The Connection Newspaper chain is somewhat like the Times chain in the NOVA suburbs. It just endorsed Webb, and had very negative things to say about Allen. Here are the highlights:
ThereGÇÖs no doubt that Jim Webb is not a natural candidate. ThatGÇÖs just one more reason to vote for him for Senate over George Allen.Webb would make an excellent addition to the Senate, with intellectual capacity and experience to help unravel some of the critical problems that body will face in the coming years.
Recently converting from Republican to Democrat, Webb opposed the Iraq war from the beginning, vigorously and publicly arguing against it in the months before invasion.
But Webb has significant credentials. A former Marine, Webb served in Vietnam, and was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals and two Purple Hearts. During the Reagan administration, he served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense of Reserve Affairs and as Secretary of the Navy.
If elected, Webb might be the only senator with a son or daughter serving in combat in Iraq.
But Webb does not trumpet his own service or his sonGÇÖs on the campaign trail, aside from wearing a pair of his sonGÇÖs used combat boots.***
AllenGÇÖs six years in the Senate lack legislative legacy or accomplishment. While this week he has tried to show that he is not in lockstep with President Bush on Iraq, he lacks ideas for any alternative to the current mess there.
And the past months have brought fresh, visceral evidence of AllenGÇÖs racial and ethnic insensitivity, reinforcing decades of racial insensitivity. If you havenGÇÖt watched the GÇ£macacaGÇ¥ video for yourself, you should. It compounds and confirms concern about AllenGÇÖs views, adds to evidence of AllenGÇÖs fascination with the Confederate flag and past display of a noose, a symbol of racial hatred and torture, in his office.
Virginia canGÇÖt afford racial insensitivity because of its past, and because of its future. History: VirginiaGÇÖs past economy was built on slavery, and Virginia was a haven for segregation, closing schools rather than allow integration even into the early '60s. Future: Virginia is an increasingly diverse state, and its future economic and cultural development depends on embracing that diversity.
GÇö Mary Kimm
On the hate amendment, editor Mary Kimm gives a handy list to oppose it that you might find handy if you should you be debating anyone. I especially like Reason #8, which I personally had not seen before:http://www.connectio...
10 Reasons To Vote No on Question 1
October 26, 2006Vote GÇÿnoGÇÖ on the so-called GÇ£marriage amendment.GÇ¥
1) ItGÇÖs wrong to amend the Bill of Rights to explicitly take rights away from anyone.
2) The amendment is unnecessary; same sex marriage is already illegal in Virginia.
3) ItGÇÖs bad for business, potentially jeopardizing fundamental contract law. Some of Northern Virginia's top business leaders have spoken out against it, as has the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce.
4) The General Assembly recently acted to allow private companies to offer domestic partner benefits because big firms that located here wanted to be able to offer the same benefits they can offer in other states. That will be in jeopardy if this amendment passes.
5) The wording is loaded with unintended consequences.
6) This amendment codifies bigotry. It is reminiscent of before the Supreme Court ruled in the 1967 case, Loving v. Virginia, when Virginia law outlawed interracial marriage.
7) It does nothing to protect traditional marriage. Traditional marriage is mostly threatened by infidelity, domestic abuse and by divorce. Want to protect marriage? Pass laws that require counseling and a longer waiting period before marriage. Include education on anger management and domestic abuse in high school. Require counseling and a longer waiting period before executing a divorce.
8) This amendment emboldens those who would act out based on prejudice.
9) Using OhioGÇÖs experiences as a predictor, passage of this law will undermine VirginiaGÇÖs laws against domestic violence, which now protect domestic partners including opposite-sex domestic partners.
10) The marriage amendment is a cynical attempt to get conservative voters to the polls.
Be sure to read the second paragraph of the proposed amendment. It just goes too far:
GÇ£This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage."