At 10 AM this morning, Jim Webb will be debating Harris Miller on the "Politics Program" with Mark Plotkin. To listen live, click here. This is the last scheduled Senatorial debate of the 2006 Virginia Democratic primary season, so if you're at all interested, you might want to check it out. I'll try to "live blog" it as much as possible...my comments in italics.2-minute opening statements...
1) Harris Miller: "It's time for a change in Washington." "People are sick and tired of the mess in Washington." "[I'm] a Mark Warner Democrat." "[I offer] concrete solutions to real problems." "We have hundreds of volunteers..."
Lowell's question for Miller: since you've been part of the problem in Washington DC as a corporate lobbyist, how can you now be part of the solution? And what's this about "hundreds of volunteers?" None of us have ever seen them; are you bringing them in from India for the weekend? Ha.
2) Jim Webb: "I entered this race only after a great deal of thought." "I believe that I have the leadership skills..and experience...during a time when we desperately need those skills." "Old labels of liberal and conservative don't apply anymore." "We need solutions, not divisive political rhetoric." Concerns over "economic breakdown" and globalization. Varied experience. 13 US Senators and over 60 Virginia Democrats have endorsed. "People are comfortable with my political philosophies."
Excellent point about "divisive political rhetoric, not that we would EVER have that here in Virginia. :)
Mark Plotkin to Harris Miller: "Harris, you can't win," that's what people are saying.
Miller: I really respect Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer, but they don't know Virginia. I received endorsements from people like Mark Herring. "People in Virginia know I have a winning message."
Miller disses Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer once again. Nice!
Mark Plotkin to Jim Webb: Washington Post endorsement of Miller?
Webb: "The Washington Post isn't Gospel." "I've been running on issues well beyond the Iraq War." Two other major themes: Breakdown of our society along economic lines as a result of globlization...outsourcing. I don't think I'm xenophobic when I talk about those issues." "What is a leader." "Harry Truman brought common sense leadership." JFK. "I know how to do that."
Excellent answer by Jim Webb. The Washington Post and Harris Miller are huge fans of globalization and outsourcing. Jim Webb is a "free trade" advocate who is deeply concerned about outsourcing. Take your choice.
Marc Fisher to both candidates: George Allen's TV ad. Killing of Zarqawi. War on terrorism. Turning point? Democrats as weak on national security?
Miller: "Republicans have done a very poor job of defending our country." Money is going to states that Al Qaeda's not targeting. "I give the US military full credit [for killing Zarqawi], but unfortunately it's not a turning point." "We're still in a quagmire. George Bush and George Allen do not have an exit strategy.
True, but do YOU have an exit strategy, Mr. Miller?
Webb: Difference betweeen tactical and strategic. "I've been on a battlefield." Killing of Zarqawi is a good thing but "doesn't address the strategic questions about why we went into Iraq in the first place." Allen's "scare tactics," same as we've heard before.
This is exactly where Jim Webb kicks George Allen's butt - national security, where Webb has tremendous experience and credibility.
Bruce DuPoit: Border security, guest worker program.
Webb: "Issue #1 is gaining control over our border." Can't solve issues 1, 2, 3, and 4 unless we solve issue #1. We do need a path to citizenship...if they want to be citizens. "I do not favor guest worker programs."
Strong answer: have to solve a list of issues here, but first need to get control of our borders.
Miller: Quite a different view than Jim does. Penalties against employers who hire illegal aliens. People are coming here to get jobs. Until we focus on the employers, that's not going to stop. George Allen is engaged in immigrant bashing. We're all immigrants. We have to respect those people who are here. It would take 398 years to deport the people who are here. Stay here legally, pay taxes and social security, learn English.
What's this 398 years comment? Has Harris been up late playing with Excel again? Ha.
Miller ad in the middle of the debate! Huh?!?
Plotkin to Miller: Fears about your opponent? What do you think people should fear about Jim Webb?
Miller: Jim decided in 2000 to support George Allen over Chuck Robb. Webb referred to Clinton fatigue. Where is Jim now on those issues? George Bush was very clear in 2000. He was clearly going in the wrong direction.
