Interview: Rep. Joe Wilson (R) SC

Just wrapped up an interview with pro-legal immigration, former immigration lawyer turned politician Representative Joe Wilson (R) SC. Having posted on Wilson's "You lie" comment to Obama during Obama's speech, I wanted to understand the full context of the remark. Wilson has since apologized to the White House.

Wilson referred extensively to both his packed recess Town Hall experiences and close tracking of pertinent legislation through work with several committees to place his remark in context. While there may be some Republican critics of the comment, Wilson also mentioned several Republicans who have since told him he said precisely what they were thinking but dared not say given the occasion.

Wilson claimed that in over 20 years in politics, having hosted numerous town halls throughout South Carolina over the years, he has never seen anything quite like he witnessed during the recent recess. Crowds suddenly grew from an average of fifty attendees to well over a thousand and approximately 95% of those were there specifically due to concerns over any potential health care legislation. He mentioned several SC cities and towns where that was the case.

Given a great many constituent concerns Wilson has personally heard expressed, he went into the speech hoping Obama would genuinely reach out both to the people and across the aisle to address their concerns. Obama had claimed that would be his intent. Unfortunately, after Republicans were all but shut out of any pertinent on going negotiations in the House, Wilson felt Obama wasn't genuinely reaching out at all and certainly not honestly to the extent that he did.

All Republican amendments for verification, or enforcement regarding efforts to keep American taxpayers from paying for health care, or insurance for illegal immigrants have been defeated by the Democrats. The Congressional Research Service has indicated that, as it stands, there is nothing to prevent coverage for illegal immigrants under currently considered legislation.

Consequently, Wilson pronounced Obama's specific statement in that regard as "appalling". Perhaps Obama simply hasn't kept up on the legislation, being on vacation so much in recent days, as he has.

Wilson also stressed his concern for the existing high unemployment in South Carolina and the potential impact on jobs of new health care legislation. It's been estimated by some organizations that potential legislation could result in the loss of an additional 1.6 million American jobs as small businesses attempt to deal with new guidelines. That at a time when what America needs most is more new jobs, not fewer.

While claiming no desire to see Washington adopt anything akin to the British Parliament's habit of yelling at one another during debate, Wilson felt that constituent interests and emotion just got the best of him in this case. He said he was not angry at all, which is why he didn't go on at the time. Other than the single, short impromptu blurt, Wilson said he was in complete control of himself at all times. He now wishes that he had waited and held a press conference instead.

Perhaps like me and some others, Wilson just reacted naturally when confronted with an obvious misrepresentation dealing with something one has invested a great deal of time in thinking about. He sounded sincere and convincing in both his regret for the impromptu remark, as well as his insistence that, at the end of it all is the fact that Obama simply wasn't telling the truth as any objective observer would understand it in last night's speech.

Comments

[Ad rem]

Seems like Nancy's willing to forgive and forget..."The episode was unfortunate. He has apologized. It's time to talk about health care," Pelosi told reporters today.

Apparently the Dems have realized this wasn't a winning proposition for them.

[Kitty]

Thank, GOD, at least one Repub has the brass to speak up! Even Hillary would agree ;~)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJxmpTMGhU0

'In 2003, Hillary Clinton screeched "I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration."'

...

[GM Roper]

Thanks Dan, posted on and linked. Great Job!

[Bruce, NV]

I'll be donating to Joe. www.joewilsonforcongress.com

[Lala]

Two links.

1. donate if you want to

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/10/joe-wilson-i-need-your-donations-to-defend-myself-from-liberal-attacks/

2.http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/10/rep-wilson-outburst-leads-senate-dems-close-loophole-health-reform/

[x11b1p]

dan i just tweeted this link, i hope to get it out to as many as i can. thanks

[christmasghost]

I am definitely going to donate money to this guy. He is, after all, the only politician that seems to recognize a lie when he hears one!
Although people can argue that his outburst was 'unseemly', I really don't agree. Since when, in this country, is telling the truth unseemly or wrong?
It seems to me we could use a lot more of it...telling the truth I mean.

