Joe Wilson’s war: McCaskill, Durbin rip shouting congressman
Wilson shouts at the president
A spontaneous outburst by a South Carolina congressman has unleashed a torrent of criticism.
During Barack Obama’s health care address to Congress last night, Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson shouted at the president, “You Lie!”
Wilson was reacting to a line in Obama’s speech addressing concerns that illegal immigrants would be covered under health care reforms pushed by the White House. (They won’t, Obama says.)
After the speech, Wilson, who has represented the Palmetto State since 2001, apologized, but that wasn’t enough for some lawmakers, including Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, who are both Democrats.
McCaskill, right after the speech, tweeted the following:
Biggest disappointment of evening, the total lack of respect shown by one member for the President.Never acceptable to behave like a jerk.
Durbin, according to CNN, called Wilson’s heckle “crude and disrespectful.”
“I think the person who said it will pay a price,” Durbin said.
But what will that be? One consequence has already emerged: Wilson’s Congressional website is down for the moment, flooded, apparently, by overwhelming traffic.
Joe Wilson was 100% correct… even the AP fact check article this paper is carrying say that. But that is not the point here…
JUST WHERE WERE MCCASKILL AND DURBIN WHEN BUSH WAS BOOED? Yyou can see one of the many, many times right here… at Obama’s inauguration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLDzJHdxWAc
Where was the outrage then?
The Democrats spent 8 years publicly displaying nothing but contempt for Bush.
Karma… it’s what you’re getting.
I think it’s important to note that it’s not just President Obama who says that the health care reform bill will not cover illegal immigrants - FactCheck.org also says health care reform will not extend health insurance coverage to illegal immigrants, and the House version of the bill explicitly says it will not cover illegal immigrants. Section 246 of H.R. 3200 (the House version of the health reform bill) says: “Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.”
I think Senator McCaskill should ask her mother (who famously scolded her daughter for sending a Tweet during President Obama’s previous speech to Congress) to give Joe Wilson some etiquette advice.
Jae, for Obama’s arguement to be true, first you would have to nationalize the health system so no federal money could pay for illegals. Everyone has stated that they are NOT nationalizing health care, so of course no federal money will go to illegals. They will skirt this once it passes by claiming the money isnt “federal” money, but insurance money collected for use by all.
I am appalled at the name-calling, hateful mudslinging that is going on right now. Conduct unbecoming of many of our elected officials. What happened to our political leaders that they cannot have a civil conversation about one of the most important reforms for our country? It is not the president’s job to create legistion — but Congress. And Congress has been woefully lacking in showing leadership and discipline in focusing on this very serious issue.
As someone who lived in Europe and still has family in Europe, I know their system has some definite pros compared to ours. No fear of being wiped out financially because you get sick. No fear of losing your health insurance because you change jobs. To me those are goals that all Americans, regardless of political leanings should be able to embrace.
Wilson’s conduct was so despicable that even members of his own party (McCain and Cantor) have denounced him. He probably did more than anyone else to get health care reform back on track.
rep. joe wilson of S. Carolina…
showed his _ss to the Nation…
will be interesting to see who and how anyone could defend him.
Too bad he was right. That ranks with some of the worst “Presidential” speeches ever given, both in tone and accuracy. The Obama presidency is on the edge of the cliff and teetering.
THIS IS STILL THE USA….IF an elected offical wants to call out the president and has the balls to do it…I say MORE POWER TO HIM. We all know that pack of fluff the president was trying to sell was crap, this man just told him so. Here! Here!
We must have a civil discourse. Democrats can lie and misuse definitions. And Republicans may not use the following terms: “socialism”, “I read the bill and it says…”, and “lie”. If both sides follow these simple rules, peace will rule. (Socialist definition of peace - silenced opponents).
Gail Kelly,
Would one suggesting that you try being logical and rational be asking too much of you?