SubscribeWebb: Reports Of Rude Exchange Bush’s Fault
From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Webb, Bush off to shaky beginning
White House denies Sen.-elect’s claim of leaks after icy greeting
BY PETER HARDIN
Nov 30, 2006WASHINGTON — Sen.-elect Jim Webb contends the Bush administration wants to paint him as a "hothead."
The former Navy secretary, whose election in Virginia put Democrats over the top in captur- ing the U.S. Senate, voiced that view yesterday.
A White House spokeswoman flatly denied Webb’s charge.
"That is not true. At all," said spokeswoman Dana Perino in an e-mail.
Webb confirmed published reports of an exchange at a private White House reception when he declined an invitation to be photographed with President Bush, and next declined to answer Bush’s question about his son stationed in Iraq.
He was told, Webb volunteered in an interview, that someone at the White House leaked a report of the episode, although he didn’t know if that was true.
"I think one of the strategies of the administration, it seems to be to try to say early on that I’m a hothead, you know, or that I can’t work in the political process, or whatever."
When informed of Webb’s remarks about a possible White House leak and a strategy to depict him negatively, White House spokeswoman Perino said, "None of it is true."
Webb pointed to a recent syndicated column by Robert Novak that suggested Webb was an old enemy of Robert Gates, Bush’s nominee for secretary of Defense.
"I don’t even know him," Webb said of Gates.
Webb said he holds "a great respect for the presidency — with a ‘y’ on the end," has worked as a committee staff lawyer in the House and for five years as an official at the Pentagon, four of them as a political appointee.
"So I know the drill. I’m looking forward to working with people in this administration. I’ve got good friends on the Republican side," added Webb, a former Republican.
Regarding the White House episode, Webb gave this account: He was attending a reception for newly elected senators, and he declined an invitation to be photographed with Bush. Webb was forthright in disagreeing with Bush on the campaign trail and called the Iraq war a "strategic blunder of historic proportions."
Afterward Bush approached him and offered, "Congratulations." Webb thanked the president and introduced his wife to the chief executive. Bush went on, "How is your boy?"
Webb, who notes that he wouldn’t talk during the campaign about his son stationed in Iraq, answered with a response something like, "I would like to see them come home."
Bush wasn’t deterred, saying, "I didn’t ask you that, I said how’s your boy."
Webb held firm. "It’s between me and my son. Me and my boy," he insisted.
Of Bush’s question, Webb said yesterday, "I think even he would probably understand that’s a little bit over the line." He said the question was not an easy one to answer "when your son’s in combat."
The White House did not comment on Webb’s characterization of the exchange…
It’s probably to the good.
Bush probably doesn’t really want to know how "penis mouth" Webb relates to his son.
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16 Responses to “Webb: Reports Of Rude Exchange Bush’s Fault”
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November 30th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Ah the idiocy - with a ‘y’ at the end - of Jim Webb…
Glad I moved away from Virginia.
November 30th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
From The Hill:
November 30th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Webb has been married, excuse me, three times. They have already busted Rudy for his marriages…hello! If I, as a retired Navy person, had said I wanted to slug the commander in chief, I would be sitting under the jail, Leavenworth, with the SECRET SERVICE all over me. What has the SS done to Webb? Have they questioned him about his remarks? My guess…NO! Last but not forgotten…Bush probably doesn’t want to know how “penis mouth” relates to his son. The exerpt from his book about the father picking up his son and what he does will surely not be forgotten anytime soon. To come up with something of that nature…you gotta’ be a SICKO.
I am someone who thinks “penis mouth” is going to cause a lot of trouble (bad trouble). He has not one ounce of class or manners. The USNA sure didn’t teach him anything. A waste of taxpayers money.
November 30th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
What a jerk. WTF does he mean it “was over the line?” What, asking how your kid is doing? It was a simple attempt to show concern for his son’s well being and he had to turn it into a confrontation. It doesn’t sound like anybody will have to do anything in order to brand Webb as a hothead
November 30th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
Webb is the one over-the-line and trying to politicize his son’s service. President Bush did not ask him what he felt about his son’s service, or if contrary to the sentiments of 99% of his fellow troops, if he was looking forward to coming home. He asked after his health and well-being. It was a courteous and kindly thing to do. Webb is the one who turned it into something for debate. Shows the kind of courteous, kindly retards the Democrats field in elections. Webb is a turncoat, opportunistic ass.