[Brian]

If only Wilson had thrown a shoe. The left says that's all heroic and speaking-truth-to-powery and stuff.

[Mrs. Peperium]

If anyone was unseemly last evening, it was the President.

More than that, the President offered nothing new in his plan except a "do it for Teddy".

What was new, is that the Americans who are paying attention and have not drunk the Team O Koolaid (don't you love the news that Wilson got the former ballerina Emmanuel and his diaphanous pink tutu in a twist? Positively delicious.) anyhoo, those Americans saw evidence of emerging backbone in the Republican party. Today, Boehner (sp?) reading the section in the bill that contains provisions for illegals to be covered by what? - the non-existent public option?- was excellent follow up. Good job Republicans. We like the cut of this jib.

No wonder Pelosi said let's move on. She knows it's in the bill, that Wilson's remarks were spot on and it is a lose-lose for them. Remember this is the bill that was supposed to be shoved through Congress before the August recess - in other words before Americans had a chance to understand what was in it and health care is not to kick into action until after O's next election...

[Vanessa]

I for one felt elated when I heard him say that to Obama.
It was like finally "someone with the courage". Where have all the men gone who will fight like their forefathers for the country we love? We are not sheep.
It is Obama himself who calls names, says to get in peoples faces and says he is going to call out the liars but he himself told lie after lie.
To my mind it is actually harmful to the public who cannot know the details to let someone tell lie after lie without being called on it right then and there because people look at it as well he said all this and nobody said anything so it must be true.

[a mccoy]

For people donating to Joe Wilson, you will be donating to an honorable Southern gentleman dedicated to his country. He is my congressional representative, and I was at his townhall meeting in Columbia,SC. He's always behaved with integrity (even before he was a Rep. in D.C.) and I am proud that he represents my district. I've also sent him a supportive note & contribution.

[Dred Scott]

As with gay marriage, Supremes will say it violates equal protection, and illegals will get free coverage and gays free love.

[Frankly]

Will you get rid of the fake links to various spam sellers. If you refer to the Congressional Research service there ought to be alink to it not spam

[Bob]

After reading through the legislation, Pulitzer Prize winning fact checker PolitiFact.com says,

"The bill specifically says that people in the United States illegally are not eligible for tax credits, on page 132, section 242."

Accordingly, their verdict for Joe Wilson is, "The Truth-O-Meter Says: You Lie!"

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/sep/09/joe-wilson/joe-wilson-south-carolina-said-obama-lied-he-didnt/

"The best argument that we find that health reform would help illegal immigrants is that some might be able to purchase the public option — if it passes, and it might not — on the new health insurance exchange. They would purchase that at full cost. Obama said, "The reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally," which Wilson said was a "lie." Actually, Obama can make a pretty thorough case that reform doesn't apply to those here illegally. We don't find the public option argument enough to make the case that Obama "lied." We rate Wilson's statement False."

Being wrong and an out-of-control lout will, of course, immediately make Wilson a hero in wing-nut circles. They immediately sympathized with that strain of belligerent ignorance that's come to define their movement.

[Kate]

So Bob, where in this bill does it say that they will insist on proof of citizenship? That little omission proves Rep. Wilson right, and he spoke the truth. Obama did not. I'm just annoyed he apologized.

[Mike K]

I tried to call his office today to ask about donating and the web site was down due to volume. After reading "Bob"'s comment, I'm doubling my donation.

[Bob]

"So Bob, where in this bill does it say that they will insist on proof of citizenship? That little omission proves Rep. Wilson right, and he spoke the truth. Obama did not. I'm just annoyed he apologized."