The same old, same old from Miller about Webb being a Republican
Webb: Look at the people in the Democratic leadership who endorsed us. John Kerry, Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid don't have a problem with that. We need to move forward from 2000. We need different sets of eyes on the problem.
In terms of Harris, concerned over his support of outsourcing. Left out worker protection in WTO. We have suffered a great deal in this country. WalMart - sends it work over to China to sell products back here in the United States, corporate hierarchy makes a great deal of money.
Major difference between Webb and Miller on globalization and outsourcing. Strong point about entire Democratic national leadership backing Webb.
Miller: We have a global economy, and we haven't made the preparations to deal with it. I organized the first national conference on making the US economy competitive...in 1997. The reality is that China and India are competing with us...they're making investments in the future. We can wring our hands about globalization or we can do something about it. Investing in the future. I'm not just complaining about it, I've offered real constructive suggestions.
Miller organized the first national conference on US economic competitiveness? That's hard to believe; did he invent the internet, too, when he was head of the ITAA? Ha.
Marc Fisher question to Miller: Flyer, "Miller the Job Killer" as anti-Semitic?
Miller: Frankly, it's despicable. I was very disappointed to see it. It was only distributed in certain parts of Virginia.
No Harris, what's outrageous is the fact that you've been spreading vicious rumors about Jim Webb since day #1.
Webb: If anyone knows me, knows that I would never engage in that sort of conduct. Most of the flyers in this campaign from Harris have distorted my views. That flyer came from SWVA. I would not say that is anti-Semitic. Harris has played the race card in this campaign by distorting my views on Affirmative Action. If anyone perceived it as anti-Semitic, they have my apologies.
This whole flyer is a ridiculous distraction. Miller constantly bringing it up is exactly what REPUBLICANS do when they want to scare people in voting against their opponents. Move along, people, there's nothing to see here.
Bruce DuPoit to Webb: First hurdle is the Democratic primary. Talk to the Democrats who will decide this race about your relatively late-in-life party switch.
Webb Grew up in the party of FDR, Truman. During Vietnam War, like a lot of people, I affiliated with the Republican Party due to its views on national security issues. That is a group that the Democratic Party needs back. Republicans look for converts, Democrats look for heretics. Need to win back people who identify with Democrats on economic issues. I'm one of those people.
Great answer; Dems need to win back the tens of millions of "Reagan Democrats" and others who should be voting Democratic based on economic issues, but aren't because of national security or other "cultural" issues. Jim Webb can win these people back. Harris Miller can't, in my view.
Plotkin to Miller: You contributed to prominent Republicans like Dennis Hastert, the top Republican in the House of Representatives.
Miller: I've given over quarter million dolllars to Democrats. There were people on my [ITAA] board who said "you're too prominent a Democrat." I did have to be partisan. I'm a big boy, I made the decision.
What a bunch of bull. Miller didn't just DONATE to Republicans, he urged the re-election of one of the most right-wing Republicans - Spencer Abraham - in recent years. The ITAA made him do it? That's a total joke. Miller goes around bragging how the ITAA was HIS organization, but somehow they "made" him endorse Spencer Abraham and personally give money to right-wing Republicans. What. Ever.
Plotkin: Was it a mistake giving money to Hastert.
Miller: I'm not going to apologize for that. Hastert was a big advocate of the internet.
Oh great, Hastert was fighting against women's rights, the enviroment, and everything else we Democrats care about, but it's all forgiven because he was a big fan of the Internet? What a joke.
Plotkin to Webb: Shrewd and perceptive analyst about Iraq. What would you DO as a United States Senator? What's your policy?
Webb: I've been doing this all my adult life - national security. First step, say unequivocally that we have no long-term desires in Iraq. Clear statement...take moral high ground. Start walking ourselves back out. Get countries near Iraq...
I think we could get out of Iraq in 1 1/2 years, maybe 2 years. I would not vote to cut off funds because that's a useless proposition.
