In what is, by far, the most disrespectful act I have ever seen towards any President – Representative Joe Wilson’s shouting of “You Lie!” at President Obama as he addressed the nation in the halls of Congress:
This only goes further the point I made in my last post regarding the slow death being brought upon our republic by those who are more interested in pushing partisanship over debate.
Was Obama being aggressive? Of course he was…but I feel that it was only because (and as he addressed) critics of the plan resort to lies instead of engaging in an actual discussion. Wouldn’t you be a little testy to if you constantly tried to work with someone only to have them spit in your face and tell lies about you and what you want to do?
Now, you may feel that Representative Wilson’s views were correct – that President Obama’s plan really will insure illegal immigrants – but do you feel his actions were respectful to the Office of the President of the United States of America? How would you feel if Representative Frank (D-MA) had shouted “You Lie!” when President Bush insisted that there were weapons of mass destruction up to, and including, nuclear weapons? You would be, naturally, outraged (I know I would find it highly inappropriate).
This was not the proudest moment for our nation.
It is worth noting that Representative Wilson stated the following soon after the speach:
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This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listen to the President’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the heath 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.
The damage, however, has been done. Emotions often run high in political debates, but something has happend to our nation where these guttural feelings are, at the very least, not stifled.
…Now lets watch the right-wing pundits defend this guy and the left-wing pundits punish Representative Wilson until they are respectively blue in the face.
Typically for a Republican, Rep. Wilson loudly accused President Obama of tactics Republicans are in fact using. We need a new word for this, maybe “hyper-hypocrisy” or something.
Too bad there’s that little section in the bill that says:
H.R. 3200: Sec 246 — NO FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS
Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.
Oh Misty, you are actually going to use the words in the bill to tell me what the bill does?! HA! That is so laughable I don’t even know where to start! :)
It didn’t bother me as much as everyone else. Personally, I would like Congress to be more like the British Parliament. I find false respect to be more insulting than an outburst. I would like to see politicians get passionate about a debate and throw a few insults and call bullshit when they see it. I guarantee that our side has a lot more ammunition to work with than the Republicans. Besides, it might speed up the glacial legislative process.
Politifact.com put the truth meter to Joe Wilson’s claims and it’s totally false. That guy is drinking the Kool-aid that his peers are making up. Like the above comment about the bill (and very detailed I might add), there is no federal payment for undocumented aliens…yet Joe Wilson decides that is not good enough and calls the POTUS a liar? This guy needs to be taught a lesson in Manners….I thought the South was known for their manners…?
Do you realize that I responded to your tweets during the whole speech, and started laughing during the whole “you lie” thing? You didn’t even know who I was! ;) aw, tender!