Congressman Joe Wilson is an example of something… I just don’t know what (Updates)

Posted on September 9th, 2009 by ecthompson md

Tonight, President Barack Obama, in front of a joint session of Congress, spoke with conviction on healthcare. He beat down the lies and pledged his support to Medicare and seniors. He told his progressive colleagues that the public option is a means to an end. It is the end that we want. Some are calling it his best speech to date.

Watch the speech:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Before I go on, I must address Congressman Joe Wilson. What a dork. In public, there is some behavior that is simply unacceptable. If you’re a meeting with colleagues and you suddenly drop your trousers, that is unacceptable. If you’re in one of those nice hotel meeting rooms with some perspective clients and suddenly spit on the floor, that is unacceptable. Shouting in a joint session of Congress, “You lie!” Is unacceptable.

There no two ways around it. After his jaw-dropping comment, after the president’s speech was complete, the South Carolina representative released a statement which stated in part, “While I disagree with the president’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable.” Accidentally knocking over a glass of cold water which spills in your wife’s lap is regrettable. Shouting at the president as an elected official of United States Congress is totally unacceptable for Republicans or Democrats. Since it seems that no Republicans ever resign (almost never) from anything these days, I’ve donated money to Rob Miller who is challenging him in 2010.

Now, as we sit back and analyze the president’s words, we must remember that Republicans never rest. This fight is not over. Republicans, the health-insurance industry and the pharmaceutical companies are reloading. We have to be ready for their counterpunch because it is coming. Even if we pass effective healthcare reform, this fight isn’t over. There are still Republicans who are trying to kill Medicare and Social Security. We cannot become complacent because the president has just laid out his case and given a great speech. We must continue to organize. We must continue to write and call our Congressman. (No matter whether your Congressman is for or against healthcare reform he or she has to know where you stand.) This is the legislative fight of our generation. Healthcare will help level the playing field and give a huge boost to small business. We must win this fight.

Update: Tunder Pig (TP) mentions in his comment that Democrats are being hypocrites. In 2005, at the SOTU, Bush was playing smoke and mirrors with Social Security and trying to sell that to the American people. It was the privatize Social Security plan which was really the beginning to the end of Bush’s presidency. Here’s the clip.

Dems groan and moan. Some boo. No one, that I could hear, yells, “You Lie!” Or “Liar!” …or anything like that. Is this the same thing? TP thinks so. I don’t. What is appropriate conduct in the Congress while the president is speaking? Tell me what you think.

Update II: From Kos -
Yesterday, Jake McIntyre wrote:

Up until today, Joe Wilson was just another anonymous Southern Republican troglodyte Congressman, unknown to all but the poor people of South Carolina and the most serious horse race junkies.

Today, he’s the hyena who disgraced himself, his party, and the House chamber by screaming “you lie!” like an 8 year-old during the President’s eloquent speech on the most critical challenge facing our nation.

There’s something we can do to let Joe Wilson know what we think of his childish approach to a serious problem — we can help out Rob Miller. Rob is an Iraq War vet — a Marine who came back to South Carolina to try and restore dignity to South Carolina’s Second CD, where Joe Wilson was selling out the district by voting for unfair trade deals and corporate giveaways. Despite being a relative unknown, being outspent by a substantial margin, and a general Republican lean to the district, Rob came within just 8 points of knocking Wilson off in 2008. And we’re lucky to have him running again.

Rob’s a fair trade Democrat who supports the Employee Free Choice Act. He’s a breath of fresh air for a state that desperately needs new leadership. And we can help him tonight, as the nation sees what an immature loser his opponent is. Let’s chip in to help Rob — with early financial support, and with the notoriety Wilson has brought on himself, we’ve got a chance to help send Joe Wilson packing — and to bring maturity and decency to South Carolina politics.

Tags: Congress, Healthcare, Obama administration // 35 Comments »

  • http://www.moravings.blogspot.com Mo Rage

    Oh, come one, doctor, he’s an example of ignorance and disrespect, at minimum.

