Raising Kaine: What Happens When You Piss Off Jim Webb

[Catchawave]

Courtesy of Raising Kaine:

by: Lowell
Sat Oct 28, 2006 at 17:24:04 PM EDT

Today at the Democratic GOTV rally in Annandale (Va), Jim Webb gave the best speech I've ever seen him give. If he keeps doing this the next 10 days, he's not only going to win, he's going to win big. Ironically, one of the reasons for Jim Webb being on fire today was none other than George "Macaca" Allen himself, who has done the thing you should never do with a tough, fearless Marine like Jim Webb: piss him off by questioning his integrity. We've got Webb's speech on videotape, and will be posting it later on YouTube, but for now I'll just review what he said.


First, Webb declared that this is "one of the most vital elections of the last 30 years," one that "we have to win." Webb joked about how he was the only one on stage wearing a tie, at which point someone shouted at him to take it off. Webb responded, with perfect comic timing, that he could do that but it might start something and you know how he writes books and all... That comment got a great reaction from the crowd. It's great to see Jim keeping his sense of humor, despite the Allen campaign's vicious, below-the-belt, uncalled-for attacks.

Second, Webb noted that he had gotten as far as he has in large part on the enthusiasm of volunteers, people "hitting the pavement" and working their butts off. This is exactly what we need over the next 10 days to ensure a Webb victory.

Third, Webb pointed out that he had always run an "affirmative campaign" on the issues. He quickly ran down his three main themes: 1) reorienting our national security policy and getting us out of the strategic disaster known as Iraq; 2) ensuring economic fairness in our country; and 3) standing up to the President.

Fourth, Webb told the crowd that he wanted to take a few minutes and respond to the Allen campaign's ridiculous charges. Webb accused the Allen campaign point blank of questioning his ethics, his character, and his professional writing career. In the strongest words I think I've ever heard Webb use in the past 10 months, he blasted the Allen campaign for crossing a line that should never be crossed. With his jaw clenched, Webb demanded of the Allen campaign, "Don't question my faith and don't question my character!"

Webb then proceeded to run through a quick review of his writings, proudly noting the rave reviews for "Fields of Fire," "A Sense of Honor," "A Country Such as This," "Something to Die For," "Emperor's General," and "Lost Soldiers." Words like "masterpiece" and "powerful" and "remarkable moral statement" and "historical fiction of a high order" and "reminiscent of Joseph Conrad" rolled off Webb's tongue, as he spoke with great pride - deservedly so! - about what he's written. Let's face it, Jim Webb is a modest guy, but he's a great author and there are no two ways about it.

Fifth, Webb contrasted his own experience with George Allen's in a way that can only be called the brutal truth. Webb said something to the effect of (this is not an exact quote):

I've lived in the real world. I fought in a real war and I saw it ugliness while George Allen was hanging out at a dude ranch! I have written about what I have seen. That is the duty of a writer...George Allen might understand this if he read books. George Allen doesn't read books. Someone said that I've WRITTEN more books than George Allen has READ!

more....

http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5502

[Rowdyboy]

1. "Someone said that I've WRITTEN more books than George Allen had READ"

That line alone merits a recommendation.

Thanks for posting this, look forward to the video.

[Catchawave]

2. Thanks. Save the link

the vid will be up by tommorrow :hi:

[eppur_se_muova]

11. Couldn't Gore have used a comparable line? nt

[Monkeyman]

3. Never piss off a vet you will get a result you do not want

[Stinky The Clown]

4. HELL! Yeah!

**That** is the game film for smeared politicians!

Go Jim Go!

[RiverStone]

5. Thanks! Will look for it on YouTube. Keep rocking Webb!

[Catchawave]

7. Video (2 parts) up now at OP link...n/t

[Boo Boo]

6. K & R /nt

[williesgirl]

8. That's MY Senator! First time I'll be able to admit one is mine! recommended

[KingFlorez]

9. There are some people you never want to make mad

James Webb is one of them. He's fighting back and it's great.

