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Jim Webb Will Not Be Obama’s Cracker Bait

Posted on July 7, 2008 at 3:04 pm

You don’t get more unequivocal than this (via Braisted):

“Last week I communicated to Senator Obama and his presidential campaign my firm intention to remain in the United States Senate…Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President.”

Marc Ambinder asks a good question. Nobody actually refuses a Vice Presidential nomination so why issue this statement? Is Webb trying to save face after finding out he was not on the short list?

Did Obama after deciding not to pick Webb counsel Webb to make this statement to counteract criticism that might have followed him passing over such an obvious choice?

Why did this decision have to be made public?

Obama’s problem’s with Appalachian voters are well documented. Webb’s presence on the ticket would have gone a long way towards assuaging the fears of the “cracker” vote. There is no candidate I can think of who could have accomplished this quite like Webb.

This statement, at this time, is very, very curious.

Comments

19 Responses to “Jim Webb Will Not Be Obama’s Cracker Bait”

  1. July 7th, 2008 4:14 pm

    Or, we could take the simplest explanation, and assume he was tired of being peppered with questions about the VP race and decided to end speculation, so as not to be further annoyed.

  2. GoldnI writes
    July 7th, 2008 4:36 pm

    Oh, but wild speculation and analyzing every little detail for a hidden meaning is just so much more fun :)

    I’m with ACK though, I think the timing is a little strange.

  3. Indga writes
    July 7th, 2008 4:38 pm

    Or, Webb just doesn’t think much of Obama and refuses to be second in command under him. It’s that simple. Webb strikes me as the kind of guy who would be contemptuous of Obama.

  4. July 7th, 2008 4:44 pm

    Indga,

    Which doesn’t really jibe with the rest of his release which goes on to say how much he looks forward to helping Obama win Virginia and win the Presidency.

    It could be as simple as he knows the Vice-Presidency is a crap P.R. job, and he doesn’t want it.

  5. GoldnI writes
    July 7th, 2008 4:45 pm

    The last paragraph of Webb’s statement:

    “At this time I am also renewing my commitment to work hard to make sure that Senator Obama wins both Virginia and the presidency this November. He is a man who speaks eloquently about our national goals and calls for the practical solutions that must be put into place to obtain them. I will proudly campaign for him.”

    Yeah, that sounds pretty contemptuous to me…

  6. Bladesong writes
    July 7th, 2008 4:45 pm

    “Nobody actually refuses a Vice Presidential nomination”…or perhaps “nobody who would refuse a VP nomination waits until they’ve been publicly nominated.”

  7. Xixi writes
    July 7th, 2008 4:46 pm

    As a redheaded, fighting Irishman, Webb might be very in tune with the probable “Bubba vote” and not want to be part of a losing enterprise.

  8. htom writes
    July 7th, 2008 4:51 pm

    {laughs} Don’t you get it? This is it, the announcement that Webb will be Obama’s running mate!

  9. Seneca writes
    July 7th, 2008 4:52 pm

    Who wants to be remembered as a loser, if remembered at all.

  10. ZEITGEIST writes
    July 7th, 2008 5:11 pm

    […] JAMES WEBB TO OBAMA: “Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President.” […]

  11. apetrelli writes
    July 7th, 2008 5:11 pm

    A centerpiece figure of Reagan’s aggressive military buildup, the most vigorous advocate of the “thousand ship navy” and expansion of our aircraft carrier fleet — the very symbol of the projection of US military power overseas? As Obama’s VP??? ROFL. He was never acceptable to the ardent Left, just a valuable tool for adding to the Democratic Caucus, and a turnabout politician willing to say a few good pieces of useful demagoguery.

  12. July 7th, 2008 5:40 pm

    don’t forget that Joe Lieberman has announced that he is not interested in being a VP for McCain. Why? He wants the Supreme Court…he knows that in the next election he will lose in Connecticut…like the idea of lifelong gig.

  13. tony writes
    July 7th, 2008 7:30 pm

    If any other Democrat said it, it would be code for “My staff is already writing my acceptance speech, but I don’t want to seem eager in case I don’t get asked.”

    With Webb, who probably still has some Republican in him, it’s hard to say. My guess is that he means it.

    Say, are you THE fred lapides?

  14. Wintermute writes
    July 7th, 2008 7:43 pm

    I continue to object to your use of the racial epithet “cracker” in your publications.

  15. usmcret writes
    July 7th, 2008 7:54 pm

    Read ” The Nightingale’s Song”, and then decide if James Webb, US Naval Academy, class of ‘68, US Marine combat vet of Viet Nam with a Silver Star is really a fan of Barrack Hussein Obama. Ten bucks to ten John Wayne cookies he couldn’t stand to be in the same room with him. If you don’t believe me, read the book.

    Semper Fi

  16. Jim O. writes
    July 7th, 2008 9:29 pm

    Heath Shuler anyone?

  17. gemini writes
    July 7th, 2008 10:25 pm

    Webb would have help with Appalachian voters, and no doubt Obama will have him campaign there.

    But Webb has a serious woman problem, dating back to statements he made about women in the military. Obama already got to woe female Hillary supporters; Webb is definitely NOT the way to do it.

  18. Pete writes
    July 7th, 2008 11:02 pm

    Hello -

    I understand Jim Webb’s anger at the Bush wing of the GOP, but I am mystified at his choice to cross the aisle, given that he formerly served a man - Ronald Reagan - so against most of what comprises the Democratic party platform these days. It would be more understandable if Senator Webb had a conservative wing of the Dems to go to, but as far as I can tell, they went out with the late Scoop Jackson. Perhaps his idea is to bring back that once-formidible wing of the party.

    Too bad Webb isn’t running. I’d vote for him, but never for Mr. Obama.

  19. July 8th, 2008 3:18 pm

    […] writeLimbaughObamaMcCainoil is down timetable for withdrawalsaying now what caused thiscomplainsMSMObamafallen to single numbers.Hugo and […]

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