wouldn't want representing me in the US Senate. I'm not sure what that proves, particularly. Also, the argument conveniently sidesteps the issue of Miller's support for Dennis Hastert and Spencer Abraham, and utter absence from the 2004 Presidential and 2005 Virignia Gubernatorial races.
Anyway, I'm proud that Raising Kaine has been able to provide all of our reasons for people to vote FOR Jim Webb. I'm also proud that we have provided voluminous factual information about Webb from his numerous interviews, "live blogging" sessions, etc. And yes, I'm proud that we've played a part in exposing who Harris Miller really is, and what he really represents, even if that's seen as "negative." If so, perhaps it reflects as much on the candidate as on those who dig up the facts? Just a thought.
Overall, I'm very proud of the role Raising Kaine has played in leading the "draft" of Jim Webb, then working hard for months to help promote his candidacy. Yearly Kos has demonstrated that politicians are increasinly reading the blogs - aka the "netroots," aka "citizen activists" - and taking them seriously. Well, at least some of the time. Of course, this medium is still very young and growing, and who knows what it will become in coming years.
Personally, I strongly believe that "open source Democracy" will continue to grow in coming months and years. The "netroots" certainly isn't going away, nor are the issues about which we care passionately. For the past year and a half, I have been honored to play a small part in all this. Now, on to the voting booths tomorrow, and to Jim Webb as our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate against George Allen.
Immigaytion: The GOP's two-pronged fear strategy; with apologies to the old Certs mint commercial:
"Immigaytion -- that's two, two, two horrors in one!"
Allen wants you to believe he's Jim Webb: "Smart, Independent, and Courageous". His TV ads attempt to win the hero frame from Webb.
He doesn't care about Miller.