Senator Allen Nails Opponent as Hollywood Liberal

Allen Uses an Island to Put Webb on the Spot
Republican Catches His Opponent by Surprise With a Debate Question on Hampton Roads Issue

By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 25, 2006; Page B02

It's just 2,500 acres of one-time river muck.

But U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) hopes Portsmouth's Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area can help sink his Democratic opponent's chances of being elected to the Senate this year.

The man-made island, located between the James and Elizabeth rivers, consists of dredged material from Hampton Roads waterways.

Virginia and federal officials want to expand the island so they can build a new cargo terminal, which they hope will boost shipping traffic into the Port of Hampton Roads. The deep-water terminal could generate 54,000 jobs and pump an additional $1.7 billion into the state's economy, officials say.

At a debate Saturday in Hot Springs, Allen surprised challenger James Webb by asking what he thought of the island, never mentioning the planned terminal. Webb, who is making his first run at office, was forced to admit he didn't know what or where it was, causing Allen to get a chuckle out of the audience when he said, "It's in Virginia."

Hey James, you really shouldn't be running if you don't know all the issues. This is a pretty big "gotcha" considering the economic and environmental impact such a project will have in Virginia. I mean 54,000 jobs is a lot of impact in anyone's book, shouldn't have missed that one.

Perhaps Allen's people are correct, maybe you have been spending too much time with you Hollywood buddies and not enough time paying attention to Virginia politics.

Whoops there goes another Democrat, whoops there goes another Democrat, whoops there goes another Democrat plan...

Full Story: Ker-flop!

What do you think?

To leave your opinion click on the word "COMMENT(S)" below