Just Another Joe Wilson to Love

I love Joe Wilson. Again! Which sets me up here and now to make sure a critical distinction is made. Joe Wilson is not Joseph Wilson, the former ambassador whom I really do love for the devotion and fiery outrage he's displayed in nonstop defense of his wife, outed CIA undercover agent Valerie Plame. The other Joe Wilson, by contrast, seems more like an inhabitant of Superman's Bizarro World.

But make no mistake, I heartily celebrate him nonetheless! This Joe Wilson may not necessarily be the Evil Twin of Plame's husband. But he indeed is the newly-crowned, self-appointed hero of the politically deranged. As such, these are ironically some of the very folks who would certainly stand to benefit most of all from Obama's efforts to clean up the health care mess and make insurance coverage more widely available and affordable. I was outraged, of course, while watching President Barack Obama's Wednesday night speech to a Joint Session of Congress, to see Congressman Wilson loudly blurt "liar!" while Obama was speaking. This thoughtless pipsqueak brought shame upon himself, his constituents in the Second district in South Carolina, and to the entire Republican Congressional delegation.

The Second District, according to Wikipedia, is located "in central and eastern South Carolina. It includes all of Lexington, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Allendale and Barnwell counties; almost all of Richland County and parts of Aiken, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties. It is based in the state capital, Columbia; other major cities in the district are Beaufort and Hilton Head Island."

The benign, smiling face in Joe Wilson's official representative's portrait is lightyears distant from the GOP Gargoyle-du-Jour he became on the night of Obama's speech. That signature candid of Wilson rudely interrupting the president, pointing, mouth agape, having just formed a loud and hugely inappropriate dis of the president, will live in both infamy and on the internet.

I couldn't be more delighted. Thank you, Joe Wilson, for voluntarily becoming the angry, twisted, insolent face of the Republican naysayers, "NO-bodies," and assorted nattering nabobs of negativity (hey, this fellow is becoming one bigtime inspiration -- I'm getting totally carried away here)! Mr. Wilson, you've just birthed a poster child for all those folks who insist on creating ugly, out-of-control displays and tantrums on your side of the fence. Makes our job that much easier! Plus, while you're busy dining on crow all the following day, your Democratic opponent, Rob Miller, has spent the morning digging out from under an avalanche of fresh new campaign donations -- estimated at least double the stated hundred-thousand-dollar goal.

I'm certain the flip side has been left mumbling, "Say it ain't so, Joe!" for what may be several news cycles in a row. Joe Wilson accomplished something rather impressive. Suddenly, the GOP was knocked off its stride yet again, while already reeling on the heels of a vigorous and impressive speech by Barack Obama. Just what they needed to put a cherry on top of their PR offensive (an even more relevant term now) was for one of their own acting like a cretin to draw attention to their stubborn incivility and lack of willingness to work with the President. Certainly many of them were hardly innocent themselves. Plenty of them were busy with texting, waving papers and leaflets, harrumphing loudly, and other rude stunts during the speech when they were supposed to be paying at least some attention and showing respect. Thanks, Joe! Now THAT'S leadership. Outstanding example to set. A REAL family value! You all must be so proud. The whole sordid display reminded me of a TV commercial for a local men's clothing store in which the spokesman says, "You're gonna like the way you look." So, Republicans, do you like how you guys look now?

Evidently not. The next day, cable TV was awash in uncomfortable, hesitant, embarrassed Republicans trying to dial it back a notch. Whether it was an uncharacteristically warm-fuzzy Michael Steele commercial, or self-styled firebrands Eric Cantor and John Boehner turning the volume down on the verbal punches they were now delicately trying to pull, these political WWF combatants seemed extra defensive. Even some of the pundits were more circumspect. Washington Post contributor Jonathan Capehart on MSNBC noted that if any Democrats had behaved that boorishly when George W. Bush was speaking, there would have been Seven Levels of Hell to pay. Objectively, this is not what the "'loyal' opposition" needs as its members keep trying to throw banana peels into Obama's path. They're still hoping to make the face behind the Oval Office desk -- and not the faces they see in their own bathroom mirrors -- look bad. But, not surprisingly, they overreach, throwing too many banana peels on the pavement, leaving plenty available for them to slip on, too.

The marginally-penitent Congressman offered an apology following across-the-board condemnation. That's mighty big of you, Joe. Almost as big as your mouth. Or the hole in your head. For all I know, they're interchangeable. Doesn't matter. The damage, thankfully, has been done. You've unintentionally knocked your own forces off-message, Mr. Wilson, giving your side a very messy bloody nose by behaving like a swine. I hope the Democrats and pro-Obama/pro-health care reform groups take full advantage, because this kind of break doesn't happen often. The GOP just loaded and gassed up a battle-ready battering ram, and handed the Democrats the keys. Here's hoping the Dems know how to drive it -- through every kind of terrain.

Email: [e-mail]

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Contact Rep. Joe Wilson via Web Form.

Website: joewilson.house.gov

Washington, D.C. Office:

212 Cannon House Office Building,
District of Columbia 20515-4002
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Beaufort Office: (more district offices)

903 Port Republic Street
Beaufort, South Carolina 29902
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Beaufort Office:
903 Port Republic Street
Beaufort, South Carolina 29902
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

West Columbia Office:
1700 Sunset Boulevard (US 378), Suite 1
West Columbia, South Carolina 29169
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Comments

[AlaskanWannaB]

$788,000+ and climbing. Yippeeeee! Folks, keep the money coming in support of Rob Miller and against CongressIdiot Joe "You LIe" Wilson!

