Ask James Webb: 5 pm on dailykos

[MH1]

according to this diary:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/24/123847/565

"If you want to discuss this tour - or whatever else - with Webb, he will be liveblogging here at Daily Kos today at 5 PM Eastern Time."

I don't know that I'll be able to participate at that time but I thought I would let others here know.

I guess everyone knows what I will ask, if I have the opportunity. I would expect either a) no response or b) one we don't like - but this is our chance to give the man the opportunity to speak for himself.

[beachmom]

1. I'm thinking about whether I want to "talk" to Webb

I don't like him. He's one of those people Kerry spoke of, who instead of engaging in debate with dissenters, immediately goes to questioning the dissenter's patriotism. Webb's views on Vietnam are dead wrong. But he clings to them anyway.

Emotionally, I just don't know if I can do it. I am a Virginia voter, but talking to Webb about Kerry is like calling Allen's office about . . . well, anything. Like talking to a wall that will never change. And yet I'll come out of the whole thing drained.

I'll think about it. If I do, I'll let you guys know.

But I also wonder if I'm somehow hurting Kerry by fighting with Webb. Like maybe Kerry is just staying out of this race, and I should also lay low. As I've said before, Harris Miller is the better bet in the general, but most likely Allen will win regardless. And my main goal is to help Kerry. Am I hurting my standing on dKos and DU by going after Webb? Should I try to retain some good will with the communities that can be used in Kerry's favor? I just don't know.

[WildEyedLiberal]

2. Maybe....

.... you could leave Kerry's name specifically out of it. Or better yet, only bring him up in the context of his Saturday speech. Something like:

"Mr. Webb, I am curious about your beliefs regarding the role of dissent in a democracy. You disagree with the Iraq War, yet you are on record questioning the patriotism of those who challenged Vietnam. How can you reconcile your dissent on Iraq with your previously stated beliefs that Vietnam war protestors were unpatriotic?" Link to his specific words if you have to. You could bring up Kerry's speech and quote some of the lines about the patriotism of dissent, or you could leave him out of it - your call.

I'd really like to see someone call him out on it tonight. I actually think you'd be the best candidate, beachmom, since you ARE a Virginia voter. I (especially with my username) would just be accused of having a petty agenda. You could avoid that accusation.

BTW, did you get the DVD of that speech burned? Thank you so much for doing that for me, I really appreciate it.

[beachmom]

3. Can I use what you just wrote?

I'm tired today, and am still thinking about Kerry's speech, so that may be my problem, too.

I can't explain it, but after that Hackett thread where I think we all did well bringing out the facts of what Webb said, I wondered afterwards if I was hurting Kerry, by fighting a Dem, who Kerry has officially said nothing about, and maybe someone might think that this is from Kerry, which it isn't. He really has not said one word about Webb, and I don't think he will. And here I am galloping into the fray with his good name, in a race he has explicitly not gotten involved with. In the end, I am a Virginia Democratic voter, and can do what I want, and have no obligation to Kerry. But sometimes it's more important to look at the big forest, not the trees. Also, I noticed one DU user who is a big Webb supporter say that he/she was considering Kerry in '08, so I certainly don't want to annoy this person away from taking a second look at him.

On the DVD: I burned the speech onto a DVD last night, and tonight my husband is going to try to copy it using the computer, but he's never done that before. If it doesn't work, then I'll have to burn it from the TV again, which means I'll be stuck watching the speech again (poor me) :). Seriously, I don't mind doing that but I want to make several copies, so I hope the computer method works.

[WildEyedLiberal]

4. Feel free!

Be advised that I too feel like tired crap, so you might want to reread it and make sure it's articulate, LOL.

I know what you mean. I do think our concerns about Webb are valid and not just sour grapes pouting about how he's not a JK fan. His attitudes about Vietnam protestors are deeply disturbing and freeperish to me, and they SHOULD disturb anyone who cares about dissent and protest (eg, every liberal). In the future though, if you're concerned, you could just make that point without bringing up Kerry specifically. I've seen Webbies say some nasty things about Miller so I think you're more than entitled to bring up Webb's unsavory past. I really feel like Webb is a Republican running as a D, that's how strongly my freepdar is going off. He is just bad news.

Don't feel rushed about the DVD at all. Thanks again for burning it for me!

[MH1]

5. ...

I would specifically state that you don't know what Kerry's position is, and you are only representing your own. (I think this is an important point, btw, and I'm glad you brought it up).

For me, that USA Today editorial Webb wrote hurts me deeply, and I feel it is insulting to those who were doing the best to tell the truth as they saw it. Not just Kerry - everyone else in VVAW, that Webb smeared at the same time.

Even Kerry said on Saturday that "Dissenters are not always right." However it is a right and a duty to speak out and tell the truth as you see it, especially when you are in a position to have special knowledge, like veterans returning from a war.

