I Am Joe Wilson

An unfortunate breech of protocol at last night's Obama speech. This below was my first basically unfiltered reaction during Obama's address after, frankly, I was angry at having to listen to Obama's obvious distortions and out right lies.

 Will a public plan cover me if watching this idiot lie makes me sick?

Via Doug Ross are some of the more obvious lies. Given Wilson's understandable apology, I don't believe he intentionally set out to insult Obama, deserved, or not. I will say it was refreshing to see someone with a passion for truth unthinkingly inject some into a hall all too lacking in it last night thanks to Obama. In that sense, as cliche and leftist as it might sound, I very much am Joe Wilson in this case. And I am delighted to have seen at least one person there who actually spoke for me. It isn't as if I get to feel that during most Obama speeches, or even Congressional debates. So, I guess I am Joe Wilson. And I have absolutely no intention of apologizing for it to Obama, or anyone else.

Mr. Wilson seemed rattled in the wake of his comment, and quickly left the chamber at the end of the speech.

His office later issued an apology, saying: “This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the president’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility.”

Mr. Wilson also phoned the White House and reached Mr. Emanuel, who accepted an apology on behalf of the president.

Comments

[TFMo]

Ugh. I commend Wilson for have the stones to call His Majesty a liar. Me, I wouldn't have apologized or shown even a hint of regret. What Wilson's statement should have been: "Yes, I called him a liar. Because he was lying through his teeth, as he has throughout his career. This is not rhetoric, this is substantiated FACT. So no, I won't apologize for telling the truth. Is Mister President going to apologize for lying to the American people and to Congress? What does Madam Speaker have to say about this, considering how freely she accused the CIA of lying repeatedly to her and Congress?"

[Sharon]

I promptly went to contribute which took quite some time to complete. He spoke for me. I am Joe Wilson.

[mark l.]

i would have gone for the coughing..."bulsh*t", myself.

[Reaganite Republican]

Emanuel said "No president has ever been treated like that"

Hey guess what Rahm... NO president has ever lied like this one!

Wilson is only human... and principled individuals who are appalled by a president who's habitually dishonest can only take some much of it. Wilson cracked... and who's to blame him, Obama's serial BS could infuriate anybody.

[Dave B]

Obama set the stage, so he got what he deserved. He called a joint session of Congress for the "Healthcare crisis"? Are you kidding me? The only crisis is the one he's creating which has resulted in one of the biggest taxpaying citizen's protest (not the paid ones that the Left relies on) in recent history. I wouldn't have apologized. I would have treated it like a tailgate party and brought my Whoopie cushion!

[David R. Graham]

"Custom [Protocol] be hanged." King Roderick, *The Court Jester,* with Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine. 1955, Paramount. Also Rasil Bathbone (I know) and Glynis Johns.

[Tony Geranios]

Who are these assholes on this site?

[Norris Hall]

Although he author describes Joe Wilson's rant as "passion for truth".
I would describe it as a "childish outburst"
Queston: Does Senator Wilson teach his kids to yell and scream and call their school teachers "liars" if they don't agree with them.

[Kat Willett]

I think thst Mr, Joe Wilson is the only person who has had the guts to stand up and actually look Obamma in the face and call him the lier that he is. Protocol Be Dammed! He was only doing the job he was elected to do and that is to represent his state. If Obamna is not stopped now, I don't know what will become of our country. Do we have to let Obama serve his 4yr term or can he be terminated. He works for us. If Americans don't do a good job at their place of employment, they are subject to Termination and many have. Why can't we just fire Obama?

[Brett_McS]

A timely bit of Parliamentary biffo injected into the staid American Congress. Jolly good show, Wilson. Should be more of it.

[Hart Williams]

I guess it's OK to break any and all social conventions, traditions, or protocols, etiquette or manners, as long as you're right, right Rightie?

(And they say conservatives venerate traditional values.)

[joyMc]

In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. I can't wait to see the giant "YOU LIE" banners at future protests against government run healthcare and other follies of our current admin. Obama needs more unscripted moments. He gets so few of them. Go Joe! You may have just birthed a battle cry.

[joyMc]

I suppose technically government sponsored health care will not be extended to illegals. After all the plan is to legalize them by that time.

