What was U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson thinking?
Sure, the fifth-term South Carolina lawmaker’s infamous “You Lie” comment – yelled out Wednesday night during a presidential address to Congress – has made him a national celebrity (and a hero among rednecks), but that’s not all it accomplished.
It may have been just what the “government-appointed” doctor ordered for President Barack Obama’s socialized medicine proposal.
At a time when Obama and his signature proposal were drifting badly in the polls, Wilson threw the President a desperately needed lifeline (and a convenient enemy) Wednesday night with his short-fused outburst. Suddenly, the attention wasn’t on the combative, lackluster speech that “The One” delivered – it was on some redneck from South Carolina disrespecting our nation’s time-honored democratic decorum.
“Tactically, it was retarded,” a veteran D.C. political operative told FITS Thursday. “The President was treading water and about to go under, and this speech was a last ditch effort to rally his own party around a bill that America simply doesn’t want to pass. The reaction Obama received from the black caucus, in particular, showcased this speech’s failure. Then along comes Joe Wilson the left-wing uniter.”
Now Democrats are energized again, although it remains to be seen whether or not that energy will be enough to push Obama’s government-run health plan across the finish line. After all, the liberal and moderate wings of the Democratic party appear to have staked out irreconcilable positions on the “public option” component of Obamacare, and it’s unclear whether this latest display of Palmetto State buffoonery will be enough to get them singing “Kum Ba Yah, Barack, Kum Ba Yah.”
For his part, the “hero” moved quickly to apologize for his outburst, although we’re still waiting him to apologize for his support of the “Bush bailout” and dozens of other votes that advanced the deficit-busting fiscal policies of the former GOP president. In fact, Wilson jumped on board the “Bush bailout” bandwagon long before so-called “free market” incentives were lumped onto the boondoggle in an effort to attract the votes of “real Republicans.”
Seriously, people.
As we wrote when this story first broke, why did Joe Wilson wait until now to find his lungs?
Meanwhile, in the wake of his outburst, 81% percent of FITS readers said Wilson was “an embarrassment to South Carolina,” while only 19% said he was “a credit to the state.”
UPDATE: The Washington Post’s top political writer apparently agrees with us.
By Dave T. September 10, 2009 at 2:01 pm
It was stupid because what you say can be right on target, but how you say it can make all the difference in the world. In this case, whether you agree with Congressman Wilson or not,(and I don’t agree with him on this part of health care reform, but I did vote for him and will continue to do so), the bottom line is that it was the wrong way to say it, at the WAY wrong time, and as a result, whether he is right or wron now is rendered the secondary issue.
By Strom's Daughter September 10, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Aw, hell . . . Joe was just channeling his inner West Columbia.
By dirtbogger September 10, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Well If Obama grants amnisty it won’t be a lie. Glad you mentioned that he supported the Bush bailouts because I was really thinking he was a hero but the point that you brought up proves he is status quo scum!
By Pamela September 10, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Fits I can’t figure you out, but I like this site.
ps. I voted he was an embarrassment LOL
Now I am waiting with excitement for Sanfords explanations (snark)
By Workin' Tommy C September 10, 2009 at 3:09 pm
It’s the only thing he’s ever done to demonstrate he’s got guts!
Decorum? Respect? What respect do we, the people get from the Prez or the Congressional petty tyrants in D.C.? I’m glad he did it. Only a handful of people in that building deserved any respect at all. The majority of folks responding on newspaper and other websites are glad he said it as well.
Wilson still sucks, however, in terms of fighting to bring back the republican form of government and restoring the Federal government’s respect of natural law rights and liberties. If he were to become a real fighter instead of a Lindsey Graham wannabe, I might actually vote for him.
By Brandon September 10, 2009 at 3:11 pm
It was boneheaded, true. But, didn’t it feel good.
By PapaSwamp September 10, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Bad move sure…but wouldn’t be nice if the Dems would move this fast on the ethics violating, tax dodging Rangle?
By A Soft Sigh From Hell September 10, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Jackleg GOPer Joe is just Lexington County’s version of clownish Commissar Khrushchev. Rightwing redneck or leftwing peasant, throwing tantrums, same behavior. The nod goes to Khrushchev though for style, what with the shoe.
By southernmapart September 10, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I missed the poll, but put me down for “he was an embarrassment.”
One thing is sure, and that is the rest of the country knows that South Carolina is on the map. Don’t know if they can find it, but they know it’s there.
By 1 + 1 = 3 September 10, 2009 at 4:59 pm
According to one Democratic source, Wilson’s Democratic opponent Rob Miller had by mid-day Thursday received 5,000 new contributions worth about $200,000 in the aftermath of the outburst. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was also trying to raise money off the heckling.
By randy September 10, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Will Sen. Reid apologize for calling Bush liar?
Will Pelosi apologize for calling Americans who disagree with her Nazis?
Will Congresspersons Murth and Dubin apologize for calling our troops terrorists?
I guess first Amendment rights apply only if you are a Democrat.
By the way, Joe is right. The democrats have consistently voted AGAINST language to insure health care to legal American citzens ONLY.
