Webb, Bush clash at White House meet and greet
posted at 9:41 am on November 29, 2006 by Allahpundit
Bush made a gesture of love and respect, much as a father might in picking up his son, turning him over, and putting his penis in his mouth.
Alas, there was no penis to be had.
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.
“That’s not what I asked you” is kind of a dick thing to say by Bush, in Webb’s defense. Although admittedly, not as dickish as what Webb said.
How’d WaPo find out about this, anyway? The article says Webb confirmed the exchange when they interviewed him, but they wouldn’t need him to do that if the reporter had heard it happen firsthand. Smells like something Webb’s people planted in order to give the Kossacks something to moon over before, in a gesture of scorn and contempt, he spits out their collective schwanz and goes maverick on them.
Jim Webb: the Joe Lieberman of 2012!
Update: Via Mary K, looks like Webb himself was indeed the source, sort of:
At a private reception held at the White House with newly elected lawmakers shortly after the election, Bush asked Webb how his son, a Marine lance corporal serving in Iraq, was doing.
Webb responded that he really wanted to see his son brought back home, said a person who heard about the exchange from Webb.
He also said, supposedly, that he was so angry he wanted to take a swing at Bush.
Update: As usual, I have to explain the joke.
Blowback
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Webb is a humiliating stain on Virginia. He is stuck to our shoe for six years and is already stinking up the place.
seejanemom on November 29, 2006 at 9:45 AM
That sentence is even more offensive than the exchange.
RushBaby on November 29, 2006 at 9:46 AM
Collective “schwanz”? Who writes this schtien?
seejanemom on November 29, 2006 at 9:48 AM
I probably would have said the same thing.
vcferlita on November 29, 2006 at 9:50 AM
Am I banned now?
RushBaby on November 29, 2006 at 9:52 AM
People aren’t getting the reference here, are they? Sigh. I guess I’ll have to lower the bar further.
Allahpundit on November 29, 2006 at 9:53 AM
OK I guess not.
RushBaby on November 29, 2006 at 9:53 AM
Bush is trying to be cordial and making an innocuous comment. Webb gets obnoxious about it. Looks like a paean to the nutroots crowd. No good gesture goes unpunished.
JammieWearingFool on November 29, 2006 at 9:53 AM
I get the reference to Webb’s book. It’s just that the sentence associates the behavior with President Bush.
RushBaby on November 29, 2006 at 9:54 AM
The Lord of Tail-Gate definately is humiliating. God…he won by 9,000 votes out of 2.5 million cast against George Allen, who at best, was a bumbling fool in his last campaign and he acts like he got some kind of mandate from Virginians. Everyone knows those 9,000 came from the People’s Republic of Northern Virginia, a region dominated by liberal “come-here’s.”
sdd on November 29, 2006 at 9:55 AM
I blame Keith Olbermann.
Just because.
Slublog on November 29, 2006 at 9:55 AM
It’s a joke on Webb’s description of that act as a non-sexual gesture of love and respect in Asian cultures.
And now that the perpetually offended are starting to turn out, I’m bowing out of this conversation.
Allahpundit on November 29, 2006 at 9:56 AM
I agree. I’ve seen/heard Bush ask about a person’s children and families in an attempt to make polite conversation.
Allah, I get the reference, but, I hate being reminded of it. Heard enough about it during the election.
vcferlita on November 29, 2006 at 9:57 AM
This sounds very similar to the “dis” that CAIR’s Muslim congressman gave to Bush:
http://rightthinkinggirl.com/2006/11/16/ellison-snubs-president-bush/
David on November 29, 2006 at 10:00 AM
I know that telling everyone to lighten up won’t really help things, but criminy, people.
Lighten up.
Slublog on November 29, 2006 at 10:00 AM
President Bush was trying not to discuss politics, but ask him how his son was. He didn’t ask Webb how he felt about the War in Iraq.
amerpundit on November 29, 2006 at 10:01 AM
Ok, for those of you Yankees who just don’t get it… We Southerners like our small talk. We talk about family all the time. Bush, being from Texas, is a Southerner.
