Flashback: Democratic etiquette in the Bush era
posted at 9:30 am on September 10, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Let’s start off by acknowledging that Rep. Joe Wilson needed to apologize for his outburst in Congress last night during the speech by President Barack Obama. Getting called a liar by the President in a speech may be infuriating, but a certain level of decorum is expected of our elected officials, and Wilson violated that decorum. He did the right thing by apologizing afterward.
Unfortunately, people on the Left want to keep hyperventilating about this as though the world was born on the day Barack Obama won the presidential election. As Omri Ceren and Michelle remind people, the Democrats were hardly models of decorum in the last administration. Here’s a clip from the State of the Union speech in 2005, when George Bush warned Congress that Social Security was going broke and needed reform immediately. Did Democrats politely listen to the warning? Not exactly. Listen to the boos and catcalls:
Did any of the hyperventilators today demand apologies from their side at the time? Did any Democrat ever offer an apology for their rude behavior? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
I’d take the hyperventilating with a wee more seriousness if it didn’t come from the same crowd who cheered the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at Bush in a 2008 press conference.
And just for the record, Bush was more right than they’ll admit:
The Social Security Trust Fund reported an August net deficit of $5.865 Billion. This is the largest monthly deficit in nineteen years. Base on recent years data it was not surprising the Fund ran a deficit in August. But the magnitude of the shortfall was a surprise to me. This deficit is now the seventh in the past twelve months. That pace has never been seen before. …
-In August the US Treasury had to borrow an additional $6 billion in the public market to finance the cash shortfall of Social Security. We already have too much paper for sale to fund the budget deficit. SS added to the supply problem last month.
-The 2037 Future Value of the August deficit is -$17b based on a 4% return. What this means is that there will be a very significant revision in the 2037 drop-dead date. Based on current trends the go broke date is closer to 2025.
-This is not just a bad month. The net decline in the Funds assets for June/July/August comes to $7 billion. In 08 that period was in surplus by $5 billion, In 07 it was +$7b and in 06 it was +$13b.
Four years ago, Bush warned that collapse would come in 2042. Now it looks like 2025, thanks to Democrats who preferred to boo and catcall than to act responsibly to reform the Ponzi scheme of Social Security.
Update (AP): Lyin’ Rahm Emanuel lies his ass off about Joe Wilson: “No president has ever been treated like that. Ever.”
Blowback
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Send Rep. Wilson your thoughts – I thanked him for expressing what millions of us were screaming at our TV sets…
http://www.house.gov/formwilson/IMA/issue.htm
TeamDub on September 10, 2009 at 11:23 AM
And millions more will be screaming what a blockhead Rep. Wilson is.
Norman Blizter on September 10, 2009 at 11:27 AM
By having drunken sex with your father in a custodial closet, Representative Frank was clearly showing disrespect to both President Bush and your father’s weakness for fruity rum cocktails.
TMK on September 10, 2009 at 11:27 AM
I disagree. At the very least, if an apology really is necessary because of decorum he should have repeated that what he said was entirely true and that the President is a liar.
aikidoka on September 10, 2009 at 11:28 AM
I posted this above in headlines because of my increasing frustration at the weak-kneed approach of the republicans.
Give me a break!!!
Perhaps what the Republicans ought to have done is what the Democrats would have done…or did. Find somebody from “Code Pink”, or whatever other name/label they decide to slap on them, invite them as a guest, and allow THEM to do the heckling.
The hypocrisy of the Democrats and their sycophants in the media makes my stomach curdle, but the way the Republicans roll over makes my head explode. Call it the way it is, you idiots! Call them out on their lies and their pioneering efforts in all the tactics we hear them whining about now. Forget the mollycoddling. Forget the diplomacy; these guys (the Democrats and the media)hate you. Byron York nailed it the other day.
Call them out on the fact that they did not want civil debate…they wanted NO debate. Call them out on the slanders and libels thrown at any and every Republican that has tried, civilly, to advance an idea…from Rove, to Limbaugh, to Palin to (even) Bush to Gingrich (I have never forgotten the Time magazine cover “The Gingrich Who Stole Christmas).
