[Wallace T.]

Webb is a turncoat Republican to be sure. However, his strategy mirrored that of the Democrats generally: running non-liberal (anti-gun control, pro-"family values") candidates in areas where the usual Democratic bloc groups are relatively weak. Looking at the electoral map, Webb did well not only in liberal and minority areas like Northern Virginia and Richmond, but also in a number of western counties that were settled two centuries ago largely by Ulster Scots, with some German and English settlers, the former largely from Pennsylvania, the latter mostly from Tidewater Virginia.

If you look at the areas where the GOP lost House and Senate seats, you will notice that many were in areas with large Scots-Irish populations, like Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In contrast, the Republicans held their own in the Deep South, where the white population is more English than Scots-Irish.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

My Ulster-scots American ancestors would probably spit on his political party....

[jdm]

There have been many US presidents with Ulster-Scots roots, but for Virginia Democrat, Jim Webb

Webb won the White House last Tuesday? Must have missed that FOX News Alert.

[Siena Dreaming]

You're treated as Bible-thumping rednecks by cultural elitists in Hollywood, New York and Washington."

Yah so why is Webb enlisting with the party of cultural elitists?

[brothers4thID]

The House seat that we lost in Kentucky is compeltely urban, has large African American and Hispanic minorities and very little of the "scots-Irish" that you refer to. Northrup lost because she has a Republican incumbent in a bad year for Republicans.

[exdem2000]

What are Ulster Scots?

[theDentist]

I heard that Webb has this annoying little habit of listening to the arguments and making up his own mind. This may not go over well with the Dem leadership. Maybe we can get him to re-join the 'Pubs. ;-)

[Siena Dreaming]

And another thing...with his "Born Fighting" schtick...why isn't he pro Iraq war?

[brothers4thID]

Also, Webb won by doing the same thing that Mark Warner and Tim Kaine did before him: protrayed himself as a pro-gun, pro-life, social and fiscal conservative while campaigning in the suburbs and rural areas while sticking true to his anti-Bush, "I'm a Democrat" message while in Fairfax Co and Alexandria.

Sadly, the majority of voters in Virginia fell for this trick AGAIN.

[Corin Stormhands]

Although he lives in the boring, utterly middle-class Washington suburb of Falls Church, his language on the campaign stump has been that of the Virginia Hills, and his Scots-Irish relatives who still live there.

The majority of whom did not vote for him. Webb lost significantly in those "Scots-Irish" areas of the state, including his "home" county.

[VeniVidiVici]

My roots are in the Christiansburg/Blacksburg area.

This jackass Webb doesn't know anything other than how to spin a good yarn.

And he was good enough at that to have a few books printed and get elected.

[catholicfreeper]

Interesting article.

By the way Scots fans this week is St Mary Queen of Scotlands feast day.

This article has given me a great idea for a great Chruch fundraisor next year

[twigs]

I had no idea that HE wrote this book. I heard about it when it came out and considered buying it. Ugh.

[Zionist Conspirator]

His basic Scots-Irish message pulls these contradictory strands together with a new message: "The Scots-Irish were pushed out of Scotland, battled Catholics in Ireland, came to the US where they fought everyone from native Americans to the French and were packed overseas to fight the Germans, the Viet Cong and the Iraqis and what do you have to show for it? You're treated as Bible-thumping rednecks by cultural elitists in Hollywood, New York and Washington."

So he's a Democrat WHY???

Oh yeah--he wants religious people to shut up on the issue of embryonic stem cell research and wants a "more inclusive, tolerant, pluralistic America." He just played the Scots-Irish for saps.

Of course, I'm one of those poor Southerners who's Anglo-Saxon, so even if the Left starts a "national liberation movement" for the Scots-Irish I'll still be left out!

[Tamar1973]

The ingratitude of "the establishment" was burnt into him after he came back from Vietnam to find privileged college kids belittling the war and making it sound as if they were taking a brave step by refusing to fight.

Has he ever distanced himself from John Kerry and his "joke"?!