NEWS JUNKIE POST
Sep 15, 2009 at 7:58 amLIAR, LIAR, MOUTH On FIRE
Bad behavior pays off. Just ask Joe Wilson, whose outburst during President Obama’s Health Care Reform Speech to a joint session of Congress last week, catapulted the South Carolina Republican from back bench congressman to star buffoon.
Shouting “You lie!” as the President noted that illegal aliens would not be granted insurance coverage in his proposed plan, gave Wilson headlines in papers around the country, sound bites on radio, and made him topic A on cable TV roundtables and late night comedy’s favorite punching bag. He’s also been scored appearances on national cable shows and right wing webcasts. Not bad for a guy whose profile had previously been so below the media radar, I doubt he was frequently featured on the local news in South Carolina.
Wilson’s rude blurt was so stunning, even GOP leaders called for him to immediately apologize. And he did so, calling the President later Wednesday evening. He publicly said he regretted the outburst, adding “emotions got the better of me.”
For some the tepid telephone apology is not enough. House Majority Whip James Clyburn (also of South Carolina) is demanding Wilson offer a formal apology on the floor of the House. Without it, Democrats are set to vote on a resolution of disapproval some time later this week. On Fox News Sunday, Wilson categorically stated no such apology would be forthcoming. “I have apologized to the President,” he said. “ I believe that is sufficient.” On 60 Minutes, Obama said he’d rather not see the Wilson issue become a “big circus” that could easily detract from the real work of health care reform.
The jury is still out of the political fallout. Some analysts suggest his seat is now “in play.” Of course they said that about Michelle Bachmann’s seat, too, after the wackadoodle Minnesota rep called for an investigation into the patriotism of all members of Congress. While her opponent did get an influx of cash and probably more votes than he could have hoped for, Bachmann retained her job. In the days since the incident, Wilson’s Democratic opponent Rob Miller raised over $875,000. But Wilson’s own coffers, too, have been bloated to the tune of an additional $700,000. A small sampling poll found 66 voters were more likely to vote for Wilson after the outburst, 59 less likely and 20 remained indifferent. During Saturday’s 9/12 rally in Washington some folks were seen sporting “Joe Wilson is my Hero” signs and tee-shirts.
Many liberal commentators and columnists find it difficult to circumvent the racist elephant in the room. Bill Maher on last Fridays’ Real Time said, “I don’t think he would have done that if a white man was president. I know it makes Republicans crazy, but I can’t help but see subliminal racist signals.” Richard Clarke, the former Bush administration counter terrorism adviser concurred. “It’s not just the Birthers, there are all kinds of people who used to be Birchers, and in the KKK who want to de-legitimize this president.”
It’s been pointed out by The New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd and others that Wilson, who once belonged to the Sons of Confederate Veterans, led a 2000 campaign to keep the Confederate flag waving above the South Carolina statehouse and shot down as a “ smear” a black woman’s true claim that she was Strom Thurmond’s daughter, stating that the woman should have kept her identity secret (even after the Thurmond family publicly acknowledged her).
No one knows what’s in Joe Wilson’s heart. And to suggest that everyone who disagrees with President Obama’s policies are racist is flat-out wrong and insulting. But the “Birthers” are riddled with racism, some of the “Deathers”, too (though many of these folks may just be ill-informed and/or unhinged). But the longer Republicans allow the shrill fringe to do their bidding, the less legitimate their vows to seek tricky compromise and do the People’s business seem.
Lost in the talk of decorum, political divide and racism, seems to be the facts. The truth is: Obama was telling the truth. In his proposed plan, it clearly states, “No one in the United States illegally will be granted insurance coverage.” Just what part of that statement is hard to decipher, Mr. Wilson? Either Wilson was lying about Obama lying, or he was misinformed. I’m not sure which is the more egregious a congressman who deliberately misstates the facts or one who just doesn’t have a handle on them.
For now it seems the biggest loser in this latest cultural commotion could be that other guy whose name isn’t really Joe. Move over Joe the Plumber. The Fright wing’s new hero is the “gentleman” from South Carolina, Joe the Liar.
You can read more from Amy in her blog, Radio Graffiti.
It’s refreshing to know that there are people out there that can tell it like it really is – what is this society coming to – Wilson calling the President of the United States a liar – Bad mouthing on the Tennis Courts by Serena Williams and taking over someone’s big moment at the Music Awards. People are just being very uncivil. There was no excuse for Wilson to behave as he did and whether you voted for Obama or not he is still the
President of the United States and we should all give him the respect for that office. Thanks for a great article – hope lots of people read it.
This his nothing to do with race, whenever anyone disagrees with the president its always “OMG HES RACIZT HE DUZNT AGREE OMGGG RAZISM!!!11!”, how come we never hear about the white side of president Obama? Why is that? Why is it that the black people protesting Bush were never labeled racists? Lesson of the day: Just because somebody thinks negatively about Obama does not make him or her a racist.