Lindsey Graham Encounters A Fighting Democrat

Usually Democrats sit quietly like good little boys and girls when they are guests on shows like Meet The Press as Republican hacks like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) endlessly repeat Rovian talking points. Cozy inside the beltway hosts like Tim Russert make sure the Republican guest hack is not interrupted, while encouraging the Republican to talk over the Democrat if he needs to repeat a talking point for the fourth or fifth time, or if the Democrat becomes too uppity. That hasn't happened much during the last couple of decades. Democratic politicians have been good little boys and girls.

Sen. James Webb (D-VA) is a fighting Democrat. I love a fighting Democrat. This morning I watched the confrontation between Webb and Lindsey Graham on Meet The Press. I wish I could find the whole segment. This much was provided by ThinkProgress.

Folks, as you will see James Webb didn't take any crap off Graham. He fought back tooth and nail. That is something Republicans haven't experienced in decades.

Watch toward the end when Graham tries to claim he knows more about military affairs than Webb. He claims to have talked to the troops during lots of visits to Iraq. Webb tells him that while he might have seen lots of "dog and pony" shows in Iraq, Graham has never really "talked to the troops." What is missing are earlier comments by Webb where he explained that he worked for three years as an Assistant Secretary of Defense and knows a thing or three about deployment issues.

Of course, Webb's military affairs credentials are second to none. The son of an Air Force officer, after graduating from the Naval Academy he served as a fighting marine in Vietnam winning the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts. According to his official bio, Webb was the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs from l984 to l987, where he was closely involved with analysis of the U.S. military's mobilization capabilities. In 1987-1988 he served as President Reagan's Secretary of the Navy. Graham was simply over matched. I am somewhat surprised Russert didn't tell Webb to be quiet. It wouldn't have mattered, but I am surprised.

Like I said, I love a fighting Democrat. I just wish there were a lot more of them.



UPDATE: Here is a longer version. It's still not the full length version, but its about twice as long as the first version.