Webb represents something of almost transcendent importance to some post-Bush liberals: The opportunity to out-tough the GOP. A candidate who's not only a liberal, but in no way a sissy. He is the daywalker, combining a progressive's positions with a southern militarist's affectations.
This is the core of Senator Webb's appeal. Of course, he's a good man and a good Democrat, none of this is to say otherwise, but he represents a desire to play by the Republican's and the Republican Narrative's rules: Strength is Patriotism; Manliness is American. It's all well and good that Senator Webb is a manly-man; that's maybe a little unfair. I'm glad that Jim Webb served his country, and I'm proud to have him in the Democratic party. I'm glad that Webb is immune to those sorts Manifest Destiny attacks, but we ought not pin our party to the ability of a few candidates to resist--by virtue of their personality and personal history--this narrative. Klein continues:
Democrats can't win at politics when played under Republican rules. Progressivism can't prosper when politics is played under Republican rules. It needs to make its own rules.
Exactly. This election year, with the Republican brand at an all-time low, is an opportunity for Democrats and progressives to re-make the political structure of America. We can, reject the testosterone-infused version of American Exceptionalism offered by Bush and co. and still win. So, while I like Senator Webb, he isn't a good choice, as putting him on the ticket would be a tacit endorsement of the kind of politics we mean to reject.
Kathy G. argues, on a somewhat different tack, that Senator Webb's appeal might flow more from some kind of Democratic infatuation with authenticity. She writes:
I think the reason a lot of (male) liberal bloggers and journalists are so enamored with Webb is that, essentially, he is one of them: a political/literary intellectual. They also like him because they see him as a "real" person, brilliant, quirky, and passionate, unlike so many other politicians who come off as such phony automatons. ...
I think the romantic cult of authenticity is a luxury we can ill-afford. Especially here, especially now.
If I might gloss a bit on this. Webb's authenticity arises from his status as a real, normal, American man, as defined by The Narrative. His authenticity is the same as his Manliness. Period. And, as I've indicated before, that's a losing issue.
And, Kathy G. continues in another post. She points out that Senator Webb isn't really that progressive. This is the crux of the issue. It would be one thing were Senator Webb not only a white, male, tough-guy, combat-vet, but were he also a strong progressive. He isn't, though. In fact, putting him on the ticket would be only to say that Democrats can be tough-guys too!
I'm not going to restate G.'s argument here, but go read it. She shows off his many anti-feminist, anti-liberal, and other unpalatable, conservative views. To be fair, he doesn't now hold some of the more extreme ones, but that doesn't exactly mollify me.
One last point, it would be, and I agree with G. here, a big fuck you to supporters of Senator Clinton. I'm not a big fan of the dream ticket, but I don't think Obama should go out of his way to piss off half the party...
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