Call them out on it. Rep. Wilson has apologized. Fine. It’s more than any of them have ever done.
Blaise on September 10, 2009 at 11:33 AM
100% WRONG.
Civility works when both sides are honest and willing to work together. Clearly this is not the case.
TheUnrepentantGeek on September 10, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Bingo.
If you’re tied up and being beaten in the face, you don’t say “excuse me, sir – would you mind stopping that please?”
Enough is enough – this has gone on for too long and gone way, way too far.
TeamDub on September 10, 2009 at 11:44 AM
No, Ed.
He was right. After all of the crap that’s been slung at us for months, to have him tell a bald-faced lie on national TV entirely and totally justified someone calling him out on it, right there, right then.
MadisonConservative on September 10, 2009 at 11:46 AM
To a Democrat, the ultimate insult is to be told the truth about himself.
Socratease on September 10, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Additionally, fewer would pay attention to a congressman correcting him after the speech than would pay attention to him making that correction during the speech. Tactically, it was terrific.
MadisonConservative on September 10, 2009 at 11:49 AM
We don’t generally care what children think.
Esthier on September 10, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Right, because heckling is the mature, adult thing to do.
Proud Rino on September 10, 2009 at 11:59 AM
An Apology…
elgeneralisimo on September 10, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Fine. Both positions will have millions of those screaming about the outburst (very approriate one, I shall add) for or against. So where does that leave the actual substance of what Obama was trying to accomplish with his near hour long speech? All focus on two three letter words…
Beautiful.
anuts on September 10, 2009 at 12:00 PM
There’s Democrat precedent for it at least.
Esthier on September 10, 2009 at 12:00 PM
When your opponent refuses to play by the rules, eventually you have to play their game.
MadisonConservative on September 10, 2009 at 12:04 PM
But I must say, I’m glad to finally hear liberals agree that the Democrats have been acting like children the last eight years.
Esthier on September 10, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Last night Obama stated there were 30 Million Uninsured . Somehow the that went down from the often cited 47 Million. This means we insured 17 Million without costing one cent just by opposing Obama. Keep it up and we can insure more people.
Dennis D on September 10, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Let’s just be mature as Obama and his bunch completely CHANGE our country. Excuse me, no communism, please.
mobydutch on September 10, 2009 at 12:05 PM
What we have is the POTUS who has the bully pulpit of the office. He comes over in their place where Congress conducts its affairs. He enters and persists on insulting them, calling them out, accusing them of lies, and we should expect them all to take it by remaining quiet?
Perspective is necessary.
Thinking is mandatory.
Respect is on mutual grounds only.
anuts on September 10, 2009 at 12:06 PM
This is the first president I can recall that has resorted to name calling.
Expect Obama to be heckled many times until he is finally gone from office.
Freddy on September 10, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Anyone have a website for Joe that works? I want to give this guy some money.
Caper29 on September 10, 2009 at 12:10 PM
More double standards as usual from leftwing…
tx2654 on September 10, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Wow you are farrrr gone. Do you have any idea how this looks to a non-wingnut? The dude screamed out “Liar!” in the middle of the POTUS’s speech. He looks unhinged and unstable. It’s a joint session of Congress, not some birther-infested town hall.
Anyway, after actually watching the clip equivocating the two is laughable. Grunts of disagreement and light booing are not unheard of, and are part of the political theater. Screeching “Liar” in the middle of a speech is unprecedented and disrespectful. If Wilson had done that during a typical House session he would likely have faced a formal reprimand.
crr6 on September 10, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Rush is on the air right now and praising Joe Wilson, saying it’s about time someone in the Republican party spoke out and told the truth, because Obama was lying and Joe Wilson said what we were all thinking.
GrannyDee on September 10, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Rush is currently teeing off on the squishy Joe Wilson detractors. He is basically saying these people need to be run out of the Republican Party.
I agree.
