Webb to Remain in Senate, No longer VP Candidate

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Webb to Remain in Senate, No longer VP Candidate

July 07, 2008 4:27 PM

ABC News' Matthew Jaffe Reports: Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., long rumored to be a leading candidate for Sen. Barack Obama's choice as his vice-presidential running mate, announced Monday that he intends to remain in his Senate post.

"Last week I communicated to Senator Obama and his presidential campaign my firm intention to remain in the United States Senate, where I believe I am best equipped to serve the people of Virginia and this country," Webb said in a statement. "Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President."

Webb's announcement may be seen by some as a surprise, since as recently as a few weeks ago Webb's Capitol Hill colleagues were referring to him as "Mr. Vice President", as Obama's close friend Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., teasingly did on the Senate floor in June. But Webb said Monday that he believes his skills are best suited to the Senate, not the number two spot.

"A year and a half ago, the people of Virginia honored me with election to the U.S. Senate," Webb said in his statement. "I entered elective politics because of my commitment to strengthen America's national security posture, to promote economic fairness, and to increase government accountability. I have worked hard to deliver upon that commitment, and I am convinced that my efforts and talents toward those ends are best served in the Senate."

Although he will not be serving as Obama's running mate, Webb promised to do all he can to help the Democratic candidate win the Oval Office. If Obama can carry Virginia, it would mark the first time a Democrat had pulled off the feat since 1964.

"At this time I am also renewing my commitment to work hard to make sure that Senator Obama wins both Virginia and the presidency this November," said Webb. "He is a man who speaks eloquently about our national goals and calls for the practical solutions that must be put into place to obtain them. I will proudly campaign for him."

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine said that he was pleased that Webb will continue serving the Old Dominion state.

"While I believe that Senator Jim Webb would have made a great vice president, it is good news for Virginia that he will continue to represent the Commonwealth in the U.S. Senate," Kaine said in a statement. "In a very short period of time, Jim has made us proud to call him our Senator. His service to Virginia and to the country has been invaluable and he and Mark Warner are going to make a great team after this November's election."

Webb was regarded as a strong contender to share the ticket with Obama in part because of the junior Virginia senator's strengths in foreign policy and military affairs. Webb served in Vietnam and was later awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts. He also finished first in his class of 243 at the Marine Corps Officers' Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. In 1987, Webb became the first Naval Academy graduate to serve in the military and then become Secretary of the Navy, a position he held under President Ronald Reagan.

The Senator hails from a family of fighters. As he wrote in his 2004 book "Born Fighting", Webb's ancestors have fought in every major American war. Not only did Webb carry on that tradition, but so did his son Jimmy, a Marine who served in Iraq. During his victorious 2006 campaign for Senate against incumbent Republican George Allen, Webb often wore Jimmy's old combat boots on the trail.

But Webb's accomplishments are not limited to military service and politics. He has written eight books, including six best-selling novels, as well as working as a screenwriter and producer in Hollywood. Webb even has an Emmy thanks to his PBS coverage of Marines in Beirut.

As senator, Webb serves on the Foreign Relations, Armed Services, Veterans Affairs, and Joint Economic committees. However, his time in office has not been immune from controversy. At a White House reception on November 28, 2006, Webb declined to stand in line to have his picture taken with President Bush. In 2007, one of Webb's aides was arrested for carrying the Senator's loaded pistol into a Capitol Hill office building.

But there have also been some highlights. In January 2007, Webb delivered the Democratic response to Bush's State of the Union address, a speech in which Webb hit out at Bush's handling of the Iraq war, which, like Obama, Webb opposed from the start. Just last month, Webb spearheaded the passage of the new GI Bill, an accomplishment that Webb said gave him "renewed confidence that the Congress can indeed work effectively across party lines and address the concerns of our citizens."

July 7, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (72)

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Senator Webb doesn't want to be drug down by the loser in November. Good call. Plus he's a nutball anyway.

Posted by: Jo | Jul 7, 2008 7:11:56 PM

It's a nice statement. But does it really mean he's officially off the list? I won't believe until Obama names somebody else Veep.

Posted by: matt | Jul 7, 2008 7:28:35 PM

Obama is sure to lose, everyone knows it, he can't even carry his own Party, no one wants to be his VP. Obama should do the right thing and set this one out.

Posted by: rogersm234 | Jul 7, 2008 7:36:30 PM

now know why I am VOTING McCain!

Proposed changes in taxes after 2008 General election:

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

MCCAIN
0% on home sales up to $500,000
per home (couples) McCain does not
propose any change in existing
home sales income tax.

OBAMA
28% on profit from ALL home sales

How does this affect you?
If you sell your home and make a profit, you
will pay 28% of your gain on taxes.
If you are heading toward retirement
and would like to down-size your
home or move into a retirement
community, 28% of the money you
make from your home will go to taxes. This
proposal will adversely affect the
elderly who are counting on the income
from their homes as part of their retirement income.

DIVIDEND TAX

MCCAIN 15% (no change)

OBAMA 39.6%

How will this affect you?
If you have any money invested in stock
market, IRA, mutual funds,
college funds, life insurance, retirement
accounts, or anything that pays
or reinvests dividends, you will now
be paying nearly 40% of the money
earned on taxes if Obama become president.
The experts predict that ‘higher
tax rates on dividends and capital gains
would crash the stock market yet
do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.

INCOME TAX

MCCAIN (no changes)

Single making 30K - tax $4,500
Single making 50K - tax $12,500
Single making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 60K- tax $9,000
Married making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 125K - tax $31,250

OBAMA
(reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts)
Single making 30K - tax $8,400
Single making 50K - tax $14,000
Single making 75K - tax $23,250
Married making 60K - tax $16,800
Married making 75K - tax $21,000
Married making 125K - tax $38,750

Under Obama your taxes will
more than double!
How does this affect you? No explanation
needed. This is pretty
straight forward.

