On 16 May 2016, Virginia congressional candidate Mike Webb posted a message on Facebook along with a screenshot of his browser. While Webb intended to use the image to show how a staffing agency in Alexandria, Virginia, was closed down, social media users were more concerned with the tabs that that were open on his browser:
An image of Webb's screenshot was captured by several media outlets and quickly circulated around the internet. Some viewers encountered the image after Webb deleted the post, however, and were left wondering if someone had doctored the porn sites into Webb's tabs. Others speculated that Webb's computer must have had a virus:
Did Mike Webb, Virginia republican, actually leave his tabs open onto porn sites when he posted a screenshot of something else or is it just a joke?
While Webb did delete the Facebook post, he also confirmed that the image was real:
THANKS FOR THE TAB CHECK, RANGER BUDDIES!
"For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." Psalm 100:5
I must have recited or heard that verse a million times in invocations in my youth, alone, in that Psalmist's praise to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. But, until, today, I never really knew the power of what that meant. Today's notorious post reached almost 200,000 people. The succeeding post reached a little more than a tenth of that, and all through the viral infection of social media and word of mouth. And, I certainly received my share of "interesting" comments, but no more out of the ordinary than what I have received since beginning this quest. But, the truly amazing thing about today was that "I saw also the Lord, high and lifted up," and I was very much moved by the love and support of those who expressed their encouragement and support, even some in the national and local press.
Lessons affirmed today include that we do expect our leaders to be examples of our highest ideals, but also, as we have seen for almost a year in non-traditional length posts, people are interested and motivated by truth and substance, not flash or even scandal. In the month preceding the nomination convention, our following on Twitter grew at a rate of 50%, but today, in just one day on Facebook, we grew in page likes by 25%. Perhaps, what does not kill you does make you stronger. And, that quote that has remained with me since the very beginning of this quest tells me that I have much work ahead to fulfill the faith placed in me: "My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a kind Providence that ordereth all things for our good."
In 2016, it's about choice; it's about leadership; and it's about time. I am Mike Webb, and I am running for U.S. Congress. Honest.