[joyMc]

Joe Wilson for president!

[joyMc]

Technically Obama does not mean to extend government run healthcare to illegals because he means to legalize them all first.

[xerocky]

"I guess it's OK to break any and all social conventions, traditions, or protocols, etiquette or manners, as long as you're right, right Rightie?

(And they say conservatives venerate traditional values.)"

Wilson called Raham and said he's sorry, but let's face it, somebody had to say it, and Wilson did. It's not a collapse of traditional values because somebody yelled LIAR.

The only thing that I would have done differently is I would have yelled it when Obama said that he wasn't going to raise the deficit one dime. I can't even read that sentense withoug wanting to yell LIAR.

LIAR!

There I did it.

[WBestPresidentEver]

JOE WILSON WAS RIGHT IN CALLING OBAMA LIAR. HERE IS THE ARTICLE ABOUT ILLEGALS. http://bit.ly/2QksfA

The look OBAMA, BIDEN AND NANCY gave Joe Wilson when he yelled out Liar. See pic. http://twitpic.com/h5dev

[Mark Turner]

For what it's worth, there is a discussion of an AP press release critical of Obama's speech at:

http://pajamasmedia.com/eddriscoll/2009/09/10/ap-presidents-speech-contained-variety-of-oversimplifications-and-omissions/

If Joe Wilson knew he was right, why did he apologize? Was the apology for the outburst itself, or for calling the president a liar? If it was the latter, Wilson should not have apologized.

All in all, I don't see Obama's speech as one that changed many minds...

[Ran]

Dan, it took just two words for Wilson's Palin moment. "You lie!" sunk-in the way "death panels" instantly made sense. (Then again, I'm glad he apologized as much as I am he said it.)

[Bob C]

Breach of protocol? Yes: it is only right and proper for congressmen to call General David Petraeus a liar to his face....one, after another, after another, after another. Anybody have links to their apologies?

[galloway]

A new battle cry. Thousands of Facebook users change their status within minutes. Love it.

I'm fine with Wilson. He was honest in his reaction and honest in his apology. Wish his honesty was as contagious as the H1N1 virus. Some of those swine in Washington need to catch a little honesty.

If any of your misguided liberal friends start in with a civility lecture, show them this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mqSXsNJzRM

[WestWright]

Looks like the Lying Lieberals have their stinky panties in a wad when the truth smacks their pea brains. Everyone knows that Obama is a notorious liar and Joe Wilson was just confirming to all that the 'the King has no clothes'...this is hilarious and I actually think Rep Wilson's call out was totally spontaneous....the look on Pelosi and BOO were quite interesting too...Biden was his normal stoned self...

[Neo]

Obama: 'If you misrepresent what's in the plan, we will call you out'

Joe Wilson (R-SC) returns the favor ... calls out Obama
Democrats get their collective "tit in a ringer"

[AJsDaddie]

I love it. Wilson calls Obama a liar during a joint-session infomercial and that's unforgivable, but it's perfectly acceptable for Dems to boo the President during THE STATE OF THE UNION. And what's really remarkable is that President Bush was accurate, saying Social Security was going bankrupt (something nobody today disagrees with), while Wilson was protesting an obvious falsehood - that the bill would not cover illegal aliens. It may pay lip service to the concept, but Obama and the Dems have made sure to provide a loophole by not requiring verification of citizenship for coverage, and in fact an amendment requiring just such verification was rejected in committee.

So in short, it's okay to boo the President as he tells the truth during the State of the Union, but it's horrible to point out deliberate obfuscation during a partisan sales pitch.

Every day I think I've seen the most hypocritical behavior imaginable, and the next day the Left outdoes themselves. A textbook illustration of the dangers of moral relativism.

[Steve O]

I for one am thrilled that Joe Wilson had the courage to speak out. I don't care what room they were in. I don't care if the President was speaking. I have heard numerous Democrats Senators and Congressmen state openly that President Bush "LIED" to them about WMD's. Where was this respect for the office then? Contrary to what Obama may think, he is not a diety. He does not walk on water. He does not know everything. Just because he says something that does not make it true. His sh** does stink. DEMOCRATS pay attention. DO NOT EVER TELL ME OR ANYONE ELSE TO RESPECT THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, when the person in the White House has filled that position with bald-faced and blatant lies. When Obama respects the office then I will respect the office.

