WASHINGTON
Jim Webb won a U.S. Senate seat in his first campaign for public office in part because he didn't look, act or talk like the shrewdly political, eye-on-the-White House incumbent, Republican George Allen.
But 18 months after his surprising triumph in Virginia, Webb, 62, is pulling political levers that almost surely will put him in the top tier of potential Democratic nominees for vice president, whether the ticket is led by Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Webb's tenacious advocacy of a new GI Bill, which would give every veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan a chance to go to college, has strengthened his ties to a national network of veterans groups and activists and is getting rave notices on blogs and newspaper editorial pages.
Webb has maneuvered the legislation into position for passage this summer, as the presidential campaign heats up and Republicans push a less generous alternative.
And Monday, Webb's collection of essays on what ails American politics goes on sale nationwide. The 253-page volume, "A Time to Fight," offers readers a look at Webb through his own eyes, along with blistering critiques of U.S. foreign policy and of Congress and several presidents who failed to secure "economic fairness" for American workers.
Webb said his Senate schedule won't permit a book tour. But the volume is nevertheless getting a high-profile launch; Webb is scheduled to appear Sunday on "Meet the Press" and Monday on David Letterman's "Late Show." In June, he'll appear on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."
The book release and publicity come as the long struggle for the Democratic presidential nomination is winding down and media attention is turning to the second slot.
Webb acknowledged that his name is being bandied about as a potential running mate for Clinton or Obama but chuckled at suggestions that he's angling for higher office.
"I'm not looking to get on the ticket.... I'm happy doing what I'm doing here," he said.
But he didn't rule out running if he's asked.
Webb remains neutral in the nominating contest - he expects Obama will win it, he said last week - but insists he has not discussed the vice presidency or any other part in an Obama administration with the candidate or anyone else.
He said the book's timing was decided by his publisher, Broadway Books, which approached him about writing it more than a year ago and gave him a Jan. 1 deadline. He finished the manuscript at about 10:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve, he said.
"The book can only help" promote Webb as a potential candidate, said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.
"It's a rare person who will refuse the request when it comes from their party's presidential nominee," Sabato added. "Somehow I don't think Jim Webb will refuse it, either."
A Marine veteran - decorated for his heroism in the Vietnam War - and a former secretary of the Navy in a Republican administration, Webb has military and foreign policy credentials that could be especially attractive to Obama. Both Obama and Clinton campaigned for Webb in 2005.
"I'd be proud to support either of them," Webb said earlier this year.
Webb also was the underdog winner of a tough campaign in Virginia, a potential swing state in this year's presidential contest, Sabato noted.
Webb, who wears his Scots-Irish, working-class heritage like a battlefield decoration, also could help Obama win over blue-collar voters in key states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, all carried by Clinton in the primaries, other analysts suggest.
"His rural roots, vigorous language and championing of working-class values would compensate for Obama's evident weaknesses," Rutgers University political scientist Gerald Pomper wrote earlier this month on Sabato's Crystal Ball Web site.
At least two online petitions are soliciting signatures in support of a Webb candidacy for vice president. A supporter in Tennessee, author and entrepreneur Paul Schatzkin, last week launched a Web site, www.jimwebb4vp.com, to promote the cause. Schatzkin said he's never met Webb but decided to create the site after reading about the Virginian.
Webb said he hopes "A Time to Fight" will advance a national political realignment that he argues began to take shape with his election and those of several of his Democratic colleagues to the Senate in 2006.
Webb's Senate campaign was built largely on the idea that "Reagan Democrats" - mostly white, working-class Americans who left the party in the 1960s out of concern over its stance on defense issues - had grown disenchanted with the Republicans and were ready to return to their political roots.
Webb, who counts himself among those voters, went after them aggressively. His stock campaign speech charged that Congress and presidents of both parties had permitted corporate leaders to ship millions of U.S. jobs overseas while opening a mammoth gap between the middle class and top executives.
At the same time, he argued, the Bush administration's foreign policies have undermined the United States' standing with allies around the world and dragged the U.S. military into a war in Iraq that is wearing it out and undermining American security.
"A Time to Fight" hammers at those themes.
"Among today's larger corporations," Webb writes, "the average CEO makes more than $10 million a year at the same time his or her workforce receives the lowest compensation package, as a percentage of national wealth, in American history.