    Mo Rage
    The blog

  • http://www.moravings.blogspot.com Mo Rage

    and you’re right about this fight, for sure.

    thank you,

    Mo Rage
    The blog

  • Ron Brett

    You don’t know what Joe Wilson is an example of ?
    Freedom of speach. Having the courage to speak the truth.
    Either you are an Obama worshiper, illeretate, or just stupid. READ THE BILL! Stop living in a fantasy world and make up your own mind. Obama is destroying our country and the very principals by which this Nation was founded. Either you are part of the problem or part of the solution – which do you think you are?
    READ THE BILL – your president was lying and will continue to lie each time his mouth opens.
    Seems like this is your MOA as well.

  • Steve L

    Ron Brett:

    Either you are an Obama worshiper, illeretate, or just stupid

    “illeretate”????

    Oh, the irony. Thanks for making my day.

  • matt

    Mr Brett makes some good poynts ’bout Freedom of speach and all, but I theenk we should be very concernt Obama is destroying principals. We are bound to have more illeretate kids (who will likely become illeretate adults) without good principals in our schools. But, I wanna know: who exactly were these principals and where were they standin’ when this Nation was founded? And why wern’t they wrote ’bout in my histry books? It don’t matter, anyone should be arrestid for tryin’ to destroy them. That Mr. Wilson shore is brave to yell out “You lie!” to the President of the United States in front of the joint session of Congress and the hundreds of millions of other viewers…he really showd them! And he’s real smart to; he didnt throw his shoe at the President like that fool in Iraq did, ‘cuz in South Carolina, we know how hard it is replace shoes! Maybe Mr Wilson and Govener Sanford could run for President and teach ‘em all a thing or two ’bout morals and integrity! Mr Bretts comments have inspired me to go and READ THE BILL! Did you know that bill is 1000 pages long? Whew, I shore hope they made it easy to understand!

  • http://wncconservatives.ning.com Thunder Pig

    I think that most Democrats are practicing selective outrage (or worse yet, hypocrisy) regarding Joe Wilson’s outburst.

    The Democrats did far worse in the 2005 State of the Union Address given by President Bush. [link]

    or
    http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/president-obama-health-care-address.html

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    TP –

    how is groaning and moaning the same as yelling, “You Lie?” I was ready for you to show that a Dem shouted that Bush was lying. That didn’t happen. I watched the video. I’m going to post the video here – now.

    BTW, Bush was leading us down the path of badness with overhauling Social Security. Imagine what our financial crisis would have been like if all of our money was in the stock market when it crashed.

  • margaret

    I loved the speach but it is still congress who has to do the work. So are we not back to square one with them bickering.

    About Intermountain Healthcare in Utah, It is rationed care and it is a monoply in this state. They also do accept pre existing conditions unless you are on a group plan and then you still have to wait a year. The insurance company decides what you can have for a procedure not your doctor. We have had many many letters in our newspaper about the problems with rationed care with IHC. So when he spoke about it being cost effective it is because they don’t allow simple things like Anethesia if you need a tooth extracted by an oral surgeon. So there are two ways to look at it. It is a private rationed care or you can have what Obama was talking about making them accept pre existing conditions and doing what the doctor asks for. Our company premiums with IHC go up 10 to 12 percent a year. I am 50 and work for a company that has 25 employees. My company pays for the employees full coverage and 1/2 of our dependants. I am lucky. The cost for me on this plan is $460 per month. Medical and prescription only no dental and no vision.

    But it is still the congress who have to change things.

  • http://www.moravings.blogspot.com Mo Rage

    Dr.,

    the groans and moans from the Dems–or Repubs–either in the more distant past or like last night, are generally considered accepted but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Notice last evening when the President said “there was still much work to do”, the Repubs laughed out loud–another example. Then there were the–again, disrespectful–Repubs waving papers back there, trying to get the attention of the cameras–which worked. It’s clearly becoming more of a show and not in a good way.

    But what this dolt Wilson did from So. Carolina is in no way the same. It was low class to the point of white trash, it was disrespectful and it was ignorant. He owes a very public apology on the floor of the House to all Americans.

    Moans and groans we can live with. We all shouldn’t but we can. This kind of thing takes away from our ability as people to have intelligent, calm, adult discourse. We don’t need to tolerate it for either side of the aisle and shouldn’t.

