According to the recent article in the LA Times ( http://www.latimes.c... ), it was George Allen (not Jim Webb) who was the big winner of 2006, Hollywood, campaign dollars. We all know that L.A. and the monied interests there are a source of campaign funding for both major political parties and for candidates of all stripes. Does anyone remember during Allen's famous "Welcome to America" speech in the Breaks, Va, how Allen spent a few moments to lambast Webb for his Hollywood "values," and for being in Hollywood raising money from "Movie Moguls?" It turns out Allen should have pointed the finger more squarely at himself during his famous speech.
Allen earned $142,350 from the movie industry to Webb's $21,100. That is nearly 7:1 for Allen.
Of course I don't think, if Allen had corrected this error in his famous speech, it would have made any difference. It certainly isn't the key idea people took from that fateful, August 11th, moment in the sun.
It IS still interesting though. (Perhaps the headline could have been "Campaign 2006: VA Senator, Hometown advantage= Hollywood $$$".)
Also, before mid-August a lot of these donors were probably making a bet that Allen was going to be a strong contender in the 2008 presidential race.
Things changed pretty dramatically in mid-August. In 2012 Webb will be the one who enjoys the advantages of incumbency.
The "northeast, liberal, elitist, hollywood, etc" accusation is, of course, a generic label. It wasn't created for one individual or one election - it's pushed by the rightwing talking heads over and over until listeners believe it truly applies to anyone they don't like.
And this is an area that Democrats are getting their asses kicked. We would benefit from the same sort of machinery - either to rally our own, or more important, create doubt among their followers and break that simplistic strangle hold. If Republicans can't use the dumbed down "flip flop" and "elitist" labels they'll have to start arguing real points - a battle the current generation of phony conservatives will lose.
Remember Foley bashed pedihiles and gays. Thurmond supported Racism. Newt bashed Clinton for sexual affair.
The guilty guy always accusses the other guy first.
From the Book of Givens.