For him to ask; “How’z yer boy” is pretty typical of a Southern business discussion between two men who know each other.
For Web to reply in the manner he did, in the opinion of this Alabamian, was rude, and in deference to the southern social standards.
The Presidents response, “That’s not what I asked ya. How is your boy.” Gives Web a chance to step off of his own dick with the golf shoes he’s wearing.
Instead of being gracious, and giving a polite, but non-answer, like “he’s fine Mr. President”. Webb decides to continue to be a partisan @ss.
In short, President 1, Web -2
E L Frederick (Sniper One) on November 29, 2006 at 10:04 AM
The President was attempting to reach across the aisle of political disagreement… he has hosted Nancy Pelosi in a cordial way and he extends the olive branch to a freshman Senator… and this disgraceful Webb responds like an undignified bridge troll…
These things have a way of coming full circle… wait until Webb needs something from the White House! All Webb did is embarrass his constituency… What a shame!
IntheNet on November 29, 2006 at 10:05 AM
Webb’s son was not drafted.
Webb must think his son an infant, not a man, and not a Marine.
I bet his son the Marine read this:
Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America
and was influenced by it. Oh yeah, James Webb wrote it!
Wander on November 29, 2006 at 10:08 AM
Rosie says you and Kelly are both homophobes, Allah…
:chuckle:
E L Frederick (Sniper One) on November 29, 2006 at 10:12 AM
Allah,
Let me just state that I for one support you in your
somewhatsupreme efforts to bring levity to the life of WebbUnless the heat rises then – I’m outta here
Plus Webb won, Allen lost but what happens to Virginia?
EricPWJohnson on November 29, 2006 at 10:17 AM
Cold shouldering the President in his own house–rude, dickish, but pretty ballsy. At least Webb didn’t talk shit about Bush his entire campaign and then suck up when he saw him in person. What he lacks in social skills he makes up for in consistency.
This seems like a pretty good fight to me…who ya got?
JaHerer22 on November 29, 2006 at 10:21 AM
It would be great if the next time Bush visits Iraq that he specifically seeks out webb’s son. Then he could ask him how he’s doing since his father was too much of a pr**k to tell him.
rbb on November 29, 2006 at 10:21 AM
Isn’t this like when your buddy gets thrown a beating and you say, “Man if he’d have done that to me I’d have given him a beat down not seen since the likes of Rodney King”, once the guy is long gone. In other words, it’s a bitch’s way of being confrontational.
phineas g. on November 29, 2006 at 10:28 AM
Webb is a just another asshat in a long line of asshats in DC.
Wade on November 29, 2006 at 10:34 AM
It’s shocking how rude people think they can be to the President of the United States. Bush was being sociable, in a level appropriate to the gathering, working the room, greeting people, in a human way and Webb dissed him.
The WaPo prints it as a sign of how tough Webb is, being snarky back to the President. In this neck of the woods, it was rude.
Made the mistake recently of taking a Massachusetts Blue Stater to dinner at a local Virginia restaurant. The person in question looked around the room and said in a loud voice, “Stonewall Jackson was insane!” And again, after being asked not to talk like that. This, about 100 yards off of Stonewall Jackson Highway. This is what you get when you take one of these Blue State people out to a nice steak dinner; public abuse and obnoxiousness. The second mistake was not to allow this … person … to say it a third time, just a little closer to the smoke-wreathed biker bar around the corner from the dining room, but regrettably, pity stayed my hand.
naliaka on November 29, 2006 at 10:35 AM
Slublog,
*Sigh*
At Allah’s blog, no less. Who’d have guessed that HA would ever be an outpost for the perpetually offended?
Off color jokes are out, religious jokes are out, expressing an opinion counter to the GOP line is out…what’s left to talk about?
Pablo on November 29, 2006 at 10:41 AM
George W. Bush has class.
James Webb does not.
Labamigo on November 29, 2006 at 10:42 AM
Lance Corporal? That means he has been in the Corps less then 4 years, did his son not know there was a war going on?
Do we have here the make version of Cindy Sheehan?
