First Cindy Sheehan, then Dolores Kesterson and now Senator Elect Jim Webb of Virginia, whose campaign hinged largely on his opposition to the Iraq war. It seems that George Bush just doesn't know how to treat parents whose children are fighting and dying in his wars, with the proper respect they deserve. During a meeting with newly elected lawmakers at the White House, Bush had the following exchange with Webb.
"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.
“I didn’t ask you that, I asked how he’s doing,” Bush retorted, according to the source."
But unlike the two gentle Gold Star mothers Bush has insulted before, Webb is an angry father. And a feisty combat veteran to boot. His reaction to Bush's dismissive curtness? He wanted to slug Bush ! Wow! I bet Webb was feeling exactly as many other military parents feel towards the Commander in Chief.
Webb confessed that he was so angered by this that he was tempted to slug the commander-in-chief, reported the source, but of course didn’t. It’s safe to say, however, that Bush and Webb won’t be taking any overseas trips together anytime soon.
“Jim did have a conversation with Bush at that dinner,” said Webb’s spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd. “Basically, he asked about Jim’s son, Jim expressed the fact that he wanted to have him home.” Todd did not want to escalate matters by commenting on Bush’s response, saying, “It was a private conversation.”
A White House spokeswoman declined to give Bush’s version of the conversation.
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