Bill Clinton to Headline Webb Fundraiser - A former Clinton critic, Webb is now seeking his support

Washington Post ^ | August 16, 2006 | Robert Barnes

[neverdem]

Political friendships, and political animus, apparently are not made to last.

Six years ago, former Reagan Navy secretary James Webb was a Republican, and he opined that President Bill Clinton's administration was "the most corrupt administration in modern memory." He made the comments at a news conference endorsing Republican George F. Allen for the Senate, and renouncing his past support of Virginia Democratic Sen. Charles S. Robb.

Today, Webb is a Democrat, running against the incumbent Allen. And Webb's campaign said last night that Clinton has agreed to headline a fundraiser for Webb this fall at -- just to complete the circle -- Robb's house in McLean.

Bygones are bygones, apparently.

"I think he has said it was a different time when he made those comments," said Webb communications director Kristian Denny Todd. "It was a very different situation."

Todd said that Clinton and Webb have not met, but that she believes Webb's rough assessment of the Clinton years was discussed when Webb met with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) "I wasn't in the room, but it seemed to be addressed and done," she said, adding that Sen. Clinton had offered her help as well.

Even a man as famously forgiving as Clinton must have paused over some of Webb's denunciations, which came as recently as 2001, when Clinton was leaving office. "It is a pleasurable experience to watch Bill Clinton finally being judged, even by his own party, for the ethical fraudulence that has characterized his entire political career," Webb wrote in the Wall Street Journal that year.

Webb has not fully explained what he meant when he said the Clinton administration was "corrupt,'' but the decorated Vietnam veteran said his anger was driven by the actions Clinton employed to avoid military service.

"My comments about the Clinton administration...

[Defiant]

This presents Allen with a fantastic opportunity. In a TV ad, put some footage of Webb saying "the Clinton Admin is the most corrupt in modern history." Beneath it says "Jim Webb, March 2000" or whenever he said it.

Next, footage of Webb with Clinton at this fundraiser.

Finish with a voice over--"What happened to you, Jim Webb?"

[EQAndyBuzz]

Potential running mate for Hillary?

[nina0113]

"I think he has said it was a different time when he made those comments,"...

Yeah, a time when he wasn't running for election, flat broke and friendless.

It's probably some kind of sin to be as gleeful as I am about Webb's incipient failure.

[DuxFan4ever]

Jim who?

[PeterPrinciple]

Even a man as famously forgiving


Which means they have no standards that last beyound their next breath.

[Enchante]

"the most corrupt administration in modern memory."

"It is a pleasurable experience to watch Bill Clinton finally being judged, even by his own party, for the ethical fraudulence that has characterized his entire political career," Webb wrote in the Wall Street Journal that year.

There are all kinds of backflips, backsliding, and strange bedfellows in politics, of course, but Webb has sold out whatever remains of his reputation as some tough independent figure. When the going gets tough, he has chosen to "French kiss" some of the most repulsive figures in modern politics for his own political benefit.

[lilylangtree]

Oh what a tangle web we weave when at first we deceive.

[EGPWS]

"I think he has said it was a different time when he made those comments," said Webb communications director Kristian Denny Todd. "It was a very different situation."

"Living and breathing Constitution" comes to mind with this statement.

I look forward to the day when I am vogue and can cast away my past look forward to the future and gain prominence because of my mindset.

I just hope that I don't have to become a politician to achieve my directive.

[Paperdoll]

Why did the vision of a two headed snake flash in my mind after reading this article?

[petitfour]

This makes my hubby's theory sound plausible. He thinks Webb is only running to knock Allen out as a presidential contender. Bubba is capitalizing on this to put some dents in possible Hillary competition.

Allen's polling numbers out to go up as a result of this. Bubba just doesn't realize how much people loathe him.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

do you think webb knows he doesnt stand a chance? loser.

[outofsalt]

Hey, It really helped Joe Lieberman.
/s

[BlueNgold]

Sad - what happened to Jim to change him so dramatically? Or is he, like Wes Clark, a political opportunist looking for the party where he can make the most noise?

[Txsleuth]

That is a great point...and just my first thought when reading the article...what a great gift to Allen!!!

[Txsleuth]

The funniest thing about Webb doing this to himself is...every person that Clinton has endorsed...has lost, I do believe.

[Txsleuth]

PING

[neverdem]

ping

[Fudd Fan]

I'm gleeful about it too... it's ok!

[Fudd Fan]

Thanks for the *ping*!