Jim Webb actually said...

"does the presence of a four-star commander unnecessarily lead to inflated grades of the principal staff officers and is further study of this required?"

"I do not think there is anybody in DOD who, if given a choice between being a four-star and being an SES, would pick being an SES."

"So it would be your view that the Secretary of Defense has the authority under the legislative umbrella to declare that to be a four star?"

"I think that this is an area that we are just beginning to get a look at, and there is a Guard and Reserve component in here that has not been examined."