Miller: Iraq is a "business problem." Set specific objectives; when met, draw down U.S. troops. If Administration doesn't do that, I would move quickly to cut off funds.
Webb: McNamara and Rumsfeld are both businessmen, and they've gotten us into the two worst wars in recenty history. War is not a business proposition.
Marc Fisher on Kaine/Death Penalty
Miller: I generally support the death penalty. I don't know enough specifics to comment one way or the other. Great deal of respect for Gov. Kaine.
Webb: Death penalty should be used in cases of intentional cases, be VERY careful in cases of crime for passion. Crimes for hire - death penalty appropriate.
Much better answer by Webb on this issue. The death penalty should only be used, if at all, for the most heinous of cases - premeditated murder. Harris Miller wants to "flip the switch myself." Miller's MUCH more conservative on this issue, reminiscent of Jerry Kilgore last year.
Plotkin: Rumsfeld should be fired?
Miller: Yes.
Webb: "It's such an easy shot to say we should fire Rumsfeld." "We need to hold this entire Adminstration accountable." Who would take Rumsfeld's place?
Webb's answer is dead on. Believe it or not, Harris, President Bush isn't going to fire Rumsfeld because you urged him to. Sorry. Also, the problem is MUCH deeper than Don Rumsfeld here. Jim Webb is exactly right - this entire Administration needs to be held accountable
Plotkin: Of Bush appointees, who would you have voted "no" on.
Miller: Judge Alito. System of checks and balances. "I didn't give money to John Ashcroft." You have to give a lot of deference to the President in terms of his nominees.
Uh, Harris? You may not have given money to John Ashcroft but as a corporate lobbyist, you publicly backed his nomination. In January 2001, you sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, Orrin Hatch (R-UT) urging swift confirmation of Ashcroft, claiming Ashcroft posessed "impeccable" credentials. (Computer Reseller News, January 15, 1991). Lovely.
Plotkin: I'm trying to be specific.
Miller: I would have voted "no" on Michael Brown, head of FEMA.
Webb: I would agree with Harris on both of those. "Brownie's a good example." "It's really hard to go through a confirmation process...I've done it twice." "There should be a deference to any Administration, unless there's something that really jump out at you."
I believe there should be deference as well, but it's got to be a 2-way street. And the Bush Administration has shown ZERO deference to Congress. Miller wouldn't have approved Brownie, knowing what he knows now? Wow, that's a "profile in courage! Ha.
Plotkin: Ashcroft?
Webb: I probably would have shown some dference to the Administration, not that I would have agreed with Ashcroft's policies. I would vote no when someone is clearly unqualified for the job. Something in their record that would embarass the government.
Miller: I would agree with that. When Cabinet doesn't respect the role of Congress. The Congress makes the laws, the Exec. Branch executes them.
I generally agree with Webb and Miller on this one, but I think if someone is obviously extreme, right-wing or left-wing, they should be rejected. And Ashcroft obviously was extreme.
DuPoit: Notion of shared sacrifice. Common good. Fiscal crisis. Noone asks American people to do without. Energy area as well. What sacrifice are you willing to ask of American people.
Miller: Balanced budget would involve some sacrifice. Pork barrel projects. Entitlements problems aren't why we're in trouble right now. $ trillion debt to $9 trillion debt under Bush and Allen. Pay-as-you-go. We need to immediately increase mileage standards for cars.
No talk of rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the richest Americans at a time of war and huge deficit? Harris Miller: no leadership on an extremely important issue. "Pay as you go" is nice, by the way, but everyone talks about it and it never seems to get done under the Republicans.
Webb: I agree on "pay as you go." The way that we have approached the internationalization of the global economy has hurt the middle class. Get better worker standards in WTO. Start looking at the currency imbalance between China and the United States. That would mean higher prices for imported goods from China.
We've been fighting a war now since 2003. There's a small group of people in this country who've been paying that price, as Marc Shields points out. One of my son's best friends got killed yesterday in Iraq.
Jim Webb's good friend and fellow Marine Marc Shields is exactly right on this. At a time of war, it is unfair to ask only a few to sacrifice, while the wealthy get huge tax breaks. Not fair at all, and Webb clearly understands that. Miller doesn't seem to "get it."
