AP Photo/FOX News Sunday, Freddie Lee
Last week, during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress, Rep. Joe Wilson dared to go where no man had gone before. When President Obama stated that health proposals would not cover illegal immigrants, Rep. Wilson called out, "You lie".
Shock and outrage over Wilson's comment emanated mostly from the Left, and yet, for South Floridians, in particular, we can proudly boast that we are no strangers to our elected officials calling the President a liar.
One need to look only as far as U.S. Representative Robert Wexler (D), who has repeatedly characterized former President George W. Bush as a liar.
Rep. Wexler: Nowhere in American history - not even Watergate - have we been confronted with an Administration so ambivalent about the truth and established law.
While Rep. Wilson has issued an immediate apology to President Obama for his inappropriate interjection, and Obama has accepted the apology, Democrats are not satisfied.
"Speaker Nancy Pelosi has agreed the House should vote next week on scolding Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) for his outburst during President Barack Obama's speech unless he apologizes on the floor of the House. A Democrat will introduce a 'resolution of disapproval' Monday or Tuesday unless Wilson formally apologizes on the House floor. " The Hill
In response, Rep. Wilson has released the following statement:
"As you may be aware, the attacks and threats from the liberal Democrats have not let up. On Fox News I made one thing clear: I will not apologize to Nancy Pelosi and her allies who threatened to censure me in the U.S. House of Representatives. Washington Democrats and their liberal allies want to divert attention away from the concerns about the massive government takeover of health care. In fact, they have made me their Number One target -- already raising more than a million dollars to attack me. But I will not give up and I will not back down from our fight. We will not be muzzled."
In the meantime, all the controversy over Rep. Wilson's interjection has evoked not only demands for decorum, but also, additional charges of racism.
Is all the hullabaloo more to do with one lawmaker's audacity to publicly protest President Obama or is it really that Rep. Wilson was out of line?
As a precedent, Democrats have heckled and booed President George W. Bush. One most notable instance of Democrat decorum could be found back in 2005 during President Bush's Sate of the Union speech when he stated that Social Security would go bankrupt.
How is it that decorum sounds better in Democrat outbursts? In all fairness, Democrat Senator Harry Reid abstained from yelling "liar" to President Bush. He only referred to him as a liar in interviews and press statements.
As far as the statement made by President Obama which served as the impetus for Rep. Wilson's outburst-- that illegal immigrants would not be covered under the health care proposal-- Wilson has explained he specifically recalled the defeated amendment which would have provided for verification of citizenship.
Apparently Rep. Joe Wilson's challenge to the President on his statement of no health care coverage for illegal immigrants did not just ruffle the feathers of the hard Left. His two-word utterance has seemingly triggered the Administration's latest "clarifications" on health care. MSNBC online reported, on Friday, that the White House has sent out clarifications on the health care proposal-- surprisingly, as it pertains to documentation of illegal immigrants:
"Today, for the first time as far as we know, the administration is backing a provision that would require proof of citizenship before someone could enroll in a plan selected on the exchange.
Here, the administration also concedes that hospitals would be compensated with public funds for the care of undocumented immigrants."
As for whether Rep. Joe Wilson should issue another apology after he has already sincerely apologized to the President, Democrats will lead the charge that he must. And yet, if more apologies are truly what's needed, it seems there is no lack of "liar" criers who can step up and lead by example.
Comments
You either know the difference and are not being honest or you don't know the difference and need to step back and use your brain. Either way, you are not qualified to write a political column.
FUNNY, HOW OBAMA CAN RANT AND RAVE CALLING EVERYONE ELSE NAMES, BELITTLING THEM, AND LETTING ON LIKE HE IS SO BIPARTISAN, CALLING THEM LIARS, ETC. AND SAYING VOTE FOR MY MOVING BUS THAT HAS NO DRIVER AND LET ME FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE ANY CHANGES THAT I WANT TO AS WE GO ALONG. HA! AND ISN'T APPLAUDING AND STANDING OVATIONS AN INTERRUPTION, ALSO? FAIR IS FAIR. THEY USED TO BOO BUSH. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU SIR, FOR SPEAKING FOR ALL OF US WHO WERE YELLING AT THE TV LONG BEFORE YOU SAID WHAT YOU SAID. AND IT WAS WORTH IT TO SEE PELOSI DROP HER FROZEN SMILE AND ACT NATURAL!