Also, a bigger problem that I see with what Webb wrote is that he grossly misrepresented Kerry's 1971 testimony. I might only ask him if he has re-read it, and how is it that he doesn't understand that Kerry was speaking of what others told him at that emotion-laden event in Detroit, as part of discussing the bigger problem of how the government was failing to care for veterans returning from Vietnam, and society was rejecting them. Why did he represent it as something else? Does he not comprehend what Kerry was really saying?

I would ask Webb if it is wrong for a man to speak out for what he believes is right, even if he may not have perfect knowledge or be perfect in his expression of those ideas.

I would ask Webb if it is right to excoriate someone for words spoken and actions taken over thirty years ago, that were clearly intended for a cause that the person deeply believed was right, even if the person was imperfect in their words and thereby caused some hurt. Especially if that person was only 27 years old. And ESPECIALLY if the hurt caused was far more by the distortion of the young man's words, than by what he actually said.

I don't know if I'll be able to post this myself due to the timing. Anyone else can use any part of it, if it helps. But please do make clear we represent only ourselves, and do not know Kerry's feelings on it.

[MH1]

6. Clarification...

I don't necessarily think Kerry's words were "imperfect" in 1971 at all. However I don't necessarily fault people who feel that they were, and that he should have said it differently. I probably disagree - I think he was amazingly eloquent and accurate - but if I can bring someone to agree that the intent was honorable, I can maybe accept if they hang on to the notion that there was some problem with the way it was said. As long as they don't write crap like Webb wrote.

[karynnj]

7. Great questions

I think you may have a lot of good points. The same names seem to appear with no change in their thoughts. Early on, there were many people who didn't know the background - so it was worth it. I also think it's good to counter the "but he came out against swiftboating", pointing out it was 2006 and he still didn't give Kerry the credit he gave all the others. (He shouldn't gat the people who were upset about this.)

I also think there's a difference because he's there. It seems rude. I do think a generic question of how it feels being on the other side of the debate on Iraq vs Vietnam would be interesting just to see where he would take it. Also, what exactly is his position on Iraq now.

[MH1]

8. Webb just posted his live-blog diary

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/4/24/174720/847

I am trying to compose both myself and a rational post.

[Mass]

9. Interesting - After 10 mn, still only 5 posts and no answer from Webb.

[karynnj]

11. He apparently doesn't like questions

on the web any more than he likes debates:

His is his one and only one response:
"Let me clear the air regarding debates.

The difficulties in our campaign have come from our late start, the need to obtain financing, my need to meet with Democratic Party activists in order to give them a comfort zone re: my candidacy, and the size of Virginia, which creates logistical challenges. It's vitally important for me to get out across the state so that people have been able to meet me personally. I'm speaking on the issues as I do this, so my beliefs and positions are constantly being spoken and reported as I move around.

Debates do not really add that much to this formula. I'm not opposed to them and I have agreed to do two of them, but my big concern is meeting as many people as possible in this short time frame, and visiting the places where they live and work.

Speaking of that, folks, I have to get in my Jeep and head to Richmond. I promise you a longer session in the very near future"

[MH1]

12. Heh. Either very poor planning on his part - or was he suddenly spooked

by a particular question?

I mean, it's an odd coincidence that he realizes he has to book out right after I post my in-your-face about dissent and patriotism and what he said about Kerry. (And it was a fairly respectful in-your-face, I think).

[karynnj]

16. So in the debate/question world he is not very strong

Contrast to campaign stories of Kerry staying for hours to answer all questions before him.

So, you scared him.

[karynnj]

10. Loved your post MH

The stuff there is interesting. There is one post that says Miller is doing slightly better against Allen. That is very interesting as the only argument made for Webb is electability.

His response on debates was weird and telling. (He feels he needs the time to meet people and raise money and debates do little for this. My local candidates have debates and it's the only easiest way to compare 2 people. How would this affect him as a Senator? If he doesn't like debate, why is he running for a body famous for debate?

[MH1]

13. Thanks - a few reco's might let him know that a lot of people care about

this. I know that you did - just thinking that others, who don't want to write their own, could just tag mine with a reco, as a way of saying, "me too". If folks don't want to though, I understand.

[fedupinBushcountry]

14. Howcome my rec'd failed ?

I am new to Kos and I was signed in and I checked recommend and it came back failed. :shrug:

[MH1]

15. Hmmm....one theory.....

I had my "Account" page open because I was changing my sig. I didn't close it after I saved my sig. Maybe there is some hangup if the account record is open for editing?

Okay that makes no sense, but computers can be like that.

:shrug:

[sandnsea]

17. I rec'd

I never remember to do that, so at least you reminded me of that. I've got no answers for your dilemma though.