[AspenRose]

10. That's what folks want to see

Democrats FIGHTING BACK.

(Why is that so hard for some Dems to understand?)

Give 'em hell, Webb!

[Clarkie1]

12. I'm so proud of Webb. I suspected Allen's childish behavior would backfire

and it looks like it has. Webb has lived in the real world and written about it, Allen has not. Allen's childish, immature remarks on works of a great writer that accurately portrayed cultural and historical realities was an insult to the people of Virginia. Allen has treated his constituents like easily misled children, and he will pay for it.

Allen may have provided the defining moment for the Webb campaign.

[Catchawave]

17. "The fish rots from the head down" ~Jim Webb

Pretty much explains the current adminstration, eh? Allen even admitted to our local newsies he didn't read Webb's books, but those quotes "were pretty bad".

:banghead:

[Catchawave]

13. Professional Quality Videos now available at:

http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5530

Thanks DU for your votes, I passed this thread on to Raising Kaine so they can feel the DU :loveya: :grouphug:

:toast:

[ChiciB1]

14. Nothing Like A Little "Fire In Yer Belly" Jim Webb... I'm so Glad I

donated to your campaign earlier. I may even give you a "little" more now! I was a little perplexed as to why he didn't trot out his credentials, but had heard he was very modest.

Unfortunately "modest" doesn't get it these days and that's just too bad. Just got a thank you letter from him on Friday, so thank you for posting this. I've been busy trying to get Christine Jennings elected here in Cruella's District and didn't watch any politics today. I would also love to see David Shapiro win in this district too! But if Jennings wins it will be a "strange" sensation around here! I stay "on guard" and can only wait til it's over!

[Straight Shooter]

15. I've read thousands of books, but I've only read excerpts from Webb's book.

But in that small excerpt, I recognized an author who has a way of capturing the essence of a scene so that the reader is transported to that place, and into the mind of the protagonist.

Webb is a very good writer. Not only that, he writes for an intelligent audience. Which of course explains why Felix Allen would never actually read one of Webb's books.

[Cha]

16. REALLy~!

"Our government should no longer be in the hands of a small group of unprincipled, small-minded, power hungry character assassins."

Sounds Mark Twainish..

snip~"Victory of the Loud Little Handful"
by Mark Twain


"The loud little handful - as usual - will shout for the war. The pulpit will - warily and cautiously - object... at first. The great, big, dull bulk of the nation will rub its sleepy eyes and try to make out why there should be a war, and will say, earnestly and indignantly, "It is unjust and dishonorable, and there is no necessity for it."

Then the handful will shout louder. A few fair men on the other side will argue and reason against the war with speech and pen, and at first will have a hearing and be applauded, but it will not last long; those others will outshout them, and presently the antiwar audiences will thin out and lose popularity.

Before long, you will see this curious thing: the speakers stoned from the platform, and free speech strangled by hordes of furious men...

Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception.

Mark Twain, "The Mysterious Stranger"


"http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0920-01.htm

[NCarolinawoman]

18. Jim Webb is a warrior and Allen forgot that.

He doesn't even understand the concept.

Virginia has given us Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and so many people of greatness. Virginia deserves to have somebody better than Allen representing its citizens. Now Virginians have a chance to elect a real native son who is worthy to walk in the footsteps of its forbearers. :patriot:

Please do it, Virginia.

[Infinite Hope]

19. That's great to hear...

but don't think one rousing speech is going to give him a big win. That speech was to energize his base to make sure they vote, obviously. The logic in the pasted article that such speeches will cause him to win big is flawed and ignores the reality that most in support of Allen aren't going to change their minds and most never have and never will hear Webb speak. That speech was purely a base-motivation speech and an important one.

[spooky3]

20. Felix Jr.'s fans buy more "bodice rippers" than anyone, I'm sure.

If anything, because of Felix Jr.'s attacks, they'll get confused and go out and buy Webb's books hoping to find lots of "good parts".

[OzarkDem]

21. He was great on CNN Late Edition today

Very eloquent, very intelligent. Answered the questions about his book very well.