[angstly yours]

I guess next, they'll be throwing rotten produce or having fist fights in the aisles. There are appropriate ways to get the point across.

[AJsDaddie]

To take a page from the liberal playbook, angstly, where was your outrage when the President was booed during the State of the Union? I know that "we didn't start it" is not a compelling argument. (Not that it stops the Left, "BUSH DID IT!" being a favorite liberal argument for just about anything.) However, I really find the manufactured outrage completely disingenuous. This administration is the epitome of disrespect (look up the word in the dictionary and you'll see Robert Gibbs' picture); they should hardly be surprised at receiving the same treatment. If anything, those that oppose the lies and half-truths shouldn't have waited this long.

To sum up: Kettle, meet pot.

[tjproudamerican]

Kudos to the whole gang of right wing conformists for showing that you really are racists. You hate Obama because he is black. You have made yourself clear. "He is not one of you".

[TFMo]

"I guess next, they'll be throwing rotten produce or having fist fights in the aisles. There are appropriate ways to get the point across."

Right. Throwing food, like they do at Ann Coulter when she's invited to speak at colleges. Or like throwing shoes at Bush. Or bum-rushing the stage and assaulting Reagan. Or organizing protests outside Bush's home, or the homes of AIG employees. Or throwing blood on people wearing fur. Or attacking our soldiers when they come home like they did to the Viet Nam veterans. Or staging protests outside military recruiter offices. Or hanging nooses from door knobs and trying to get the right-wingers blamed for it. Or SEIU/ACORN thugs beating the crap out of a black man for daring to disagree with the Anointed One. Or calling everyone who disagrees with him a Nazi, astroturf, racist, tea-bagger, or (my personal favorite) a Right Wing Domestic Terrorist. Those are some really excellent, appropriate ways of getting the point across, huh?

[Rodney]

What in this world was big mouth Joe thinking of when he decided to display his true nature on a National/World stage? What did he hope to accomplish, a moment of pleasure for a lifetime of agony? Does he or any of you realize the impact this thing is going to have on he and his family? First of all his SON is running for attorney general of the state of South Carolina. TOSS IT. His career going in a positve direction in the political arena, TOSS IT. Him galvanizing the Democratic (majority) Partys' fence sitters for the health care plan. KEEP IT. So all of you lil boys and gals from the republican party can just about get used to a brand new health care plan (with or without your input).. I figured I'd seen the worst of this party but damn was I wrong...

[P. jENSEN]

Joe Wilson is a disgrace to the state of SC. Show some respect, DICK.

[AJsDaddie]

Hey, look! Talking points from the Huffington Post crowd!

1. "No alternatives". At least this is a plausible argument, albeit incorrect. There are at least three Republican-sponsored plans. The Patient's Choice Act of 2009, produced in May. Jim DeMint's Health Care Freedom Plan from June. And Tom Price's Empowering Patients First Act in July.

2. "RA-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-CIST!". This old canard simply doesn't work anymore. In fact, the only people who keep bringing up Obama's race are the ones accusing others of racism. Among the vast majority of conservatives Obama's racial makeup (he's a mixed-race man and no moreso than members of my own family) isn't the issue, it's his politics and behavior. From outright lies to incessant politicizing to ballooning deficits to appointing Far Left whackjobs (pardon the term, but there's no other word for folks like Cass Sunstein), the man has proven his incompetence for the job. Cry race all you want, but that excuse is getting more desperate souding every day.

[raminsc]

Hopefully S.C. will succeed from the Union again, leaving behind scum bags like Clyburn to suck up to Pelosi and Reed and the rest of the liberal a_ _ holes.
raminsc

[becky]

"Kudos to the whole gang of right wing conformists for showing that you really are racists. You hate Obama because he is black. You have made yourself clear. "He is not one of you". "

This is the typical Hippie comeback. If they aren't winning the game they take a cheap shot and accuse everyone of being racist.

[AJsDaddie]

Liberal definition of respect:

Calling protesters "teabaggers".
Calling demonstrators "Nazis".
Booing the President during the State of the Union.
Singing "Na na na na hey hey hey goodbye" at the inauguration.