Plotkin: Should there be a draft or voluntary service.
Webb: One of the first things I would do is a 5% tax break to everyone who serves honorably in the military.
Miller: I don't support a draft.
I personally support mandatory national service, so I guess I disagree with both Miller and Webb on this one. A 5% tax breawk for our fighting men and women is a great idea, since they're the ones who have sacrificed. Pay for it by imposing a windfall profits tax on big oil companies, as Webb has suggested.
Plotkin: Estate tax?
Miller: "Getting rid of the estate tax is not a good idea.
Webb: The idea of a proper estate tax is something I would support. Have to adjust for higher property valuations.
I totally opppose getting rid of the Estate Tax, but have absolutely no problem with adjusting it for inflation, housing prices, etc. The Estate Tax is a core Progressive principle, dating back to Teddy Roosevelt. We must keep it, especially at a time of war, huge deficits, and growing income inequality in our country.
DuPoit: Marriage amendment.
Miller: I would vote against the marriage amendment. We have a real crisis in this country, and instead of the US Senate spending time on the issues that Virginians really care about, they spend time on issues that divide people. "I support civil unions."
Miller's been all over the place on this issue, but I'm glad he seems to have ended up in the right place on this one.
Webb: Harris and I don't have a lot of disagreement on this. This is a product of the Karl Rove era...manipulation of people on emotional issues, attempt to get them riled up. Virginia marriage amendment is atrociously written.
Webb nails it. This marriage garbage is a distraction from Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, Brownie, NSA spying, Gitmo, and all the other incompetence displayed by the Bush Administration/Republican Congress.
Miller: Tim Kaine kept talking about the issues that people really cared about. Kilgore lost by 6 points. Give the Virignia voters a lot of credit. Allen's failure as a Senator.
Webb: This is an emotional issue. I think the terms "gay marriage" is in many ways a deliberate confusion... I'm a Christian. Deliberate manipulation of a religious term.
This is another reason why I love the Jim Webb candidacy. He can speak to people in rural areas and others who are culturally conservative in a way that Harris Miller simply cannot do. Democrats need this to get the guys in the "pickup trucks," as Howard Dean once said, back to the Democratic Party. See "Foxes in the Henhouse by Steve Jarding and Dave "Mudcat" Saunders for more on this.
Plotkin: DC Statehood
Miller: Yes.
Webb: I certainly would be favorably disposed.
Plotkin's obsession...gotta give him credit for keeping this one going, year after year. Some day, I hope he is successful!
CLOSING STATEMENTS
Webb: Grateful for this hour. If Harris wins this primary, I will stand with him. It's important this year for the Democrats to come out strong, defeat Allen and take country back. Get out and vote.
Nice statement of Democratic unity, despite all the slime that Miller has spread about Webb. Classy.
Miller: Change the direction of this country. Allen thinks we're headed in the right direction; we're headed in the wrong direction. Sick and tired of the partisanship in Washington. "As a Mark Warner Democrat, I can bring that changbe." Please get out and vote. After that, Jim and I will unite and make sure we have a new direction for Virginia.
Strong statement by Miller, and we'll hold him to it after Tuesday when Jim Webb is the nominee!
Here is the link to their stream...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/wtwpradio/listen.html#
Spin class starts directly after the Debate. Stay tuned.
"Who's going to take on Virginia Senator George Allen? We hear from Democrats Harris Miller and Jim Webb. Witness history in the making... Coming up next. "
Harris Miller:
Thanks... time for a change... driven 24,000 miles across va. people are ready for a change... george allen major part of the problem... 96%, bored, more time in iowa and nh... mark warner democrat... fiscal mess in washington, absence of healthcare... knocking on doors...
Jim Webb
I entered this race only after a great deal of thought. motivation is simple... I have the leadership skills during a time when we need them at a national level... the old labels dont' apply anymore... need solutions not rhetoric... watched from the sidelines as wot slid into ... abuses of presidential authority... my honor to serve mil, counsel, sec nav, writer, journalist... prepared to represent the .... endorsed by 60 in VA and Democratic national Senatorial leadership. Senate leadership wants to work with me.