Kahuna on November 29, 2006 at 10:44 AM
I saw the header and was hoping for a penis joke. Well done. :P
Bush’s response was a little stand offish, but that’s cool that he went out of his way to talk to Webb and ask him about his son. Which he didn’t have to do.
CorinthianJest on November 29, 2006 at 10:47 AM
Kittens. Let’s talk about cute, cuddly kittens.
And hot chocolate.
Slublog on November 29, 2006 at 10:48 AM
…tell me…do you think that I could have a “gesture of love and respect” with Lindsey Lohan? I promise that it’ll be non-sexual.
…wait…she doesn’t have a penis…at least, not one of her own.
I’ll use a toe instead. C’mere girl….*POP*
Puritan1648 on November 29, 2006 at 10:49 AM
James Webb is a classless prick…as others have noted here by asking about “his boy” the President was being Southern Polite…and this small, newly elected dipstick saw fit to return his concern with a verbal slap…Think about that James boy when it comes back to bit you in the butt. No class.
DoctorDentons on November 29, 2006 at 10:50 AM
Heheh. I don’t make the rules, buddy.
Religious jokes are okay with me, just stay away from the ones that involve people dying. Expressing an opinion counter to the GOP line is perfectly okay. I’m alarmed that anyone would think otherwise.
Allahpundit on November 29, 2006 at 10:51 AM
Webb should have returned the favor and asked how the Bush twins were doing. Viva Argentina!!!!
honora on November 29, 2006 at 10:51 AM
I expected no less from Webb. This should surprise no one.
Cary on November 29, 2006 at 10:52 AM
What was Bush supposed to say in response to Webb’s dickish answer? “That’s not what I asked you.” is actually correct (he asked about how his son was doing), and is probably what 3/4 of us would have said. That event wasn’t the time or place to get in a discussion about the war.
Nice Deb on November 29, 2006 at 10:57 AM
Webb should have answered the question and then he could ask about the Presidents daughter’s. He would have received a civil answer. Not some wise-assed crack like he answered the President. Now I can see why Webb became a democrat, he has no manners.
Wade on November 29, 2006 at 10:59 AM
Oh lighten up.
honora on November 29, 2006 at 11:20 AM
“Kittens. Let’s talk about cute, cuddly kittens.”
That’s an offensive suggestion. I hate cats. Anyway, I’m allergic to the nasty little things.
And Webb was a dickhead in the Reagan Administration — famously so. Why would anybody expect different?
rightwingprof on November 29, 2006 at 11:21 AM
Maybe Bush could have lightened the mood a little bit with some different smalltalk:
“Hey, Jimmy Boy! Say, has that son of yours fellated any little Iraqi boys? I know how that kinda thing runs in your family. Anywho, say hello to him for me, wouldya?”
crushliberalism on November 29, 2006 at 11:31 AM
There go the Christ on the cross bits, including the classic “I can see your house from here!”
You haven’t been reading the reviews, have you? My dismay stems from audience behavior, not management. Y’all keep doing what you’re doing!
I’m just thinking that some of the more easily offended here would have been mortified to death by a visit to the old “Allah is in the House” blog.
Pablo on November 29, 2006 at 11:33 AM
I agree completely. Phoney tough doesn’t impress anybody who knows the real thing.
ReubenJCogburn on November 29, 2006 at 11:58 AM
Oh, and God bless Lance Corporal Webb, who’s probably twice the man his dad will ever be.
ReubenJCogburn on November 29, 2006 at 12:00 PM
F U webbdumn…and that comes from a decorated Vietnam Vet…you moron…no class…!!!
Go crawl under a rock like murthadumn…
Remember webbdumn…cowards cut and run…Marines stay and fight…
areseaoh on November 29, 2006 at 12:00 PM
I’m still waiting for him to re-release the classic Dean photoshops.
Slublog on November 29, 2006 at 12:01 PM
One father to another, “how are your kids?”, nothing devisive about that question, unless you are can’t rise abouve the rancor. Or, his kid does not want to come home but finish the job, and that pisses him off because his kid isn’t a kid anymore.
right2bright on November 29, 2006 at 12:09 PM
I’m still nursing the hernia I got from the ’03 ALCS photoshops.
