I hate to do it but...well, I'm a recovering devil's advocate. So I feel compelled to try and defend Joe Wilson.
In case you haven't heard/are dead, tonight during President Obama's speech on healthcare on congress, Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina yelled out "You lied!" in response to Obama's claim that some kind of nationalized healthcare would not cover illegal immigrants. Now, I think the reasonable reaction, from people on both sides, is outrage at the lack of respect for the office of the President. Both Democrats and Republicans have condemned him immediately. His website is curiously down for the moment.
But...well, it was free speech, wasn't it? And to a lot of Americans seem to agree with him (seriously, just check out the tweets. Twitter is awful, but it is an interesting gauge of public opinions.) People are cheering Joe Wilson on. Because to them, the spectre of increasing numbers of illegal immigrants receiving government-supported healthcare is dangerous, and this is something they passionately care about. Is it really wrong for a politician to voice that sentiment?
Yes, okay. The forum in which he chose to voice his opinions showed him to be, well, kind of an asshat. But he released a statement:
“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.”
Before everyone's blood gets boiling let's remember this guy was elected to serve his constituency which, I'm going to guess, is prominently republican and prominently supports a private-sector solution to healthcare. And he is, apparently, a person, with actual emotions. Aren't our politicians supposed to fight passionately for what they (and hopefully we) think is right? Isn't it refreshing, just for a second, to see a politician drop their artificially whitened smiles and press releases and carefully released statements and just get angry at something?
No, I don't agree with his statement, and I think we can all agree that yelling, at the President, in the middle of a speech is, well, inappropriate and unnecessary in the extreme. But losing your cool when you think everything is on the line? That's so very human. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of politicians acting like robots controlled by a vast conglomerate of consultants. Sometimes it's nice to see they are just like us. Impulsive idiots.
End rant. All right, tear him apart in the comments. That's what they're there for.
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Little Angeleno
iamsurly
Kerry Lauerman
Keoki
Diotima
Matthew Banks
Salon.com
Comments
I blogged about it. Check it out.
http://open.salon.com/blog/tony_wang/2009/09/09/pissed_off_at_joe_wilson_heres_what_to_do
Make that son of a bitch hear from his constituents who are worried about the impact his outburst will have on their wallets, and he will learn a lesson.
Any action like this on the floor is potentially censurable. Do you know what that is? That is the option Congress considered for Pres. Bill Clinton instead of impeaching him, and is only used in the most extraordinary circumstances, which this was. In my over 40 years of political experience, I have never seen anyone as boorish or ill-mannered on the floor of the House as what I saw tonight.
A defense of free speech in this situation is akin to saying that it's all right if you drive drunk. You can, but there are consequences.
His uncontrollable actions cannot be defended and are an extension of the juvenile behaviors at the Town Hall meetings.
Joe Wilson should resign.
@ blue roses -- on my twitter feed everyone is incensed, but looking under tweets tagged Joe Wilson showed a number of people of the opposite opinion.
As I said, just trying to offer a different way of looking at something I expect (and think he deserves) to be condemned for.
Decorum is defined as "Proper order, etiquette and conduct of members during a floor session." And it can be extended to an address before Congress.
If we are a nation of laws, then we have to behave as if we believe and respect our laws and our leaders. This ASSHAT behaved disgracefully and disrespectfully. If he expects to be respected as an elected official, then he has behave respectfully toward other elected officials, including the ones he doesn't agree with. He behaved as if he was at a cock fight in a joint session of congress. There is no defense for his behavior.
Categories of Unparliamentary Speech
*Defaming or degrading the House
*Criticism of the Speaker’s personal conduct
*Impugning the motives of another Member
*Charging falsehood or deception
*Claiming lack of intelligence or knowledge
*References to race, creed, or prejudice
*Charges related to loyalty or patriotism
I found these at the Committee on Rules - Republicans page
You can contact them and demand they act to censure Wilson:
Committee on Rules - Republicans
U.S. House of Representatives
1627 Longworth Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
PHONE: (202) 225-9191
FAX: (202) 225-6763
EMAIL: Rules.Rs@mail.house.gov
Seriously though, this guy is going to receive too much focus when there is so much more at stake.
I wonder how much non-robotic freedom these politicians have. What if Obama would have shot back with "Shut the eff up and sit your ass down. I'm talking." That's what I would have done if I was the king.
:)