A U.S. senator takes a strong gun stand - and lets his staffer twist in the wind

With every new statement U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia makes about the arrest of his staffer, Phillip Thompson, for attempting Monday to bring a briefcase containing a loaded revolver into the Russell Senate office building, he loses credibility and less - not more - light is shed on the incident.

Suggestion to Sen. Webb: When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

The initial news reports said that Thompson, 45, and by all accounts a good guy, was given the unregistered gun by Webb after driving the senator to the airport to catch a flight to New Orleans, despite the fact that Thompson was not licensed to carry a weapon. Thompson said he put the loaded weapon, and two filled ammo clips, in the briefcase, then forgot he had done so.

He's been charged with one felony count of carrying a pistol without a license.

Of course, media people wanted to know if Webb, once a Republican and Ronald Reagan's Navy secretary, was in the habit of carrying a weapon as a member of congress. Webb, seemingly wishing to burnish his Second Amendment credentials while at the same time distancing himself from Thompson's plight, had this to say Tuesday:

“I have never carried a gun in the Capitol complex and I did not give the weapon to Phillip Thompson, and that’s all that I think I’ll say,” Webb told reporters.

Famous last words. Webb went on to add that he could not go into too many specifics because a criminal matter was involved. He also said that he flew to New Orleans on Friday, not Monday. Then he added:

“Everyone here knows that I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, that I have had a permit to carry a weapon in Virginia for a long time, and I believe that it’s important — it’s important for me, personally, and for a lot of people in the situation that I’m in, to be able to defend myself and my family.”

And what is that special situation?

Well, he's a congressman, of course.

Webb pointed out that police are assigned to protect the president and other high-ranking executive-branch officials but not members of Congress.

"We are required to defend ourselves, and I chose to do so," he said.

His defensive efforts certainly seem not to include his loyal staffer. Poor Mr. Thompson.

By Wednesday Webb's office was telling reporters, on background of course, that not only did the senator not give Thompson the gun, the gun did not belong to Webb. But there were also other senate staffers privately scoffing at Webb's account that had him flying to New Orleans on Friday, not Monday.

Stranger and stranger.

As sure as day follows night, national political analysts,more concerned with how the incident will affect Sen. Webb's re-election chances (five years down the road), came running to his defense:

Although Thompson faces a potential prison sentence, the political consequences for Webb might not be so severe, analysts said Tuesday. The incident could solidify his standing with voters in Virginia, particularly rural parts of the state, they said.

``Having a gun is not a liability in this state for a politician,'' said Mark Rozell, a politics professor at George Mason University. ``The fact that he carries a concealed weapon confirms his credentials with gun owners.''

Perhaps, but perhaps not. Jim Webb is not coming across as a stand up guy, and traditional gun owners may not like the fact that he seems willing to let Thompson twist in the wind than admit that he have played a role in his aide's legal troubles.

If you went hunting -- or to war -- with Senator Webb, would he have your back, or would it be every man for himself?