Webb, Grisham and King: It's a Good Thing to Write Books!

Elaborating on what it means to be a "fiction writer," which George Allen's campaign actually considers to be a bad thing Webb said proudly that he "stand[s] by my writing."  Webb noted that his writings have "gone after tough issues."  Webb explained that there is a great deal of "discipline" and hard work involved in writing, and that fiction allows us "to get at [the truth] in a way you can't get at in other ways."  Finally, Webb condemned the "Karl Rove-style politics" which takes "20 words" out of context and "make[s] an issue out of it."  Webb concluded, "I know how I have lived my life."

On this same subject, Steven King stated his belief that "George Allen would not succeed as a fiction writer, because he can't seem to stick to his story."  Ha.  King added that he knows Jim Webb "through his books and through his politics."  King declared that "this is an extremely important election for the American people," and that "Virginia is crucial."  King noted that he had been "raised a Republican" but had "met the right woman [who] showed me the error of my ways."  King, 59, has now been a Democrat since he was 20.
Jim Webb was asked about Tim Kaine, who was to emcee the 90-minute event after the press conference - and in response was effusive in his praise.  Webb said that Governor Kaine has been "tremendous," "very gracious," a "real human being," etc.  I couldn't agree more with that assessment, by the way, and am extremely proud that Tim Kaine is Governor of Virginia.

On Iraq, Webb pointed out that Bush and Allen - who is with Bush "100% of the time on foreign policy" - throw "propagandistic buzzwords" around like "stay the course" and "cut and run." They have "no original ideas" or an ability/willingness to "think [their] way through problems."

The Allen campaign's charge that Jim Webb is a "Hollywood" guy came in for a great deal of ridicule.  John Grisham noted that Allen will raise "5 times as much money from Hollywood as Jim Webb."  Grisham added, humororously, that Jim Webb certainly "deosn't look like Hollywood!"  Steven King flat-out called the "Hollywood" charge by Allen about Webb "the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life."  Noting that he had dealt with a lot of "Hollywood guys" over the years, King said, echoing the famous Lloyd Bentsen line on Dan Quayle/Jack Kennedy, "believe me, Jim Webb is not a Hollywood guy." 

Finally, Webb himself stated that being called a "rich Hollywood movie producer" makes the "[real] rich Hollyood producers laugh."  Webb said that the Allen campaign undoubtedly was using this line because it was a "market-tested phrase."  Webb noted that he had, at one point, taken his own name off a movie for a year because he disagreed with its portrayal of the Marines and the Vietnamese-American community.  The bottom line for Webb is this:  "I'm not going to cave in on anything I believe in."

Comments