November 30th, 2006 at 5:06 pm
I suppose Webb is simply playing to his base. In their world, there is no type of behavior that can be considered too disrespectful of W. Sadly, this is what Democrat politics in the US has devolved to. The Republicans need to stick with the key issues, like keeping the economy growing, minimize Iraq as a drag on the Party (if this means garrisoning troops to minimize casualties, so be it), shining the spotlight on Democratic appointed judges who want to give Miranda rights for terrorists, and exposing the Democrats as the party of high taxes and a crappy, stagnant economy.
Sooner or later, Webb and the other Blue Dog Democrats, will have to show their cards re: do we increase SSN taxes to pay for the deficit, do we triple Medicare payroll taxes to fund it, etc, and then Webb will be exposed.
November 30th, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Can’t decide if this is a guy who is really into the ‘politicising’ of the War or if he is just going for the media time?
Either way he is a jerk and stupid - man the ‘Bush’s fault’ is beginning to sound a damn lot like Hillary’s ‘vast right-wing conspiracy’ crappola.
How any of these arrogant, rude and stupid morons get elected is something I just don’t understand.
I guess the reason they all scream about election fraud and intimidation is because that is the only way they get elected.
November 30th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
President Bush asked “How is your boy?”
Webb answered “It’s between me and my son. Me and my boy”.
This “blue” writer, Webb, doesn’t even know his basic grammar.
“….between my boy and me.”
What a boor.
Class, or lack thereof, tells.
November 30th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
Most Fathers are proud of their sons. Wonder why Webb isn’t proud of his?
Could be the son is not proud of the father.
Gees, ask about my son and I will bore you for hours and dazzle you with photos. ;)
BTW, Did I mention he made Marine Sgt. in a little over 3 years?
November 30th, 2006 at 7:55 pm
Your pride beams when you speak of him, 1st.
Congrats to your boy, and to you.
November 30th, 2006 at 8:47 pm
Did I mention I have Grandchildren too?
The boy aint much but that little freckled faced, blued eyed girl who scared the hell out of me when she bailed out of the swing at the top when she was 4, Well she is something else… ;)
November 30th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
Probably just like her Grandpa. Fearless and bossy, is she?
November 30th, 2006 at 8:57 pm
I was scared once,
Then I realized they could only kill me once.
As for bossy, That is Mrs. 1st job.
I could picture it, A little girl with a broken leg and a PaPa with a heart attack in the same ambulance.
Then she said,
“Want to see me do it again?”
November 30th, 2006 at 9:34 pm
I would like Webb’s son to ask, Hows my dad? And the EMT says, he isnt going to make it. The explosion in the capitol building was too great. Too bad your dad voted to end the Iraq thing, and now they are here. Too bad you left the military too….you are needed more here than ever….but the Democrats are creating the terms of surrender now, and all men of military age must report to their respective city’s football stadiums…all women cannot leave their houses for any reason whatsoever.
You dad thought he was being smug, I guess….kept mumbling about inverting you as a toddler…we couldnt figure out what he meant….Hey! Where are you going? Arent you going to get out of here, and fight these maniacs? What? You are reporting to the stadium as ordered? Your dad would insist you do this? You got to be kidding! they are here! We can fight them!! Hey, who are you calling? Put down that cell phone….I didnt mean it….hey, stop that! Help! Someone! Help me!
December 5th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
I can’t believe I missed this story when it was posted. My daughter updated her blog towards the end of November and I just noticed yesterday — oh well, better late than never.
Webb is a disgrace. President Bush is always a class act — to his credit because I just don’t have the patience that man exhibits. What were Virginia voters thinking? Actually, they weren’t much better in Wyoming — we’re still stuck with a Clinton appointee for governor. Imagine — a demonRat re-elected for a 2nd term. People are just stuck on stupid all over the place.
December 5th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
Wytammic…too bad people dont see it either….we are in for a world of hurt because of it too.