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Winning Over the Senate With Frank Words and a Keen Mind

Written by Danielle Knight - US News & World Report
Sen. Jim Webb isn't good with sound bites. When the freshman Democrat from Virginia is asked about his recent trip to Iraq and the state of the troop surge, he sounds more like a professor of Mideast history than a politician looking for TV time. His four-pronged answer spans the globe, touching on international terrorism, al-Anbar province, the Kurds, and the rift among Shiite Muslims. "There are a lot of pieces in motion," says the former marine, a combat veteran. It's that depth of experience and nuance of understanding that have won over so many fellow senators since Webb upset Republican incumbent George Allen last year. "He's highly respected on both sides of the aisle because he knows what he's talking about," says Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a fellow Vietnam War veteran. "You agree or disagree with him on issues, but he's always prepared, informed, articulate, and straightforward." Webb's ascension has surprised some Washington insiders who wondered whether the maverick with the prickly personality would be a good fit for the Senate, where teamwork is valued. Support for those concerns came quickly, when Webb engaged in a testy exchange with President Bush at a White House reception last year. When Bush asked about Webb's son, a marine then serving in Iraq, the senator said tersely: "That's between me and my boy, Mr. President." Short list. Yet the incident only bolstered Webb's standing among war critics and earned him a position as the Democrats' spokesman against the administration's Iraq war policy. Now, Webb is rumored to be on the short list of potential running mates for the Democratic presidential nominee—a distinction virtually unheard of for someone with less than two years of experience in any political office. But when Democrats picked Webb to respond to Bush's State of the Union address this year, his passionate and authoritative rebuttal, weaving the nation's military commitment with his own, ensured his spot in the limelight. He won coveted seats on the Foreign Relations, Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs committees. With the Navy Cross and other prestigious medals, Webb brings a certain authority to military issues. But what really have caused his colleagues to take notice are his curiosity and intellect; he has been writing about strategic issues for decades. Webb has authored eight books, including the popular 1978 Vietnam War novel Fields of Fire. (He also speaks Vietnamese and is married to a Vietnamese-American woman.) A former journalist, he won an Emmy for his PBS coverage of the U.S. marines in Beirut. "I've never been bored," Webb says about his multiple careers. READ THE FULL ARTICLE
Last Updated ( Sunday, 16 December 2007 )