WaPo... Richmond... va pilot... people who know VA, know I can win.
ahem...
Wapo: Harris "more thoughtful". Webb: strident populism, and not prepared.
Webb: wapo isn't gospel. Running on issues. breakdown of society along economic lines as a result of globalization: xenophobic? wapo is wrong. What I bring is leadership. Nobody can master Truman brought commonsense leadership. JFK brought experts together. Leadership trumps wonkishness.
Great work killing Zarkawi. at the same time they killed him, 37 more civillians killed, last month 1400. We're still in a quagmire.
Webb: Zakawi - tacical and strategic. I know a battlefield: kill those out to kill you. doesn't address the strategic questions. Allen's ad is just the exact same scare tactic. We're in a less safe world than we were before 2004.
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Both right
Mexico needs
I do not favor guest worker progams.
Senate bill is better than the house but not in favor.
Miller: we need to control the borders by sanctions including jail time. need id card to get work. bush hsn't been interested in focusing on bush. Dissapointed in Allen for immigrant bashing. We're all immigrants and we have to respect those who are here. it would take 400 years to deport these people. protect these people while they they learn... they learn english.
~87% for border security
~75% employer sanctions
so he's parroting what the polling is saying.
Reality is he encouraged illegal labor to union bust
and his favor labor arbitrage Visa, the H-1B is in the Senate bill and unfortunately Democrats did not stand up for professional labor and stop an automatic 20% escalator or do anything to stop the massive fraud and abuse that goes on with the H-1B.
I hope Webb means to include H-1B, L-1, F-3, H-2B when he says "guest worker" (which is the H-2C) because we need some of the old Democratic infrastructure to support US jobs and innovation (like the GI bill for example, or dramatic increases in funds for nursing professors US nursing colleges and so on).
Also, employer sanctions are being fought tooth and nail in both houses because of the lobbyists: the ITAA (Miller's creation), Bill Gates, the US. Chamber of Commerce, who want to still get their cheap labor with no consequences.
The AFL-CIO is against guest worker Visas and the AFL-CIO DPE is trying hard to stop the H-1B Visa increases and abuses.
There is still the L-1 and the F-4 which are also being fought against since they are also used (or will be used) as a labor arbitrage/denial of opportunity vehicle.
One thing Webb got right in the Chris Matthews blast a question is immigration is complex and there is no one straight answer...
unless of course you're Miller, who knows immigration policy and especially ways to manipulate that policy for cheap labor inside and out...
yet simply wants to give a sound byte to get people to vote and not realize what they are really voting for.
Miller: Did you hate peace or prosperity about Clinton? Where are you now that you weren't in 2000? All the neo-cons were around Bush. Jim thought they were going in the right direction.
Webb: Look at the people in the democratic learderhisp. Kerry, Reid, dont' have a problem with that. I'm here running as a democrat to provide
Webb: Miller supports outsourcing. Look at WTO and free trade, left out worker protection and we've lost out in the middle class. Corporate account like walmart sending work to China to sell in USA.
Miller: Trying to warn peoople that we have a global economy and we need to prepare for it. Organized first national conference on making US competitive. How are we going to deal with it? they're competing and not for 2nd place. I agree with Clinton and Warner, but Allen and bush have failed. my detailed plan is why Wapo endorsed me.
Miller: I'm disappointed. It's disappointing. my religion
Webb: anyone who knows me knows that I would never engage in this kind of conduct. most of the flyers from miller have distorted my views. This flyer came from
I wouldn't look at it. Harris played the race card in this campaign. If anyone sees it as anti-Semitic, I'm sorry.
Harris is welcome to stand up and say that. It's a free country.
----
But jeez, I'd really like to hear him say, Harris you fecking idiot, it looks like you! Rather than hide behind the ridiculous slander you are tossing at me and my campaign, how about we talk about the real issue, which is your sending tons of jobs overseas!?
