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James Webb on Civil Rights
Democratic Sr Senator
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Affirmative action should apply to African-Americans only
Q: Could you address your comments about affirmative action being “state-sponsored racism.”WEBB: My view on affirmative action has been and remains that it’s a 13th Amendment program. If you go back to the
Johnson administration’s executive order on affirmative action, it was based on the 13th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, designed to remove the badges of slavery. African-Americans are the only ethnic group in this country that have suffered
from deliberate discrimination and, and exclusion by the government over generations. When this program expanded to the present day diversity programs, where essentially every ethnic group other than Caucasians are included, then that becomes
state-sponsored racism. And we should either move this program back to its original intent, which I support, or we should open up diversity programs to the point where poor white cultures have some opportunity.
Source: VA Senate debate on Meet the Press with Tim Russert, p.21
, Sep 17, 2006
Supports civil unions; opposes constitutional ban
Q: Virginia’s ban on gay marriage--are you going to vote for it?WEBB: No, I’m not. It is a bad amendment. The second paragraph is extremely vague.
Q: Are you for gay marriage?
WEBB: I am for civil unions and I’m opposed to the amendment.
Q:
Are you for civil unions?
MILLER: I support civil unions and I also oppose the amendment. This is the first time Virginia’s have ever considered an amendment which would limit the rights of individuals. It is a bad idea and I oppose it.
Source: Virginia 2006 Democratic Senate Primary debate
, Jun 9, 2006
Opposes constitutional ban of gay marriage
Webb opposes a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, believes trade agreements should require other nations to improve labor standards and wages, and backs abortion rights as defined by the Supreme Court’s ruling in
Roe v. Wade. “I believe the power of the government ends at my front door unless there is a compelling reason to come inside,” he says.
Source: Jeanne Cummings, Wall Street Journal, p. A6
, Jun 8, 2006
Government’s power should end at my front door
We hear talk of morality and “values,” but what values do they espouse, other than the politics of fear and social division? Conservatives used to believe that the government should leave individuals alone.
Now they want to tell you how to live your private life. I say to you, the government’s power ends at my front door, unless there is a compelling reason to come inside. Leave us alone, and let us live our lives.
Source: Campaign announcement speech
, Apr 28, 2006
Realign politics by union of Scots-Irish & African Americans
As a genealogist and author of “Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America”, he is one of the leading experts and representatives of an important group of people. On the topic of race, James Webb in 2004 wrote: “the greatest realignment
in modern politics would take place rather quickly if the right national leader found a way to bring the Scots-Irish and African Americans to the same table, and so to redefine a formula that has consciously set them apart for the past two centuries.”
Source: Draft Webb website, www.draftjameswebb.com
, Jan 3, 2006
Page last updated: Feb 22, 2012