In Defense of Rep. Joe "You Lie" Wilson

Much of the news today has been shock by the outburst of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), shouting "You lie!" at the President of the United States speaking to a joint session of Congress. People across America were stunned that the Republican congressman could be so rude, so thoughtless, so disrespectful, nasty, mean-spirited, and factually incorrect.

Not me.

I just figured he thought he was at a Democratic town hall meeting.

Honestly, there he was, listening to a Democrat explain the Obama health care plan, and he saw himself in a crowded room, surrounded by people of a like-mind as him, people holding up signs of protest and angrily waving them at the Democrat, people refusing to even listen to what the Democrat was saying but instead texting their BFFs on their BlackBerries, people acting as a massed group staunchly sitting arms-crossed at the Democrat. He saw guards all around him, called out on the Democratic speaker's behalf, no doubt concerned that there would be outbursts.

He certainly knew he was a Republican and that he was supposed to ignore whatever was said by the Democrat. After all, he's on Dick Armey's mailing list and had gotten his regular flyers from Armey's organization telling him how to act fake-spontaneously at town hall meetings. He'd watched all the news shows and seen his fellow conservative pals yelling at Democrats, refusing to let them speak. And it made him happy to know he was part of an grand, organized plan to use his First Amendment rights of free speech to prohibit others from using theirs.

And after being on vacation all summer, being rambunctious and having fun and not having any teacher in charge overseeing him and learning him anything, there he was back on the second day of school, still not settled in yet. Still frisky.

And there he was, too, attending this big political meeting on behalf of South Carolina, the cradle of the Confederacy, watching a black man in a suit talking some fine talk trying to learn him and his fellows something, and how dare he, who does he think he is, the President of the United States or something...??

And...and...there were cameras. And it was all so busy. And there was cheering on the other side of the room. And it was exciting. And so much was going on. And...and he knew what he was supposed to do because this was a town hall. And -

He just forgot where he was.

So, he shouted. "You lie!!!" Honestly, he probably didn't even hear what President Barack Obama had just said. It didn't matter. The moment got the better of him. It didn't matter that the president had told the truth, that it's written specifically in the bill. It didn't matter. Bill? Who reads bills? This isn't about reading bills or understanding. This was simply about shouting at others. He wasn't listening very closely, he may not have been listening at all. It just didn't matter. He just forgot where he was.

He forgot that he was sitting in the United States House of Representatives. He forgot that he was a Congressman. He forgot that that person talking was the President of the United States. He forgot that the two people behind the President were the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. He forgot that the guards were Sergeant-at-Arms. He forgot that he was a joint session of Congress. He just freaking forgot.

It can happen to almost anyone. I understand. Here, let me give you a hug.

What shocks me is that anyone else is shocked. This has been going on since since the Republican presidential campaign when crowds would yell, "Traitor!!" and "Kill him!!," about their opponents and were never rebuked for such things by either John McCain or Sarah Palin. So, if the presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the Republican Party thought it was okay to yell these things in public crowds without rebuke, it must be.

This has been going on since Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) stood up in the House, swathed in her supposedly-protective red-white-and-blue scarf and called war hero John Murtha (D-PA) a cut-and-run coward. It's been going on since Republican Swiftboaters tried to paint three-time medal winner John Kerry as anti-American. So, if the Republican Party and its leaders thought it was okay to make such charges without rebuke, it must be.

And this has been going on at all the town hall meetings, even prodded by Republican Party leaders making jokes about lynching, passing along known-untruths to rile the crowds, and people were showing up with firearms. So, if the Republican Party is actively supporting and promoting actions just like this and thought it was okay, it must be.

And so, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) merely did what he thought he was supposed to do. Just did what all his friends did. Only did what his party was doing. And he simply got confused where he was. Not that that necessarily made any difference where he was, but still.

And people are shocked by how he acted??!

Not me. I expected it. Of course, he acted that way!

Me, I was pleased.

I was just happy he didn't have a gun.

