VA 2006 Senate Debate: on Principles & Values

James Webb: Endorsed Allen in 2000; turned away because of Iraq blunder

WEBB: A) I thought George Allen would be a leader, and B) I think that the Republican Party has reached the point where it’s mostly negativity rather than affirmative leadership. I affiliated with the Republican Party based on national security issues toward the end of the Vietnam War, and was never particularly comfortable with them, particularly on economic issues. And what you’ve seen over the last six years is a war that is an incredible strategic blunder of historic proportions.

Q: Did you go see Sen. Allen and talk to him about the war in Iraq before it began?

WEBB: Yes, I did. I spent an hour with Sen. Allen discussing with him that there was not an exit strategy because the people in this administration did not intend to leave. And from that point forward I decided that, although I had perhaps a personal regard for him on one level, politically that I could not support him anymore.