    This wasn’t about free speech. This was about rudeness and ignorance from a person with low class and little or no regard for his President, his country and his fellow Americans.

    If we all think our comments are more important than whatever else goes on at the moment, we will devolve into no better than apes grunting in trees.

    Mo Rage

  • JeffLeon

    Wilson: an example of why electing Republicans is a mistake.

  • Guest

    OBama is lying! He lied several times last night. He must think Americans are stupid!

  • Guest

    THUMBS UP!!!!!!

  • Guest

    A STORM IS COMMIN……BUCKLE UP AMERICA!!

  • ecthompson

    what did he say that was a lie?

  • ecthompson

    ImOutraged  -

    Thanks for visiting my site.  I appreciate your comment. 

    Now, let’s talk.  You don’t need to live in a state to donate to a politician.  If you can donate thru this web site.  Did you really not know this?

    So, I guess that you like many Americans haven’t read the bill.  My suggestion would be to read the bill before you look like a moron.
    From Fact Checker.org:

    <blockquote>

    Claim: Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
    </blockquote>

    False. That’s simply not what the bill says at all. This page includes “SEC. 152. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE,” which says that “[e]xcept as otherwise explicitly permitted by this Act and by subsequent regulations consistent with this Act, all health care and related services (including insurance coverage and public health activities) covered by this Act shall be provided without regard to personal characteristics extraneous to the provision of high quality health care or related services.” However, the bill does explicitly say that illegal immigrants can’t get any government money to pay for health care. Page 143 states: “Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.” And as we’ve said before, current law prohibits illegal immigrants from participating in government health care programs.

    Thanks again

  • Guest

    Congressman Wilson, I’ll buy you a beer! :)   WAY TO GO!!!!
    You are a hero, Obama’s the lying ZERO.

  • ecthompson

    what did he say that was truthful?

    From FactChecker.org – the bill does explicitly say that illegal immigrants can’t get any government money to pay for health care. Page 143 states: “Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.”

    Read the bill then speak, you will sound much more knowledgeable but that’s just my 2 cents.

  • NakedPatriot

    8-)  It’s about time the Republicans said something to this assmaggot Obama.  It’s long overdue!! Americans should be more outraged with the Democratic Agenda to destroy our great nation….where’s the outrage over that!?!

    Bring on the Revolution. I am ready.

  • ecthompson

    I’m waiting for the Charlie Rangel thing to run its course.  Currently, it appears that he is a crook and should be removed from all committees until an investigation is completed. 

    The Sec. of the Treasury worked for the Federal Reserve under Bush.  He paid his taxes, as far as we know, so I don’t have a problem with him. 

    A report from the CIA has confirmed what Nancy Pelosi said.  She was lied too.  The Director of the CIA went to Congress and said the CIA had not be truthful with Congress.  So, what’s your problem again?

    Where was this outrage as Nixon, Reagan, Bush and Bush created these czars?  This is all garbage and a distraction from real issues.

  • Guest

    Say what… dissing the president?  Where are all the democratic sirens who blatantly use to boo & hiss President Bush when he spoke before joint sessions of congress?  I think we are all making much ado about nothing as again we see the double standard exemplified by the “holier-than-thou” libs running the government.  Kudos to Congressman Wilson…

  • Guest

    There is no method for clarifying whether or not a person qualifies for the plan. If it is not explicitly written into the bill that illegals are not eligible, they will slip into the system. Attempts were made in committee to amend the bill to exclude illegals, but were defeated in a party line vote to defeat the amendment. So in a roundabout way, Obama WAS LYING. He deserves to be treated with respect in the chamber of the House as the President, but with nobody but Fox news and the conservative talk radio hosts calling him out for his deceit, Wilson felt compelled to act.

  • Dayplace

    Sorry, but affordability credits are not the same thing as healthcare benefits under this bill.  Unless the unlawfully present individuals file an income tax return they wouldn’t get the credits anyway and I don’t know too many unlawfully present individuals who file an income tax return.

  • Guest

    Joe Wilson is nothing but an ignorant bigot.  he was out of line and i a s a republican am embarrased by him.  The President was right on when he spelled out his Health Care Plan.  Remember, it was the Democrats who brought this nation Social Security, and Medicare even though the Republican of those years (who were more polite)fought those programs as well!