Comments

[RogerBurke]

Elisberg, once again you’ve ignored the obvious other possibilities:

1) Wilson didn’t yell “You lie,” but its homonym “u-ly.” He was actually REACHING OUT to illegal immigrants by inviting them to celebrate our nation’s birthday, the 4th of July, in his own back yard with all the great Carolina BBQ. So, he shouted "July" as in “mark your calendar so we avoid any schedule conflicts.­” Only as a further bonding gesture, Wilson attempted to shout it with a Spanish accent and the old silent J, “uly.” Yes it was padron-izing but maybe he meant well?
or
2) What with the news about Cheney’s finally dropping the ball on the Scooter Libby pardon, and Valerie Plame keeping a relatively low profile, the Congressman realized our nation had gone long enough, thank you, without the name Joe Wilson in headlines.

[ntdavis]

(continuation)
I think this also ties in with the town hall strategy: supposed opposers of health care reform are to show up, make the most noise, and be the most outrageous. Most of you have probably heard of all the town halls the president was doing to promote his health care plan but how many of you have heard anything substantive about the discussions at the town halls? All we hear about are angry citizens (some showing up with firearms outside the meeting), angry people inside the meeting, and don't get me started on death panels.

So the point I'm trying to make is that I believe that Wilson's outburst is a continuation of the strategy to control the debate about health care reform and to not let any of the details of the plan that could help ordinary Americans see the light of day. And to those who suggest that Wilson just got caught up in the debate and lost track of where he was and couldn't control his impulses, even most children with poor impulse control know when to be quiet and respectful, even when angry.

Still think Mr Wilson's emotions got the better of him?

[ntdavis]

I have a slightly different take on Joe Wilson's outburst. Let's think for a second and ask the question: What if it wasn't as spontaneous as we've been led to believe? What if this was a deliberate attempt on Joe Wilson's part (and opposers of health care reform) to steal the headlines away from Obama's speech. Just look at the media coverage since the speech. Everyone is talking about Joe Wilson's outburst: how inappropriate it was, and if/when/how he should apologize. I heard nothing of the speech.

Now think back to July when Obama held a press conference on health care. The last question he was asked had to do with the arrest of Harvard professor, Henry Louis Gates, to which he responded in a non-politically savvy way to say the least. In doing so Obama inadvertently seized the headlines from health care reform and placed them squarely on race-relations. Not good. At the conclusion of that press conference, I don't remember hearing a word about the substance of the press conference having to do with health care. Coverage on the major networks primarily centered around Obama's comments on the Gates matter. Opposers of health care reform, seeing the news coverage following that event, in Wilson's outburst might have sought to once again steal the headlines from President Obama's health care plan. And if that's the case then I have to say that it was a plan crafted to perfection.

(continued)

[jayjay4142]

It is one thing to disagree with the policies of the present administration, but I do not believe that that is what they are doing. This is inciting pure hatred toward the POTUS and we all know why. Not because he is a liberal, we have had liberal President's before and the hate was toward policy more than it was the man. Conservatives at the top are only interested in keeping thier pockets lined, thie leaders white {especially old white men] . It is those poor white people out there fighting policies that would make life easier for them. They do the bidding for the rich to get richer and feel so patriotic and morally above the rest of us. They are the ones filled with all of the vile hate, lack of compassion for his fellow man yet most of them claim to be a Christian.

[anniegirl9]

Let’s all be honest for a moment.
Dems say Wilson lies because there is a clear provision that disallows payment of benefits to illegals. Undeniable truth.
Wilson and supporters say Dems lie because Dems defeated amendments that would disallow “treatment” for illegals. Also accurate.
Treatment would continue as it does now, and bills that could not be recouped would be passed on to us.
Depending on which tinted glasses you wear, both are telling the truth and both are lying.

But which one is the only acceptable option. Reps want immigration reform built into health care reform. They want ER’s to turn away all patients who are not here legally, no matter what age, no matter how life threatening the condition. Such an amendment would say that we as a people are okay watching a child die because her parents, like so many of our own ancestors, crossed our boarders without permission. Libs fight against such inhumanity and depravity and the Right calls us socialist Nazis as if the two could ever be interchangeable and expect others to believe that Progressives who fight for Heath Care for all would be happy to let Grandma die. That is the real lie.
That and Compassionate Conservatism.