Pablo on November 29, 2006 at 12:19 PM
Some of the pundits, on this blog and others, have been breathing the D.C. air for too long. Loosen your D.C. belt-way and get a little traditional American for us. Some want to over analyze everything, be the smartest guy, the teacher’s pet. Nothing Bush said to Webb was inappropriate, in fact it showed to me again a man, a real man of substance. If the report is accurate, Webb avoiding the President was childish. Bush asked a legit and polite question. Webb wants to make a political point, fine. Personally I don’t think the time and context were right to do so, but nevertheless he did. Since WEBB chose THIS TIME, and in THIS CONTEXT, then whatever Bush says is appropriate. Don’t ask for a dominatrix Jim Webb and then get angry when she spanks your ass. I would have responded the same way Bush did. I asked you a personal question about your son, OK you want to turn it on your political agenda fine, here’s my direct retort. I wanted to punch the President? What have we, another hot-head McCain running around the senate? The one who would have a legit right to strike someone would have been Bush, striking the smart-ass, smarmy, sniveling, shit-head senator-erect from Virginia. Don’t perpetrate and then act like the victim, that won’t fly with me. I apologize for the “military” lingo, but you could see and read a lot worse in say…a vietnam “fiction” book written by a certain senator-elect. I like the fact we have a President who will say things, example…Syria needs to stop doing this shit, or a man who asks someone how their son is doing and replies to a smart-ass with a direct that’s not what I asked you. More American ruggedness is what we need in D.C., not Miss Manners or French diplomacy……………
ritethinker on November 29, 2006 at 12:44 PM
http://www.wonkette.com/politics/bush-twins/bush-twins-naked–abandoned-in-argentina-217411.php
Giddee up!!!
honora on November 29, 2006 at 12:58 PM
Jim Webb is an absolute ass & I am also disgusted this clown is a disgrace to the great Commonwealth of Virginia. Can’t believe we have this clown as a Senator and if John Warner retires he’ll be the Senior Senator from VA.
Catie96706 on November 29, 2006 at 1:01 PM
honora, I don’t appreciate the way you talk about the President’s daughters.
Very disgusting and in extremely bad taste.
Speaking of which, how’s that drunken skank Chelsea Clinton been doing?
Where’s her boyfriend? I thought they were getting married. Has she fallen down any London gutters puking drunk lately again?
Webb is a pig, as was evident from his so-called novels.
He did this to make MSM news, as if the war is President Bush’s personal pecadillo and not a national problem to be faced.
Both Congress and the Senate did vote to depose Saddam you know, after they discussed it for 18 months.
And Webb wasn’t elected on an “end-the-war” platform, either.
I hope he doesn’t hold his breath waiting to get invited to one of the White House Christmas parties.
Jen the Neocon on November 29, 2006 at 1:09 PM
I’m so sick of the cordial ‘get along’ Bush. The mealy mouth warms up to everyone except conservatives………..he calls them ‘vigilantis’.
Oh, he is just so likable……what a bunch of crap.
He wants to be liked on the dismembered arms and legs of American troops……….he refuses to support with good leadership.
LZVandy on November 29, 2006 at 1:15 PM
Webb is an arrogant ass and I don’t want to hear about his “war hero” crap. He totally lacks class but that’s typical of his ilk on the left.
rplat on November 29, 2006 at 1:20 PM
honora – is that a safe for work link?
It is wonkette, after all.
Slublog on November 29, 2006 at 1:23 PM
I’m impressed Bush remembered Webb had a kid in the Marines.
I can’t remember how many kids I have, let alone all the people around me.
And the President? He’s got more sniveling, begging, narcissitic people around him than anyone.
Way to go Mr. President, you’re a good man.
shooter on November 29, 2006 at 1:28 PM
That’s the beauty of being the boss!!!