Considering that this reputable web site did the reasearch and concluded that Wilson lied in his accusation, I would think that you'd at least concede that Obama is not necessarily wrong to say what he did. Being extremely charitable to your side of the argument, perhaps the most that you could claim is that this might be a controversial point. Therefore, accusing Obama of outright lying is uncalled-for. It's going way too far. And to do it in such a boorish and disrespectful way -- perhaps the first time any president has ever been treated that way during a joint session of Congress -- was just disgraceful.

And this, after at least a couple of Republican Congressmen warned Obama that he'd better be humble and not disrespect the Republicans when he came to the Capitol. What hypocrisy. Republicans really have no shame and no decency left.

[Jeff Carlson]

A shouted truth is preferable to the smoothly delivered lie.

Jeff Carlson
www.harlemghost.blogspot.com

[Bob]

"A shouted truth is preferable to the smoothly delivered lie."

And what would you have said if a Democratic congressman had shouted "You lie!" at George W. Bush when he said that Iraq tried to obtain uranium from Niger during his state of the union address? We know that what Bush said actually WAS untrue. As I said earlier, the analysis by PolitiFact.com did concluded that it was Wilson, not Obama, who lied. So any Democrat would have been on much firmer factual footing to accuse Bush of lying during his state of the union address. What would you have said if that had happened?

[Blue Swan]

Obama did lie. He said he would pay for his plan through "efficiencies" in Medicare.

The tv panel after the speech made note of this. These are two separate things.

If Obama thinks he can find "waste" in Medicare then he should cut that now. There's no reason to wait for a health care plan, to then manage Medicare better.

If he has specific things that can be trimmed from Medicare, let him do that now...!!! He can't -- so HE LIED!!!

(Or prove it, Barack...make those Medicare efficiency cuts right now...without cutting service as you promised (lied)...)

[k]

BRAVO Joe!! Bravo! All the other cowardly republicans should have joined you. Every single American who believes in the constitution should be standing up and applauding your courage. Never apologize for being right in the face of indisputable dishonesty. I can only hope to see more people in the Congress having the courage to do the same every time king 0h wants to give a banal speech to lecture the masses.

[Seven Shange]

The point of President Obama lying or not is really not the issue here people. This is about respect for the office of the President of the United States. What is wrong with you right wing nut jobs?

[Dan Riehl]

My, how I miss my real liberal friends. Everyone knows Rep Wilson was simply speaking Truth to Power!!!!

[North Dallas Thirty]

And here's puppet Bob, always ready to repeat Obama's lies.

"Considering that this reputable web site did the reasearch and concluded that Wilson lied in his accusation, I would think that you'd at least concede that Obama is not necessarily wrong to say what he did."

How about something with, you know, a little more expertise in analyzing bills? Like, say, the Congressional Research Service?

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Obamacare-wont-cover-illegal-immigrants--55021087.html

Gee, what a surprise; the Obama Party organ whose sole job it is to propagandize for Obama repeats Obama's lies, and the nonpartisan expertise office of Congress whose job it is to review bills and provide the facts shows that Obama is lying.

Sort of like how Obama lied about preventative care always lowering costs (already shot down by the CBO, based on existing research into exactly that) and that his health plans would save money and not increase healthcare costs (they massively increase them).

http://politicalderby.com/2009/08/11/cbo-says-expanded-preventative-care-will-increase-cost/

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/07/cbo-sees-no-federal-cost-savings-in-dem-health-plans.html

Now watch Bob run away and refuse to answer. Facts are stubborn things that liberals like himself don't like. Indeed, watch him blabber and scream more about "racism", hoping to make people shut up and stop repeating the facts that make his Barack Obama look like the incompetent, lying fool that Obama is.

[North Dallas Thirty]

"The point of President Obama lying or not is really not the issue here people. This is about respect for the office of the President of the United States. What is wrong with you right wing nut jobs?"

Tell us, Steve; how exactly did you manage to miss this?

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/09/024490.php

It's funny how you're suddenly demanding respect for the office that you were spitting on two years ago. Is it because of the office, or because brats like yourself don't like your Obama receiving a fraction of the treatment that you threw at Bush?