[SethBLiNK]

Very well said.

Since this whole thing started I've thought it odd (I won't say shocked) that of all the provisions to become outraged over, the illegal immigrant one seems an odd place to start. We are not going to turn away the sick and dying in their hour of need, nor should we.

This isn't a bill about immigration reform or punative measures to end illegal immigration. It is not a mechanism to pass moral judgement over who you are and what the cause is of your medical need.

It's a bill about health care and money, about providing it for all of us in a way that doesn't break our bank or the nation's. All these distractions are just a desparate GOP attempt to keep this necessary legislation from happening on Democratic watch.

[MaryfromIL]

I wonder when young people, convinced by Bush that they will never get social security or Medicare, wake up and realize that seniors are consuming the majority of the health care dollars on the backs of the young.

Younger people are going bankrupt and are dying from medical bills, the country is in total economic turmoil, and seniors are complaining about the cost of living raise not happening for two years. Politicians go along because the seniors are a large voting block, while young are busy working 2 jobs to make ends meet, so aren't as big a block.

When younger people wake up, watch out for the backlash, it's definitely coming. Particularly if seniors are instrumental in scuttling health insurance reform. I'm ticked at them, and I'm not that far from social security.

Of course, we've all been pitted against each others by the corporations and the politicians they fund. Health insurance for seniors and younger people doesn't have to be mutually exclusive. But if it turns out that way, both sides will lose. And the corporations will just rub their hands together in greed if that happens.

[Doc246]

Shame on Representative Joe Wilson!!! His disrespect of the President is unexcusable. I strongly suggest censure for his lack of control, disrespectful, and irresponsible behavior. His outburst makes it appears as though the Republicans are the catalyst behind town hall disruptions. I find it very ironic that a representative from South Carolina, the state that led secession from the Union, would challenge the U.S. President. Myself and many other Americans are wondering whether the behavior of the representative from South Carolina was planned in order to send a message. Unless our leaders work harder to achieve bipartisan cooperation, acceptance of the result--President Obama--of our electoral/­democratic process,and tolerance for the opinion of others; many Americans fear the possibility of civil strife.

[K.J. Dwyer - Huffpost Blogger]

Great piece.

However, the thing that does shock me is that hardly anyone is focusing on the fact that, as you point out, the President was not lying. As you say, it is written into the bill:

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."

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/08/twenty-six-lies-about-hr-3200/

It's interesting to note that since I started referring to this link yesterday, the article went from "Seven lies about HR3200" to "Twenty-six lies about HR3200"

All of the focus, with the exception of yourself and very few others, is on his "behavior". Even in his "apology" Wilson says "while I disagree with the President" which infers that there was some basis for him to call the President a liar on the floor of the Congress.

A simple censure is not enough. Mr. Wilson should be made to stand on the floor of Congress and admit that he was wrong. He should be made to read the section of the bill out loud which specifically negates his outburst. He should say "not only was I boorish, childish and disrespectful, my outburst had no basis in fact. I was completely and utterly wrong."

A simple apology is not enough. One of these nutbags has to finally say "I was incorrect on the facts."

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Agreed. But even that's not enough. He should be forced to resign for ill-serving the people of SC, who, I have to believe, are not all as crazy as he and the governor.

[aboveparr]

Damn. That was some post. The last part was the most profiund. Thank you for this post.

[callmemara]

fantastic read!!!!!

[emolik16]

Censuring, is indeed called for, but there is real punishment at hand.
From what I understand, Rep. Wilson is in the Army Reserve.
The Pres. is still Commander-in-Chief, no matter how Wilson feels about that fact.
Court Martial and all the dishonor that goes with it, including loss of pension, seems appropiate.

