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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Anders Scooper & kerry

lol

I bet Hellary would literally kill for Obama's 'blowout states', which you and her continue to foolishly discount. LOSERS!

The reason America is now saddled with a loser President is because of people like yourself.

You excuse and encourage LOSERS like Hilary. And when such deceivers get into office, they screw you and the country!

Posted by: Patriot | May 21, 2008 7:50:10 PM

There is racial discrimination in this country against the white now. Affirmative action is denying qualified white to college and many more.

Time for affirmative action for the white and poor and not for the rich and black.

Posted by: John_Lai | May 21, 2008 7:52:10 PM

One of the biggest beneficiaries of affirmative action has been women,including white women. The Scots Irish along with the Irish are no strangers to hard feelings towards other groups both in this country and in the six counties still occupied (and colonized or "planted" in Ireland). There the rich used religion to divide the Catholic and Protestant working classes much as race has been used all too often by the same types in this Country. A lot of the folks who voted for Hillary fit into the Pat Buchanan vote profile of those that have been dealt a short hand mad about a belief that someone else would take away the little they had. JFK talked about the revolution of rising expectations but with the tricks the Republicans have used of exploiting cultural issues such as guns, gays and God to give a hymn to sing behind their revolution of growing desperation. The green goddess of envy only needs a little bit for a mob to dance to her tune.

Posted by: bhciapol | May 21, 2008 7:52:33 PM

Blacks voting for Obama is clearly different because blacks have voted for whites for decades now and would do so again if one were the nominee.

(In fact blacks didn't come out in droves for Obama until it looked like he could win.)

Alot of whites voting for Hillary wouldn't vote for any black person at all and those are just the stats from the ones who owned up to it.

The former is simply voting for the one that emobodies your hopes and dreams and could win.

The other is racist.

Posted by: rixter | May 21, 2008 7:53:03 PM

I do NOT vote for Obama is not because he is black, is because he is inexperienced and unqualified, his associations are dangerous to US.

Posted by: kerry | May 21, 2008 7:54:55 PM

Patriot, what you said about Appalachia is why white working class people will not vote for Obama. Get it.

Posted by: Anders Scooper | May 21, 2008 7:57:20 PM

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

I'm describing the spitefulness of the Appalachia people referenced by Webb.

Affirmative action is part compensation for generations of kidnapping, enslavement and repression.

The people of Appalachia WERE NOT ENSLAVED!

The people of Appalachia WERE ALWAYS FREE to pursue the WHITES ONLY American dream!

If the people Appalachia are today dirt poor and undereducated, maybe it is because of generation so laziness and lack of ambition in the face of WHITES ONLY opportunities in America?

So spiting Obama (their true savior) will not help their cause.

Obama is the ONLY candidate who would finally lift up the whites of Appalachia; but they are showing that they love their lives of racist misery! So sad.

Posted by: Patriot | May 21, 2008 8:02:35 PM

Patriot:

You still do not understand, Obama is a totally empty suit. He will do nothing. He even worsens the situation.

Posted by: kerry | May 21, 2008 8:06:42 PM

Women Against Obama,

Not if those are YOUR issues. I've never had a black woman to vote for, but it doesn't matter since I know what an issue is. I don't consider my race or my sex an issue. Last I checked, neither my race nor sex was paid for by my taxes.

I'm voting on the issues that matter to me (healthcare, overseas outsourcing, ending the war in Iraq).

Lotsa luck with your issues and your vote. Since I don't really know what your issues are, I don't know why you're asking me accept to maybe justify or question my black vote for Obama.

Obama '08!

Posted by: Hope | May 21, 2008 8:07:29 PM

Hillary is the better candidate to do the job because she is more experienced and a fighter, which a president has to be to get the job done.

Posted by: Anders Scooper | May 21, 2008 8:10:08 PM

I'm an Obama supporter; however, Webb's commentary displays a lack of meaningful analysis and fails to address the blatent irony--that being the biggest group beneficiary of affirmative action are white women.

Can't wait for more interpretations of Appalachia logic.....

