It seems like every day, George Allen spokesperson Dick Wad(hams) has something else stupid to say. The other day, it was getting all tied up in knots by Chris Matthews over Iraq. Today, it's his comment about Jim Webb:
"Here he is as the Democratic nominee saying 'No, I don't really know a lot,"' Wadhams said. "That's a terribly disturbing admission."
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Ha. Glad I got that out of my system.
Seriously, what a joke. First of all, it's blatantly untrue. Jim Webb is one of the smartest guys I've ever met, as well as one of the most well-read. He simply doesn't like to shoot his mouth off until he's mastered a subject, such as the intricacies of "No Child Left Behind" or "net neutrality" or whatever. Quite a contrast to George Allen.
Second, for Dick Wad(hams) to be saying that it's "terribly disturbing" for a politician not to "know a lot" is damning, but not on Jim Webb. C'mon now Dick, did you forget that your man, George Allen, is not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed? A few too many late hits to the head in his football career, perhaps?
For instance, just a few months ago, George Allen couldn't even remember the name of President Bush's nominee to replace Alan Greenspan as head of the Federal Reserve. Even worse, Allen said he had +óGé¼+ôpaid no attention+óGé¼-¥ to the hearings on Bernanke. Now THAT is disturbing, Dick!
I don't like people spouting off when they do not know the answer either. I think it's much better to say I don't know but I'll look into it or something that just make up a position or even worse, spew something recommended by a political consultant, when you're not sure what you just endorsed.
Devil's in the Details on a hell of a lot of issues.
One of my favorites in this labyrinth of ulterior motive burial, sounding great in a sound byte bill titles, is the "American Jobs Act of 2004". It had massive tax incentives to offshore American jobs. What an insulting title for a bill.
Don't promote a tit-for-tat debate that in essence says Allen makes dumber comments than Webb. Your response sounds defensive. Remember, you are no long speaking to the choir. You have a larger audience with a different point of view.
Webb needs to be more careful in his comments now that he is in a general election. If you look at the stories on Webb's recent press conference, Webb said leadership is more important than issues.
Responding to critics who have questioned his limited knowledge of domestic issues, Webb said he is on a "learning curve" and voters should focus on his leadership skills.
If I were advising the candidate, I would have suggested a better way to say it: "During the primary, we concentrated on the core issue concerning Democrats -- the Iraq War. I assure you that in the coming weeks you will hear me discuss many specific issues in great detail as I present my platform and agenda to Virginia's voters."
More positive comments blunt criticism. You are telling the voters what you are going to do, not what you did. You are looking forward, not backwards. And you are not opening Webb up to quick and easy snide comments from Dick Wadhams.
Also, while I think the Dick Wad nickname is hysterical, you should tone it down. It just enhances the perception that the Webb bloggers are nasty, immature, and not serious.