"What did these people do to earn these fabulous sums? Did they invent the light bulb? Did they discover the Internet? Did they provide the world with a vaccine that would eliminate some dread disease? No, they examined trends, analyzed data, made phone calls and decided where their clients should risk their assets in buying or selling a stake in the international marketplace."
Webb's critique of foreign policy is similarly biting. "At the tactical level, our military has done everything that was asked of it, and they have done it well," the book asserts. But the administration pushed that force into war carelessly, "downplaying the difficulty of a post-invasion occupation, predicting a 'cakewalk' of an invasion... This was not negligence. It was political calculation."
And "as an institution, Congress failed the country," he adds.
The book also renews Webb's attack on the "false debates" that he argues have come to dominate American politics. He still bristles at "the truly venal character assaults" that Allen launched against him, particularly the ones on allegedly salacious passages from some of his novels.
"This book is basically saying forget all this nonsense... and start looking at who we are and what has been happening and the urgency of finding leaders to fix it," Webb said.
He stayed away from outlining solutions to most of the problems he identifies, he acknowledged.
"The book is a series of think pieces about where things are in this country, so that we can try to spur an open debate," he said. "I want these essays to sink in. I'd like people to really think about them. And if you sit down and say, 'this legislative fix, that legislative fix,' then the discussion completely goes to a piece of legislation."
While the book focuses on politics and leadership, Webb said that one of his motives in writing it was personal. He said he hopes the volume will help Virginians understand there's more to him than the shorthand descriptions of the campaign: Vietnam Marine, novelist, former Navy secretary, Republican-turned-Democrat.
One chapter, "The Uncles On My Shoulder," is devoted to his relatives and their role in shaping his character. He writes of how his grandmother Georgia Frankie Doyle hammered home the apostle Paul's admonition that "we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us."
Most telling may be the remembrances of Webb's father - "my greatest hero," he writes - an Air Force officer who drank too much and was "rough, loud, self-made... and always full of impossible challenges."
James Webb Sr. was the first in his family to finish high school. But he needed 26 years, attending night school and part-time courses wedged in around his military career, to complete college.
"On that magical day, just after they gave him his diploma," Webb writes, "he stepped off the rostrum and walked across the packed gymnasium floor where the University of Omaha graduation ceremony was taking place and pushed it into my shocked and embarrassed face.
" 'You can get anything you want in this country,' he said, his face lit with fierce emotion. 'And don't you ever forget it.' "
Dale Eisman, (703) 913-9872, dale.eisman@pilotonline.com
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And, by the way
If Reagan walked up and heard either Bush 43 or McCain expressing the nutso beliefs they have in this "Algore" Global Warming Hoax, he'd smack them across the face, or laugh them out of the room, or both.
bava84's comments
Obviously, you know nothing about Ronald Reagan's political career. He left the Democrat Party as a young man because it was going to the left of Joe Stalin. Next him, Bush 43, Bush 41 and John McCain look like New Deal Democrats.
jkbrent's comment
I don't think Reagan was as ultra-conservative as you think -- one of the reasons I love him so much.
E.g. Reagan was much more progressive on socio-political matters, such as abortion and judicial appointments, than Bush 43.
The Pilot
I'd agree the Pilot makes no attempt at even masking their prefence for liberals. However, they are not as closed minded as has been indicated on this forum. They've published numerous letters from me. And, my letters are about as conservative as you can get, next to Ronald Reagan himself, that is.
At least Bush served in the Guard rather than not serve at all."
Until the drug tests got too close and he ran away from his military duties.
Orion - your post is an example of the apoplectic 27%ers
Webb: Sec of Navy under Reagan, US Naval Academy grad, Marine Corps Infantry officer, Decorated Vietname vet, Asst Sec of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Earned Navy Cross, Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars, 2 Purple Hearts, Graduated Georgetown Law, Member of Senate Foreign Relations, Veterans' Affairs, & Armed Services committees. Webb’s 1st legislative act was to introduce a bill expanding benefits for military families entitled the “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act”. Gave SOTU reponse. March 5, 2007, introduced 2nd piece of legislation, S.759, which is intended to prohibit use of funds for military operations in Iran w/o prior approval of Congress. I'm not a big Clinton fan. But compared to Shrub, Slick's a genius.
