Sen. Webb’s profile rising with GI bill

By NEIL H. SIMON
Media General News Service

Published: May 14, 2008

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 or 202-662-7669.)