[mark l.]

"This is about respect for the office of the President of the United States. What is wrong with you right wing nut jobs?"

I doubt any of them were in coma, where presidential bashing went to a new low during bush, which some in the left justified for the bashing of clinton. I wish I could say it was a pattern of escaltion which assures mutually assured destruction, but this case is somewhat different.

I was expecting that it was just some southern hick, shamelessly capitalizing on the growing angst.

I find out the guy was right about the "liar" accusation. I find out that the guy has experience as an immigration attorney. further digging, and it turns out the guy is also a former Colonel.

"It stands athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it."

bill buckley's mission statement for national review in 1955.

Rep Wilson seems to have heard the call. stop or liar...what's the difference? It certainly got results.

he's aces in my book.

[mark l.]

"And what would you have said if a Democratic congressman had shouted "You lie!" at George W. Bush when he said that Iraq tried to obtain uranium from Niger during his state of the union address?"

I'm going out on a limb, a little bit, but...

This WAS NOT a state of the union adress, which is prescribed in the constitution. This was a shameless pr stunt, which forced network coverage of another damn speech, on the pretense that it was an important event. So important, that the congress had to be assembled and lectured like studio audience, when obama could have sent theme the text of the speech. This was a 'campaign event' and obama needed to gop to fill in the seats.
next time...the gop shouldn't even bother attending.

The address itself was an abuse of power, for cheap political gain.

[mark l.]

my favorite supporting actor in this whole kerfluffle?

john mccain.

for at least a month, obama was on the campaign trail telling people john mccain wanted to be in iraq for 100 years.

at first I held contmept for the media, for not calling the messiah on his blatant lies, but then the real problem became apprarent-

john mccain wouldn't call obama a liar. Had he done so, the media would have shut the messiah down, the next day.

so while mccain might object to calling obama a liar, even to defend his own words and opinions which were distorted for cheap politcal gain, I had to sit there and watch him take it.

defending obama, now? his history with distorting other peoples words merits the rebuke he recieved.

I'm grateful that there is a guy who has some beliefs that he feels strongly about. Couldn't be more ecstatic about dan getting the interview as well. It was gracious of the congressman from south carolina.

[diane]

I think that Mr. Wilson's comment "YOU LIE" and the expressions on the faces of the pedominantly white male Republican representatives as President Obama spoke, is just reflective of the anger and racism that has so many people bound in this country. It was really sad to look at the faces of so many of the opposition party and see the seathing hatered that is being perpetuated. As a person of color, I am truly stuck when it comes to trying to understand why any person of color would want to allign themselves with the Republican Party.

[Tom Lamb]

Diane,

It is because black conservatives know what it's like to be screwed over by white liberals and their black liberal friends.

Spend much time in Detroit?

[mark l.]

"is just reflective of the anger and racism that has so many people bound in this country."

racism?

when one believes misguided individuals perpetrated acts of racism, in a collective way throughout history, against people of color, I don't have a problem.

When the racists who are using the term "white", like yourself, to ascribe a motive to an ethnic group, you are no better than what you complain about.

sorry diane, you are a racist. welcome to the club.

[Pinandpuller]

You must be right diane.

They hate Maxine Waters because she's black, not because she wants to nationalize the oil companies.

They hate John Conyers because he's black, not because he has a crazy corrupt wife.

They hate William Jefferson because he's black, not because he keeps kickback money in his freezer.

They hate Sheila Jackson Lee because she's black, not because she takes questions from fake doctors.

They hate Charlie Wrangell because he's black, not because he's a tax-dodging rent-fraud perpetrator.

That's just off the top of my head.

I guess they were just guilty of GWC(governing while corrupt).