Dave R. on September 10, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Do you have any idea how much of the center you would consider “wingnuts”? Piss off, troll.
MadisonConservative on September 10, 2009 at 12:30 PM
This is what I mean when I say you’re far gone. When you read the HA circle jerk all day every day your partisan confirmation bias kicks in and you get the feeling “they” are always “slinging crap at you” for “months”, while you guys have been peacefully and dutifully urging for reasoned discourse. In this context Wilson’s actions seem acceptable, even brave.
Meanwhile back in the real world we all recognize that Obama’s strong rhetoric was not unprovoked, it’s an effort to take back the debate from a right-wing which has used smears, lies and half-truths to scare the American public away fro reform. Hell, you’ve had senior members of Congress admit they want to kill the bill for political reasons, in order to bring down the President. You’d have to be delusional to think that the “crap” that’s been slung at you occurred in a vacuum. And delusional is exactly what you are.
Then again, I’m sure many HA posters here agree with you, so you must be in touch with reality right?
crr6 on September 10, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Yeah, RINO, I hope you remember that when you are being asked for your papers by a couple of Obamatons manning the checkpoint at the entrance to your neighborhood someday soon.
Dave R. on September 10, 2009 at 12:32 PM
And yet the polls agree with us and not with trolls like you. Who’s projecting here? Certainly isn’t Madison, and I disagree with him about whether or not Wilson was right to apologize.
Esthier on September 10, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Libtroll, we (that’s us) are going to take this country back from the thieves and leeches that have stolen it from us.
Count on it.
That will be the change you can believe in.
Dave R. on September 10, 2009 at 12:34 PM
You think you’re some sort of centrist? LOL.
Just because you’re to the left of most Jerome Corsi-ish birther types here hardly makes you a centrist.
And because I’m far too the left of you hardly makes me “far left”. HA is a pretty distorted context to gauge where people fall on the political spectrum.
crr6 on September 10, 2009 at 12:34 PM
No, it’s because you’re far to the left of everyone else as well. Madison’s never pretended to be centrist. He just knows, as we all do, that your definition of “wingnut” includes a lot of centrist independents. Seriously, just check a poll for once.
Esthier on September 10, 2009 at 12:38 PM
President Bush will always be my president.
Hening on September 10, 2009 at 12:39 PM
The left raises heck because of a perceived lack of decorum and civility? Where on God’s green earth is my apology???
I am a law-abiding, tax paying citizen. I choose to exercise the rights guaranteed me under the Constitution of the United States of America by protesting against the path my country is on, and how do the demokratic leaders and leftist media respond??? I am called un-American, immoral, racist and accused of being a political whore with my opinion up for sale to special interests.
I express concern over a political leader speaking to my child in a captive setting at his public school with highly questionably lesson plans having been provided by the political leader’s aides and colleagues, and NBC says I’m not intelligent enough to be raising children.
Where the #*@% is my apology???
anglee99 on September 10, 2009 at 12:40 PM
If you’re selective in your poll citing. A CBS poll at the end of August found that 60% still support a public option, and half of Americans believe Obama’s ideas on health care are better than the Republican’s. You can hardly claim the public “agrees” with you. At best the public is pretty evenly divided.
crr6 on September 10, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Apparently you also don’t see the irony of being a regular wingnut HA poster and saying this? I come off as much more liberal here than I actually am because most of the time I’m arguing with progressoverpeace types, or people who argue that liberals want to kill the disabled ; )
In the same context David Frum= Karl Marx.
crr6 on September 10, 2009 at 12:42 PM
I think Wilsons comment was classless but it served a purpose and now media is actually fact checking Obama’s speech.
Dennis D on September 10, 2009 at 12:45 PM
You’ve cited just one poll, a CBS poll at that, and you lecture me on being selective?
Yeah… that’s a fair assessment of what people here have said and not at all distorted as a left wing talking point.
Esthier on September 10, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Funny that you don’t cite Gallup, Rasmussen, Pew, or any of the other actual polling organizations. Wonder why that is?