The important thing is: Obama is a liar. There are numerous items about which he has lied and no one follows up on that. Do not worry about Rep. Joe Wilson, worry about the president's deceit. I have read the bill and Obama is in favor of as many illegal aliens coming to this country as possible and even adds they should not be made to pay taxes. Says it right out. Worry about that, Demos.
What are you even saying? When and in what case has Obama ever lied about anything or bashed anyone like you say. I don't care what you think about Obama, what Joe Wilson did on the floor was totally wrong. Maybe the Dems booed at Bush, but no one got up and yelled "You lie!" The Republicans have booed many democrats during speeches, including Obama the other night. Republicans are sucking on sour grapes right now, their party is in shambles, Rush Limbaugh is their leader, they've hired a Black man to be their rep just they can be hip, its the same reason they gave McCain a woman to run with. They are clearly out of the loop and a racist party who is out of touch. They are radical and use smear and fear to win elections. The face of the Republican party is that of Richard Nixon. Smear, deceit and crookedness.
you know, there's one thing I am going to say to all this...and it's something I haven't seen anyone else put into print.
Let's stop all this complaining, he said/she said, and, you better say your sorry crap, and come up with a logical plan to fix this problem.
We also need not say that the government run medical resolution is not the solution also. At this rate, what the insurance companies charge you so you can "save" money on medical bills is the reason there needs to be some type of reform. The insurance companies that you pay so much to, are making such an ungodly profit that they will do anything to stop medical reform. The % that insurance companies actually pay to doctors for thier services is not even close to the % they are supposed to. By law they are only required to pay a certain % which amounts to less than half what you think, which is why doctors increase thier prices. Then the insurance companies increase thier prices and the circle perpetuates itself.
Don't worry about who's republican and who's democrat, because while you are fighting over who wears what symbol on thier podium. The insurance companies are getting richer and richer while we pay for thier yachts, summer homes, vacations, and fancy cars, for thier mansions overlooking us little people.
The question should be: Was President Obama lying?
The answer is: Yes!
So, who deserves to be censured: Wilson for telling the truth or Obama for telling a lie?
LIAR! LIAR! LIAR! WANT TO KNOW HOW TO LISTEN TO OBAMA AND HEAR THE TRUTH? JUST SIMPLY KNOW THAT WHATEVER HE SAYS, THE TRUTH IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE! WORKS EVERY TIME. GOOD WORK ROBBIN.I'VE READ YOU SINCE YOU STARTED AND THE CALIBER OF YOUR WORK HAS GOTTEN BETTER WITH EACH ATRICLE.
The ONLY good thing about this administration is how they cave in to the American public, the Republicans, Fox News, Conservative talk radio, and bloggers. Did I forget anyone? I certainly wouldn't want to offend some other group.
@ Joe E-- Thank you. I greatly appreciate the feedback and support from all my readers. JGL48, if you're still there-- you have my gratitude as well.
Tony, shut up. robbin as the talent to write and do the research that goes with it. go back to your lefty article and your xm only left liberal station. Now, joe has a rep has the right to say anything he wants, its the 1st amendment. now was it race driven? no, but nancy and her ilk want people to think that so the house can make up a new rule about outbursts which is ridiculous. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has agreed the House should vote next week on scolding Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) for his outburst during President Barack Obama's speech unless he apologizes on the floor of the House. please, would nancy apologizes for being an idiot.
Man oh man, I LOVE your articles Robbin! We think a lot alike.
Never commented before, but I must say you are doing a great job. I also have read your work since you started and you've really gotten very good at this!
Man oh man, I LOVE your comment :)
Thank you!
@ Thad-- Your support is ALWAYS appreciated!
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