By roofus September 10, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Joe Wilsom makes me proud. Go Joe!
By Amy September 10, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I can’t believe the inappropriate and disrespectful behavior towards our president.
By diedra September 10, 2009 at 5:28 pm
“You lie! ” was genius; now Obama is forced to explain why his party repeatedly refuses to include necessary language to insure that illegals don’t receive universal free health care…
The lady doth protest too much methinks…
By Ellen Moore September 10, 2009 at 7:14 pm
O.K. We are once again a laughing stock. And once again there are all these rude, ill bred thugs saying “Go Joe”. Who in their right mind wants to be represented by an out of control, hateful, foaming at the mouth, rabid Republican. I’m tired of my beloved state being seen as the setting for “Deliverance” but obviously, many of our citizens really ARE straight out of casting for that type of mentality. Wilson has a pension and insurance for life. From OUR tax dollars. Better he go use it in private than continue to bring shame on our fair state. Nothing he could ever do will ever remove the horrid stain he has cast on South Carolina. And all of you who think he’s really just a good old boy who slipped should look a little more closely at ALL of what has gone on with the Republicans in South Carolina. Are we seeing a pattern here? Are any of you using common sense when you support these trashy goons? I’m very sad.
By newzjunkie September 10, 2009 at 7:32 pm
The problem with this is, didn’t Wilson come out raging that Strom didn’t have a black daughter? Has anyone seen the inside of his West Columbia office? If so, did you think you’d stepped into the days of Jim Crow? He is a Col. in the military and this is how he respects the Commander-in-Chief? Who’s the liar?
There is nothing in the bill that supports illegals receiving healthcare. Sure, if they went to the hospital they would get care. But how is that different from today? Even McCain said Wilson’s statement was false! He only apologized because the GOP Leadership TOLD him. It wasn’t sincere. He meant what he said. He’s sorry he got caught!
As a tax paying citizen in Lexington County, Joe – you must go! You just messed it up for you and your son!!! VOTE MILLER for District 2!
By Pat Hendrix September 10, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Okay, since you people have a hard time reading, let me post it for you here:
“the House bill expressly forbids giving subsidies to those who are in the country illegally”
http://www.factcheck.org/2009/09/obamas-health-care-speech/
Go read the bill, diedra, it includes the precise language you say it doesn’t. Christ sakes, you people will believe anything.
By Laura Campbell September 10, 2009 at 7:48 pm
In my humble opinion, the point is not whether he is an embarassment or a credit. He should not even be the focal point here. The point is that SOMEONE said something and pointed to the pink elephant that has been standing in D.C. for decades.
Do people not realize what will happen if these 2 parties cannot maintain a system of checks and balances and 1 party becomes overwhelmingly powerful? Think Nazi Party, everyone seems to love throwing that term around these days.
American Citizens are at war with each other based on party lines and other issues while we should be marching en masse to our state capitols and D.C.
By Brian September 10, 2009 at 7:56 pm
FREEBIRD!!!
By NoObama September 10, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Amen To Randy and Roofus! Joe just called a spade a spade! THe Democrats can’t handle the real truth about their failing leader!
By NoObama September 10, 2009 at 8:18 pm
It really took Obama off cue and Pelosi wet her undies!
By Good Grief September 10, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Wilson is a bozo and needs to be voted out of office. He must get his spin and “facts” from Faux News.Is the health care and drug company oligopoly feeding him hundred dollar bills for breakfast?
I bet he isn’t smart enough to read the entire health care bill by himself between now and Christmas.
Voting for the bank bailout shows he does not have the taxpayers interest at heart and is either an idiot or a sell out scum bag.
Put a link on this site as to how to donate money to his competitor.
He obviously is going for the uneducated redneck voters so it should still be a close race.
By Bee September 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I’m proud that Joe Wilson had the courage to speak out in what would otherwise have been a scripted Obama infomercial.
By Triple Play September 10, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Ms. Hendrix,
According to your website, “Obama was correct when he said his plan wouldn’t insure illegal immigrants; the House bill expressly forbids giving subsidies to those who are in the country illegally. Conservative critics complain that the bill lacks an enforcement mechanism, but that hardly makes the president a liar.”
With no enforcement mechanism, the Obama administration is peddling purposeful, de facto public health insurance for illegal immigrants. That’s like forbidding anyone under 18 years old from drinking beer and then not checking their IDs at the high school keg party…
By Todd September 10, 2009 at 10:04 pm
SIC!!!!! Even Brad Warthan is selling YOU LIE!!! tee-shirts! Get on the ball, dude. We need the money to buy little Shorty his chin guards and a new soccer ball for “Y” league soccer.
By vernon September 10, 2009 at 10:24 pm
The nonpartisan “Congressional Research Service” has reported that the current House Health Reform Bill “does not restrict illegal immigrants from receiving health care.”
Facts are stubborn things.
Truth is kryptonite to Democrats.
