Posted on 09/08/2006 11:14:47 AM PDT by SmithL
Richmond -- Democratic Senate candidate Jim Webb will air his first television ad next week — a spot that features praise from none other than Ronald Reagan.
Webb, who was Reagan's Navy secretary before Webb switched to the Democratic Party, uses the ultimate GOP icon to send a sentimental message to conservatives and moderates courted by his opponent, Sen. George Allen. An Allen aide called the decision "hypocritical."
The 30-second ad opens with video of Reagan praising Webb during a commencement address at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985, when Reagan was president and Webb, a Navy grad, was an assistant secretary of defense.
"James' gallantry as a Marine in Vietnam won him the Navy Cross and other decorations," Reagan says on the video.
Webb became Navy secretary in 1987 but resigned the following year, refusing to reduce the Navy fleet after congressional budget cuts. More recently, he left the GOP over President Bush's decision to invade Iraq and other issues. He won a contentious Senate primary in June.
The ad begins airing Monday, said Webb spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd. Allen's campaign manager, Dick Wadhams, called the ads "disingenuous and terribly hypocritical."
"Webb was very critical of President Reagan's foreign policy and his defense policy all through the 1980s. He also quit on Ronald Reagan after he did not get his way as Navy secretary,"
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Webb is Macaca!!!
This is actually a clever move by Webb since RR really did say that.
Instead of calling foul, Allen should run an ad showing how Webb undermined Reagan.
What is up with the Allen campaign? I thought he was a legit Pres. contender.
Allen's response ought to be that Webb repudiated Reagan and what he stood for by leaving the GOP.
Allen should simply lay out his campaign platform as compared to Webb's and ask the voters which they think Reagan would have approved of.
Blatanly untrue...Webb resigned as Navy Secretary because the DEMOCRATIC-controlled Congress cut the Navy's force structure!
You have to admit that it's a great idea from his marketing guys.
He was a "legit Pres. contender" in his own mind. Just as are all U.S. Senators. And even if he manages to eek out a narrow victory over Webb, Allen will remain a "legit Pres. contender" in his own mind. Heck, even if he loses to Webb, Allen will remain a "legit Pres. contender" in his own mind. Think Tom Daschle...
Senatorial egos are not effected by reality.
that is true.
Any Senator with a full head of hair thinks he is Pres. material.
And yet, only Governors win.
Blatanly untrue...Webb resigned as Navy Secretary because the DEMOCRATIC-controlled Congress cut the Navy's force structure!
I look at any Veteran who joins the modern day Dems as a weasel.
email from Webb's campaign, on the new ad with Reagan:
Dear Friend,
Watch Jim's First TV Ad!
On Monday, our campaign will air our first television ad. This is a major milestone for our campaign. Without you, we would not be where we are today. And without you, we would not have the resources to go up on the air this early.
That's why I wanted to give you, one of our earliest and most dedicated supporters, a sneak peek at our ad, before anyone will see the ad on TV.
Watch the Ad | Help Fund Jim's Ad
This ad introduces Virginians to Jim's exceptional record of service to our country, a record of service our opponent, George Allen, simply cannot match. What we've learned over and over again in this campaign is that when voters learn about Jim Webb, they're ready to support Jim. They realize Jim is the "soldier, scholar, leader" we need to get our country back on track. And Jim is a leader Virginians can be proud of.
Watch the Ad | Help Fund Jim's Ad
Once you've watched the ad, please forward this message to everyone you know. We need to introduce Jim to every single voter in Virginia. If we're able to achieve that, there's no doubt in my mind we'll win in November.
Sincerely,
Jessica Vanden Berg
Campaign Manager
Webb for Senate
http://www.webbforsenate.com/ads/
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