Jim Webb

Can someone tell me about Jim Webb's comments about women in the military? I know what he said, but I do not know when he made the comments. I learned about the comments last month and, I was under the impression that he made the comments at the most recent Naval Academy graduation. This morning I was watching the news and, the reporter said he made comments about women in the military decades ago. So when do Jim Webb make his comments about women in the military?

It was in relation to combat. Almost everyone was questioning this.

He made certain comments 20+ years ago that were somewhat disparaging against women. He has since apologized and also said he was defending the "culture" of the military.

I was a lieutenant in the Army back then, but I remember it well. Would have been the late '70s, during the Carter administration. Of course, I wasn't happy with what he said, but it really wasn't any different than what most men within or closely connected to the military were saying back then.

The military has a long history of resisting change when it's imposed from outside, but once the order's given, buckling down and making it work. We did it with blacks and women -- not perfectly, but getting better all the time -- and soon, probably when we get a Democratic president, we'll do it with gays.

I think Webb also defended the Navy pilots in the Tailhook scandal, which was in the early 90s if I recall, altho I don't recall that his remarks were quite as offensive except in so far as they dismissed the chrages made by the women out of hand.

Look, as a woman who spent over 20 years in the military, I'd be surprised if Jim Webb were as enlightened as he ought to be. I've met too many of "his kind" in that respect -- good enough guys overall, willing to accept and work with individuals who can do their jobs, but just having this big hang-up about how the military is a masculine thing, something by which they proved their own manhood to themselves. They will never see women warriors as their equals because it would diminish their own identities and self-esteem. It's sort of barbaric, but it's the way they are.

But I don't kid myself for a minute that George Allen isn't 1000 times worse. It may not be as personal to him because when it was his turn to serve, he was too busy pretending to be a true son of the South by waving a Confederate flag and stuffing deer heads in mailboxes. He has no more idea of what it means to be a warrior than my 80 year old mother. Nevertheless, there's no doubt in my mind that he aligns politically with those who would limit women to being only clerks and nurses (as many in the GOP would like to see happen), and would try to enact legislation to that effect if it were in any way possible.

I must admit to being totally baffled by these women from the academies who have spoken out against Webb. I know they know better. I can only imagine that they must be Republicans for some other reason, and will say anything to try to keep Republicans in power.

including comments disparaging of women in the military that were made MORE recently by his opponent.