South of the James

Much ado has been made about state Sen. Benjamin Lambert’s (D-UnReal Virginia) surprising decision to support Republican George Allen in the 2006 US Senate race over his own party’s nonimee, Jim Webb. It has definitely shaken up Democrats who were apparently assured that Lambert no longer had issues with Jim Webb. It looks like the cowboy senator has a new Kemo Sabe for his civil rights pilgrimage…

Weeping and wailing aside, the Richmond senator is well within his rights to turn his back on the party that has supported both his career and the budding political aspirations of the younger generation of Lamberts in and around Richmond. After all, Democrats have no right to expect loyalty from any of their elected officials…party oaths notwithstanding.

Those compassionate souls in the Republican Party who’ve quickly come to to Lambert’s defense vigorously insist that blacks should no longer let themselves be taken for granted by the Democratic Party. They will get no argument in this corner. Historically, the Democratic Party of Virginia was controlled by the Byrd Organization, a good ole boy outfit that stymied the advancement of blacks for many years. In later years, those regressive forces gave way to more progressive elements in the party that, against the odds, elected the nation’s first and only African-American governor. Thumbing their noses at the old guard, these “new” Democrats went so far as to foolishly relegate themselves to minority party status by creating more black majority districts and packing GOP-friendly white voters in other legislative territories. Silly Democrats!

Now, blacks only represent 29% of the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus (5 of 17) and only 31% of the Virginia House Democratic Caucus (12 of 39). One black majority House district is still represented by a pesky white Democrat of apparently marginal influence and prestige. By contrast, Sen. Allen’s Republican Party of Virginia – which regularly counts on up to 15% of the black vote in Virginia – sure has done a bang-up job of ensuring that black Republicans are proportionately represented in the General Assembly’s GOP caucuses…

According to his letter to Le Senator, Lambert was particularly impressed with Allen’s position on historically-black colleges and universities. Lambert further noted that his support for Allen’s reelection was forthcoming because the two men “have worked well together over the years on many issues.” From this statement it is quite obvious that Jim Webb’s stances on key policy issues affecting the lives of Virginians did not line up with Lambert’s views. Only through taking a gander at some of those positions can Webb and his Democratic brethren recover from this blow.

• Jim Webb supports equal rights for gays & lesbians and opposes the Marshall-Newman Amendment. George Allen (his Senate office hiring policies aside) opposes equal rights for gays & lesbians and support the Marshall-Newman Amendment. Sen. Lambert stands with Sen. Allen.
• Jim Webb supports affirmative action policies designed to specifically overcome the legacy of slavery, segregation, and institutional discrimination faced by African-Americans. George Allen opposes affirmative action in all forms. Sen. Lambert stands with Sen. Allen.
• Jim Webb supports a woman’s right to determine her own reproductive decisions. George Allen opposes a woman’s right to choose. Sen. Lambert stands with Sen. Allen.
• Jim Webb supports raising the minimum wage. George Allen opposes raising the minimum wage. Sen. Lambert stands with Sen. Allen.
• Jim Webb supports fully funding federal education mandates, including No Child Left Behind. George Allen opposes fully funding federal education mandates under No Child Left Behind. Sen. Lambert stands with Sen. Allen.
• Jim Webb supports negotiating group discounts for Medicare programs so that seniors on fixed incomes pay less for life-sustaining medication. George Allen opposes negotiating group discounts for Medicare. Sen. Lambert stands with Sen. Allen.

On issue after issue, Jim Webb stands for issues that are anathema to George Allen. Sen. Lambert now stands with Sen. Allen. Lambert said, “I hope to be working with you in Washington, long after November…” Come January, it will be interesting to see if the Richmond optometrist – with plum committee assignments such as Education & Health, Finance, and Privileges & Elections – will see clearly enough to caucus with the right party when the General Assembly is back in session.