Why Joe Wilson is Not a Hero
By D.J. Spiker | Friday, September 11th, 2009 | PolicyIn the immediate aftermath of Obama’s speech last night, one thing was clear: a Republican Congressman from South Carolina had interrupted and shouted ‘You lie!’ as President Obama spoke. No doubt you all have seen clips of this act again and again on youtube, facebook, etc.
Rep. Joe Wilson is not a hero. He should not be held up as an example for the GOP or idolized for his lack of civility. The simple fact is, he embarrassed the Republican Party last night. He gave every one of us a bad name. It doesn’t matter if he was right or wrong, if his facts were correct or Obama was telling the truth. It was inappropriate and Wilson rightfully apologized.
However, today dozens of my friends on facebook have posted messages exalting Joe Wilson, proclaiming him an ‘American Hero’ and ‘my new favorite Congressman.’ While some may see this as an individual standing against socialism and rightfully calling Obama out, the fact of the matter remains he is the President, addressing Congress in the House Chamber. Many of us today have touted the Democrats boo-ing President Bush during the State of the Union in 2005. Some have also referred to Harry Reid calling President Bush a liar. I would argue, apples to oranges. The 2005 SOTU Address, while rude, was not outlandish or over the top. Harry Reid, while a blowhard, was not sitting in the House Chamber in a joint-session of Congress, interrupting and yelling at the President. And either way, how does this excuse Wilson’s behavior?
We should all be able to agree that in a Congressional joint-session, on a nationally televised address, to shout at the President of the United States, ‘You lie!’ is rude, boorish and completely out of line. Time and place. Sitting in the House Chamber, in formal session on national television is not the time to interrupt and shout at the President, regardless of the truth in the statement and irregardless of our feelings about Obama. Congressman Wilson acknowledged that and rightfully apologized. So why then are we idolizing Wilson and his behavior?
In confusing the House Chamber with a town hall meeting, Rep. Wilson has cast a shadow over the Republican Party, given the left a rallying point for health care, alienated independents who were beginning to look to the right for health care alternatives and as a whole made the Republican Party look disrespectful and downright bad. To proclaim him a ‘hero’ and ‘my new favorite Congressman’ for his actions last night simply strengthen the left’s arguments. Our momentum that has been building throughout the Congressional recess was stunted last night by the foolish actions of a passionate Representative. He’s apologized to the White House for his actions, as he rightfully should. The longer we honor his moronic outburst, the steeper our climb against health care. Joe Wilson is no hero and his foolishness last night may have saved health care reform.
Bravo.
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Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right...entrenched on the right as a member of the Establishment, proudly tattooed member of the Republican Party, bartender by trade serving both sides the libations needed to continue the debate and discourse. College student, ten years late, majoring in Public Policy and Administration with an eye to serving the conservative and Republican movement in the public or private sector. ducit amor patriae You can find D.J.on facebook, Twitter, or contact via email at gosport.conservative@gmail.com. You can find D.J.on facebook, Twitter, or contact via email at gosport.conservative@gmail.com.
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8 Responses to "Why Joe Wilson is Not a Hero"
Very well said. I wish more people were able to see beyond the partisan line and simply understand the respect for the position, regardless if we agree or disagree on the content of the politics. That’s not to say you can’t speak out against the President or even call him a liar… just that there is a time and place for such activity.
What really bothers me here is, everyone.. every single person out there who is enamored with Rep. Wilson already knows what he did was wrong. But they’re allowing their political motives to support improper action and that’s shameful. They all know better.
You prissy little punks are why people have grown to despise the Republican party. While the Democraps sit back and use WMD, you sit on your asses and criticize the few Republicans with the balls to stand up to them and fight back. Enjoy your little cocktail parties at your little country clubs, you little weenies.
Joe Wilson said what is on many American’s minds. Maybe not the right forum, but what people are thinking nonetheless.
I’m disappointed that the GOP leadership cornered Wilson into apologizing. There’s something wrong with that.
Did Sen. Harry Reid ever apologize to President Bush for calling him a liar? Nope.
If Joe Wilson was not a commissioned officer in the Army Reserve, I would disagree. The President isn’t a king after all. Civility and decorum are important, but just as important is calling out lies or what you think are lies. Its also up to the members to police each other. I think a little more banter would be good up on the Hill myself, but Congressman Wilson is a Colonel in the Reserve. As far as I’m concerned, whatever punishment would be imposed upon a private who had done the same thing, should be the minimum for Congressman Wilson’s outburst. It was thoroughly inappropriate for him to display such disrespect to his Commander and Chief and doubly so because of his prominent office.
I think the outburst was a violation of proper protocol and revealed immaturity or a lack of self control by the Congressman that blurted out his personal attack on the President.
However, I don’t think that somehow condemning the entire Republican Party for the actions of one individual is reasonable either.
The President is the President. Period.
He should be respected and treated with civility and statesmanship by our Congress and Senate.
Do I believe the President was being decepetive when he claimed that illegal aliens will not benefit from HR 3200 or whatever bill is eventually cobbled together by the Democratic majority?
Yes.
But that doesn’t mean I’d have a right to be disrespectful to the President like this Congressman was.
There is a time and place to debate matter – that address made by our President wasn’t it.
On this day, this anniversary of 9/11, we remember how on 9/12 we were all Americans first. Sadly too many Americans have returned to the old ways of placing party above the nation – Wilson is just the latest and most egregious example. To disrespect his, and our, President – and to do so during a Joint Session is nearly unforgivable, and yes, the congressman should be reprimanded by the House.
Are we to be a civilized nation of Americans or a disunified nation of angry Democrats and angry Republicans who only see through the colored glasses of their party and their politics – and never through the lenses of what is best for our nation?
I have mixed thoughts about Joe Wilson, but I will say that to many of the people at the 9/12 march today he was a hero. There were a lot of signs either saying Obama Lied, or praising Joe Wilson in some way, including a few Joe Wilson 2012 signs.
(Disclaimer these are just examples of what I saw, I have no reason to think Joe Wilson would be a good presidential candidate in 2012 and am not promoting him for that at all.)
Yes, Wilson’s outburst was a breach of decorum, but saying much beyond that is making a mountain out of a molehill. And didn’t the whole thing get the Senate Finance committee taking another look at how to verify citizenship before granting benefits? It’s not like the GOP has had much success getting the Dems to take such actions by conventional means.
And any anger used on Wilson is misguided. As long as the Dems let Charles Rangel, a serial tax cheat who is in charge of the committee that writes tax laws, keep his job they are living in a glass house that already has some panes broken.
Not that two wrongs make a right but it’s as though Wilson shoplifted a candy bar while Rangel has been knocking over 7-11′s one after another.
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