Overheard at the White House

This, from The Hill, via Talking Points:

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.

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.

The President was being courteous in inquiring about the well-being of Webb's son, and Webb's reply was somewhat confrontational. (That seems consistent with what I've heard about Webb.) Webb could have rounded the edges off his response, saying something like, "he's fine, thank you for asking, but his mother, his wife and kids and I would all like to see him get back home safely."

The President's retort reveals him to be thin-skinned and a bit flippant. (Not that we didn't already know that.) The President could have said something like, "we'd all like to see all of our brave young men and women come home." See? That wasn't so hard. He could have even added on one of his stand-by empty platitudes. ("As soon as the mission's complete.")

Personally, I find more fault with the President's retort.

Just wait till Webb gets to Dick "Go Fuck Yourself" Cheney's reception!