[Mas]

Here's a theory. What if this whole canard about "non-citizen" may or could receive healthcare is just a business rouse. What if the problem is the POTUS and members of the Democratic Party will not allow for an amendment that allows for the creation of an industry/businesses that create "national health care ID." To hide its real intent (creating a business), used the old staple of "illegal" citizens accessing/taking advantage of American borders. But if the theory is correct that the current administration is not allowing the American public cofferes to be fleeced through new legislation, it would explain why members of the Conservative business side of the Republican Party (FoxNews Corp., Freedom Works, United Health Group, and etc) have spent massive funds in telling folks that the government is massively spending their money or programs.

[aboveparr]

I wish that was true but as long as all the health care reform plans contain subsidies, another word for corporate welfare, the bills are both financially reckless and deficit busters. Imagine that...fee­ding more tax payer money to the very industry you're trying to reform. WTF????

[Choicelady]

Studying history in high school, I always got this weird sense of awe over 19th century frontier politics - loud, rude, rough, and ignorant. I figured, growing up with Kennedys and even Reagan et al., that those days were over. I saw the conventions on TV and the ways in which we moved OUT of smoke-filled rooms into the light, and all those guys in the Congress of yore just had to be gone, right? But noooo - they've come back, reincarnated, the Know Nothings and Mugwumps, the guys down from the mountains and off the farms - even when they're city fellas and gals. They have the advantage of education and life opportunities vastly exceeding those of the 19th century - and yet they remain as ignorant and beligerant and rude as if they were frontier types plunked into the Big City. So what explains it? Is it in their water? What? I am just dumbfounded by these throwbacks.

[Fred Hood]

I saw the lead in and wanted to take issue with you. But then I read the article I love it and amen...

Cherokee Fred Jesus

[listentome]

I agree with you. I was ready to light into Elisberg and decided to read the article first. Instead I found myself laughing at his brilliant take on the incident. I still want Wilson censured, but the article is good.

[CTtransplant]

Until a health care bill is signed, we need to keep up the pressure!

Folks, do not forget the marches on September 13th!!!

http://marchforhealthcare.com/events/

If not now, when? If not us, who?

Kennedy was one of our greatest champions of health care reform. He carried the torch for a long time...and now it is up to us to continue to carry it!

Our elected officials in Congress receive health care mostly paid for by us tax payers, yet many are trying to make it impossible for us to purchase an affordable plan of our own :

While many of us are struggling to afford medical insurance/medical bills.
While Congress people try to stop healthcare reform.
While Congress people accept large contributions from lobbyists to prevent health care reform.

Please sign these petitions - and by all means, spread the word! Thank you!

http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html
http://www.democrats.com/honor-ted-kennedy?cid=ZGVtczQ0MTA5OGRlbXM=
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5649/t/4922/content.jsp?content_KEY=2763&tag=hk1_typ-e1

[DonRoberto]

Yeah, I appreciate the sentiment but am also a little put out by the humor.

But you make one good point --- the strategies of reasonable people aren't addressing the problem.
Laughing at the Rush Limbaughs and Michael Savages didn't work. Being patient thru the organized character assassinations of the Clintons and others didn't work. Trusting in the Supreme Court to do the right thing didn't work. Dismissing the Swiftboaters as liars didn't work. Staying calm and above the fray didn't stop disruptions of town hall meetings. Now these people are carrying loaded weapons to demonstrations and political appearances; I'm sure we will officially ignore that, too.

For every Earth Firster or PETA militant, there are a thousand underemployed and undereducated white men playing rightwing militiamen or Christian/Aryan soldiers. For every tree spiked to prevent chainsawing, there are thousands of angry conspiracy theorists distributing hate literature via mail, email, and video. And for every aging 60s radical, there are scores of rightwing radio hosts, columnists, pundits, broadcasters, and hate authors inciting the next Oklahoma City, the next Waco.

The left may hold a majority in government, but that hasn't lessened the rhetoric, the hyperbole, the sheer *hate* from the right --- if anything, it continues to increase.

Bottom line, a change of tactics is in order, and soon, as the old tactics just aren't working.