In a move that could have hardly been anticipated, Senator Benjamin Lambert III (D-Richmond) has endorsed George Allen over fellow Democrat Jim Webb.
Several members of the Legislative Black Caucus have not been happy with the lack of consideration shown by the Webb campaign. I have talked to a couple of them (still trying to reach others) and they are not happy with this development, but they agree that this opens the door for other members to do likewise. Both that I talked to were adamant that they will not be endorsing Allen. One in particular informed me that other more senior members of the state senate will also not be endorsing Allen.
I think I’ve been pretty clear on what I consider to be good behavior for elected officials, namely party discipline. I disagree with Lambert’s move here. If he was unhappy with Webb, he should have done the right thing and sat on his hands. And if the reason was to get even with Don McEachin, then this endorsement is despicable.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Which more senior members of the Senate’s black caucus are there? Isn’t Lambert the longest running and one of the oldest black legislators. This is HUGE.
This must be a cue from Lambert that he isn’t running for re-election. His district is too blue to take this on the chin… or at least this constituent of his is…
28 years in as a Delegate and Senator doesn’t make Lambert a “Senior Member?”
He is the most senior Senate member of the Legislative Black Caucus. Only three Democrats have been in the Senate longer than Lambert. They’re all white.
I mistyped that. I have corrected it.
There are only two reasons why one breaks party ranks: (1) cowardice, or (2) moral outrage.
Now I won’t be so bold as to suggest the first, but given Webb’s shoddy treatment of minorities, his willingness to use race as a tool to divide the electorate, and Allen’s demonstrated sponsorship of African-American colleges and universities in Virginia — it certainly speaks to the second.
This wasn’t pandering; Webb’s tactics are backfiring and it’s high time he realize it before it turns into a real problem.
My US$0.02 anyhow.
Vivian –
From what I’m reading here, I can’t fault African Americans for not supporting Webb. He simply hasn’t done the outreach, and support is not a given.
An endorsement of Allen is another thing though! My goodness…
Vivian,
Benny Lambert just endorsed Allen? I almost fell off my chair when I heard about it, and now NLS is reporting it.
What do you think the ramifications are? My worry is that this endorsement is so close to the MTP and FCCC debates that any mention of the M-issue by Russert or Stephanopolus will be cut down by this endorsement.
Does this affect Tidewater for Webb? What about minority voters who lean conservative (yet Benny seems quite liberal)? I am baffled. What happened?
Please post your thoughts. Also, please feel free to delete this if you’d like. But I do hope you post your opinion on this matter. Thanks
Vivian,
Senator Lambert has lost his damn mind. I would bet the farm that he’ll be in the nursing home before long. This makes about as much sense as a chicken endorsing Colonel Sanders.
First FCDC Dem – I was able to move your post here. I’ll try to answer your questions as best I can.
The black leadership has not been too happy with Webb. Call it pandering if you like, but minority outreach has been sorely lacking in the Webb campaign. I wish I could tell the private conversations that I have had with various black elected officials over the last few months about this but I can’t. You’d be surprised at how upset they are. I took it upon myself to talk to Webb about it at a local fundraiser.
I don’t know if Lambert has the reach beyond his area for this statement to matter, but you can expect that the MSM will pick this up and run with it., mainly because Allen is going to use it at every opportunity.
Black voters are not monolithic, nor do they simply vote the way somebody tells them to. The real effect of this will be if others step in and do likewise. Then the reach of this thing will grow.
I just think Lambert was wrong. No way this was “moral outrage,” Shaun – not even close. I think he has a greater responsibility – to those who elected him and to those who also call themselves Democrats. I’m disappointed that he did this.
Vivian,
Thanks for some of your insight. I understand that you must refrain from going further. However, when this election is over, I hope that you may feel comfortable about addressing this issue.
If Jim Webb wins, all Dem bloggers should know what areas of weekness our new Senator has, and ensure that we hold him accountable as our new Democratic official in the Senate.
If Allen wins, all Dem bloggers should know what really happened to ensure this divide never happens again. We cannot afford to remain fractured.
Vivian,
If not “moral outrage”, then what motivated Senator Lambert to do what he did?
Certainly he realizes the implications of breaking ranks with fellow Democrats? Doug Wilder certainly has a habit of doing this time and time again if only to prove a point.
Do you think Lambert was sending a message that African-American voters are not to be taken for granted? What’s the calculus then if he isn’t trying to send a message to Webb?
My brother in Richmond says it’s all the buzz, a very serious endorsement. Webb didn’t do well in Richmond…
Shaun – no doubt Lambert understands the implications. Sending a message to Webb is not, in my book at least, “moral outrage.”
Shaun Kenney,
Since you’re a neighbor in Spotsylvania, let me educate you about Jim Webb. He’s not a pandering politician. He’s not a careerist politician. We leave that to George Allen who is adept at telling people what they want to hear so he can get what he wants…. Career advancement.
Jim Webb has nothing to be apologetic for. If you want to know his position on anything, he’ll tell you straight up. He’s certainly not going to ply you with money because politically he shuns the Republican practices of careerism and cronyism …. there’s no financial gain to be made off of Webb. There is no great political gain to be made off of Webb, either. He’ll be in office doing what he thinks is right and best for the common man. Period.
Unfortunately careerist politicians have nothing to gain in supporting a Webb candidacy. However the constituents have everything to gain from a man who is not bought … who has not sold out … who’s ideals are not compromised.
This story may appear to have racial overtones or significance …. but the real story here is …. what kind of politicians do we want representing us? Certainly not careerist (and when he’s not thinking straight – bullying racist) George Allen.
This political contest will come down to a choice between Integrity personified by Jim Webb …. and political expediency personified by George Allen and his new best friend Benny Lambert.
I’ll choose Integrity ever time.
George Allen is the face of the current Republican party – interchangable with George Bush ….. it is one of disgrace. Benny Lambert should have each of their pictures on his wall … stradling his mirror.
If you leave Virginia, no one has heard of Lambert. Not too many in Virginia has heard of him. With the debate coming, he know he will get national exposure with his indosement of Allen.
Tony – You said “If you want to know his position on anything, he’ll tell you straight up.” The problem with that is that I keep going to his website looking for his positions on issues and I can’t find anything of substance. I went to the debate at the Homestead and heard nothing of substance (although I did hear several times “did I mention I wrote an article about Iraq before the invasion?”). Still searching for where Webb stands on the issues, I went to a campaign event in Roanoke. Know what I got? Nothing but complaints about the Bush administration. Then I finally got word that the Webb campaign was making a big POLICY announcement. Finally I’d know where Webb stood on the issues. Imagine my surprise when, instead of policy, I got a statement of 3 areas where Bush had failed to show leadership.
Have faith though, my search to learn where Webb stands on the issues continues. I’ll watch both debates Sunday/Monday and hopefully will learn something. I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as I find out where the guy stands on at least one issue of substance. I’ll take an energy policy, a transportation policy, an education policy, something. Just give me one.