What An Obama-Webb Ticket Would Mean



(image via olyc)

As someone who supported Governor Bill Richardson in the primary, people oftentimes as The Corsair: Why aren't you supporting him in the Veepstakes? And, yes, Richardson could quite possibly veer Hispanic voters -- a problem area for Obama -- that leaned towards Hillary, as well as move Southwestern states like New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado, that have all been trending Democrat. Richardson also, credentialwise, has the best resume of any person running for President with the possible exceptions of George HW Bush and John Quincy Adams (though, look at what kinds of Presidencies those two had). Still, the advantages of Senator Jim Webb are magnificent. Not the least of Webb's advantages is the fact that he might bring with him New Hamphire, which looks, quite frankly, somewhat McCainish at the present.

First: Senator Jim Webb, although unpredictable and blustery, could bring over "Hillary Democrats," who are not all that keen on an Obama candidacy. The type of voter who went in for Hillary Clinton sipping "gay whiskey" moment in Pennsyltucky are of the Webb Nation. Also: Webb brings military credentials, Purple Hearts as well as his singular accomplishment as a Senate Freshman -- the 21st Century GI Bill of Rights. Third: Webb brings his own state -- Virginia -- a prize of inestimable value to Obama and a cause for great consternation for McCain. Moreover, Webb is a Scots-Irish fighter -- a Jacksonian -- and a robust conversation between Obama's philosophical internationalism, which can seem, at times, elitist, and Webb's own paleo-Jacksonianism would be greatly in America's national interest.

Both schools of foreign policy -- Internationalism and Jacksoniansism -- have been given short shrift by the Neoconnivers and the Realists, whose double-barrelled stranglehold has brought us to this moment of exigency. Finally, Obama and Webb have campaign magic. they are an odd couple, to be sure, but the day after he clinched the nomination and they campaigned in West Virginia was classic. It would be glorious to see Confederate flag owning West Virginians voting alongside idealistic uppermiddle class college students alongside African-American churchgoers for an Obama-Webb ticket. It will take such a coalition to move this country towards multilateral diplomacy and Green initiatives as the geopolitical center of power inevitably shifts Eastward.

It has been said by Senator Webb's friend James Fallows that his temperament would not be amenable to the position of Vice President. Webb idolizes Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, New York's intellectual Irish-American Catholic Senator, who recently died. We hope Webb, who has all but taken his name out of the running, reconsiders.

There is no Democrat who would make a better running mate for Obama than Senator Jim Webb.