This is the next round and I'll delete my diary.
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/06/webballenjardin.html

Make that " gowt his wittle feelwings huwrt"

It deserves a diary, and I just may write one.

From Hotline...

Webb/Allen/Jarding/Wadhams: Part II

Here's the latest ripostes from the proxy war between the campaigns of Sen. George Allen (R-VA) and ex-Navy Secretary James Webb (D).

The frission started when Allen mgr Dick Wadhams, in a statement on Webb's oppositon to a flag burning amendment, said this: “Now that we know that James H. Webb, Jr. is following Kerry, Kennedy and Schumer in opposing the Flag Protection Amendment, maybe he will finally take a position on other ‘real issues’ such as immediate withdrawal from Iraq and immigration,” Wadhams said. “His positions change daily.”

Steve Jarding, a Webb adviser, responded with an angry missive here.

Wadhams's rebuttal.

And now, a statement from Jarding, e-mailed to us late last night.

  "Dick Wadhams is a wounded dog and he is lashing out. First, he was reprimanded publicly for arrogantly and inexplicably berating a national independent pollster who simply stated his findings in a Wall Street Journal poll which showed Allen to be in big trouble against the independent and refreshing Jim Webb. Then Wadhams rudely, irreverently, and inexplicably attacked a highly decorated Vietnam veteran in Jim Webb for his position on freedom of speech. Dick Wadhams' tired old slash and burn politics strategy is now biting him in the behind because Jim Webb and his campaign will not roll over to this plastic, smoke and mirrors campaign tactic. And Wadhams wonders why people are calling for his head. And Dick, one more thing, I am too old and have been through too many wars to respond to your comments that I am acting "tough." This isn't about you or me, Dick. And it is no act. George Allen's rubber stamp of all things Bush and his eagerness to cave to special interests have hurt too many Americans, have shattered too many dreams and have squashed too many opportunities for tens of thousands of Virginians and millions of Americans. The truth is, Dick, this fight is bigger than either one of us. I trust the people of Virginia to send you that message."

Wadhams this a.m. sent a memo to Virginia reporters and editors pointing out the exchange. Here's an excerpt -- the full memo is after the jump.

  When it was reported yesterday morning that Webb opposed the amendment, we issued a press release pointing out he stood with those that supported him in the Democratic Primary, Senators John Kerry, Charles Schumer and Ted Kennedy, who also opposed the Flag Protection Amendment. From that, Webb’s political consultant hysterically extrapolated it was an “attack on Webb’s patriotism.” Huh? So now we know whenever we publicly ask Webb to take a position on an issue that is being debated and voted on in the U.S. Senate, we will be accused of “attacking Webb’s patriotism.” Whenever we contrast Senator Allen’s clear positions on the many issues affecting Virginia and the United States versus those of Webb we can anticipate they will resort to breathlessly accusing us of “attacking Webb’s patriotism.”

The real target here isn't necessarily Wadhams; it's Chris Lacivita, the Allen strategist who brought the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth to the national stage. LaCivita, like Webb, is a Marine.

Webb's campaign is sending a message here: we won't be swift-boated, we won't dare let Allen get away with questioning our patriotism. Allen's campaign is also sending a message: we know what Jim Webb's buttons are, and we're gonna push them.

Here's Dick Wadhams' full memo to reporters:

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

To: Virginia Editors and Reporters

From: Dick Wadhams, Campaign Manager

Friends of George Allen

I wanted to make sure you saw last night’s diatribe from the Webb campaign. You can’t fully appreciate it until you actually see it and read it.

It’s the latest in a clear pattern of thuggish behavior by Webb and his campaign:

--Following a televised debate during the Democratic primary where Harris Miller raised questions about Webb’s erratic shifts from Democrat to Republican to Democrat to Republican to Democrat, Webb shouted at Miller to “Shut your mouth!”

--A flier attacking Harris Miller that was produced by the Webb campaign and that Webb acknowledged he saw before it was distributed, depicted a man with a hook nose and money spilling from his pockets, a characterization described as “replete with anti-Semitic stereotypes.” To make matters worse, the Webb campaign acknowledged cynically distributing it in only a selected part of Virginia.

As the Senate began debate on the Flag Protection Amendment this past Monday, we publicly asked Webb if he supported the amendment. As has been the case on so many issues in this campaign where Webb has been silent or has vacillated, Webb had not declared a position on the amendment.

When it was reported yesterday morning that Webb opposed the amendment, we issued a press release pointing out he stood with those that supported him in the Democratic Primary, Senators John Kerry, Charles Schumer and Ted Kennedy, who also opposed the Flag Protection Amendment.

From that, Webb’s political consultant hysterically extrapolated it was an “attack on Webb’s patriotism.” Huh?

So now we know whenever we publicly ask Webb to take a position on an issue that is being debated and voted on in the U.S. Senate, we will be accused of “attacking Webb’s patriotism.”

Whenever we contrast Senator Allen’s clear positions on the many issues affecting Virginia and the United States versus those of Webb we can anticipate they will resort to breathlessly accusing us of “attacking Webb’s patriotism.”

So please make sure you read the Webb diatribe and our press releases in their entirety. It will tell you everything you need to know about what kind of candidate and campaign are opposing Senator George Allen.

They are as scared as Hansel and Gretel in the sweet goodness of the gingerbread house.

Except in this fable, Hansel and Gretel don't get out alive.