The Allen campaign is pissing more money away on a new attack ad. [I'm not posting it on my site because I don't put crap up here.]
Let's look at this closely, shall we?
First they call Webb a "fiction writer" - Ouch. Good dig...at...people who... read...books. (Clearly not Allen's core constituency.)
The ad emphasizes that it was 20 years ago that Webb served in the Reagan administration. Which is such a long time ago that it couldn't possible be relevant nowadays, right. Not nearly as relevant as a magazine article Jim Webb wrote 27 years ago, to be sure. The Allen camp lives in the present (and by the present I mean 1860).
The ad implies that Jim Webb was only in the Reagan administration for 10 months, which is not exactly true (and by "not exactly true" I mean "completely false".)
From Jim Webb's bio: [Emphasis mine.]
In 1984 he was appointed the inaugural Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, where he traveled extensively in, and worked closely with, our NATO allies. As the Assistant Secretary he directed considerable research and analysis of the U.S. military's mobilization capabilities. In 1987 he became the first Naval Academy graduate in history to serve in the military and later be appointed Secretary of the Navy. He resigned as Naval Secretary in 1988 after refusing to agree to a reduction of the Navy's force structure during congressionally-mandated budget cutting.
Let's see what President Reagan had to say about Jim Webb when he resigned: [Emphasis mine]
February 23, 1988The Great Communicator was great at communicating how much respect he had for Jim Webb. Don't be jealous. I'm sure if "Senator" Allen was anything like Jim Webb, President Reagan would have liked him too.Dear Jim:
It is with regret that I accept your resignation as Secretary of the Navy, effective February 22, 1988.
During the past four years, you have served our country with honor and courage, just as you have throughout your distinguished career. As my first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, you played a major role in revitalizing the reserve components of our Armed Forces. You were instrumental in restoring confidence and pride in one of our most noble national traditions -- the concept of the American citizen-soldier.
Since taking the helm a year ago as Secretary of the Navy, you continued to press forward the highest standards of excellence throughout the Navy and Marine Corps. From the most remote outposts to the lecture halls of Annapolis, your commitment to the quality of our military capability and the well-being of our men and women in uniform has been undivided.
As your service to this Administration comes to a close, I want to thank you for the selflessness and loyalty that you have always personified. In the end, it is these qualities that will ensure that freedom endures in this generation and in every generation to come.
Godspeed in all your endeavors.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan
Then they trot out the letter from the Reagan Library which makes it clear that Nancy Reagan never saw the Webb/Reagan ad.
Next they point out that some of Webb's campaign advisors called Reagan an "ignorant fool". This is unfortunate, however, it doesn't change the fact that President Reagan respected Jim Webb and Jim Webb respects President Reagan.
"I'm George Allen and I approved this message." And you paid for it, too. Good use of funds, "Senator". Thanks for spending your money on increased name recognition for Jim Webb. (Speaking of which...)
"Oh, and by the way, sorry again about that M-word thing."
It certainly won't make people think he's a Republican - that makes no sense. How does "attacked Reagan policy" equal Republican? What Republican has that been true of in the last 20+ years?
Bottom line: you guys can't get past the fact that Reagan respected Webb. If Allen has anything positive from Reagan, run with it.
"Everyone else in the Reagan Administration who has commented on this issue..."
Yeah, all three of them.
"Come to think of it, that's what Webb called Reagan... "
Don't you mean come to lie about it?
Yeah, I'd have to agree the ad just seems like a real loser.
On a visceral level my impression is "George Allen hides behind mommy" (Nancy Reagan in this case). The female voice sounds a little grating.
I realize that George Allen is trying to weaken Webb's support with women, but this ad seems tailor made to lose the support of men. It makes George Allen seem soft and whiny.
That screechy voice providing the voice over is not a winner.
got a reference for that? (don't try wikipedia, that's unreferecned as far as I can tell )
Nancy Reagan doesn't like Jim Webb? Get it.
Nancy Reagan and the Reagan people like George Allen. Get it.
How many times are you going to beat your head against the tree on this one?
You can't win the Reagan battle.
This is not, never will be, cannot in any sound way be construed or spun to be an actual endorsement by Reagan. It is, however, Reagan's words praising the man who is running for Senate.
You people actually think you can bully us into doing what you want, don't you?
Roger your comment downthread about Lowell being a geek is very revealing.
Move over, there's a new bully in town, and his ass is bigger, badder, and one fucking hell of a lot more authentic than your little Palos Verdes creme-de-la-poseurs.
"(that any of us know)"
Why do you think George Allen or Nancy Reagan owe you an explanation for anything?
If Nancy hasn't gone public asking him to take it down -- like she did for George H.W. Bush, James Webb, and numerous other politicians -- then the only logical explanation is that Allen has permission.
This is not rocket science, Lowell. I'm pretty sure that even someone with as limited faculties as you have could figure this out.
We have what Webb wrote, we have what Reagan wrote. Those are facts.
In contrast, we have a bunch of rambling loser fat boys who write tomes on a progressive blog as to why George "I made it up" Allen and they disagree and why they have decided that Ronald Reagan meant the opposite of what he said.
First of all, "geek". Seriously. This is what you have to offer?
Secondly, how does that necessarily relate (as you imply) to him not "understanding" that "Nancy Reagan thinks that Jim Webb is a putz and that she supports George Allen." Where is the connection between these things?