INHERITANCE TAX

MCCAIN 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)

OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax

How does this affect you? Many families
have lost businesses,
farms and ranches, and homes
that have
been in their families
for generations because they could not
afford the inheritance tax.
Those willing their assets to loved
ones will not only lose them to
these taxes.

NEW TAXES BEING PROPOSED BY OBAMA

* New government taxes proposed on
homes that are more than
2400 square feet

* New gasoline taxes (as if
gas weren’t high enough already)

* New taxes on natural resources
consumption (heating
gas, water, electricity)

AVOID THE PAIN VOTE MCCAIN!

Posted by: HP Boston | Jul 7, 2008 7:36:43 PM

Whew. Webb would be a great choice, but we need him in the Senate.

Posted by: jock59801 | Jul 7, 2008 7:38:13 PM

He probably doesn't want to be swiftboated by the corrupt lying Republicans...who want to destroy every genuine US military hero that happens to think differently.

Maybe Webb should have deserted his post and partied in Alabama during Vietnam...like Bush Junior. That would've made him somebody all Republicans could RESPECT.

Posted by: wilder5121 | Jul 7, 2008 7:51:13 PM

As I see it, Senator Edwards is my best choice for VP, he really is, and the second choice is Senator Kerry.Those who take pride in bashing Senator Obama continuously, will certainly realize in time , that they were wrong on all counts.

Posted by: Rev.Norbert Larcher | Jul 7, 2008 8:01:37 PM

Save the Democratic Party and oust Obama out! ..................Obama is headed for disaster!

Posted by: rogersm234 | Jul 7, 2008 8:06:15 PM

My - ANOTHER guy who does NOT want to hook up with Mr. Fraud Obama.

Looks like the DNC picked the WRONG guy - but - the People will vote & be heard loud and clear in November - we will NOT pick the loser.

A Vote for McCain is a Vote AGAINST obama & the DNC - that is the goal

Posted by: Molly | Jul 7, 2008 8:12:34 PM

Can we quit saying that Obama opposed the war from the start cause he didn't? He made a speech, thats it. He also said in 2004 that there was little difference between him and George Bush on the war... and he's switched between those two positions ever since.

Posted by: Giovanni | Jul 7, 2008 8:50:45 PM

I second Molly's sentiments. I am a Rep. (80% of the time), but voted for Hillary, because I like both McCain and Hillary and would be happy with either. Never Obama...and it's not racist...it's wanting an experienced leader, with no questionable love for THIS country, first and foremost. Obama should try sticking to the Senate and spend time at home raising his daughters (unlike all 3 of his parents who bailed on him). McCain's kids are grown and Chelsea too....so they can completely focus on the Presidency (Hillary would have been an amazing hard working President, maybe they'll even offer the VP spot to her).
I love Rendell, what about him? Is he too, out of the running?

Posted by: Debra | Jul 7, 2008 8:55:42 PM

I am so glad that Webb decided not to run with Obama. It seems that everyday there is someone else distancing themselves from Obama......they, evidently are see the "true" Backtrack Obama for what he really is, and "empty suit with no substance". I find it ironic that many NoBama supporters basically put McCain down and made fun of him for his military experience, but praised Webb for his. Obama supporters, just like Obama, flip flop and talk out of the sides of their mouth. Again, I applaud you, Mr. Webb, for declining to be associated with Obama as VP......it seems as if that hill to the Presidency is getting steeper and steeper for NoBama......and, looks like McCain has moved even closer to Obama in the polls, and McCain is not spending near the money NoBama is! Finally, America is waking up and rejecting Obama!

Posted by: Will | Jul 7, 2008 8:59:49 PM

15 of 18 benchmarks have been met in Iraq! McCain was right all along, and as usual, NoBama has no clue about what is going on . Way to go, McCain...America supports you!

Posted by: Will | Jul 7, 2008 9:02:38 PM

Sounds like NoBama is having a hard time attracting Hillary donors and supporters now. CNN (Obama network) stated that this is not what NoBama expected and could prove to be damaging to his campaign. Hmmmm......losing a really good VP candidate, going against Iraq then for Iraq and now America is winning in Iraq, and now Hillary supporters don't like Obama even more. Seems like NoBama is imploding! McCain 08!

Posted by: Will | Jul 7, 2008 9:12:09 PM

AVOID THE PAIN...VOTE McCAIN!!!!
Do not sit it out....do not write anyone in....McCAIN '08/HILLARY '12!!!

Posted by: Debra | Jul 7, 2008 9:13:33 PM

Poor Webb saw the writing on the wall , no one crazy enough to put him on any ticket.

Posted by: lyle | Jul 7, 2008 9:53:52 PM

His sexist remarks in the past would have come back to hurt Barack , A demographic Barack cant afford any issues with.

And i think Webb knew that , And if you sit and think , so many other talented DEMS out there without any baggage.

this would not have made any sense.

Posted by: ptt | Jul 7, 2008 10:01:39 PM

It seems that as Obama is moving more to the center, he is losing more and more of his supporters and driving Independents to McCain. Obama continues to flip-flop and it seems like the "halo" of the Presidency is growing dim.

Posted by: David | Jul 7, 2008 10:15:27 PM

Funny is it not this great new hope and some seems to be distancing their selves from being his VP. Guess not everyone is impressed by the new hope and change garbage.

Posted by: SJ | Jul 7, 2008 10:26:15 PM

Jim Webb has more experience than Obama. If he ran with Obama as Vice President, people would see Obama lack of experience.

Posted by: waggdogg | Jul 7, 2008 10:27:41 PM

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