MadisonConservative on September 10, 2009 at 12:47 PM
AARP Poll Aug 26th
Poll results indicated nearly 65 percent of those surveyed said they oppose increasing taxes to pay for covering the more than 46 million uninsured Americans, the business journal said. However, a majority polled said they believed all people should be covered and 73 percent said they are unwilling to see private health insurance premiums rise to cover those costs.
The nationwide poll surveyed 1,000 adults identifying themselves Democrats, Republicans or independents this month. No margin of error was provided.
Since the Obama plan calls for tax increases then 73% oppose the Obama public option plan
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/08/26/AARP-poll-shows-divide-over-public-option/UPI-42171251305003/
Dennis D on September 10, 2009 at 12:49 PM
I think I have noodled out what the squishy, nadless RINO apologists are trying to accomplish by wussing out at every turn:
They think if they are just polite to the people who are currently destroying this country that they will be given a straw mat to sleep on in the Gulag, and not have to sleep on bare concrete like us real conservatives will be.
Dave R. on September 10, 2009 at 12:50 PM
CBS is the network that uses Kinkos in Abilene Texas for source material isn’t it? Where is Bill Burkett ?
Dennis D on September 10, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Hey there tiny
FIFY. You’re not up to speed with the admininstration.
Blacksmith8 on September 10, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Thanks for proving my point. Like I said, the public is pretty evenly divided. Now go back to your confirmation bias inducing circle jerk. The results are hilarious.
“ZOMG I call out birthers so I’m a centrist!”
crr6 on September 10, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Which means at least a good portion of those opposing Obama are in fact, centrists, proving Madison’s point, not yours.
That doesn’t also mean some centrists don’t support Obama, but that’s a separate discussion.
Esthier on September 10, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Ed, thanks for the video of our former President. I’d forgotten what a public servant who can speak for more than five minutes without the windshield wiper impersonation looked like.
Blacksmith8 on September 10, 2009 at 12:54 PM
The current health care plan is defined by the public option. You posted a CBS poll which is skewed from both Rasmussen, and Gallup. Such a shocker that the network that tried to smear the former president with forged documents might have a poll that’s off, but a leftist like you couldn’t be more thrilled with them.
From poll to poll, the public is against the current health care plan, whose focal point in everyone’s eyes is the public option. That’s why every one of your heroes has been talking about dropping it.
By the way, I never said I was a centrist. I said that you would consider a majority of the center to be “wingnuts” because you’re slurping Obama’s nutsack.
MadisonConservative on September 10, 2009 at 12:57 PM
crr6 on September 10, 2009 at 1:04 PM
It’s pretty easy to prove your points when you tell me what I “would consider” dear.
Quick question just for giggles. Did you support Bush at the end of his second term? Or at any point in the last year of his second term?
crr6 on September 10, 2009 at 1:05 PM
I preferred him to what I knew was coming from your golden calf. However, I was infuriated with his economic policy and his support for amnesty, along with a number of smaller issues.
MadisonConservative on September 10, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Why is it then, in your estimation, that the White House and Congress don’t agree with your assessment? Forget what they may say at any given moment. They’re politicians. But their actions reek of admission that they are not with the majority of voters on this issue.
The White House is in full campaign mode on Health Care. They are still trying to sell the idea of it. Congress has a vast majority in both chambers for partisan support. And yet, they are reluctant to put it to vote. With all the numerical and intangible advantages this should be a slam dunk issue as of last month. How often would an ‘evenly divided’ electorate warrant this kind of desperation under those advantages?
anuts on September 10, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Quick question for giggles: Why are you entirely avoiding the Gallup and Rasmussen polls?
I’d love to hear the answer.
MadisonConservative on September 10, 2009 at 1:10 PM
I just sent the following email to John McCain:
Dear Senator McCain:
With all due respect, Senator, I am stunned and dismayed by your response to Representative Joe Wilson’s comment at the Joint Session of Congress on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. According to the Associated Press (September 10, 2009) you said Rep. Wilson’s behavior was “totally disrespectful.”
