Webb: Affirmative Action Behind Obama Woes

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Webb: Affirmative Action Behind Obama Woes

May 21, 2008 6:59 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis, Mike Elmore, and Talal Al-Khatib Report: Virginia Sen. Jim Webb (D), who has not made a 2008 endorsement, blamed antipathy towards affirmative action -- and not racism -- on Wednesday for Barack Obama's lack of support among the Scots-Irish in places like Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

"We shouldn't be surprised at the way they are voting right now," said Webb in an interview with MSNBC. "This is the result of how affirmative action, which was basically a justifiable concept when it applied to African-Americans, expanded to every single ethnic group in America that was not white. And these were the people who had not received benefits and were not getting anything out of it."

Watch the interview here.

Obama supports the continuation of race-based affirmative action though he would informally encourage college admissions officers not to apply it to minorities who have enjoyed privileged upbringings. The Democratic presidential frontrunner has also has said that he would like to see affirmative action extended to poor whites.

While laying out the hurdles posed by the legacy of race-based affirmative action, Webb expressed confidence that Obama, who would be the nation's first African American president, can overcome them.

"The fact that they would line up and vote this way is not so much a comment on Barack," said Webb. "I think Barack Obama is saying a lot of good things that will appeal to this cultural group in time."

Jessica Smith, a Webb spokesperson, told ABC News that Webb's reference to "in time" refers to this election cycle.
She also pointed to former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder (D), the nation's first black governor, as a model for Obama.

"He took the time to engage the people in the ‘Reddest’ parts of the state," said Smith, "and they took to the fact that his goals and interests were in concert with their own. Senator Webb believes that, with appropriate time spent in these parts of the country, Senator Obama will similarly command the vote."

Webb, whose 2005 book Born Fighting looks at how the Scots-Irish have shaped America, said Wednesday that he bristles when it is suggested that racism is behind Obama's paltry performance among this group.

"When I hear people say this is racism, it gets my back up a little bit because that's my cultural group," said Webb. "This isn't Selma, 1965."

During his Wednesday interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Webb touted a 2004 op-ed he wrote for The Wall Street Journal in which he not only argued that diversity programs have had "an unequal impact" on white ethnic groups but also expressed his hope that an alliance could one day be forged with African Americans.

"The key thing," said Webb, is "if this cultural group could get at the same table with black America, you could really change American politics because they have so much in common in terms of what they need out of government."

Asked if an Obama-Webb ticket might be the way to bring those two groups to the same table, Webb's spokesperson played it coy.

"I'm not going to answer that question," said Smith.

May 21, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (160)

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BO smells like dukakis kerry and mcgovern...

with only 25% of the white vote in DEMOCRATIC primaries like pa oh v wv in what can he expect when you include republicans in a general election? he's soup meat

Posted by: greg | May 21, 2008 7:07:54 PM

if u r white and don't like obama you must be a racist...

oly 92% of blacks vote for obama - r they racist?

Posted by: leroy | May 21, 2008 7:10:31 PM

Those opposed to affirmative action found so many ways around it that it was not funny. The beneficiaries of affirmative action are those who gave it a shot, then liked the results. We are all better for it.

The ones that resented it are the same ones that wanted to keep their privilege at the expense of everyone "lesser" getting a fair shot. Meanwhile, us "lesser" folks paid taxes just like the rest of the "hard working whites" Hillary Clinton seeks votes from. But before affirmative action, it was hard for minorities to get good jobs in the government our own taxes supported.

That was then. Now all the contracts go to "hard working white" companies with minority figure heads.

I feel no compassion for people that still think poor whites are any different than poor any other race/ethnicity. I feel no compassion for whites that hate on blacks simply because they feel affirmative action slighted them.

Everyone willing deserves a leg up. Just because you might not get it, doesn't make it right for you to hold another race accountable, especially in a Presidential election.

Stop voting against your own interest!

Obama '08!

Posted by: Hope | May 21, 2008 7:19:36 PM

Webb is right. Affirmative action as it currently exists, doesn't address the socio-economic disparities in this country. It needs to be completely overhauled and should no longer be based on race, but on economic status. Will this happen under an Obama presidency? From what I've heard so far, I don't think so and I believe that is a huge concern for many working class Americans regardless of race - hence the limited support for Obama among this demographic group. I hope Obama proves me wrong if he is the next president.

Posted by: mhhunt | May 21, 2008 7:20:49 PM

My interests are that we're doing fine. Hubby's job is good and we do well. That will all change if Obama wins because he'll tax us to death.

So I'm voting my own interests like you say.

