Jim Webb? 'Progressives' better go back to the well for someone else to take on Hillary

[wyldwolf]

Yeah, I know some of your get real excited anytime someone makes a little noise about running against Clinton. And truth be told, even though I'm a Clinton supporter I'd love to see some of Warren rub off on her.

But Jim Webb? Who's this desperate?

Webb's niche in the race would apparently be as a more populist, dovish alternative to Hillary Clinton. That's fine, except that he was Reagan's Navy secretary and also something of a Blue Dog Democrat during his service in the Senate. Even on foreign policy, he was often toward the middle of the Senate.

Much like ex-Montana governor Brian Schweitzer (D), that's an odd profile for a guy who is supposed to be winning votes from the liberal wing of the Democratic Party.

He has baggage. Yes, Webb won his 2006 bout with Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), but it wasn't pretty. And some liberals balked pretty loudly when Webb's name surfaced as a potential vice presidential pick for President Obama in 2008.

Among the hits that would resurface in a presidential campaign:

Webb has spoken fondly of his Confederate roots and defended the Southern states' decision to secede, even citing the "Nazification of the Confederacy."

He said in 2004 that John Kerry deserved to be condemned for his actions in opposition to the Vietnam War.

Webb's writings and comments have been criticized by the left for being insensitive to women.

Does this sound to anyone like the profile of the guy who might defeat Hillary Clinton — or even compete with her — in 2016?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/09/23/really-jim-webb-for-president/

[VanillaRhapsody]

1. IIRC Webb is pretty conservative

[sabrina 1]

13. Which only goes to show how far to the right Hillary has moved, when someone like Webb

has ended up to the left of her.

[Mass]

2. Bob Kerrey is the guy pushing behind Webb, so it is hardly a progressive move.

Webb has some good aspects, but his refusal to talk about racism or sexism is a big NO for me and frankly, he was a reluctant senatorial candidate, cannot accept the life in the US Senate and did not run for reelection. Why do people think he will like and accept the difficulties of a presidential race.

I just wished O'Malley got some traction.

[Robbins]

3. well

we will take whoever has guts to take on Hillary.

[wyldwolf]

4. "we will take whoever has guts to take on Hillary." So it's personal.

[Robbins]

12. I'm anyone but Hillary for the nomination

If i have a few choices I will look them over.My preference would be Bernie Sanders running in primarys or elisabeth warren changing
her mind.

Since I am one of the american who will be screwed over to pay for endless wars that she supports with the neocons It is personal

At least Sanders & Warren voted against arming the syrian rebels.Sanders is proven supporter of social safety net and Warren Is
against corporate greed which Bill Clinton supports with singing repeal of glass seagall and supporting companys going overseas to
avoid paying taxes.

Hillary is right of obama on corporations and wars.As a opponent of the large war In middle east that scares me.Plus even more than Obama she is too "Bi-partisan"

If democrats lose 8 seats In november In Senate then In 2016 if democrat Is elected president that democrat will have to deal with
republican congress.The Clintons past history doesn't fill me with confidence In her standing up to them.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. Not necessarily, at least in my case.

There are a few worse Dems than Hillary. At least she's alright on certain social issues, despite my strong disagreement with her hawkish and pro-Wall Street positions.

[MiniMe]

6. Webb was one of Regan's secretary's

I think Secretary of the Navy, so he was a repub before he took on George Allen. And he probably would have lost that election if not for Allen's Macaca moment.

[leftstreet]

7. If it's all about Red Team vs Blue Team, he could win

Since the Centercrats have seen fit to make Reagan Democratic-ology the party platform, Webb could probably do much, much better than Hillary in the general

If it's all about win-team-win! he should be the nominee

[hobbit709]

8. NONE of that justifies being a supporter of Hillary.

[marions ghost]

9. "a more populist, dovish alternative"

--he could get somewhere with that, against the odds I realize...

Yes we are looking for alternatives.

[Historic NY]

10. He calls himself Jeffersonian Democrat..but don't be fooled...he is far from that.

they opposed FDR's New Deal, they used religion, white supremacy, and prohibitionism against Roosevelt...in fact Webb himself steps right into the racist card....as his 2006 campaign trudged on. He sounds great, but he has heavy baggage. Me Thinks he confuses the term.

http://www.daily-jeff.com/opinion/2010/08/11/sen-webb-s-affirmative-confusion

[Marr]

11. How is he really different from Hillary Clinton?

The Webb I saw in the Senate was, as you mentioned, a Blue Dog, establishment Democrat. He sounds like another candidate from the conservative wing of the party to me.

[TBF]

14. Progressives do not have anything to do with Jim Webb -

if anyone is pushing him it's centrists who think he's stronger than Hillary as a candidate.

You can't pin this one on the leftists - he is not one of us.

[madinmaryland]

15. He will never be a candidate for the democratic nomination...

I don't think he would actually get more than a couple percent of the vote in a Democratic Primary.

[Cali_Democrat]

16. Webb is even more conservative than Hillary. nt

[Oilwellian]

17. You should change your title

unless of course you can show us where progressives back Jim Webb, and I doubt you can.

[FSogol]

18. LOL. Damn statistics. Your first link shows that Bernie Sanders is more conservative than

Jim Webb.

VT U.S. Senate Jr Bernie Sanders Independent 47%
VA U.S. Senate Jim Webb, Jr. Democratic 40%

http://votesmart.org/interest-group/1868/rating/6855?of=rating#.VCs901cW3Kd

Maybe making unfounded allegations isn't the way to go. The Democratic primary is better served by having more voices and points of view, not less*. Don't like Webb? Don't vote for him the primary.




* I'm personally not a Webb supporter, but am not scared of him entering the race since better candidates will rise to the top.

[Major Hogwash]

19. It's a damned good thing we Democrats don't have any litmus tests!!!

Oh my stars and garters, he criticized Kerry!!!

[KoKo]

20. Had high hopes for him when he ran...His record is what you say....

Wouldn't trust him or vote for him. But, he might be trying to edge his way in as contender for Hillary's VP. His record would be interesting for a pick by her.

But, I'm not interested in either.

But, thanks for your post. Good to keep up with alternatives and other choices.