May I remind you, Senator, that throughout Mr. Obama’s speech last night he consistently disrespected, attacked and maligned the Republicans in Congress, as well as the millions of citizens of our country who oppose his health care reform. In addition, Mr. Obama told nothing but lies about his plan to take over one-sixth of our economy.
As a voter who supported you in 2008, I am appalled that you (and the Republican party) continue to remain “silent and polite” while Mr. Obama lies to us and rips our Constitution to shreds.
I say, “Congratulations, Rep. Wilson!” It’s about time a Republican Congressman spoke out and said what millions of citizens believe: President Obama is lying!!
Senator McCain, if you and the other Republicans in Congress continue to refuse to speak “truth to power” then under Mr. Obama’s socialism the United States of America will cease to exist as the great country it is now.
GrannyDee on September 10, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Hi, I’m history. Believe it or not, I’ve been around since before Obama was elected. I just thought you might like to know.
TheUnrepentantGeek on September 10, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Thank you Mr. Wilson for the one truthful statement last night. No need to apologize.
gbear on September 10, 2009 at 1:36 PM
If Obama had any respect for Congressional tradition, he wouldn’t call a joint session of Congress for partisan purposes. This wasn’t a ceremonial SOTU where respect and deference can reasonably be expected. This was Obama throwing a Hail Mary to try to save his own failing legilation. If he wants to drag all of Congress into session just to hear his healthcare BS for the 100th time, plus more new lies and demonization of the opposition, he’s gotta take the heat.
Missy on September 10, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Charelton Heston is still my President.
Mangy Scot on September 10, 2009 at 1:41 PM
“You lie” is just shorthand for “Willful suspension of disbelief”
Buy Danish on September 10, 2009 at 1:41 PM
You rock!
Mangy Scot on September 10, 2009 at 1:44 PM
I probably can’t add anything to this, but to say….Wilson called it as it is. The fact that Democrats, or anyone else was appalled, is appalling in itself. Hypocrite thy name is Democrat.
capejasmine on September 10, 2009 at 1:58 PM
crr6, etiquette expert.
Jim Treacher on September 10, 2009 at 2:16 PM
This the same crr6 who stated that Bush acted ‘just like Goebbels’ when Ridge wrote that he ‘wondered’ whether political concerns played a role in Rumsfeld and Ashcroft asking that the terror alert be raised before the election.
Ridge ‘wondering’ equals Nazi tactics.
The terror alert level wasn’t raised but crr6′s personal demagoguery level reached critical.
SteveMG on September 10, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Thanks, Mangy Scot.
GrannyDee on September 10, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Joe Wilson on Hannity radio starting in 3, 2, 1…
GrannyDee on September 10, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Actually …. Joe gave obama “man-up” lessons. Standing in the relative security of his position, our dear leader chose to call the ex-gov a liar. Joe had the testicular fortitude to do it face to face – and take responsibility for it. Claiming a lack of civility during these tenuous times reminds me of the saying about cowards and traitors cloaking themselves in patriotism to obfuscate their true intentions …. if you catch my drift.
oldfiveanddimer on September 10, 2009 at 3:00 PM
No. Who the hell is the President to demand a captive, silent audience for a political rant? A State of the Union, maybe, demands respectful attention because the Constitution requires the President deliver it and the Congress receive it-and respect is due the constitution from its officers. That was not what went on last night.
We are being robbed under color of authority, and every lie Obama told last night should have been jeered.
Chris_Balsz on September 10, 2009 at 3:02 PM
No Ed, I will not aknowledge what you request. You are wrong for asking this.
We are fighting the good fight to save our republic from collapse and socialization. It is a war that our President has declared upon us.
Why don’t you acknowledge that the republic is in dire peril, and we need leadership in our government that will say “Hell no! We will not let this stand!”
paulsur on September 10, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Wilson just verbalized what everyone (for and against the so call plan) knew was happening. He lied over and over again.
whbates on September 10, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Right, you should only heckle somebody when you’re on 11 channels and she’s at home in Alaska. That’s the mature, adult thing to do.