[Seven Shange]

First of all, "North Dallas Forty" or whatever your name happens to be. I would describe myself as a "moderate republican". I voted for George bush you idiot! So, in terms of the treatment I threw at President Bush, It was my vote! It's people like you who live their lives in such a small world that the first thing that pops into your little head, hurls out of your mouth like so much spittle from a rabid dog. I will say it again so that you and your ilk can let the point sink in a few more days before you "get it". The office of the President of the United States deserves some respect, no matter who resides in it! I guess when you saw the phrase "right wing nut job" you responded to your name!

[Dan Riehl]

Diane,

When are you going to show some personal courage and responsibility by refusing to hide behind your color like some sub-human being. The white liberals have you trained like a toy poodle. You are a discredit to your race. Shame on you. 150 years ago you'd be working on a plantation, preparing your white master's food for them and being proud at having been given the privilege. You are a disgrace as a human being.

[tjproudamerican]

A huge percentage of anti-Health Care Reform "Folks" are usually Social Security Recipients who have not worked for a decade who get Medicare and Medicaid and "oppose" government spending.

Let's see honesty on the Right: get rid of Medicare, Medicaid, Farm Subsidies and every other welfare for the middle class and let's see who is a Tea Bag Movement shouter then.

[tjproudamerican]

Joe Wilson is my hero because he and his entire family use the Government to pay for Health Care and everything else.

The Great Conservative Movement would be two or three people if there were actually a Free Market, everyone provide for him/herself System.

The Hypocrisy on both sides and in the middle in America is preposterous.

[bandit]

I would think that you'd at least concede that Obama is not necessarily wrong to say what he did.

Sorry - you, like Obama are lying thru your teeth. Since there's no requirement to present proof of citizenship drop the pretense that illegals won't be covered.

the expressions on the faces of the pedominantly white male Republican representatives as President Obama spoke, is just reflective of the anger and racism that has so many people bound in this country.

Good projection. You can only play the race card so many times before it wears out. You wanna see a racist look in the mirror.

[SDN]

tj, ever heard of the word contract, as in "you pay into Medicare, we'll provide care."

[Yvonne Wilder]

Joe Wilson is the poster child for what is wrong with politics in this country. His behavior was disgusting. After reading the comments on this article, I fear that our county has a dim future indeed.

[tjproudamerican]

People do not pay anywhere near what they receive from Social Security, Medicair, or Medicaid. They are single payer subsidies. So are Farm Payments. That is why President George W. Bus wanted to move Social Security to an actual Fund-earning option.

Soon 2 or 3 workers will be supporting one retiree. In 1940 the figure was 35 or more workers per retiree.

The biggest "Gimmee Gimme Gimme!" Class are the retired. Conservatives have made common cause with them over denying expansion, but they Entitlements will kill us.

Facts.

[RealAmerikkkan]

Pathetic little blog you've got here. I shan't be back.

[Shawn]

Come on! If a law is not “enforced”, it becomes the problem with the law?
When did such twisted logic become the hallmark of the neo-cons?
Then, we’ll have no use for law enforcement, as the Judiciary Branch would be doing all the government’s job.

The fact of the matter is: every day, written laws are broken, without any consequences. Does it mean those borken laws are bad ones?
Say, speeding on highways, 99+% of the speeders never get caught, does this mean “Speed Limits” are stupid ideas?
In order to verify and enforce the laws, does it mean we need such device on your speedometer, that it would verify your speed and alarm the law enforcement every time when you are over the limits?
The same can be said about drunk driving. Does it mean the laws governing drunk driving are disingenuous, and that the lawmakers are “LIARS”?

This enforcement/verification argument is just another technicality issue to bring down a good law. Those who get stuck with this argument are truly the disingenuous ones.

[Shawn]

Pinandpuller:

May I add to your list:

Rep Joe Wilson is also a hater, that he publicly denounced Senator Thurmond's colored daughter from publicizing her true lineage, after the Senator's death, even after the Senator's family acknowleged the claim.

[North Dallas Thirty]

"First of all, "North Dallas Forty" or whatever your name happens to be. I would describe myself as a "moderate republican"."

