First, while WebbGÇÖs opinion of 1979 was wrong, it was at least informed. Jim Webb graduated from the Naval Academy and served in combat and peace time as both a soldier and as an administrator. He placed himself in harmGÇÖs way in service of his country and he earned the right to express opinions about that service no matter how upsetting. George Allen has not. Allen is no more entitled to express an opinion on military service that I am to express an opinion on playing quarterback for UVA (and IGÇÖm a mother of three, by the way). Allen is an opportunistic parasite when it comes to the military, casting himself as a champion of the Armed Services after hiding at a dude ranch during Viet Nam, and currently voting against body armor and widows and orphans benefits for Iraq and Afganistan veterans' families. Allen received a rating of 50 of 100 from the Disabled Veterans of America, proving that the neglect continues once our soldiers return home. He should be ashamed to stand next to these brave people in uniform, and hiding behind Academy grads on TV will not make him any more credible on military issues.
Second, that George Allen should try and outflank Webb on womens issues is patently absurd. Besides his work as Secretary of the Navy improving opportunities for women in service, Webb supports raising the minimum wage (women and children are disproportionately represented below the poverty level), universal health care (ditto), and a woman's right to choose. Allen opposes all of these things, while also supporting the weakening of our public education system (NCLB, SOL), and showing a shocking willingness to throw women and children under the bus during his GÇ£welfare reformGÇ¥ as governor, simply to score points with his big business clientele. When you get a chance, google Allen's comments about unwed mothers- theyGÇÖre heartwarming. And no matter how he chooses to recolor his VMI comments, AllenGÇÖs paternalistic, GÇ£We need to take care of these little ladiesGÇ¥ attitude was just as wrong headed as anything Jim Webb has ever written or said. The main difference being AllenGÇÖs additional twenty years of experience in office at the time he made those comments, certainly long enough to realize that any woman brave enough to attend VMI didnGÇÖt need the protection of a soft handed, spoilt, counterfeit cowboy such as himself.
Jim WebbGÇÖs argument against women at the Naval Academy was insulting and ignorant. It was also thirty years ago, and couched in the context of the time was an opinion widely held by alumni and men in uniform. He has apologized repeatedly, but more importantly Jim has gone on to put his money where his mouth is- opening more billets to women than ever before in the history of the US Armed Services.
Women are just one more group (including Indians- native and Southeast Asian, African-Americans, Jews, and those yet to be insulted) over which Allen feels superior. Unfortunately, the electorate of Virginia must now be included in that company. Allen thinks by recasting himself with slick advertising as a Christian, empathetic champion of women and African-Americans he can erase a lifetime of bigotry, misogyny, and greed.
ItGÇÖs time for Virginia to prove him wrong.
Well, it's worked for him before. And for Bush, too. And so he plans on buying yet another election, with no remorse whatsoever. Only you and I and others of like mind on a face to face personal basis can offset his relentless advertising. I assure you, we will get precious little help from the compliant media. And, while Webb's counter ads are good, they may not reach enough people soon enough.
I just posted a request yesterday about this very issue, the more people who post the more likely we will get the results we seek. If you are not already a member you will need to join, takes about 20 seconds and they have a highly effective and strict "Troll Patrol" for any "wandering" A team members.
Please join me there in addressing this matter. I too am getting very concerned. There is a steady "drip, drip" Kerry non-reaction feel to this. We need a resonse NOW and the DSCC needs to step up NOW!
Maybe that isn't so amazing. Maybe someone is either being dishonest or is ignorant as hell.
You're talking about a a bunch of guys whose mission in life is to make sure that they don't need to deal with women as equals.
You can "find" someone to do just about anything you want. What about that wacky doctor that violated doctor--patient confidentiality and slandered George Allen's opponent Mary Sue Terry? What timing. And didn't he conveniently disappear in the south Pacific?
The pattern is all too obvious to anyone with half a brain.
In 1996, America had integrated and accepted women into positions of leadership in society and the military. Title IX was gospel. Women had attended the service academies for 20 years. There was no valid excuse for discriminatory policy toward women in admission to taxpayer supported schools like VMI. None. It was settled law. George Allen's defense of discriminatory policy was an outlier to acceptable social policy, and a violation the of the 14th Amendment.
Perspective is everything. Governor George Allen used discrimination against one segment of society (women)for political advantage. He is unfit to serve in public office.
The reality is Webb has changed. But...Allen sure hasn't!
That's the difference, Webb can look at reality, contemplate, realize he's wrong, Allen cannot.
I did see Webb’s ad on last night during Letterman.
I found this from the Roanoke times:
"Webb said he strengthened policies against sexual harassment while serving as Reagan's Navy secretary and tripled the number of operational assignments available to women."
This might clinch it for her. Could someone provide me with a link to support and expand upon this?
Thanks...
those are military women speaking for Webb -- that should #1 be enough...
and here is the press release:
the same woman that got up at the allen rally to speak out against webb, now says, she's heard his apology, it's good enough for her and she supports webb -- NOT allen -- should be good enuf to convince your mom...
jim's bio:
it is a FACT that jim webb tripled the amount of combat billets available to women under his leadership as the secy of the navy....
i'm not sure what else can convince your mom -- and i'm terribly leary of people that come on here and say 'my mom' won't support webb -- i'm a mom and i do!
Ads create doubt. I have no doubt about Webb, but she does, and I wrote because I wanted evidence to cite when I next discuss the campaign. I support Webb because of his strong stance against the War in Iraq. I support Webb because he's a Democrat and I want the Democrats to take back the House and the Senate. Period. My Mom voted for Kaine but voted for Allen the first time. So, there's some work to do. Because I agree with FxbAmy that "Jim Webb’s argument against women at the Naval Academy was insulting and ignorant," I want to talk about what Webb did for women while Secretary of the Navy.
I didn't say my Mom doesn't support Webb because she's a Mom... Your reply, "I'm a mom and i do" implies a logical connection that I didn't make.
Thanks again for your help.
Mom should know that Allen does not have the gumption to think for himself and take a stand. He lacks courage. Webb has ample amounts of courage, but more to the point he also has enough power of introspection and analysis to change his point of view when the evidence favors it.
Among the materials about Webb's metamorphosis from his original attitudes to a more mature understanding of and support for women in the military, you will find that the first female African American admiral (her name escapes me) directly credits him with paving the way for her advancement and eventual attainment of that rank. High praise for a guy who has been so savagely maligned in those attack ads. Long before the first question was ever asked about that ancient article Webb had women in many of the most important positions within his campaign. He is clearly comfortable with women in leadership roles. Take a look at George Allen and you will see him surrounded by mostly white men. If he has any women in leadership roles I haven't seen much evidence of them.
Best of luck to your mom. I can't get my mother, who's probably more Republican than the RNC, to even talk to me about the election. Sheesh.