Jim Treacher on September 10, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Millions were yelling “you lie” all night long. I’m thankful that Joe Wilson made sure Obama heard it at least once.
mike_NC9 on September 10, 2009 at 4:05 PM
I think the American people have seen and heard enough of this sort of thing by now, that they are kind immune to it. NBC can say what they like, but after all the abuse Bush tolerated over the years the feigned outrage now is almost comical.
Terrye on September 10, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Joe Wilson was great on Hannity radio today. He’ll be on Hannity TV tonight.
Because Joe spoke the truth last night, the Libs are contributing huge amounts to Wilson’s opposition in 2012.
We need to contribute to Joe Wilson’s campaign:
joewilsonforcongress.com
GrannyDee on September 10, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Woulda thunk the Demorats would have stood up and cheered when he said the part about having to raise taxes.
Dr. ZhivBlago on September 10, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Joe Wilson — America’s Congressman. That was the best part of the speech.
DaMav on September 10, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Claiming to be a centrist while supporting the socializing of 1/5 of the U.S. economy is pretty funny.
the difference between the far left and far right (among others) is that the far right admits it is conservative and to the right of the center. the left always lies and pretends they are “reasonable” and “moderate”.
And claiming that Obama was just “responding” to attacks is b.s. He and his party tried to ram this monstrousity through with nobody reading the bill, and then called anyone who questioned it “nazis” and other names. they have never debated anything or even considered an idea from the other side. yet pretend they are being respectful and honest and bipartisan.
It is to laugh.
The same question I always ask the leftists – how can you support an ideology that must always lie to try and get its agenda advanced. If the agenda was so damn good, lying shouldn’t be necessary.
Monkeytoe on September 10, 2009 at 7:47 PM
I don’t think O! had one sentance last night that did not contain a lie.
Monkeytoe on September 10, 2009 at 7:48 PM
ONE of the BIGGEST problems on the right is the INABILITY to FIRMLY challenge OUTRIGHT LIES AS LIES. I am so completely sick and tired of being told it’s wrong to call a lie a lie, that it somehow violates some sense of decorum. You know what is more important? Violating TRUST. And frankly I can’t trust ANYONE who lies, NOR ANYONE who refuses to be HONEST about a liar.
Wilson was RIGHT to call out the president on a BALD FACED LIE, IN A NATIONAL ADDRESS. It is sick and wrong that we have become so complacent about the truth that those who represent us are EXPECTED to sit quietly as the president LIES TO THE NATION.
Wilson was WRONG to later apologize and reduce Obama’s LIE to simply a difference of opinion between the two. Either the statement was true, or the statement was false. Obama wasn’t issuing an opinion, he was stating something as fact. Unless he lives in a completely different reality he was either lying or was wrong. Being as he didn’t retract HIS statement upon the challenge of being a liar, I’d say he wasn’t just wrong, he was lying and EXPECTS to get away with it and NOT be challenged.
Start calling LIES, LIES, and those who tell lies, LIARS. Quite screwing with the language, and screwing with ethics. I’m sick of the playing fast and loose with the truth and lies being called everything BUT lies.
WE SHOULD EXPECT MORE, IF WE DON’T WELL WE DESERVE ALL THE CRAP WE ARE GETTING. STOP WITH THE POLITE DOORMAT ROUTINE AND DEMAND INTEGRITY FROM YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
flyfishingdad on September 10, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Copy of my letter to Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Republican Leader:
Dear Representative Boehner:
While I am most appreciative of your efforts and GOP Leader Alert emails, if you do not start publicly speaking out against the lies Mr. Obama is spewing forth on health care reform, I fear our great country will be lost forever.
We are facing a crisis of gigantic proportions in the United States. In fact, it is a crisis that is shaking the very foundations of our country, for it is a deliberate and sustained attack by Mr. Obama against our Constitution.
