Posted on 10/27/2006 12:20:48 PM PDT by areafiftyone
October 27, 2006
George Allen: You Have Not Earned the Right to Question Jim Webb’s Recollections of War – So Just Shut Up
And to Chris LaCivita, Who Did Serve, You Should Know Better – Shame on You
To: George Allen and his campaign
From: Steve Jarding
Re: Shame on both of you
George Allen and his campaign hit men this week chose to again attack Jim Webb and his military experiences, this time by taking passages from Webb’s novels to try to suggest that the explicit war time experiences Webb writes about are demeaning and repugnant.
On their attacks, I would like to say two things. First, the novels that the Allen camp attacks include Fields of Fire, which has been called the classic novel of the Vietnam War and was for years required reading on college campuses nationwide in classes relating to the illumination of war. They include, The Emperor’s General, which has been called a masterpiece of literature and was called by that raving liberal George F. Will, “This compelling, fascinating exercise of historical fiction proves, again, that Jim Webb is as fine a novelist as he was a Marine. Enough said;” and they include Born Fighting, which has been called brilliant and the most important ethnography of our time. Perhaps the Allen camp should learn to read books before they begin burning them.
Second, let me say one more time to George Allen and his lapdog assassins. Senator, you have not earned the right to question Jim Webb’s wartime experiences, from the ugliness of combat to the ugliness of what happens to civilians in nations ravaged by war. Senator, Jim Webb wrote of things he witnessed. They may have been ugly, but we should learn from their ugliness about the consequences of our votes and actions before we send men and women into war.
And Senator, you would not know this, but, war is demeaning, war is repugnant. People die and get maimed there. Innocent boys and girls are forced into prostitution, and are forced to perform heinous acts there. Jim Webb witnessed it all. And he wrote about it. You don’t think this is happening in Iraq?
Perhaps if you had read Webb’s book, you would not be so quick to take his experiences and attempt to twist them for selfish, personal, political gain. Perhaps if you had purchased Webb’s books and at least read about these types of atrocities, you would not have been so gung ho about blindly following the misguided and malfeasant actions of another man who did not witness firsthand the ugliness of war, George W. Bush. And perhaps if you had gone to Vietnam and served as a company commander instead of serving as a drover at a dude ranch, or serving as a surfing instructor on Malibu Beach, you would temper your feigned indignation. A man who did read this same book you disparage, John McCain, praised its honest portrayal of the heinous nature and repercussions of war.
Perhaps Senator, if sheltered Hollywood neighborhoods and elitist dude ranches had unspeakable death, destruction, rape, and unspeakable inhumanity to man and woman, you might now know how self serving your shock and indignation is. But, until you have witnessed firsthand the ugliness of war and the destruction it reaps upon all people, including the innocent ones, you should learn to keep quiet.
I understand, Senator, that your campaign is desperate and as such it is doing desperate things. But it is not lost on anyone that you were the one who went on statewide television pleading for a campaign on the issues. You clearly did not mean the words you uttered.
And finally, to Chris LaCivita, who did serve. Your statement regarding Jim Webb’s recollections of his war experiences, do not warrant a response. Shame on you.
Supposedly what he witnessed were accepted culturally in those countries and he wrote about it.
Is this the same Steve Jarding?
"Steve Jarding, Lecturer in Public Policy, has spent 25 years working in American politics. He is a past Executive Director of the South Dakota Democratic Party and former Communications Director in Bob Kerrey's U.S. Senate campaigns in Nebraska. He has served as Communications Director of the national Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and has run leadership PACs for Senators Kerrey and John Edwards. In 2001, Jarding was campaign manager for Mark Warner's bid for governor of Virginia, a campaign recognized by many as the best run in the country. In 1996, Roll Call magazine named Jarding one of the 50 most influential political people in Washington, DC. Jarding received an undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota and a master's degree from the University of Oklahoma where he served as a Fellow at the Carl Albert Congressional Studies Center. In 2004, Jarding was a Fellow at the Institute of Politics. Jarding has taught at the University of Oklahoma, George Mason University, and American University. Jarding is coauthor of the 2006 book Foxes in the Hen House, a political commentary published by Simon and Schuster."
Thanks, Pesky. See Post #62.
-Rex
Wow - they're over the edge alright.
Serves them right.
He takes the scandal surrounding the literary pervert, Webb, and twirls it into a paean of praise and chutzpah about Webb's military record.
Gotta hand it to this hysterical loser.......he tried.
Won't work, pal. You should have gone to the ballet instead of sitting up all night writing this piece of desperation.
Leni
" Webb is turning into John Kerry "
Literally.
His face looks just like Kerry's Botoxed mask.
"Supposedly what he witnessed were accepted culturally in those countries and he wrote about it."
Perhaps, but this stuff was over the top and waaaaay beyond what would be necessary to convey anything like that to the reader, this is sick.........
"He saw the invitation with every bouncing breast and curved hip. . . . He was thirteen. . . . She was fifteen . . . . In a few moments she drew him to her and he murmured in his quiet voice, 'I am still small.' 'You are large enough,' she answered. And he found he was."
Yup because when this idiot Webb screwed up the Woman vote now he's going to try to get the Veteran vote by pointing out the fact that Allen never served. Desperation is right!
The last I heard, Allen was not questioning any of Webb's recollections of war. He was just pointing out quotations in his books.
Why isn't that permissible?
Oh I agree it was sick stuff! But that was Webb's excuse for it.
Good Day, Sir!
Allen should see if he can use this in ads against Webb How can anyone call it a negative ad, if it's this uplifting jingle?
:)
http://www.chiquita.com/Discover/media/origjingle.wav
Is that what they're saying ? It is used in some countries to calm kids under age 1 ?
Gross.
Jim Webb is becoming fair game for every stand-up comedian in the nation.
I can't wait to see Leno's take on this.
Oh, wait--Leno only satirizes the President and conservatives.
Well, we'll just have to do the job here on FR.
Jim Webb should be arrested for child porn.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.