Go to: http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/19079 and donate until it hurts.

We want to reach $1 million by tonight! Please forward info to your friends and family.

[tantrictim]

http://tiny.cc/mlu6B

The controversial congressman has been a member of Sons of Confederate Veterans. Max Blumenthal, author of the just-published Republican Gomorrah, asks: Did he remain so even after it became a hate group?

[FHTB]

Just what they needed to put a cherry on top of their PR offensive (an even more relevant term now) was for one of their own acting like a cretin to draw attention to their stubborn incivility and lack of willingness to work with the President. Certainly many of them were hardly innocent themselves. Plenty of them were busy with texting, waving papers and leaflets, harrumphing loudly, and other rude stunts during the speech when they were supposed to be paying at least some attention and showing respect.

As I posted several times yesterday, just what would have happened had a Dem done this during a speech of Bush's? Not only would that member of Congress be summarily tossed out of the room, but they would have been hauled off to some undisclosed location in some far off flung h--ish land or ended up in some cell in Gitmo...

I still think Obama is being way too kind to accept Wilson's apology for his uncouth, repellent and off the wall behavior. This creep should have suffered the equivalent of a good thrashing for this...not even a proverbial being taken out to the woodshed would be enough to absolve him of his offense.
Bring back the stocks! Exactly what Wilson would deserve, at least.

[jc747]

With that one healthcare speech on September 10th of 2009, in front of the Joint Session of Congress and the entire nation, President Barack Obama, with the invaluable assistance of Rep. Joe Wilson (seriously), has assured into creation a new third party into American politics. The first, as always, will be the Democratic Party. They will be the party to beat for decades to come (with some intense shepherding being vital in making sure they don’t get too cocky again). Both healthcare and the miraculous(from near-depression) economic recovery, will have been the most important factors in that attainment. The third party will be the Republican Party, which will be relegated to the extremist fringe in politics, but will ALWAYS represent a sizable chunk of the population. The second party will, at first, be made of converted independents (who knows WHAT they’ll eventually name themselves) starting with Maine Senators Olympia Snowe and Nancy Collins as members and eventually be headed by MSNBC host Joe Scarborough. They will eventually give the Democrats a run for their money (like the Republicans used to) and largely be constituted of nostalgic Repubs and former popular Blue Dog Democrats. Heaven knows what their basic philosophy would be, but it will definitely be to the right of center. But whatever it is, the Democrats need to always be on their p’s and q’s, because I believe that this new party will be extremely dangerous in the long run (yes, more dangerous than the extremist Repubs, even)!

[loveHP]

How sweet it is!

[natalie0nine]

Thanks for the info on where to send donations to Joe Wilson, Mary! His web site is being deluged with patriots who want to contribute to him. BTW, Nancy Pelosi said she LIKES disrupters, remember?

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9f4_1250281119&c=1

Joe only said what millions were shouting at Obama via the TV last night - and he was diplomatic enough to apologize. That is more than the Dems did when booing, disrespecting, and shouting down Bush during his tenure.

[tel8034]

Joe Wilson was NOT diplomatic enough to apologize...... HE WAS ORDERED TO APOLOGIZE.

In an interview today and FROM JOE WILSON'S OWN MOUTH ................ He said that the GOP leadership contacted him and TOLD him to call the White House and apologize.

JOE WILSON WAS ORDERED TO APOLOGIZE, WHEN THE GOP REALIZED THAT THE DAMAGE HE AND THE OTHER RETHUGLICANS INFLICTED ON THENSELVES WAS IMMEDIATE ................ Hours after the President's address the aprroval numbers for the healthcare plan ROSE 20%.

By the way find the video clip and show us PROOF that the Democrats SHOUTED "YOU LIE" while bumbling Bush addressed the joint Congress.

Find the video clip and provide PROOF when the Democrats booed, disrespected and shouted down Bush in the halls of the Congress.

STOP FEEDING OFF OF THE INEFFECTIVE "DAMAGE CONTROL" RETHUGLICAN TALKING POINTS, AND PRESENT THE PROOF.

IN THE WORDS OF JOE WILSON ................. "YOU LIE"

[natalie0nine]

He didn't want to? I did not know that - EVEN BETTER He really shouldn't have had to and too bad he did. God knows there were no apologies ever given Bush by the Dems for their WAY ruder and cruder behavior during his tenure.

[DurangoSteve]

LOVE the Spiro Agnew quote. Perfect!

[Galvanized Democrat]

Wow, don't think I've ever been the first post to a blog. Gotta say, though, I do love the reference to the GOP as the "NO-Bodies". I think I'll have a bumper sticker made up....:Republicans are No-bodies". I like it.

[HST]

And for his troubles Joe Wilson needs to be censured by the house.

[customgreen]

The Republicans are the gift that just keeps on giving. They have shot themselves in the foot so many times they can't walk straight. It was such a defining moment that will live on and on. Obama chastises politicians for being borish, and this guy spouts off, it's almost too easy. Dare I say this guy has a real problem with Obama and it is not just that he is the President. Sooner or later some Republican probably from the deep south will slip up and you will hear them refer to Obama as "boy" or worse. It is going to happen, just a matter of time. They just can't help themselves.

[FHTB]

Their issue with Obama has nothing to do with his policies...if they did they would have some proposals on the table that weren't just a continuation of the status quo for quack doctors and avaricious health insurance companies.­..precisel­y because these clowns have nothing is why they are now resorting to taunts, slander, shouting and incivility, chiefly because that's who they are: LOUTS...and yes, the racial enmity is not only boiling underneath the surface, but among some of their subhuman crowd, blatant and pervasive.