Please, tell us all about respect.

[Benny Bulger]

I think he said what the rest of ous are feeling. WILSON FOR PRESIDENT !

[raminsc]

The real deal "Joe Wilson" the next president of the United States.
Agenda, #1 priority, Term Limits for Congress. It is absolutely insane that some of these nit wits have been in Congress 30 years and more.

[Benny Bulger]

I love these obvious black racist. Everytime a black person does something stupid or illeagal and get called up on they yell racisim. You know those days are gone so move on and quit showing your ignorance.

[Cecil]

Wilson was wrong plain and simple. Bush stood in that same spot and lied time and time again about his policies, Yet he still was still treated with the respect the President deserves. Obama is cleaning up a big mess made by many and I am happy to see this reform dealt with. We need honest debates, not childish name calling. Grow up people!

[AJsDaddie]

Wow. More moral relativism. At least I had the integrity to mention on my own that perhaps "they did it too" wasn't the best argument. However, the point is that the Dems are far more capable of this sort of thing. If the Republicans are inane for one outburst, how inane are the Dems for their incessant uncivil behavior?

Seriously, Mike: Pot, meet Kettle.

As to Section 246, it's already been cited on numerous occasions that there is no corresponding enforcement clause, and in fact Democrats have voted down an amendment that would require proof of citizenship.

Without enforcement, Section 246 is at best disingenuous and obfuscatory.

[AJsDaddie]

Cecil, do you read? The President was booed during the State of the Union. If you're only just now complaining about the crass nature of today's political discourse, you need only look to your own party for the seeds of that lack of civility.

Kettle, Pot. (Getting repetitive, ain't it? But that's the nature of responding to Liberal talking points.)

[Dan Riehl]

Cecil is a liar. Cecil is a liar. Nah nah nah nah nah. ; ) Thanks for playing, mop head.

[ED]

It just came natural. South Carolina's elite smacking down an UPPITY President.

[AJsDaddie]

HEY! NO NAME CALLING! BOOGER-HEAD!

:)

[TFMo]

"But why try to be better than anyone else...right?"

Four instances of liberals being jerks to one instance of a Republican being honest. Great argument. I hardly think ANYONE on the left has the highground to tell anyone on the right to behave themselves.

And track back to your precious Nancy Botoxi; she persistently accuses the CIA and the Bush administration of lying to Congress, which is an actual crime. Will she be calling for an investigative panel for Obama lying to Congress as well?

And, just to note, is there anything in HR 3200 about HOW they will be verifying whether or not an illegal is seeking treatment, considering the left is deadset against using any verification method? Anything in there about what penalties such a person will receive if they are caught making the attempt?

Basically, you're counting on people, who are already lying to remain in this country, to be honest about their status? Why do liberals insist on giving proven habitual liars the benefit of the doubt?

[AJsDaddie]

"Why do liberals insist on giving proven habitual liars the benefit of the doubt?"

This is a rhetorical question, right? ;)

[Michelle]

Wow - still bickering when we finally have a president who wants to initiate change and is not willing to sell himself out for it. President Obama made a comment about working together. Set aside your egos and look at the big picture. Don't just sit back and complain. Be grateful our country has the opportunity to turn around and embrace it.

[Dan Riehl]

"turn around and embrace it."

If we turn our backs, I don't think an embrace is what Obama and the libs have in mind, except maybe as after thought when they're done screwing us. No thanks.

[AJsDaddie]

Michelle: I DON'T WANT OBAMA'S CHANGE.

I live in America, a Republic in which I and my children are allowed to succeed or fail by the sweat of our brows. I do not want a nanny state in which the Federal Government has increasing control over every aspect of life - up to and including life and death - and takes from those who work to pay for those that don't.

If you want European-style socialism, head across the pond. You've got many to choose from. England, France, Sweden, take your pick. Heck, I hear the medical care in Cuba is FANTASTIC!

Let me keep my paycheck and you can keep the change.

[Sarah]

Palin/Wilson in 2012... could be a winning team!!??

Pleeeeese?

Thank you, right wing voters in the state of SC. LOVING YOU GUYS!!!

LOL