More specifically, Webb's position
Not having to read into the tea leaves this time, we actually seem to have some direct quotes on what Webb is all about, and he is talking the serious grassroots. This may just have been his focus talking to state chairs, but he argues that the agenda setting begins at the state level:
The best way to emphasize Democratic values, he said, is by winning local elections and mobilizing the party in the towns and cities across the country."If you control the state legislature, you control the referendums," Webb said. With Republicans, "you end up with 11 gay marriage amendments on the ballot" to appeal to the "evangelical right who are more concerned about social issues than economic issues."
If Democrats are in the majority in state legislatures, they can change the debate, he said, "putting some of our economic issues on the ballot."
He also maintains his message of being outside the regular Dem strongholds for the past two cycles, that with his leadership we can make advances in the West. He also points out that in red states, we are losing support in areas that traditionally were ours, even for middle America.
Webb offers himself as the future of the party. He's from outside the traditional West Coast-Northeast-Great Lakes Democratic stronghold, a guy who can relate to the issues in the rest of the country where the party needs desperately to connect with voters."The party has to have a new look, a new vision," he said. "We cannot abdicate the West, the Southwest and the South to the Republican Party. To do so is to always be a marginalized party."
Meanwhile, the party has to shore up its base. "In Oklahoma, 20 percent of African-Americans voted for George Bush," Webb said. "Twenty percent."
Emmett O'Connell | December 19, 2004 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
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(and yes, we know that sometimes they're very, very wrong. Other times, they're right on.)