Republicans look for converts, democrats look for heretics.
Was it a mistake?
not going to apologize.
We need to get other countries that ahve been our allies.
If a vote came for a deadline would you support it? I think we could get out without a year and a half. I wouldn't vote to cut out funds because that doesn't fix it.
Miller: business problem. here are your objectives, build up Iraq forces.
why is cutting off funds not work?
Macnamara and Rumsfeld are both business men, they'f gotten us in wrong places you can't take a business approach.
Biden has done a great job using the bully pulpit. In the senate that's the way to go.
Webb: Governor's prerogative. Death penalty should be used in cases of intentional but very careful on crimes of passion. When you've got murder for hire or violent crime, death penalty is appropriate.
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Fire rumsfeld?
Webb: its easy to say we should fire him. I woudln't be happy if Rumsfeld left, but who takes his place? we need to hold bush administration responsible.
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Nominees who would you have opposed?
Miller: would have opposed Alito. Roberts was different. We need checks and balances, but Alito doesn't.
Miller I didn't donate to Ashcroft. You have to give a lot of Deference to the president in terms of nominees. Miller: I would have voted no on Michale brown to head fema.
Webb: it's really hard to go through a confirmation process. there should be a deference. I would have supported Ashcroft at the time.
Webb I would oppose Brown, judge for horse shows.
Miller and Webb both oppose Bush's add on papers.
I thought it was close but Webb was the winner (I know, you're SHOCKED).
Webb needs to distill his message a bit (the press doesn't do nuance).
Miller got hammered on donating to republicans (especially Hastert) but stood his ground ("I'm a big boy"). He also got grief for the campaign ad that ran about halfway through (although that was not his fault, the station should have pulled the ad which they admitted).
Both candidates repaired bridges a bit at the end.
I think being a Democrat at heart is making the difference in Jim. He is tough on Defense, and he is open and moderate on social concerns facing Virginia.
The comic book issues ad from SouthWest Virginia was handled perfectly and the CASE IS CLOSED on that one. Harris thinks so too after Jim's answer. SUPER!!!!!
I think they got along well together, something Virginia is looking at as well. A lot of laughter and support for each other should the other win.
They committed to return in November to debate Allen, whichever one wins.
GO JIM GO ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Who has the better chance against Allen? This is not pre-conceived, just honest, its Webb. That's my opinion, but its also what I see in South West Virginia. There are some pretty conservative towns down here and I see Webb yard signs everywhere - I haven't been to NOVA since this started -including the giant farm field signs for Webb. I have seen none for Miller or Allen (though it's too early, I think). Roanoke, Blacksburg, pretty much all the Apalachians are going to swing hard for Webb in the primary and, I would assume, in the general election. Webb's website's banner is from his Roanoke appearance. Did Miller even bother to come over the Blue Ridge before the primary? Maybe, but if he did I never heard of it.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Pyatt
jeffpyatt@webbforsenate.com
(703) 778-4080 x202
June 9, 2006
WEBB WINS AGAIN
Harris Miller stumbles again on Iraq Today, on "The Politics Program with Mark Plotkin," Jim Webb showed once again why he is the only candidate capable of beating George Allen.
"Jim proved once more that he is the only candidate who has the knowledge, experience and background to beat George Allen," said Webb spokesperson Kristian Denny Todd. "Miller proved once more that he is capable of memorizing talking points written by his army of high-paid political consultants."
Harris Miller hails endorsement of Pro-Iraq War, Pro-Outsourcing Newspaper
The Washington Post has endorsed Harris Miller. Of course they did, the Washington Post is in favor of the war in Iraq, just like George Bush, George Allen and Harris Miller. Jim Webb has consistently opposed this war and believes we need to get our troops home. The Washington Post favors trade agreements that foster outsourcing, as does Miller. Jim Webb has said, as the next Senator from Virginia, he will be the leader of the anti-outsourcing movement.
Harris Miller favors foreign workers over American workers.
At a time when there are already 11 million illegal immigrants working in the United States Harris Miller advocated a guest worker program that would bring 200,000 more foreign workers into the United States every year.
