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SEN. JIM WEBB'S PROFILE RISING AS G.I. BILL BATTLE RAGES --
"This is his legacy already. He is going to
become a national
figure for service members and military
families."
Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA)
For the latest story about an effort to dump
Webb's G.I. Bill, click here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfMAY08/nf051508-3.htm
For more about the G.I. Bill, use the VA Watchdog
search engine...click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=g.i.+bill&op=ph
Story here...
http://www.mgwashington.com/inde
x.php/news/article/sen-webbs-profile-rising-with-gi-bill/988/
Story below:
-------------------------
Sen. Webb’s Profile Rising With GI Bill
By NEIL H. SIMON
Media General News Service
WASHINGTON-After 17 months, Sen. Jim Webb and his signature GI bill have
shot to the national stage.
The Virginia Democrat's veterans' education bill has become an issue in
the presidential campaign and war funding debate, and Webb has been
mentioned as a potential vice president.
Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., said Webb earned the buzz by working tirelessly for
his bill, which would increase educational benefits for veterans.
"This is his legacy already. He is going to become a national figure for
service members and military families," said Moran. "Jim would be an
extraordinarily good choice as a running mate for Barack Obama."
Sen. Barack Obama has yet to seal the Democratic nomination, and Webb has
not endorsed in the presidential race.
In West Virginia Monday, Obama referred to Webb as his "friend" and used
Webb's bill as campaign fodder.
Obama attacked Sen. John McCain, saying "he is
one of the few senators of either party who oppose this bill because he
thinks it's too generous."
McCain supports a bill that puts more emphasis on benefits for active duty
service members. Sen. Hillary Clinton supports Webb's bill.
Political analyst Gerald Pomper at Rutgers University said as the vice
presidential pick, Webb - a Vietnam War veteran and former Secretary of
the Navy -- could satisfy the Democratic Party's need to appear stronger
on national defense and foreign policy.
 "He
also brings an emotional commitment, some heat to it," Pomper said.
"V.P.'s are supposed to be the more heated guys."
In an interview promoting his new book, "A Time to Fight," Webb said he's
"not really" interested in a vice presidential slot and certainly not
fazed by national attention to him and his GI bill.
"I don't even think in those terms," he said. "I came up here to get the
things done that I can get done. And I feel pretty confident we're going
to get this one done."
Despite the momentum Webb has built for his GI bill --majorities in the
Senate and House have sponsored it--, critics say the freshman lawmaker
has focused too much on military issues.
Retiring Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., who has not ruled out a run against Webb
in 2012, said Webb has tied his political career to war policy.
"He's a one-trick pony," Davis said in an interview. "The war will
probably not be an issue (in 2012). When that goes away, what is there?"
Webb said he has heard this before.
"I'm not a one issue candidate; I care about a lot of other things besides
economic fairness," he said.
Webb speaks up for workers' wages and has sponsored legislation to reduce
prison recidivism through social programs, but only one bill is framed in
his office lobby -- S. 22, the veterans bill he introduced his first day
in the Senate.
"Senators get in trouble when they spread themselves too thin," University
of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato said. "You're better off
specializing in something and that something is a big deal in Virginia."
If Democrats wins the White House, Sabato said, Webb is likely to be their
point man on defense matters.
"Nobody else has the experience. Nobody has the credibility Webb has," he
said.
(Contact Neil H. Simon at
nsimon@mediageneral.com or 202-662-7669.)
-------------------------
posted by Larry
Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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