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Why I won't support James Webb for Senate, despite deep respect

July 3, 2006 12:50 am

JIM WEBB HAS BEEN nomi- nated in a primary election in Virginia to run as the Democratic Party nominee in the Senate race against incumbent Republican George Allen. Many would think I would automatically support Webb in his candidacy. In fact, a couple of friends have already jumped to that conclusion and I have had to set them straight: I will oppose him vigorously and will strongly and enthusiastically support George Allen.

They assumed I would support him because I was a contemporary of Jim Webb in our Marine Corps service. I joined the Marine Corps in 1967, Jim in 1968, and we both served in Vietnam as infantry officers. We served in the same regiment--5th Marines--and in the same geographical area--southern Quang Nam Province, albeit he in 1969 and I in 1968. Though we are not even acquaintances, I greatly respect his Marine Corps service and his later service as an assistant secretary of defense and as secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration.

I have greatly enjoyed his writing, including his first book, the Vietnam novel "Fields of Fire," as well as his most recent book, "Born Fighting," on the Scots-Irish in America.

I differ with Jim Webb on the war in Iraq. I support, he opposes. But even there, reasonable folks can differ. The reason I oppose his candidacy for the Senate is that he is carrying the standard of a political party that is diametrically opposed to all my deeply held beliefs. He has already indicated that he is pro-abortion and pro-homosexual marriage, for example. There are many issues to consider, but Jim cannot join the Democratic Party, or any party for that matter, and not fall into line with at least the majority of the party platform planks.

Veterans are already hearing that they should support Jim Webb because he is one of them, and a distinguished one at that. But electing a senator or any other public official on his past military service alone is treading on very dangerous ground.

Sen. George McGovern had a legitimate and distinguished record as a bomber pilot in World War II. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, our nation's third-highest award, while flying a B-24 over Europe. But in 1972, he was wrong on just about every issue, and the American electorate told him so by giving a landslide re-election victory to Richard Nixon.

The lesson is this: We can respect the war record of distinguished veterans, but it doesn't mean we have to agree with them in later election campaigns. I respect Jim Webb for his outstanding service to the nation, but he has joined a party that is dead wrong on all the important issues of the day, including the war.

I support George Allen based on our shared political principles, not on emotion. Allen and the Republican Party are right on the issues. You cannot separate the man from the party.

I have conservative friends, both Republican and independent, who are saying they may stay home at election time this year because they are very unhappy with how some things are going within the Republican Party. Upon close examination, they are really unhappy that some elected officials who are supposed to be Republicans are in fact deviating from the stated platforms and solid principles of the Republican Party.

But George Allen is not one of those who tosses out Republican principles. I have known him since 1990. In four elected offices--state representative, congressman, governor, and U.S. senator--George Allen has faithfully stuck to conservative principles.

Jim Webb will be voting Democratic Party principles.

DENNIS LISTER is vice chairman of the Fredericksburg Republican Committee.