Remember the new Congressman from Wisconsin who took great pride in the fact that he greeted Laura Bush in Green Bay and deliberately called her “Barbara”? (oooooooh, BURN!)

White House official says no, that didn’t happen. Now Congressman Kagen has climbed down a bit.

Now that Kagen’s longer story about his White House visit is getting publicity on talk radio and among political bloggers, he won’t comment on whether he referred to Laura Bush as Barbara.

“I’m going to leave that one alone,” Kagen said Wednesday. Asked why, he said, “I’ll make no comment.” As for his exchange with Rove, Kagen said he can verify that they met in the men’s room and that Rove congratulated him. But he wouldn’t comment on his reported comments to Rove.

“You are talking how many weeks ago?” Kagen asked. “I couldn’t verify the accuracy of that.”

The exchange with Rove he’s talking about? Glad you asked:

Kagen reportedly told the activists he held the door to a White House men’s room closed when he was alone with Rove.

“You’re in the White House and think you’re safe, huh?” Kagen was said to have told Rove. “You recognize me? My name’s Dr. Multimillionaire and I kicked your ass.”

Rove responded by offering Kagen his congratulations, according to a story published last week in The Scene, a monthly alternative publication that circulates in the Fox Valley.

Classy guy, that Rep. Kagen. Nothing says “seasoned statesman” like frontin’ Karl Rove in a bathroom and doing an end-zone dance. And then bragging about it to a bunch of peace activists. And did you see how Rove totally lost his cool and said “congratulations”? Boy, Kagen really zinged him there!

Or at least, he wishes he had.

H/T to Penraker.

UPDATE: Much more at Dan Riehl, including trouble with the FDA.