Webb's BS - Look At Some Facts

h/t Hot Air for this bit from E&P.

NEW YORK In an interview with Deborah Solomon that will appear in this Sunday's New York Times Magazine, the newly-elected U.S. senator from Virginia, Jim Webb, discusses his recent widely-publicized exchange with President Bush over an Iraq pullout.

At a recent White House reception the president had asked about Webb's son, who is serving in Iraq. Webb suggested that troops should start coming home from Iraq, and Bush snapped back, "I didn't ask you that."

Webb calls the coverage of that "vastly overblown" but adds: "I think what I said was appropriate." He also stated, "This was something that emanated from the White House. I did not say anything about this for two weeks. I said nothing publicly at all."

So why did the White House push the issue? "Probably as an attempt to try to define me between the election and the beginning of the Congress," Webb replied "And that's all I am going to say."

Okay, let's review a few items. First, who is pushing the issue? Webb has been pushing it since at least the end of November and admitted he didn't know the truth. Courtesy of the Freepers, date November 30. So, really, this isn't even news. But Webb certainly is trying to make it such.

Posted on 11/30/2006 7:57:18 AM PST by iceskater

WASHINGTON -- 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 capturing 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.

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."

Now, how did Webb respond when he was first asked to speak to the issue? Like a hot head, of course.

If the exchange with Bush two weeks ago is any indication, Webb won't be a wallflower, especially when it comes to the war in Iraq. And he won't stick to a script drafted by top Democrats.

"I'm not particularly interested in having a picture of me and George W. Bush on my wall," Webb said in an interview yesterday in which he confirmed the exchange between him and Bush.

As you'll see from that link, the primary unnamed source was an unidentified Democrat staffer. It's unclear if said staffer also passed along the bit about the confrontation, but it certainly isn't a stretch. Also, don't forget it was Webb who started off petulantly by avoiding the reception line.

One senior Democratic staff member on Capitol Hill, who spoke on condition that he not be identified so he could speak freely about the new senator, said that Webb's lack of political polish was part of his charm as a candidate but could be a problem as a senator.

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- Democratic Sen.-elect Jim Webb avoided the receiving line during a recent White House reception for new members of Congress and had a chilly exchange with President Bush over the Iraq war and his Marine son.

Finally, from WaPo link above, after that date Webb went out and hired two people to flak for him and help him navigate Washington. Sounds to me like Webb is the one trying to manipulate things to cover up his early faux pas.

He announced yesterday that he has hired Paul J. Reagan, a communications director for former governor Mark R. Warner (D) and a former chief of staff for U.S. Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.). It will be Reagan's job to help his boss navigate the intricacies of Washington and Capitol Hill without losing the essence of his personality.

Also via the WaPo, the Dem strategy was to not create a problem with Bush. So he may well have gotten some advice from Smuck Schumer to turn things around.

In the days after the election, Webb's Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill went out of their way to make nice with Bush and be seen by his side. House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) sat down for a lunch and photo opportunity with Bush, as did Democratic leaders in the Senate.

Comments

[Phoenix]

I'm so glad he was voted in. He'll do more to bring the democrats down than Allen would have ever done to bring the Republicans up.

[Phoenix]

Why do I have to keep proving I'm a human?

Dan. Every time I try to make a comment, I have to type in some letters and numbers to prove I'm human.

Stupid Internet. Are there spam sluts and robot sluts out there, for crying out loud?

[Charles Warren]

What 'faux pas' ?

Webb has a son who may come home in a box because of Bush's pigheadedness and unresolved father issues. Pelosi and Schumer don't.

And Bush's "that's not what I asked you !" was an in your face attempt to suborn Webb which he correctly rejected.

[Catzmaw]

Upon what basis do you determine from the three articles you cited that Webb is "pushing the issue"? He gets asked about it and he responds. Webb's office asked people to stop talking about it weeks ago, but Republican shills like Will, Tyrrell, and all the other nattering ninnies from hackzines like The American Spectator couldn't resist the urge to denigrate him on everything from his use of the word "literally" to what kind of a dinner guest he was 23 years ago. Google it and see how many articles were written by right wing columnists during the two weeks after the encounter was revealed, all of them carrying on about Webb's purported inability to play well with others. It looks like a deliberate attempt to smear him to me. After the dinner he did not say anything publicly about his encounter with Bush. It took someone else to mention it two weeks later, and only then was Webb asked about it. That's when he confirmed the encounter. Next thing we know Will's all over him for being a "boor" and a "pompous poseur", and Tyrrell's all over him as a bad dinner guest.

Webb says he doesn't want his picture with Bush. You call this being a "hothead". I'd call it being honest. I, for one, am tired of watching Bush and company trash the opposition, question their patriotism and their support for the troops, and then expect to play all kissy-face with them at White House photo ops. Bush has had six years to be and act bipartisan and he has instead acted arrogantly, unilaterally, and with strong vilification of anyone who would stand in his way. It's about time someone told him they're not going to play.

[Charles Warren]

And Webb is an economic nationalist.

These pundit attacks all seems to be a coordinated decapitation strike by elites who are scared of the 'Lou Dobbs voter' on someone the lobbyists can't get to.

[betty]

Webb was right on this one. Bush got a smackdown he didn't expect and freaked out. Get over it Mr Bush.

[Phoenix]

Since when is insubordination a 'smackdown'? Webb knows better himself. I doubt he's gloating. If he was proud of his actions, he wouldn't have felt the need to hire people to teach him how to act.

As for Bush freaking out, far from it. He was quick to re-establish pecking order and put that idiot in his place.

[Charles Warren]

"Since when is insubordination a 'smackdown'? Webb knows better himself. I doubt he's gloating. If he was proud of his actions, he wouldn't have felt the need to hire people to teach him how to act.

As for Bush freaking out, far from it. He was quick to re-establish pecking order and put that idiot in his place."

Insubordination ? Webb is not Bush's subordinate in any way, shape, or form. Bush was trying to 'establish pecking order' with that "That's not what I asked !" crack and Webb refused to let himself be bullied. I like a man who doesn't take crap from anyone.

[Nick Stump]

You right wingers are so terrifed of Webb. I have this picture in my mind of all the neocons collectively wetting their pants--as you have here. Get over it. Webb's a man. You have so many pedophiles and worse in your party, you don't even recognize a proper man these day. What a pitiful state the once Grand Old Party has fallen into. You guys hid in National Guard or behind other deferments during Vietnam. Now you're trying to act tough and GW is your knight in someone else's shining armor. Get a grip. You squandered the best opportunity any political party has had in decades. GO WEBB!!!

[Phoenix]

>I like a man who doesn't take crap from anyone.Webb's a man.<

No doubt. But a real man shakes hands and looks another in the eye despite their differences.

[Phoenix]

>Webb is not Bush's subordinate in any way, shape, or form.<

Thanks for clearing that up, Charles. Now I can appreciate Webb's rudeness better.

[Charles Warren]

"No doubt. But a real man shakes hands and looks another in the eye despite their differences."

Bush was not trying to 'shake hands'. He was, as you correctly said, trying to put Webb in his place from the getgo. Bush was looking to assert dominance, as you correctly said, and Webb refused to let himself be pushed around.

Bush was the one who was rudely trying to suborn Webb and Webb refused to knuckle under, as opposed to acting like a butler as you recommend.