  • Guest

    Joe Wilson is a true patriot and should be lifted up on our shoulders.

  • Guest

    I guess you people just don’t know what you are asking for.

    You are asking for bad things to happen to good people.

    ESPECIALLY to poor, sick and disadvantaged.

    I have been there. I know that. I came from the Soviet Union (USSR).
    I know what socialist approach gives to elite – they live OK, and some times – super.
    And what it gives to an average Joe.
    It gives terrible services in all and everything, including healthcare.

    Another example I have is of a friend of mine – a Rotarian, who lived in Paris, France. And who died less than two weeks before scheduled surgery.

    Obama’s speech was reminiscent of my old days in USSR.

    It was a truly communist speech full of inspiration and full of lies.
    One of them was called for what it was by Joe Wilson.

    Do you really think it’s possible?
    all people (at least legals – 35M) covered, AND
    everyone with better coverage, AND
    no-one controlling (“no government bureaucrat between you and your doctor”), AND
    nothing will be cut from elderly
    nothing cut from anyone
    AND AND AND AND …
    but =>  NO, there will be no extra spending, AND
    ALL will be paid by SAVINGS => exactly the same savings that so far no-one could achieve
    AND, it all will be done NOW and for ever
    AND all Democrats were applauding
    AND Nancy Pelosi was looking at President as it was in a theater with a star performing in a Shakespeare’s play.
    I agree. It was a superior performance. But nothing to do with truth. And we all will pay for it.

    Joe Wilson called President on just one item.
    Most of the rest was just a plain lie. Call it a fantacy, if you like.

    Having said that – we DO NEED healthcare IMPROVEMENTS.
    We DO NEED to help poor people.

    The question is HOW.

    And the plan on the table just not the answer.

  • Guest

    You are not a republican.

    If you were, you’d know, that it was Republicans who saved Blacks from slavery.

    You would know that President spelled out utopia.
    You would know that Democrats turned away ships with Jews to be killed by Hitler.
    You would know that Social Security is just one act culminating many many years of struggle of what today is “left”.
    You would know many many other things

    Yes, a lot of things that left is moving forward was absolutely necessary. But now they are killing our nation and will kill us all.

  • Dr. Errington Thompson

    Well stated.

  • Guest

    i guess bush never lied. stop acting holier than thou. bush lied and told big lies!  how about this lie. Iraq has WMD! that was just one of the lies he told. and now people have died and sacraficed their lives because of bush’s lies!!

  • Guest

    So Repr. Wilson  made a mistake!  How many times during Pres. Bush’s administration was he called a liar by representatives of the Democratic party.?  For them I guess that’s ok!  I am a conservative independent voter.  It’s time for TERM LIMITS at the polls as Congress will not pass legislation on term limits. Today I supported a man that was not afraid to speak out at the politically correct liberal congress.

  • Guest

    Why don’t the President spell out his programs on paper?  What is he afraid of?  He has been caught on numerous statements that were not true.

  • Guest

    Joe Wilson took the correct action, he challenged obama’s lie immediately. How are we to have an honest government if lies are allowed to go unchallenged?

    Once spoken unchallenged, the lie is accepted by too many of the ignorant who support the Democrats and Republicans. Their lies must be challenged immediately, no matter where the lie is told, be they Republican or Democrat.

    Joe Wilson should not be castigated for challenging a lie, he should be honored.

    Where is the birth certificate obama? Did you send a death squad to kill a Kenyan in Somolia because he was carrying your original Kenyan birth certificate with plans to expose you? I do not accept obama as president and will not until the Kenyan provides postitive PROOF of Constitutional eligibility. He has refused, what is he hiding? Why is he hiding his past.

  • Guest

    obama is afraid of the TRUTH and The Constitution of The Soveriegn United States of America.

  • Guest

    I find obama to be very insincere in all of his speeches.  His agenda appears to be communism, not the best interests of America.

  • Guest

    You are not a Republican, you are a RINO. Wison did what every member of Congress should do, he immediately responded to a lie.

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