Southwest Virginia Democrats

The Jim Webb for Senate campaign team is not pulling any punches when it comes to George Allen. Today, Webb’s spokesman, Steve Jarding, really laid into Allen.

Here is the full press release:

Webb Campaign Blasts Allen Campaign for “Weak-Kneed Attacks” Against Men and Women in Uniform

Arlington – The campaign of U.S. Senate candidate Jim Webb today called the attacks on Webb’s patriotism by Allen’s campaign, “weak-kneed attacks by cowards” and demanded that Allen and his campaign apologize.

“George Felix Allen Jr. and his bush-league lapdog, Dick Wadhams, have not earned the right to challenge Jim Webb’s position on free speech and flag burning. Jim Webb served and fought for our flag and what it stands for, while George Felix Allen Jr. chose to cut and run. When he and his disrespectful campaign puppets attack Jim Webb they are attacking every man and woman who served. Their comments are nothing more than weak-kneed attacks by cowards. George Felix Allen Jr. needs to apologize to Jim Webb and to all men and women who have served our nation,” Webb spokesman Steve Jarding said.

On Tuesday, George Felix Allen Jr. and his campaign issued a press release in which the Allen campaign, through Wadhams, implied that Webb’s position in support of the Free Speech Amendment to the U.S. Constitution amounted to a political act and not a defense of our Constitution, which Webb fought for and for which he was highly decorated. George Felix Allen Jr. did not serve.

“I believe it is precisely because of bush-league attacks like this that John Zogby, a highly respected, independent polling expert just this week said that Dick Wadhams is not fit to serve as a campaign manager and that George Allen should find a new manager,” Jarding said.

“While Jim Webb and others of George Felix Allen Jr.’s generation were fighting for our freedoms and for our symbols of freedom in Vietnam, George Felix Allen Jr. was playing cowboy at a dude ranch in Nevada. People who live in glass dude ranches should not question the patriotism of real soldiers who fought and bled for this country on a real battlefield,” Jarding said.

“Is Dick Wadhams willing to publicly say that Colin Powell, John Glenn and Bob Kerrey are unpatriotic for having the same position on the flag burning amendment that Jim Webb has? Ask him,” Jarding said.

Jarding continued, “The following is why George Felix Allen Jr. has not earned the right to challenge Jim Webb in his support of our Constitution and its free speech provisions:

–Jim Webb was first in this class of 243 at the Marine Corps Officer’s Basic School in Quantico, Virginia.
–Jim Webb served with the Fifth Marine Regiment in Vietnam, where as a rifle platoon and company commander in the infamous An Hoa Basin west of Danang.
–Jim Webb was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals and two Purple Hearts while fighting in Vietnam.
–Jim Webb served as a platoon commander and as an instructor in tactics and weapons at Marine Corps Officer Candidates School.
–Jim Webb served in the US Congress as counsel to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs from 1977 to 1981, becoming the first Vietnam veteran to serve as a full committee counsel in the Congress.
–In 1982, Jim Webb first proposed, then led the fight for including an African American soldier in the memorial statue that now graces the Vietnam Veterans memorial on the National Mall.
–In 1984, Jim Webb was appointed the inaugural Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, where he traveled extensively in, and worked closely with, our NATO allies. As Assistant Secretary, Webb directed considerable research and analysis of the U.S. military’s mobilization capabilities.
–In 1987, Jim Webb was appointed Secretary of the Navy becoming the first Naval Academy graduate in history to serve in the military and be appointed Secretary of the Navy.
–In addition to his wartime medals, Jim Webb has been awarded the following medals and citations:
-The Department of Defense distinguished Public Service Medal
-The Medal of Honor Society’s Patriot Award
-The American Legion National Commander’s Public Service Award
-The VFW’s Media Service Award
-The Marine Corps League’s Military Order of the Iron Mike Award
-The John Russell Leadership Award
-The Robert L. Denig Distinguished Service Award.

# # #

Wow.

The first meeting of the Southwest Virginia Young Democrats group will be:

The first meeting will be held at:

If you need more information or have any questions regarding this group, please contact Tabitha Peace at (276) 393-1055.

Everyone is welcome to attend, but to be considered a “Young Democrat” by the Virginia Young Democrats, one must be between the ages of 18-35.

On June 13, 2006, Virginia’s Democrats went to the polls and elected Jim Webb as their nominee to challenge Sen. George Allen.

Webb won the Ninth District, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us if we want to beat Allen.

If you have not already, visit his website and register to be a volunteer and contribute some funds (even a little helps). Allen has millions sitting in the bank and Webb will need every dime and hour Democratic volunteers can contribute to beating Allen.

A large group of Southwest Virginia Democrats gathered today in Marion to nominate Congressman Rick Boucher. Boucher is seeking his 13th term in Congress.

I am afraid to guess how many people were there, but I heard estimates ranging between 200 and 300. It did appear, however, that there were thousands of “Boucher for Congress” signs. Someone got up very early this morning and started putting out signs.

Ninth District Committee Chairman, Tom Graham, kept everything rolling and did a good job. Graham said he invited the two senate candidates, but both were unable to attend.

Jim Webb, though, did have former-chair, Gary Hancock, speak in his behalf. Hancock gave an impassioned case for why Webb should be our nominee. One of Webb’s biggest supporters, Henry Tieleman, was also there passing out literature and yard signs for Webb. I looked as much as I could, but I did not see any Miller signs, stickers, or any visibility for him.

Senators Puckett, Deeds, Edwards, and Reynolds, Delegate Bowling, and several other elected officials were there to keep the crowd fired up. They all agreed that Boucher was, without a doubt, “the best Congressman in the United States.” I would certainly concur with that assessment.

Needless to say, Boucher accepted the nomination to be our Democratic candidate for the Ninth District. Boucher was his usual self and delivered a powerful speech. Boucher said his campaign would be positive and based on his previous accomplishments.

After the convention, Graham and others presented Boucher and his new wife, Amy, with a wedding cake that was topped with a bicycle. As most people have already heard, the Bouchers were married last week on the Creeper Trail.

All in all, the convention went great and everyone left energized. I am really looking forward to the next few months as the campaign really gets rolling and we get past next week’s primary.

Neal was apparently also there and has posted his thoughts here.

From the Congressman’s website:

On Saturday, June 3 U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher and Galax Gazette editor Amy Houslohner were married in Damascus, Virginia. The couple took their marriage vows following a bicycle trip from Abingdon . The ceremony took place on an old railroad bridge within the town which is now a part of the Virginia Creeper Trail. Officiating was Chief U.S. District Judge James P. Jones, a longtime friend of Boucher’s.

Following the ceremony, the couple returned by bicycle to Abingdon. The Abingdon-Damascus bicycle round trip is a favorite recreation of the Bouchers who decided to have a private informal marriage in one of their favorite settings.

Congratulations to Rep. Boucher and Ms. Hauslohner.

Next weekend, Boucher will accept the Democratic nomination as he seeks his 13th term in Congress.

Last night (actually early this morning), I met up with Dan Gray and Jim Franklin from the Webb campaign. They dropped off a few hundred “Webb for Senate” yard signs to be distributed in Southwest Virginia.

Do you have one in your yard yet? Do you have 5-10 friends that also need one? Contact me and I will make arrangements to get you one (or several). The primary will be here before you know it - why wait? Get one today!