Because Not Larry Sabato is an open site, many Republicans post there. The general concensus from numerous people was that Ben was lying, or spreading unconfirmed gossip.
This FACT was just reported by Eleanor Clift on the McLaughlin Group.
She also wrote about it here.
A quirky individualist who wants no part of the phony collegiality of Washington, Webb was rightly insulted when Bush pressed him in that bullying wayGÇöGÇ£ThatGÇÖs not what I asked youGÇ¥GÇötrying to force the conversation back to WebbGÇÖs son. Webb could have asked how the Bush girls are doing, partying their way across Argentina. He could have told Bush he was worried about his son; the vehicle next to him was blown up recently, killing three Marines. Given the contrast between their respective offspring, Webb showed restraint.Looks like some people are going to have to eat their words.
snipItGÇÖs justice long overdue for a president who has so abused the symbols of war to get his comeuppance from a battlefield hero who personifies real toughness as opposed to fake toughness. Bush struts around with this bullying frat-boy attitude, and he gets away with it because nobody stands up to him. Bush could have left WebbGÇÖs initial response stand, but no, he had to jab backGÇöGÇ£ThatGÇÖs not what I asked you.GÇ¥ Webb is not one to be bullied. He knows what real toughness is, and itGÇÖs not lording it over people who are weaker than you, and if youGÇÖre president, everybody by definition is weaker.
The lords of Washington will say that Webb got off to a rocky start, but so did Paul Wellstone, another iconoclastic citizen turned politician who dared to violate social protocol. It was another Bush and another gulf war, but WellstoneGÇÖs initial impropriety set the stage for what turned out to be a distinguished and even inspirational career that was tragically cut short by a plane crash four years ago. A professor of political science at MinnesotaGÇÖs Carleton College, Wellstone was antiwar even then and had run on a progressive platform. At a White House reception in 1991 for newly elected members, Wellstone used his time in the receiving line with President George H.W. Bush to press his opposition to the first gulf war that loomed on the horizon and to urge more attention to education and health care. After he moved through the line, Bush was overheard saying, GÇ£Who is this chickens--t?GÇ¥ It's a sentiment the son surely shares.
In light of this FACT, I am even more disgusted with Mr. Bush's behavior. If he knew about this, if Bush KNEW that Jim Webb's son was very close to harm's way and he STILL demanded that Jim Webb answer his uncaring, asinine question, then he truly is a sadistic sociopath who deserves nothing but DISRESPECT.
Thanks! :)
While this may cause some embarassment for Not Larry Sabato, we can only hope that this was nothing more than a rumor. Perhaps it is true, and it isn't being reported for some reason. Either way, it would be irresponsible not to state clearly here that this has not been verified.