My how we omit things...
It's humurous to watch the dewindling 27%ers get apoplectic when the Dem party puts forward a candidate with the credentials that they wish their party had.
What credentials? What has Webb done for Virginia in 18 months? And he's nudging his way to the vice-presidency? It's lunacy.
And stop with the military service angle. Your beloved Bill Clinton worked the system and had many family and friends prolong and influence his draft into Vietnam (which he never went). At least Bush served in the Guard rather than not serve at all.
Cant we find...
... a VP candidate like Dick "I had other priorities in the 60s than military service" Cheney who brings 5 deferments worth of military experience to the job? Or perhaps someone like GeeDub who almost finished half of his National Guard service. Because those trailblazers proved that a lack of qualifications was not a hinderance to creating the biggest foreign policy blunder that this country has to suffer through. It's humurous to watch the dewindling 27%ers get apoplectic when the Dem party puts forward a candidate with the credentials that they wish their party had.
John Edwards for VP!!
I have a buzz for the candidate, who may be considering John Edwards as his or her running mate. John Edwards destroyed John Kerry's chance to become president. I think it was something about frivolous lawsuits. And caps on lawsuits against medical doctors.
And Yet
No one seems to be capable of offering anything that webb has done for Virginia. Seems there is alot comments of how great he has done, but what? What has he done for Virginia?
Wow. The guy has buzz.
Wow. The guy has buzz.
lores
"Didnt Webb have that remarkable depiction in his book about a boy and his father?"
Funny that republicans did not disapprove of that "remarkable depiction" back when he wrote it. Of course he was a republican back then. Republicans do not mind such 'remarkable depictions' when written by one of their own.
webbless
really so to those who thought mr.webb was going to get us out of iraq,along with the majority of democrats that you fools elected,where duped!well guess what where still there! can anyone please post something that webb has done besides show up for roll call.good grief if anyone in this ever fading pathetic state,thinks any of those stooges,that would be,hillary,obama,and father time aka john mcCain will change anything as president will be used once again.i will not waste my vote this time,and yes there is a viable canidate,it was the guy the media totally ignored, during any political debate RON PAUL!yes i'am a republicain,but to say that those fools in DC represent me,is repulsive.hillary obama, webb, edwards,bad bad bad!wake up america before it's too late
So is the White House Cook...
Jim Webb is doing a great job for Virginia in Congress. I too am proud to have voted for him. I do not see him as the VP choice as that position should go to Mrs. Clinton. She has earned it over a greater period of time.
The cook has been in the White House longer than Hillarybilly
DO NOT DISHONOR US
John McCain or Jim Webb, no matter what part of the political spectrum you may lean, please disagree with their policies and ideas, after all that is what America is all about. However when ANY of you debase, demean and degrade the EXEMPLARY military service of both those, you insult me and every other American who wears or has worn the cloth of our country. Both have given more of themselves in service to this nation than anyone commenting here and they did so in hoping that you and your children would never have to know that sacrifice. And if you do not know the extraordinary circumstances surrounding their service, please educate yourselves before posting comments that make you look like an unpatriotic moron. Some of you should be ashamed of your comments and if you are not please move to China, Cuba or Sudan. Josiah Hunter, Chief Petty Officer, USN.
Virginian-Pilot
Wow, so many of you don't seem to even READ the Pilot. Yes indeed, the Pilot has endorsed Republicans - Thelma Drake for one. And there are many others. Look it up!
The fact is that Webb IS being talked about - heavily - as a potential running mate. Whether you agree or not, it IS news, and therefore it is a no-brainer that the Pilot is covering it. Just as I'm sure the VERY conservative Richmond Times Dispatch and the Washington Times will do if they have not already done so already.
Not surprised, but funny none the less
Let's see here... Sen Webb: war hero, published author, athlete, senator. Seems to me that most of the chickenhawks who post negatives about him aren't HALF the man that Mr. Webb is. What's even funnier is that the chickenhawks then complain about the 'libruuul' bias of the VA Pilot but are the first ones to read it and post. Hilarious. Maybe it's time some of the neocons here take their child brides and weapons caches to West Texas.
