Jim Webb Confronts Bush
Virginia’s Senator-elect Jim Webb will be one of the most colorful men in that body. He’s already caused quite a commotion with an encounter with President Bush:
At a recent White House reception for freshman members of Congress, Virginia’s newest senator tried to avoid President Bush. Democrat James Webb declined to stand in a presidential receiving line or to have his picture taken with the man he had often criticized on the stump this fall. But it wasn’t long before Bush found him.
“How’s your boy?” Bush asked, referring to Webb’s son, a Marine serving in Iraq.
“I’d like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President,” Webb responded, echoing a campaign theme.
“That’s not what I asked you,” Bush said. “How’s your boy?”
“That’s between me and my boy, Mr. President,” Webb said coldly, ending the conversation on the State Floor of the East Wing of the White House.
It must be a southern thing to call one’s son a “boy” even if he’s old enough to be a Marine serving in Iraq.
Webb’s got an Andrew Jackson vibe to him. Fellow Democrats might not know what they’ve gotten themselves into. Sen. Chuck Schumer uttered at gaffe when he told the Washington Post, “He’s not a typical politician. He really has deep convictions.” And what about the rest of them?
Mary Katherine Ham writes,
Both of them should have brought better manners to the party. There was no reason Bush’s inquiry about Webb’s son needed to end with Webb wanting to punch the Prez. Doesn’t bode well for working together to achieve a victory in Iraq. But that’s politics!
“In Following His Own Script, Webb May Test Senate’s Limits” [via memeorandum]
“Son Also Rises in Testy Webb-Bush Exchange”
“Just Another Example Of The Hatred From The Left”
UPDATE: There’s a weirdness to the reports. Ann Althouse caught it too:
I just want to say that I don’t believe that Bush responded to Webb quite like that. I don’t believe Webb was quite like that either. He sounds mental. I want to know who told the anecdote, because the whole thing is phrased strangely. It compliments neither man.
A recording of the incident would be very helpful to hear the tone of voice of each man as well as body language and facial expressions. What we have is a Webb interview after the encounter where he said, “I’m not particularly interested in having a picture of me and George W. Bush on my wall. No offense to the institution of the presidency, and I’m certainly looking forward to working with him and his administration. [But] leaders do some symbolic things to try to convey who they are and what the message is.” I’m not sure what Webb means. Does Webb think Bush was engaging in some power play by asking about his “boy?”
Webb was being a jerk.