Webb Makes Classless First Impression

It should be obvious from the campaign that James Webb is going to be an unusual senator, and maybe not all that stable. His first encounter with President Bush indicates he has a problem demonstrating class and dignity:

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.

The piece continues:

"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. "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."

And this from another report:

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.

So, Webb wanted to slug the president....because he asked about his son. It apparently doesn't take much to set this guy off.

From the first days of his presidency, President Bush has made a habit of reaching out to his political enemies and has tried to keep cordial relations, something that Democrats have never learned to do.