Washington – One year ago, the Democratic response to the State of the Union speech focused gingerly on the Iraq war, with Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine urging that troops be provided with the needed resources.
Tuesday night, in contrast, Democrats selected freshman Sen. James Webb of Virginia to rebut President Bush, putting forward one of their most combative and fiery critics of the war and of Bush.
Democrats believe Webb is an unusually effective messenger with his background as a Vietnam War veteran, a Reagan-era secretary of the Navy and the father of a Marine serving in Iraq. Webb wasn’t in the Senate when the Iraq war vote took place, and in the November election, he beat a supposedly unbeatable Bush ally, incumbent George Allen, partly by tying Allen closely to Bush.
During his Senate campaign, Webb wore the combat boots of his Marine son, Jimmy. When Bush met with Webb in November at a reception for freshman members of Congress, Bush asked Webb how his son was doing. Webb responded that he wanted troops out of Iraq, reportedly adding that his son’s well-being was “between me and my boy.”
The Missouri native, a graduate of the Naval Academy, was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts for his service in Vietnam.
Although Webb has served less than three weeks in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid said Webb’s life and successful campaign made him the top choice for the Democratic response.
“He represents to me what the new America is all about,” said Reid.
In his address, Webb also criticized Bush on domestic issues, saying that wages are low as a percentage of national wealth, while medical and tuition costs are high.
He also cited what he called an inequity between a corporate executive officer and workers. “It takes the average worker more than a year to make the money that his or her boss makes in one day,” he said.
Urging Bush to change course on the economy and Iraq, Webb was blunt: “If he does, we will join him. If he does not, we will be showing him the way.”
