George Allen Ad: Webb said Reagan was a "Useless old fool"

[Leopolds Ghost]

Hard-hitting new attack ad from George Allen is mostly crap, but this quote basically messes up Webb's ingenious Reagan strategy.

(I haven't even seen Webb's ad on TV yet, but it supposedly is words of recommendation from Saint Ronnie endorsing Webb, the Democratic Senate candidate and former Navy Secretary who is running against Allen.)

Most of Allen's reply ad could be construed as sour grapes ("Webb ignored Nancy Reagan's request, Webb was only part of the Reagan administration for six months, etc. etc...")

...Except for the fact that it quotes Webb as saying Reagan was a "useless old fool".

Which would be a mark in his favor, in just about any other context.

But Webb is in a position of campaigning on Ronnie's posthumous endorsement, in a state (Virginia) that always went for Nixon/Reagan military types, ever since the Civil War.

What to do? In any other state I would embrace the quote as a positive.

[Demeter]

1. Reagan Was An Old Fool, But He Had His Uses for BushCo

Poppy and the Nixon gang used him like the whore he was.

[LynneSin]

2. Well he was

I'd say the same thing too!!

[Leopolds Ghost]

3. Yeah, but Webb is campaigning on Saint Ronnie's endorsement.

Being an otherwise-liberal military guy who served under Reagan.

[MADem]

5. He was NOT a liberal back then; he was a Republican

But hey, people can improve with age.

[Mike Daniels]

11. An endorsement that's at best over 20 years old.....

and has no connection on Webb as a political candidate.

I plan on voting for Webb but using this "endorsement" from Reagan is somewhat hypocritical given that Webb later denounced most of Reagan's policies after the fact..

[gratuitous]

19. Is the "endorsement" hypocritical?

Considering the way it's driven the Allen campaign to go barking mad, I'd say it was a highly effective strategy, and one aimed directly at the heart of Allen's presumed base designed to crib a goodly segment of voters that Allen thought he had all locked up.

Brilliant, says I.

[WI_DEM]

12. most of us on DU think so, but not necessarily a majority of VA voters

[MADem]

4. There is an OBVIOUS LIE in that ad--all Webb has to do it note it

Webb was SECNAV for almost a year, and then he was an ASD (Asst SECDEF) for a year or two at least under Reagan. So there's a big fat lie right there.

Point it out, point out the guy doesn't CHECK HIS FACTS, doesn't LOOK SHIT UP, and ALWAYS GETS IT WRONG.

Then, leave it at that....

[Leopolds Ghost]

6. Let's hope he's listening to your comments.

Or someone from his campaign. "Mudcat" Saunders, perhaps?

[MADem]

7. Well, I'd imagine someone is, that lie is OBVIOUS

Trust me, anyone who worked for Webb remembers precisely when he arrived and when he departed.

He wasn't an easy fellah to work for!!!

[Leopolds Ghost]

8. Did he call Reagan a useless old fool?

If so, cool, but why's he using Ronnie's endorsement?

Attract more flies with honey, I say. Or to put it another way...
A honeyed tongue doth conceal the... something.

So, you know someone who worked for him? :-)

I 'm not sure pointing out Allen is a liar is sufficient to blunt the charge th=at Webb is pretending to like Reagan.

I suppose he could say that Allen lied about the fool statement, too... and for proof, just look at these other, less interesting lies, such as how long Webb worked for... (waves hands a bit)

[MADem]

9. I have no idea if he did, or not. I wouldn't mention it if he DID, though

And it sounds about right, to be honest.

But that is completely beside the point--If I were Webb, I'd call Allen a pigfucker and make him deny it (to paraphrase LBJ). The best defense in this case is a good offense. And the way to get the offense started is to point out that Asshole Allen doesn't get simple facts right, and is not to be trusted. Unless they've got Webb on tape insulting Ronnie, it's all anecdotal what he did say, or didn't.

Ronnie Reagan sells in VA. VA is BIG NAVY (Norfolk, Tidewater area, Dam Neck and so on) and Ronnie championed a six hundred ship Navy, way back when. He LOVED the Navy. HELLCATS OF THE NAVY was his favorite acting gig!!! Why toss RR's ghost over the side when you want those votes? And the GOP is outspending the Dems by four or five times in GOTV efforts....so let them GOTV for Webb!

As for Webb, I worked for the bastard, briefly. He wasn't an amusing boss. It was a long time ago! That said, I support his candidacy. He's improved with age, it seems.

[AspenRose]

17. Webb Ad should be: "Felix Allen manipulates information and lies about it"

And then point to the Senate and Dick Durbin....

That would nip THAT in the bud right there....

(Hell, I'd even consider pointing to the lies and denial he used re: "Macacagate." Get mean and dirty. It's the TRUTH after all, and is well-documented!)

Feel free to use that Mr. Webb :D

[Tracer]

10. I heard Webb on the car radio on Wednesday ...

... and he said that it wasn't Nancy Reagan who asked him to pull the Ronnie clip, but someone in her office.

He also recalled a conversation with Allen where he said "if you can find any video clips of Reagan complimenting YOU, please go ahead and use them". (paraphrasing).

[noonwitch]

13. Allen is full of macaca

I just had to say it.

[Greeby]

14. Umm, even Reagan's own advisers comtemplated removing him

Under the 25th Amendment, as he had completely lost it

[nealmhughes]

15. Webb obviously meant to say "Reagan was a useful old fool."

[kentuck]

16. Sounds like Allen is behind???

Judging from the tone of his ads?? :)

[bridgit]

18. but he WAS a useless old fool...

:rofl:

[LeftishBrit]

20. Isn't it common knowledge that Reagan was a useless old fool?