I like webb, but
I think he is more needed in the Senate than VP at this time, and I also don't want Obama to win the Democrat nominee. Perhaps I would feel better if it was Clinton/Webb, but no Obama/Webb. What if.....all the super delegates decided to "change" their mind at the last minute and support Clinton? I really feel Obama's running mate will be John Edwards, anyway.
Over Achievers for their home states they are
Still waiting for Webb to do something for Virginia like Illinois is waiting for Obama to do something besides vote present. So yes they be a good team of something
Joke!
First the democrat leaning pilot runs a multi-page ad about the VB democrat mayor tax-em-dorf, and now this? Come on, where is the fair and balanced news reporting? Can't anyone see that this monopoly of a news-rag is so biased?
Then I read how great webb is doing for Virginia? Ok What has he done for Virginia? How much better off am I with him there?
Anyone? Anyone?
Please Lord NO!
OMG, Jim Webb the quitter coward he is should not even consider the Presidency. This man, as Secretary of the Navy, bacuse he didnt like something, ran away like a coward when all of us in the Navy and Marin Corps needed his leadership. Leaders dont quit, Webb is a quitter, he should NEVER be trusted to lead again!
A Good Buzz Word?
A good Buzz Word and Dream Ticket would be to hear that both political parties and the three candidates had a one-way ticket out of Washington D.C. for good.
Go Webb
I don't understand most of the Republican remarks against Webb. Typical Republican chicken-hawks, who don't understand what leadership is. Webb is an American hero. How about just you Republicans who have done more for our country disparage his name. The rest can disagree, but do so with some respect that he has earned.
Great American!
Jim Webb is doing a great job for Virginia in Congress. I too am proud to have voted for him. I do not see him as the VP choice as that position should go to Mrs. Clinton. She has earned it over a greater period of time.
Come on...
The man is a loose cannon that cries, stomps his feet and pouts (like his picture) whenever he can't get his way. Think about it, if he threw himself on a grenade all the while blasting away at the enemy, I don't think he would be here today. Sounds like a Kerry war wound story. Wow those Vietnam thorn bushes are really really brutal and provide ample opportunity for purple hearts and early exit from conflict.
I am so proud to have voted for Sen. Webb
"There is a lesson that our leaders should carry next to their breasts, and contemplate every time they face a crisis, however small, which puts our military at risk. It should echo in their consciences, from the power of a million graves. It is simply this: You hold our soldiers' lives in sacred trust. When a citizen has sworn to obey you, and follow your judgment, and walk onto a battlefield to defend the interests you define as worthy of his blood, do not abuse that awesome power through careless policy, unclear objectives, or inflexible leadership."
James H. Webb, Jr.
June 3, 1990
Didnt Webb have that
Didnt Webb have that remarkable depiction in his book about a boy and his father? That just never occurs to me when I see my son.
Webb? VP? You're kidding, right?
You CAN'T be serious! If you think Cheney is a loose cannon, you ain't seen nothin' yet!
Amazing
1. It never ceases to amaze me when I see the level of idiocy in these responses. Half of you people don't even sound literate. Please, proof-read your stuff. You sound a bit half-witted or even drunk.
2. Disagree with Webb's policies all you want, but in no way is that man a "wuss," as someone so eloquently phrased it. He threw himself on a live grenade to save a fellow marine, while SIMULTANEOUSLY opening fire on the enemy. It's no small thing to win a Navy Cross, people. The guy has guts.
Hate to break the news but
Many Bush supporters don't support McCain. McCain knows this so he's reaching out to the everyone else since he's in between. McCain is Liberal running as a Republican. McCain realize that people are not buying it so he has to reach out to the not sure voters and the liberal/Republican voters. Any jr. senator would think being a VP is a big deal, If Webb wasn't white he would have a good chance running for president, Webb seem to have more air time on t.v. than Obama when it comes to doing Senator stuff. I never heard of or seen Obama until he said I'm running for president. Sad thing is, people can beat up Bush all day long, but if Hillary or Obama should get lucky to get in the White House with or without Webb they will get the beat down like they never seen before just from their own party. I don't want to see Obama in there beause he has issues in his closet and also I don't want a first lady who's not proud of America ( that comes from her good friend Mr.Wright) and I don't want to see Hillary because,, well,, she's Hillary and the fact that like Bill, she can't tell the truth. Webb would fit just fine with this group.