;^)
honora on November 29, 2006 at 1:28 PM
Slu,
It’s pretty safe, once again Wonkette fails to deliver.
mesablue on November 29, 2006 at 1:28 PM
POW, another good shot.
shooter on November 29, 2006 at 1:30 PM
It’s a disgrace that a father would want his son back home – based on political reasoning… that is what is happening here… Many parents are proud that their children are brave soldiers…
_______________
Also, as a word of warning – can everyone parenthetically explain the “turning him over” P*nis reference if you choose to put it on the web?
It’s disgusting, especially for those not already aware of Webb’s book.
I know of the story… but to not do so, that is to explain it, makes you look disgusting.
ar_basin on November 29, 2006 at 1:36 PM
Why is it that the unintentionally funny is always so much more funny than the intentionally funny?
honora on November 29, 2006 at 1:38 PM
This has been out there long enough that if you do not know about it, you deserve to be offended — by your own ignorance.
mesablue on November 29, 2006 at 1:45 PM
Pah. You never know with that site.
I wonder how the two guys who write that site feel about being called ‘wonkette?’
Slublog on November 29, 2006 at 1:48 PM
I agree with the others: Webb has no class. What a jerk.
But we all knew he had no class from the filth that he writes in his books, which is why they were relevant in the first place.
januarius on November 29, 2006 at 1:53 PM
JH22
Bush in 3 rounds. The man is in shape!
PaisleyCow on November 29, 2006 at 2:04 PM
I noticed that Wonkette doesn’t provide any pictures to prove any of her innuendo. I guess people are too quick to spot the photoshops, so lame innuendo is all they’ve got.
“Gideeup!” indeed.
Nice Deb on November 29, 2006 at 2:04 PM
Two guys, Slublog?! Ugh, whatever.
Nice Deb on November 29, 2006 at 2:06 PM
Can we find out what job Webb’s son is doing in Iraq… he is probably in Kwait or Doha Qatar playing chess all day… pushing papers.
ar_basin on November 29, 2006 at 2:07 PM
Yup. Two guys write the site, as far as I know.
BTW – are you able to access ace’s site?
Slublog on November 29, 2006 at 2:07 PM
The guy’s a Marine in a war zone. I don’t think we should be casting aspersions on his service.
Slublog on November 29, 2006 at 2:09 PM
Well why do libs cast aspersions on the rest of the US military who are in the war zone. Who cares if his son is there? My husband is there and no one but myself and my family & his care. John McCain’s son is in as well but you don’t see him touting that like Webb did.
Catie96706 on November 29, 2006 at 2:11 PM
I frankly don’t want conservatives to emulate behavior we criticize.
Slublog on November 29, 2006 at 2:14 PM
McCain’s son is still in training in California.
honora on November 29, 2006 at 2:16 PM
I don’t emulate their behavior nor would I want to but it strikes me that it’s curious that the only people worth honoring in the libs view are people like Webb. We have 140K (approx) military members in Iraq and no one gives a good God Damn about those people except their families and friends.
Catie96706 on November 29, 2006 at 2:18 PM
He’s in smarty pants
Catie96706 on November 29, 2006 at 2:18 PM
I don’t think family and friends are the only people who honor the service of those in Iraq. However, my point was to say that denigrating the service of one man is not the way we should go about honoring the service of all, or pointing out the double-standard.
Slublog on November 29, 2006 at 2:22 PM
Man, people are getting nasty this morning. The last time I made a penis-in-mouth joke some troll tried to report me. Honestly, people are acting like this is a Monday or something. Go grab a smoke and chill…
Max Power on November 29, 2006 at 2:26 PM
TRANSLATION:
President: “So, have you actually spoken to any soldiers on the ground in Iraq lately Congressman?”
Webb: “Screw you you fascist bastard. I’ll see you frogmarched out of the White House yet.”
President: “Maybe you should get your information about Iraq from actual soldiers and not left-wing blog.”
BohicaTwentyTwo on November 29, 2006 at 2:26 PM
Marines push papers as well… you know very well that there is much division between ranks and branches – tons of arrogance.
