I'm so busy with my own blog that I've never had time to put up a diary here before. But I received an e-mail this morning that I wanted to share. I'm not sure what I think. The writer makes some valid points, but since this is a site supporting Jim Webb, I wanted to post it for comment.
The issue of "ideological purity" is a thorny one for Democrats. I know I'm tired of being a good soldier for candidates who cave in to Republicans all the time, and I think the only way to hold our Democratic leaders accountable is to refuse to support those who don't take a firm stand. I live in the NJ Fifth District and I'm dealing this fall with a candidate who is everything mediocre about machine politics. But the "ideological purity" issue, particularly about the war in Iraq, is a thornier one.
Let me toss this out to you all, and see what you think.
Thank you.
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Does it strike you at all odd that the D challenger from Virginia, Jim Webb, while claiming to be the 1st person to go public against the war in Iraq in the fall of 2002, while insisting that the war is unjust and downright wrong, has his very own son enlisting and being deployed to Iraq next month?
Son: "Dad, please wear a pair of my combat boots daily to show your support for me." Jim is doing that.
My mother said to me in 1969: "[name withheld], you have 3 choices: you can go to college; you can get a medical deferment; or your father and I will drive you to Canada". That's the same thing I've told my 19 year old son. His reply was, "if they call on me , I will proudly serve". My reply was, "I will get 3 or 4 large men to intervene with you, with duct tape and rope, take you to a Motel 6 and deprogram you until you come to your senses".
From the look on my face he said nothing.
If women withhold sex as they did in ancient times, and parents educate and sometimes have to intervene, that's the highest form of family love.
As Nancy Reagan once said, "Just say no".We can't fight a war with no troops. Take out a student loan, go borrow money from a pacifist sympathizer, and make other plans. You do not have to enlist. The upcoming draft will, of course, be the U.S's major undoing. If you enlist, lose an arm or a leg, and have mental problems for 50 years,
I'm sorry. But you did it yourself. Jim Webb in Virginia, if he had any family love, should intervene with his son, and so should all of you.
Thank you for your attention.
[name withheld]
[city withheld], Texas
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Full disclosure: The author of this e-mail supported Webb's opponent in the primary. He is devoting his time until the 2008 election supporting and in some cases working directly with candidates who demonstrate a commitment to change.