Senatorial Square Off
Challenger Webb addresses Court Square Theater
By Rachana Dixit, news editor
Posted on October 30, 2006

HARRISONBURG — Campaign rallies have found their stomping ground in the Shenandoah Valley.

More than 400 people showed up at Court Square Theater Thursday afternoon for a meet-and-greet with Democratic Senate candidate Jim Webb and former Gov. Mark Warner, 12 days before the Nov. 7 election.

Tina Owens, business manager of Court Square Theater, said, “We were happy to open the doors for something like this.”

Webb, formerly secretary of the U.S. Navy, stood on the stage in front of the enthusiastic crowd and began his speech by outlining his campaign points. He also demonstrated how he and his opponent, incumbent Sen. George Allen, R-Va., disagree on many key points of this election.

“On the major issues of the day, George Allen and I are completely opposed,” Webb said.
An example Webb cited was national security and the War in Iraq, which he opposed since no exit strategy was outlined before sending troops over.

“[The war] was not about WMDs,” he said. “It was about turning our troops into terrorist targets. There was no exit strategy because the architects of the plan did not intend to leave.”

Warner agreed, adding that people who previously opposed the war were seen as unpatriotic by the Bush administration and Allen.

However, Webb does not think the war situation is a helpless one.

“This is not an impossible situation,” Webb said. “It can be resolved with affirmative leadership.”

Warner also said he believes the country needs more effective leaders.

“People want leadership that’s focused on solutions,” he said. “It’s our country. No one is going to fix it if we don’t do our part.”

Webb also discussed the current power of the executive branch, and how that power has become abusive.

“We have seen an imbalance in the powers between the executive branch and the legislative branch,” he said. “My opponent has spent his entire career as a servant to the people of power. I have always been willing to confront power.”

Harrisonburg resident Lowell Fulk, who ran for the 26th District House of Delegates in 2003 and 2005, said he thinks Virginia does not have a say in the government, but Webb will be able to change that.

“I think Webb will be a voice,” Fulk said. “George Allen has been a rubber stamp.”

Webb also showed during his speech that there are important state issues at hand as well, such as the marriage amendment to the Virginia Constitution. The amendment, which will be on the Nov. 7 ballot, states that marriage should only be between one man and one woman in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Webb said he is a Christian and does believe marriage is between one man and one woman. However, he added that he thinks the amendment is a poor one because it takes away many people’s rights. 

“We don’t want to take rights away from people because of religious beliefs,” Webb said.
Webb concluded his speech by saying that starting Nov. 8, he was looking forward to serving the people of Virginia.

“I want to be able to say that I am standing before you,” he said, “and representing one among many who are going to bring change in a very good way back to this country.”