So I’m of a classification that is: knowledgable, unprivilaged, for the war, a ‘lowly’ grunt and one that would tell my father to shut his pie hole(apparently that hasn’t happened).
ar_basin on November 29, 2006 at 2:27 PM
Well put and absolutely correct – thanks from a service person
Bradky on November 29, 2006 at 2:28 PM
So how do I get me one of these decoder rings? I suppose it involves cereal boxtops….
honora on November 29, 2006 at 2:42 PM
According to Powerline:
Hilts on November 29, 2006 at 2:44 PM
“BTW – are you able to access ace’s site?”
No, I figure he’s having technical difficulties.
Nice Deb on November 29, 2006 at 2:50 PM
Personally, I would ask Jim Weeb this:
“Mr. Webb, how’s your neck?”
Talk about a stiffy! *ahem*
SouthernGent on November 29, 2006 at 3:01 PM
ar_basin,
I could care less about former Navy Secretary Webb, he was useless then and moreso now. But I find no good use for disparaging his son. The Marines around here will tell you that it’s just about impossible for a LCPL to be in a cush job while deployed, and to imply that any Marine is serving less than heroically, just because his father is a jerk, isn’t very kosher.
The point made earlier, that as an E-3 he enlisted after we invaded Iraq, shouldn’t be lost in the shuffle. I find it more interesting that he isn’t a Navy or Marine officer. Certainly as the son of a combat officer and former branch secretary, an appointment to Annapolis would have been a shoe-in. I’ll disclaim it as mere speculation, but something tells me he and daddy aren’t on good terms, and his choice to enlist in the Marines was at least partially a needle in Pop’s gut.
Freelancer on November 29, 2006 at 3:15 PM
Amen, Freelancer. Unless you’ve got your own boots on the ground over there, you’ve got no business denigrating the junior Webb’s service based on your dislike of his father.
The man is a United States Marine in a combat zone. No one should be taking shots at the guy while he’s there and you’re here.
Pablo on November 29, 2006 at 3:37 PM
Ace’s site is back up, but no new threads.
Nice Deb on November 29, 2006 at 3:37 PM
Admittedly? Sounds like you feel as if you created the guy.
…a tangled Webb you’ve woven.
Perchant on November 29, 2006 at 3:41 PM
Let’s say your a senator-elect. You’re a former Marine and Navy Secretary. Let’s say your son enlisted in the Marine Corps, post-invation of Iraq, against your objections, and in spite of the myriad officer programs your history and position made available to him. You might just be a little sensitive about that.
Let’s say someone you don’t agree with politically asks about your son. You have a choice between believing it to be an innocuous attempt to be collegial, or a calculated stab at the rift between you and your son.
Let’s say you’re off your anti-BDS meds. “That’s between me and my boy, Mr. President.”
Freelancer on November 29, 2006 at 4:04 PM
If they get their Pap-smears on a regular basis, I’m sure they don’t care.
Rick on November 29, 2006 at 4:07 PM
Rick.
Ew.
Just. Ew.
Slublog on November 29, 2006 at 4:10 PM
Who let in the posting cops!
Wade on November 29, 2006 at 4:19 PM
AP started this.
Rick on November 29, 2006 at 4:32 PM
I put it that way, honoroffher, not to be unintentionally funny, but to show you that you shouldn’t cast stones if you live in a glass house.
You think the Bush Twins aren’t models of good behavior (so say you)? well turnabout with Dem “saintettes” like Chelsea is only fair play.
Jen the Neocon on November 29, 2006 at 4:48 PM
honora, do you do anything except pick at bits and pieces of what others say, and misrepresent what people say as part of reciting your Leftie talking points?
’cause if you don’t, then you are a troll. Trolls do not have original thoughts, but only squat under bridges and toss their waste products up at passers-by.
Janos Hunyadi on November 29, 2006 at 5:19 PM
Far be it from me to defend our least offensive lefty, but honora doesn’t quite reach true troll status.
You are correct that her favorite move is nit-picking at crumbs of liberal comfort food. But more often than not her points are valid, if not valuable.
Just saying.
Freelancer on November 29, 2006 at 5:58 PM
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