Furthermore, has Nancy Reagan endorsed Allen? If she has I haven't seen it. It would seem that the Allen crew is "implying an endorsement" from her. Considering Nancy Reagan's steadfast support for stem cell research and "Senator" Allen's lapdog acceptance of the President's (non-)policy on stem cells, I doubt she will be cutting a commercial for him anytime soon.
Why is the ad disgusting? Is it because it shows your hero speaking in GLOWING terms about a man your hack candidate has instructed you to hate? Your feeble mind simply cannot process it.
Guys like Powell, Scowcroft, even GHW Bush represent a strain of the GOP that goes back to Goldwater and Eisenhower and certainly runs through the Reagan administration. Webb is very much in line with these conservatives on national security issues.
Reagan may have built the modern GOP. However, G.W. Bush and George Allen are squeezing the life out of the party as they embrace the Meese legacy. There is no place for foreign policy realists in the current GOP. At least as far as foreign policy goes, Webb has a more legitimate claim to Reagan's legacy than George Allen.
"Webb has a more legitimate claim to Reagan's legacy than George Allen."
Thanks JPTERP!
2. He resigned as Sev Nav and has disavowed Reagan's policies
Hopefully, we will get some great footage at the Obama event, and we can use that for a commercial in other places like here in Richmond. I think that would be a HUGE plus here.
If they were going to do a bio piece, why didn't they just recite his resume and list his medals. Why not show pictures of his family?
Instead, they had to use Ronald Reagan.
Do you not agree that it was not very prudent of Allen to lie about Webb's length of time with Reagan? I mean, that could easily be refuted. And lying on TV doesn't work so well anymore.
I really do not agree with your assessment of my opinion. I think people underestimate Webb and his campaign and their ability to take subtle digs at Allen. Do we need to gain more points? Of course we do. I am willing to wait and see what happens over the next week. And of course, at the debate this weekend.
Oh, and you can bet there will be an add with pics of family, most notably a young son going to war, and pics of medals. again, I realize we disagree on our choice of candidate. However, words from people I do not agree with will certainly not make me change my vote, and I am sure you feel the same.
Let me ask you this; as someone who does not support Webb bc of your ties with the Republican party (and I am strongly tied to the Democratic party, so that is not an insult) what do YOU think Webb should be doing? What would make you say hmmmmmmmm, maybe that guy is alright?
1. I would have stayed completely away from the Reagan stuff. Why? Because the history of the 1994 Senate Race tells me that Nancy Reagan is a wild card. As a rule, you don't mess with her.
Jim Webb did and he is now paying the price for it. He will continue to pay the price throughout the remainder of the election.
This isn't too say that he can't talk about his service in the Reagan Administration. I just believe that using a deadman's words were wrong. Reagan is not here to take a position in this race. But, if he were, most observers know that he would support George Allen.
Allen does have Reagan connections, you know?
2. Iraq is the primary issue in this race and yet Jim Webb has not laid out a path to victory. You'all tout his mitary experience and his resume and yet not one of you has been able to tell me or the other Republican posters what his position is.
Therefore, I would follow an example setforth by President Eisenhower from the Korean conflict. I'd have him meet with former and current military leaders to gain a sense of what it would take to get the job done.
This will never happen, however, because your candidate seems to follow the Murtha position.
3. My first ad would have been 1/2 bio and 1/2 position oriented. Maybe even a comparison ad. The bio ad did little to advance the ball...and it certainly did nothing to impact George Allen's numbers.
4. I would have spent the entire summer months more aggressively campaigning across Virginia with full schedules. Not this piss ant stuff that he did do...but rather three week long extended car tours of the state.
That's just a sample.
1) Yeah, don't mess with Nancy, she'll come after you with her network of psychic friends! The only reason her office wrote that letter is because Allen lied to her and told her the ad was negative. What price is Webb paying? Have any new poll numbers you would like to cite? Do you always just make stuff up like this?
2) Webb has not endorsed the Murtha position. Webb understands that our strategy in Iraq depends on the reality on the ground and that reality is likely to change between now and when he takes office in January. He is too responsible to make promises he might not be able to keep. He also understands that the military doesn't take orders from Senators and we have two more years with the Chimp-in-Chief. George Allen supports the Rumsfeld-Cheney position.
3) Yeah, cram as much info as possible into a 30 second spot, great idea.
4) Yeah, just drive around all day and see what happens. Great strategy.
Once again, thanks for the free pub.
1. Higher Republican turnout b/c the base gets motivated; and
2. suppresses African American support of James Webb.
#2 combined with Sen. Lambert's support of Allen may actually have more impact than #1.
"Even out"? I think not.
100% NARAL
100% HRC
100% ACLU
Yeah, it's SO hilarious to listen to you Repubs.
Why don't you try Abe Lincoln next? The further back from the present Administration you go the better for you.
Tell him to take the images off his site and mailers.
Your hypocrisy is astounding, yet expected.
You guys have no idea the kind of freight train that is barreling down on you, do you?
Here's a hint--the quote came from Mudcat Saunders, not Jim Webb.
Dick Wadhams used a male prostitute in South Dakota to push his candidate's storyline (this is documented). A Webb ad claiming that George Allen is sympathetic to male prostitutes because Wadhams employed a male prostitute (for political purposes) in another race would have the same degree of validity.
FACT: Webb has NEVER called Reagan a fool. But some Allen campaign aides who resent Jim Webb's change in political allegiances thought they could spin it.
FAILURE.
FACT: 4TheGipper would be stopped at the Massachusetts border and arrested for trying to bring heightened irrationality across the border.
P.S. I glad Dems like you weren't arrested at Virginia's border. Lively debate make for a country and a more informed citizenry.