Jim Webb out of primary
Democrats lose another candidate, signifying a shift in the party’s ideology
Sen. Jim Webb’s recent decision to drop out of the Democratic run for president was a surprise to some. I think his choice makes sense in light of the political realm today and highlights some interesting points about the partisan split that has been evolving in the Democratic Party over the years. The tale of Webb exemplifies this change in some ways.
Democrats — Sen. Jim Webb’s exit from Democratic primary was telling of party’s move further left. Google Images
Originally a Republican, Webb changed to become a conservative Democrat (or a “Blue Dog” as some refer to them). Now, he is not even sure he desires to stay a Democrat. Webb expressed his frustration with the Democratic Party and even went as far as to declare the need for “a new Declaration of Independence” to better serve the American people.
It is a rather dramatic statement to make after an anticlimactic race for Webb thus far, as his campaign gained little support. He is considering running as an Independent, but this remains to be seen.
The announcement to perhaps continue without the Democratic label surprised even some of Webb’s friends, according to CNN. One of Webb’s friends and advisors, Mudcat Saunders, told CNN that Webb had not mentioned that he would drop out, though they both expressed mutual frustration with the changing ideals of the Democrats.
“We just don’t like the Democratic Party’s strategy,” Saunders said.
Webb’s longtime friend, Dr. David Charney reminded everyone that “you are dealing with a person whose first career was military, so that colors his strategic thinking,” and this was Webb’s next move in the battle for president.
Webb also used war rhetoric in his official statements, saying, “The very nature of our democracy is under siege due to the power structure and the money that finances both political parities.”
Is Webb right? If he is, it should be of little surprise that he dropped out. The Democratic Party has definitely been shifting further left in recent years. According to data from the Pew Research Center, Democrats and Republicans are more significantly divided by ideological principles now than they were only 10 years ago, as 94 percent of Democrats sway more consistently liberal than the average Republican. This correlates with why people like Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-proclaimed socialist, are gaining support.
Webb, meanwhile, is a liminal figure, not truly belonging to either the Democrats or Republicans. Though, as the associate editor of the Daily Caller pointed out, with people like Donald Trump and Sen. Rand Paul racing on the right, Webb could almost fit back in with his former party association. Webb has made a point, both with his story and recent decision.
The Democrats have slid further left in the “Cha-Cha Slide” of political ideology. This is concerning to Republicans, as further research from Pew shows. People like Webb do not know where they fit into the ever-changing dance of American politics.
Charuhas is an opinion writer.