After reading Maureen Dowd's column in today's NYT, I've had to rethink my position as stated below. In a better world, we could ignore Wilson's childish behavior, but the truth is, unfortunately, that if we don't effectively fight back, he and his cronies (and their backward thinking) will gain even more momentum and really cause trouble.

 Hail Joe!

That's what the Republicans were secretly thinking when they publicly condemned the South Carolina congressman's outburst during Obama's speech Wednesday night.

And now conservatives are lining up in droves to put their money where that mouth is. Wilson apologized, of course, kinda sorta, and is now raking in the dough from delighted supporters -- they're thrilled because he not only had the guts to publicly challenge the President but he also managed to kick up a nice, big dust storm in the press and liberal world.

The battles in Congress these days are all about getting sand in the other guy's eye -- anything to whip the lefties into a fury.

Don't you realize what's happening, fellow Dems? We're falling for the whole thing!

Our outrage -- pundits, bloggers, comedians, and more -- is only making things worse. As long as he stays on the front page, the more we lose. And the more cash the conservatives take in for the next election.

And now nervous Democratic politicians are doing what they can to appease the Wilsons of this world. Instead of standing firm, for example, some Senators -- Baucus and Conrad -- are combing through their health care reform bill to be absolutely 100% sure that all illegal immigrants are excluded from the insurance exchanges. To make sure no one but no one gets through the cracks.

That way Wilson can't call them liars anymore.

Watching the Democrats squirm is high sport for the opposition in Washington. And we squirm easily and often.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Republicans start grooming Wilson for a presidential run.

What we needed from the outset was to ignore the guy just as we would an annoying kid at a party, and send him to his room without dinner.

End of story.

Instead, in a misguided attempt to protect Obama from the bullies, we've been throwing fuel on the little flame he started, and now it's turning into a blaze that threatens to consume only us.

Joe Wilson wins no matter what.