According to conserative columnist George Will, writing for the Sunday Washington Post, Virginia is going to be a contest of "heavyweights" this year, Jim Webb vs. George Allen. In the meantime, though, Webb needs to win a bruising primary against long-time lobbyist Harris Miller. As we all know, Miller has been relentlessly negative on Jim Webb, even before Webb entered the race. Now, in fascinating "new news" from George Will, we learn that Miller has been told to zip it on his anti-Webb attacks:
Although Webb has concentrated his fire on Allen, Miller attacked Webb until Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and hates primaries, told him to desist.
Fascinating. Imagine if this primary campaign actually discusses the issues - Iraq, gas prices, immigration, outsourcing, jobs, the economy, President Bush, George Allen - the rest of the way out? What a concept! I just hope it actually happens.
But seriously, the fact that a major columnist is paying so much attention to Jim Webb is a very good sign. How many days until June 13th again?
There were even no negatives in a Miller robo-call which I received; it was all about how he would bring change to Virginia.
There are others but this one was close at hand...
If Matt can't see this distinction or willfully chooses to ignore it, he has my contempt...
Stoller'sfinal sentence was sickening:
"James Webb should be ashamed today. He acted without honor, without decency, and without courage. For shame."
The shame is om Matt Stoller. He is unable to distinguish between an honest and honorable disagreement over the merits of political debate topic, on the one hand, and the deliberate tolerance or embrace of family violence and racial hostility.
Stoller should issue an apology and a retraction. Our political system needs less misguided zealots -- not more of them.
Jim Webb has "class" -- he is passionate about the issues which concern us all. That's damn clear from his public speaking. This is a candidate with "fire in his belly" but the integrity to speak about issues. He wants to avoid the accusation of personal attack -- something the MSM and the Republican/Allen "lie machine" would surely charge him with if he attempted to speak on the matters which Stoller promotes.
I have no doubt that Jim Webb is a man of the highest honor and integrity. His counselors and advisors give evidence of his credibility. (I note that Stoller has criticism for these honorable people as well.)
Nowhere in Will's WP article is there mention of Jim Webb's recent inspiring comments re. economic issues -- offshore outsourcing, job loss, wage stagnation and fair trade.
Will has long taken a very strong position in favor of offshore outsourcing of American jobs and replacement of American worker. The fact that this was omitted from the article leads me to believe that Will omitted this topic quite deliberately.
Clearly, these issues are significant and have played a critical role in Harris Miller's continuing decline. Tarred as a pro-outsourcing and anti-American worker lobbyist, Miller is on a downward spiral.
The fact that the Washington Post published an account of the AFL-CIO, DPE letter and fact sheet which branded Miller as an "anti-worker hired gun" was unmentioned by Will. I find that very strange.
By George, why the silence on this topic?
Perhaps it's because this is an issue which Republican officeholders generally and George Allen in particular are very vulnerable on?
Is the electorate seeing the benefits of outsourcing? I think NOT! Many of us live in fear of job loss and feel the pinch of stagnant incomes.
That said I wish Schumer had stayed the hell away from OHIO. Instead he took out the best candidate they had, Paul Hackett. Hackett had been polling ahead of DeWine. Ever since Hackett got out, Sherrod has been playing catch up, ussually trailing Dewine. Tell me how was taking Hackett out a good idea?
Let's hope Schumer does what DanG said from now on.