By madcock September 10, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Everything about Joe Wilson is a joke:
1. His deferrments to avoid the draft during Vietnam.
2. His joining the Reserves when he got caught between deferrments with a low draft lottery number.
3. His decades of living off taxpayer’s money while decrying big government.
4. His accepting government health insurance for him and his family, paid for by taxpayers, for decades while accepting millions of dollars from insurance companies and campaigning against allowing the constituents who pay for his goverment health insurance to have the option to choose to buy government health insurance.
5. He has consistently criticized federal financial assistance for poor inividuals yet voted on several occasions for over a trillion taxpayer dollars in welfare for large banks and multinational corporations.
5. He spent years whoring for Strom Thurmond on the taxpayers dime. He even went so far as to PUBLICLY CALL THURMOND’S ILLEGITIMATE BLACK DAUGHTER A LIAR for revealing her parentage. He APOLOGIZED after she proved that Thurmond was her father, but still said she should have kept her father’s identity a secret and quesioned her motives. Yet he never criticized Thurmond for being a deadbeat father, for repeatedly lying to his constituents about the existence of his illegitimate black daughter, for committing statutory rape by having sex with the mother of his illegitmate black daughter while she was underage, or for violating a SC law against people of different races having sexual relations that he fought to keep on the books.
6. On a television show, he criticized a Democratic congressman for pointing out that the Reagan administration gave Saddam Hussein weapons of mass destructions. HE PUBLICLY CALLED THE BLACK CONGRESSMAN A LIAR and said he was un-American. When it was pointed out that the congressman was correct and that the US government by Donald Rumsfeld’s own admission gave weapons of mass destruction during the 1980′s he APOLOGIZED.
7. Last night he called THE BLACK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES A LIAR during a speech to a joint session of Congress. He later APOLOGIZED.
8. He is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
9. He spent over a decade working for two politicians, Floyd Spence and Strom Thurmond who voted against the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965.
By Dismayed September 11, 2009 at 9:44 am
The comments on this blog entry demonstrate why Joe Wilson has been able to stay in office. Too many local voters think yelling is better than responsible debate and one-liner slogans are better than careful analysis. The legislation before Congress explicitly prohibits distributing health care subsidy to illegal immigrants. There is no need for additional enforcement provisions in health care regulation because there are already sufficient laws that address using fraudulent information to obtain funds from the federal government. For example:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/1028.html provides the text of U.S. Code Title 18 part I Chapter 47, section 1028 that establishes penalties of up to 15 years in prison for producing or using false identification. That is before one even gets to the part about using that false identification to defraud the federal government.
By ReallY? September 11, 2009 at 10:28 am
Maybe Wilson should have spent some time reflecting on how his own empty suit political career has helped set the stage for the man he was calling a liar. He and his kind have squandered decades on keychains, folksy platitudes and path of least resistance “policy”. Times have changed boys, and your own lethargy and short-sightedness are coming back to bite you in the ass!
By T.S. September 11, 2009 at 11:10 am
Way to go Joe, you are a real Patriot. No member of congress should let even the President lie. It was a lie. If not a lie he plans on making them all legal first.
By TJB September 11, 2009 at 12:36 pm
“YOU LIE” was the shot heard around the country. Finally, someone had the cajones to stand up, be heard, telling the truth about this president and his amateur band of bedwetting crybabies. Chairman Zero should be charged with verbal torture, Obama-boarding, the practice of having to listen to baseless lies from a clueless ideologue.
By skippy September 11, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I believe Joe staged this – asked yourself this Who took the picture of Joe Wilson? And how? http://tinyurl.com/maoels
By w-s September 11, 2009 at 1:47 pm
The comments are priceless:
Over the Line in South Carolina
By dirtbogger September 11, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I agree with Skippy and that was my first knee jerk thought when I saw the picture, Publicity Stunt! Where was this guy when Bush said Sadam had WMD’s? Obama is a lying puppet ass sack of hog s__t however, and he would not be president if he was an honist man of the people!
By male sapphist September 11, 2009 at 4:38 pm
This was actually masterful. Rep Wilson(Repeater of Bush Whitehouse press releases) has jumped to the national stage with two words. The masterful part comes when you go to examine why he called President Obama a liar and on examination Joey Wilson is correct.
In a moment of calculated or real emotion Rep Wilson ‘Spoke truth to power’ as the institutional Marxists would say. Now the whole congress has permission to go after the executive that lies. Once the good guy historic figure gets a bit marked up and not wholly sacrosanct the administration will fall.
As if one percentage point a week wasn’t enough….wait until we have a real crisis. There are not enough leftover Clinton hacks out there to keep the Obama amateur hour afloat. The blood is in the water and waving your overly-long-thin Presidential finger at Joe Wilson has fleeting power. The ever shrinking presidency marches on.
By Frank September 11, 2009 at 7:59 pm
If you think that Joe Wilson is an embarrassment to South Carolina, think of what his son, Alan Wilson, will do if elected to be our State Attorney General. It’s bad enough to have Joe in D.C., but it’s time we not continue this inbreeding of our state politics. Vote NO to Alan and his daddy.
By Frank September 13, 2009 at 8:06 pm
It’s time we put a stop to all this political inbreeding we have in South Carolina. This is what happens when Senator Jakie Knotts inbreeds with other politicians, we as a state really shows our lack of education and class!!