Posted by: jeanette | May 21, 2008 8:10:52 PM

Anders Scooper
| May 21, 2008 7:57:20 PM

Those Appalachians who will not vote for Obama have grown accustomed to misery and hopelessness. Those who will vote for Obama aren't too far gone.

Those Appalachians who will continue to vote for liars and deceivers, will continue to see the country ruined, while the 1.3 BILLION Chinese continue to forge ahead of the US!

Posted by: Patriot | May 21, 2008 8:11:16 PM

My guess is that Sen. Obama's monumental win in Oregon defeating Sen. Clinton by 18 points in a state in which the Clinton family campaigned vigorously and which is comprised of mostly white voters disproves Clintonites contentions that he cannot garner votes in those states. As to Caucuses, Sen. Clinton made a conscious decision to ignore them...her mistake.
It's understandable for the losing team to disparage Sen. Obama's accomplishments. It was Sen. Clinton that had been touted as the inevitable winner. Once she fell behind like crabs in a pail, she has made every effort to drag him down. Now she is touting new mathematical formulas and angrily denouncing the fact that Michiganders have no vote. Has anyone listened to her on You Tube when she said "you know, this [Michigan] election is not going to count for anything"
Doesn't her word mean anything?

Posted by: elen | May 21, 2008 8:12:17 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 8:15:27 PM

This democratic race goes to dangerous zone, I think for the better country, the unqualified Obama should drop out of race right now to save our country.

Posted by: kerry | May 21, 2008 8:15:57 PM

elen, Hillary won the white working vote in Oregon.

Posted by: Anders Scooper | May 21, 2008 8:16:35 PM

"So spiting Obama (their true savior) will not help their cause."

I cannot believe you said that. A SAVIOR???? Are you one of those that thinks Barack Obama is the new Messiah? That we who don't support Obama are somehow doomed by our own ignorance and need to be saved by the Sainted One? Are you for real? Oh please! I can't stand the man, and it is precisely because of this self righteous, arrogant, "I'm better than you and I will save you in spite of yourself" attitude that makes me despise him. I will gladly vote McCain to let the annointed one see that his "lift you up even if you don't want to go" line of BS is insulting to every single person in this country. We are not a bunch of illiterate, ignorant, easily led sheep that are still living in the dark ages, and we don't need Obama's brand of enlightenment. His smug attitude will be his undoing. As far as voting my best interest, I vote my best interest, its Hillary first, John McCain second. At least I know I don't have to worry every friggin second of the day that Obama will hand the security of our country over to Iran, Palestine, and Syria. Invite them to the White House and preach change, yeah, that is really going to change outlaw regimes that are hell bent on destroying the United States.

Posted by: jdona | May 21, 2008 8:20:48 PM

Patriot,

"Obama is the ONLY candidate who would finally lift up the whites of Appalachia; but they are showing that they love their lives of racist misery! So sad."

Well said. Hillary is asking the poor to pay off her campaign debt plus the interest while she's got $109 mil to fall back on. Should she win, more money for her MANDATORY healthcare plan will come out of their paychecks (if they work) and mine. These people seem to prefer to cling to their "whiteness", they're "femininity" and their other prejudices against all those people who stole their jobs because of "affirmative action" instead of getting off their lazy arses and researching a candidates plan -- FOR THEM and others WHO ARE JUST LIKE THEM.

Sad, but I'm hoping for a change in them because they are holding the rest of the country back.

Obama '08!

Posted by: Hope | May 21, 2008 8:21:23 PM

Obamakins are holding this country back by not voting for Hillary. Hillary has got the answers and she will roll up her sleeves and get the job done. Obama just doesn't have any details.

Posted by: Anders Scooper | May 21, 2008 8:27:08 PM

I am black, scored highest at my entrance test sitting to enter college, earned two degrees with honors, while married to an abusive drunk and raising 3 children and never even applied for a scholarship, race-based or otherwise.

Despite the complaints focused on racial minorities, I see that we're not the only folks that need to quit complaining, get off our asses, get some education, and get some sustainable jobs.

Posted by: Jeanette | May 21, 2008 8:28:23 PM

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