Miller also has a history of opposing the American worker. Labor leaders call him "one of the truly bad guys ... unfit for any kind of labor support." (Letter from Washington labor leader, 2/6/2006)
Miller said unionization would "minimize job flexibility, reduce the ability to negotiate wages and stifle creativity." (Network World 6/4/01)
Harris Miller deliberately distorted his position on outsourcing.
Miller says he has "warned about outsourcing," which is blatantly not true. Miller has said outsourcing "pushes the US economy to perform at a higher level." (ITAA Press release, 4/2/2004)
On a list of ITAA priorities in September 2004 Miller stated his opposition to two separate bills, which would have helped reduce outsourcing. (ITAA Releases Short List for Congressional Action, 9/7/2004, http://www.itaa.org/taxfinance/release.cfm?ID=610) What kind of warning is this?
Harris Miller and the Republican Party.
Miller once again refused to apologize for helping to elect conservative Republicans over the past eight years saying, "I’m not gonna apologize for it." (Politics program with Mark Plotkin 6/9/2006) This is in stark contrast to Jim Webb, who not only admitted making a mistake in not supporting Chuck Robb in 2000, but personally apologized to Robb and received the support of 11 members of Robb’s former staff. Miller did "everything" he could to beat Democrat Debbie Stabenow in 2000, who is now the Junior Senator from Michigan. Miller has not only refused to apologize for opposing Stabenow, but Senator Debbie Stabenow has endorsed Jim Webb in this primary.
Miller contributed $5,500 to Republicans including Denny Hastert, Spencer Abraham, Arlen Specter, Billy Tauzin, John Sununu and Adam Putnam.(opensecrets.org) Miller called the nomination of John Ashcroft a "win-win because he has impeccable legal credentials." (Computer Reseller News, 1/15/01) Abraham, Ashcroft, Hastert, and Tauzin all voted to impeach Bill Clinton or found him guilty in his impeachment trial. (Senate roll call vote #17, 2/12/99, 106th Congress, 1st session; Roll Call vote numbers 543-546, 105th Congress, 2nd session)
Harris Miller supported the war in Iraq; doesn’t support American troops.
Harris Miller has completed his total disregard for the safety of U.S. soldiers. Yesterday on Hardball, Miller said he supported the Iraq war, then in what has come to be his normal tactic, shifted blame, saying he was tricked into supporting the war by George Bush, Colin Powell and some unnamed State Department official who promised Miller there was an exit plan. (Hardball With Chris Matthews, 6/8/2006)
Today he announced his plan to totally abandon American soldiers in Iraq saying he “would support moving quickly to cut off funds†for the war. (The Politics program with mark Plotkin, 6/9/2006) Troop safety is already underfunded. Miller’s advocacy is a slap in the face to all American troops who have courageously volunteered to fight and defend America in Iraq. Miller has previously advocated a withdrawal plan that leaves American soldiers in Iraq until Iraqi soldiers are trained to replace them. The combination of Miller’s two Iraq plans means that American troops will remain in Iraq for the indefinite future with no funding. “This is clearly the words of a man who doesn’t know how to best protect American troops in a combat environment,†said Todd.
Jim Webb has opposed the Iraq war from the start. Jim wrote an editorial in the Washington Post in September 2002 warning of the dangers of invading. (Washington Post, 9/4/2002) Webb’s son will be deployed to Ramadi later this summer.
Harris Miller touts Republican contributions to his campaign
Miller stated he has Republicans who have contributed to his campaign. This makes sense. These are people who wish to see George Allen win in November.
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Paid for by Jim Webb for U.S. Senate
I am curious because after the Kennedy/Nixon debate, Polls showed that voters who watched the debate on TV thought Kennedy won while voters who listened on the radio thought Nixon won. The debater's appearance/body language had obviously played a roll in how the candidates were judged.
I watched the Hardball debate and thought that Webb was the winner hands down but I thought the debate on Plotkin's show, which I listened to, was closer (I still deemed Webb to be the winner, surprise!!!) and I was curious if this was the same effect.