Virginia Tomorrow

When Jim Webb published an op-ed titled “Diversity and the myth of white privilege” last week in the Wall Street Journal (it should be noted Webb didn’t write the provocative headline that is less nuanced than the arguments he makes in the piece, the Wall Street Journal’s editors did), people took notice. Pieces that are published on a Friday rarely generate buzz, but that rule does not necessarily apply when the topic has to do with race. Some in Virginia wondered if it was a sign that he is not going to run for re-election. Others called it perplexing. And the chattering class said it was “Jim Webb being Jim Webb.”

As Dr. Bob foresaw in his Sunday Scorecard, the issues Webb raised in the piece did not fade away over the weekend. Political columnists wrote their takes on it. Hardball dedicated a segment to the issues Webb raised. On Hardball, in a segment that was in his wheelhouse, Pat Buchanan said Webb was on the “cutting edge” of a new politics of white-identity politics. And this is probably just the beginning of more of such discussions.

When I read Webb’s piece, two things came to mind. First, it struck me as a preemptive shot at a potential George Allen bid to regain his Senate seat (Allen has told reporters that he “perhaps” may challenge Webb). Second, even if it may have been unintentional, it was extremely savvy politics.

Let me explain.

In his piece, Webb opined that “those who came to this country in recent decades from Asia, Latin America and Africa did not suffer discrimination from our government, and in fact have frequently been the beneficiaries of special government programs. The same cannot be said of many hard-working white Americans, including those whose roots in America go back more than 200 years.” He then concludes by writing, “Beyond our continuing obligation to assist those African-Americans still in need, government-directed diversity programs should end. Nondiscrimination laws should be applied equally among all citizens, including those who happen to be white.”

In a hypothetical rematch between Webb and Allen, Allen’s only path to victory would be if white Virginians, particularly from the middle class and lower-income backgrounds (think exurbs like Prince William County and Leesburg and Southside Virginia), turn out in droves for him. This op-ed, in many ways, preemptively tries to prevent “white flight,” so to speak, from Webb to Allen.

Second, this op-ed was nuanced, and very politically savvy, even more so since the column was about race. In a hypothetical Webb v. Allen match-up, I see no ethnic group that this column would repel.

African-American leaders and community members have praised Webb for his work on attempting to reform the nation’s mandatory sentencing laws and focusing on streamlining re-entry programs, issues which unfortunately and disproportionately impact African-American communities. 

And Webb’s piece, by stating that government still owes a debt to Black-Americans with roots in this country, does nothing to push away non-immigrant Black voters in places like Hampton Roads and Richmond. He, in essence, takes their side.

Some Asians may not have liked the column, but if there is a single issue that can unite the often difficult to poll “Asian” vote, it is their almost unilateral stance against affirmative action programs. If there is a single issue vote that can unite Asians, it would be against affirmative action and for meritocracy, so Asians aren’t likely going to rail against Webb for writing this column.

Some Hispanic groups may find issue with this piece, but when was the last time you saw a bevy of “Viva Allen!” signs across the Commonwealth?

Webb’s op-ed may anger African immigrants and their sons and daughters, many of whom are concentrated in Northern Virginia, who, as he wrote, benefit from racial preferences at the expense of whites who have been here for far longer, have sturdier roots, and have sacrificed far more blood and treasure for this country. But in a hypothetical Webb vs. Allen rematch in 2012, does anyone realistically believe these African immigrants will pull the lever for a man who popularized the word “macaca?”

In 2012, with President Barack Obama on the ticket, it is safe to assume that Black-Virginians will go to the polls to re-elect Obama and, in so doing, end up voting for Jim Webb. If trends stay the way they are today, Webb will likely get a residual benefit from the sizeable number of minority voters who may come out again in droves to reelect Obama.

That said, the only way Webb would lose to Allen in a hypothetical 2012 match-up is if the white votes swings dramatically for Allen. And with this op-ed, Webb has planted a flag in hardscrabble white America.

Webb, cut from hardscrabble Scots-Irish cloth, believes this (that race-based government programs often have left poor whites behind and have unfairly discriminated against them) to his core.

Some may criticize Webb for penning this column on the heels of the Shirley Sherrod incident that began another national dialogue (or shouting match) on race, but this is smart politics. For him to pen this oped at a time when the country is talking about race, when the white vote is swinging towards the GOP, and when Allen is probably finalizing his decision on whether to challenge Webb, is smart politics and good timing.

Jim Webb ain’t crazy, folks. He’s iconoclastic. But also very savvy.  

Tony Lee is a conservative writer. Follow him on twitter: @TheTonyLee