Thanks.

Posted by: Jo | May 21, 2008 7:22:13 PM

If you can recall, when the SD congressman will show up in the TV to say something. Basically before SD, VA and ND. What is the reason?

Posted by: kerry | May 21, 2008 7:23:23 PM

Hope the audacity and the arrogancy of that reasoning is that YOU LIBERALS deem to know what is in everyone's best interest!

And you wonder why you guys get labeled "elitests."

According to you, people voting for someone with their own skin color is in
their interest.

Posted by: Jo | May 21, 2008 7:23:39 PM

Hope,

You want us to stop voting against our own interests?

Well, I'm a woman and I'm white, so I guess voting for Hillary would be voting my own interest.

Is this what you meant?!

Posted by: Women Against Obama | May 21, 2008 7:27:32 PM

I am tierd of talking about race webb was a republican not to long ago not a ggod runing mate for Obama 3/4 of Clintons support are women pissed off women so this is like just making us all tne mor e ticked. This is like fighting over the kids after you split up .

Posted by: Bishop | May 21, 2008 7:27:36 PM

hmmm.. affirmative action for poor whites... that's an interesting idea...

Posted by: MIguy | May 21, 2008 7:28:45 PM

If a candidate is so vociferous in disobeying important rules, could you imagine what would happen should such a one becomes President?
The US Constitution would be trampled as is presently being done!

Lesson to Americans:

Campaign ugly and govern even uglier!

Bush administration is the latest example of that truism.

Let's assume Hilary becomes President, would you trust Hellary to end the Iraq war or keep ANY of her worthless words? NO!

Posted by: Patriot | May 21, 2008 7:29:50 PM

Affirmative Action is for the birds. Mostly crows. Anyone that is not handicapped can make thier way if they try hard enough.

Posted by: Anders Scooper | May 21, 2008 7:30:07 PM

Reason Obama is ahead is that he won big in 15 states. Why are those states not important like West Virginia? I found this chart that sums it up:
Barack Obama: 15 States + DC

Compare
Obama 15 "Blowouts"!

* Virgin Islands (89.9%)
* Idaho (79%)
* Hawaii (76%)
* Alaska (75%)
* District of Columbia (75%)
* Kansas (74%)
* Washington (68%)
* Nebraska (68%)
* Minnesota (67%)
* Colorado (67%)
* Georgia (67%)
* Illinois (65%)
* Virginia (64%)
* Maryland (62%)
* North Dakota (61%)
* Wyoming (61%)
* Mississippi (61%)

Hillary Clinton: 3 States
* Arkansas (70%)
* West Virginia (67)
* Kentucky (65)

Posted by: Patriot | May 21, 2008 7:34:55 PM

Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country. John Kennedy said that. Obama refers to kennedy some times but apparently don't agree with his philosophy.

Posted by: Anders Scooper | May 21, 2008 7:37:46 PM

Bush governs ugly is because he is incompetent. Obama is Bush in the leftist camp -- He is inexperienced and unqualifies. Wait he teaches you about the 57 states in the US. And tells you " salvery " is the way to help your appreciate black's sufferings.

Posted by: AMy | May 21, 2008 7:38:56 PM

Patriot:

Obama won the list states are lots of caucus, not the full will of state people. Some other states are the most populations of AAs.

Posted by: kerry | May 21, 2008 7:40:21 PM

Obama states don't mean much in presidential race. Many of those states are Republican states.

Posted by: Anders Scooper | May 21, 2008 7:42:46 PM

The dirt poo and undereducated whites of Appalachia are complaining and green with envy about 'affirmative action'???

Were the dirt poor whites of Appalachia enslaved and disenfranchised for generations in America? lol

Or are the poor whites of Appalachia just too dang lazy to take advantaged of centuries-old opportunities FOR WHITES ONLY?

For centuries, the FREE AND UNFETTERED whites of Appalachia had ALL the opportunities available in America to whites ONLY!

For centuries, there has been NATIONAL CRIME against African people in America, which denied them opportunities for generations!

The whites of Appalachia have ALWAYS BEEN FREE to partake of America's unlimited opportunities. So why are the whites of Appalachia so dirt poor and backward?

Posted by: Patriot | May 21, 2008 7:45:39 PM

Patriot:

High Black crime rates are not because of whits against them. They should find some reasons of them self.

Posted by: kerry | May 21, 2008 7:48:49 PM

You are describing the working class that vote for Hillary so you must be an eletist that is voting for Obama.

Posted by: Anders Scooper | May 21, 2008 7:49:56 PM

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