Which is, of course, why you are demanding "respect" for Obama while throwing a hissy fit over people pointing out the "respect" that Obama and the Obama Party previously paid the office of the President.

A bit of advice; if you want to pretend to be a Republican, attacking all Republicans and conservatives while fawning over and making excuses for Barack Obama and the Obama Party is not an effective way to do it.

[North Dallas Thirty]

"As a person of color, I am truly stuck when it comes to trying to understand why any person of color would want to allign themselves with the Republican Party."

No surprise, Diane; we know what people of color like you believe and support.

"White's partner Kinney, a black woman corroborated with her partner's testimony and said that Kilpatrick harassed her and criticized her for working with White, who is white.

White's testimony including the statements that Kilpatrick asked her, "How can you be a black woman and be on this case? You shouldn't even be riding in a car with him, with a last name of White."

"`You should be ashamed of yourself,"' Kinney quoted Kilpatrick as saying. "`Why are you a part of this?"'

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/16981263/detail.html

Now isn't that right, Diane? Black women should be ASHAMED to ride in a car with a man named White and should be ASHAMED to investigate a corrupt Obama Party black politician. After all, Barack Obama endorses and supports that.

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/08/07/video-this-is-not-the-kwame-kilpatrick-obama-thought-he-knew/

People of color like yourself were the ones screaming "Uncle Tom" at black Cambridge policemen who dared to stand by their white colleague instead of automatically supporting the black person making hateful accusations.

Run away, Diane. Racists like yourself should be publicly humiliated at every opportunity gotten. You are a racist. Barack Obama is a racist. And your Obama Party and the black community support and endorse your racist beliefs.

[Shawn]

"Demanding respect" for the Presidency is equivalent to to "Prenting to be a Republican", according to your logic?

Then John McCain must have pretended to be a Republican for him to be honorable and genuine enough to say that SC dude is "Totally disrespectful. No place for it in that setting or any other and he should apologize immediately."

[Bob]

"When are you going to show some personal courage and responsibility by refusing to hide behind your color like some sub-human being . . ."

So, Dan, you really ARE a racist, aren't you? Can't say I'm a bit surprised. That's probably why you loved it so much when Joe Wilson sassed the president like he did. You're a racist and you're too much of a coward to admit it.

[Danovich]

I am ashamed at the "Very Imprudent" gentleman from SC. He did not tell Mr. Bush W and his hunchmen they were liars when they waged war on Iraq or the "fear mongering that the GOP has been using to scare the semi-political literate Americans about the healthcare debate. As a congressman,the Very Imprudent gentleman from SC formulates the bills before the President signs into law. So if he is calling the President of USA a liar,then the "Very Imprudent congressman from SC" should be right! If he is not then my dear taxpayers of SC should immediately remove him from office. The other scenario might be because the President of USA is a blackman and for that matter there should not be any respect for the presidency. You can dislike Obama but it is a taboo to show that type of defiance and arrogance in front of the president in the Capitol.

[Lisa]

What's sad and unfortuante are the facts.

TODAY we spend over 14 % of our GDP on HEalthcare- that equates to millions, billions of dollars.

There are people that have to choose between medicines or food.

It appears that there is nothing that the president can say to sway a certain sector of the popucaltion. That's sad. COntinue with the lies and scare tactics... your days are numbered! The everyday American people are tired.

[mark l.]

bob-
you honestly believe that people oppose obama just because he is black?
(rassmussen has obama's "strong disapproval" at 40%.

think about the beliefs and reasons for the tea partiers...they aren't protesting because of the doubling of debt, the increase in federal spending, the bailouts of private industry with federal money, or any of the other fantasies that the messiah is pushing?

let's pretend that 50% of the tea partiers are card carrying kkk members...what about the other 50%? if you see racism as the motivating force for some, how can you ascribe it to others?

joe wilson didn't say "you lie" becuase obama was black. he said because obama was lying.