Millions of American citizens oppose the Obama/Pelosi/Reid intrusion into our health care. From coast to coast, we have spoken out at Townhall Meetings, on conservative radio shows, in newspapers and on websites. We have written letters, made telephone calls and sent emails to Congress. With one voice we have proclaimed, “Keep Obama’s hands off our health care.” And yet, our elected officials in Washington continue to ignore our voices.
Why, Representative Boehner, are we being ignored?
In Mr. Obama’s speech on Wednesday night, he consistently lied while he denigrated not only the Republicans in the House and Senate, but also millions of Americans when he referred to all of us as liars. When Representative Wilson spoke out, he instantly became a hero to us. Representative Wilson said to Mr. Obama what we have all wanted to say: You lie!
With all due respect, Representative Boehner, the time for Republicans to politely debate with the Democrats is past.
The time is now, Mr. Boehner, for you to speak out publicly, forcefully, and with conviction against Mr. Obama’s lies. If you and the other Republicans in Congress continue to refuse to speak “truth to power” then under Mr. Obama’s socialism the United States of America will cease to exist as the great country it is now.
GrannyDee on September 10, 2009 at 8:05 PM
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_L6pDyjqqsvY/Sqlmh2zqgZI/AAAAAAAAdyw/prBWNrXK_NA/s1600-h/obama+rude.jpg
Hussain howling @ Bush, long long long time ago
This made my day
macncheez on September 10, 2009 at 8:06 PM
It is true that being cordial and civil in debate only works when the other side is arguing in good faith, and everyone is using real facts.
When one side simply makes up facts and argues in bad faith – not honestly saying what their agenda is or what their bill will do – the time for civility and cordial debate is done. If you continue to treat them as respectful people, they have won half the battle, b/c you are to some extent legitimizing their falsehoods and tactics. If you don’t call someone out on a blatant lie, people won’t know it’s a lie.
Monkeytoe on September 10, 2009 at 8:07 PM
So is it 47 million or 30 million? I am not sure what to tell my kids.
CWforFreedom on September 10, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Monkeytoe on September 10, 2009 at 8:07 PM
VERY good point. Decorum is all well in good when you simply have two sides with two different opinions on how things should be done. When one side starts flat out lying to make their case, well it’s time to stop being polite. Start stating the facts. Start calling lies lies, and BACK THE ASSERTIONS UP WITH FACTS. The people won’t know they are being lied to if NO ONE calls the lies LIES. The MAINSTREAM LYING MEDIA certainly isn’t going to inform the public they are being lied to.
Call them out on the lies, and be prepared to back it up with the truth.
flyfishingdad on September 10, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Let’s tax the rich
To pay for health care.
So say the liberal trolls
Here on Hot Air.
Send in the trolls.
Watch them get pissed.
Read how they squawk.
Without their talking points,
They couldn’t talk.
Where are the trolls?
Send in the trolls.
Despite the lies throughout their posts,
It looks like Obamacare just may be toast
It’s just cut n paste but try to be fair
You can read them again…
Still no logic there.
Do they love debate?
Are they just spreading fear?
Will we soon see the end
of some Blue Dogs’ careers?
Let’s not feed the trolls!
Just don’t feed the trolls.
And let’s vote next year
Red State State of Mind on September 10, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Hey, stop the hate, CW ! /s
Red State State of Mind on September 10, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Remember President Bush’s State of the Union address in 2006? He mentioned that Congress had not acted on reforming Social Security; and, the Dem’s response was to stand and cheer loudly. Here’s the video — advance it to about 30 minutes to see that portion of his speech.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/stateoftheunion2006.htm
Not to mention that he campaigned on fixing S/S in 2000 and asked Congress to work on it EVERY year!
LindaDinNev on September 10, 2009 at 10:17 PM
That’s like saying Josef Stalin sometimes appeared to be slightly insensitive to the plight of the common Soviet citizen. At certain times of the day.
Cylor on September 10, 2009 at 11:21 PM
When does Obama apologize for lying his way into office?
The Left have already excoriated him for many.
The Right have only begun…
profitsbeard on September 11, 2009 at 12:17 AM
“Rep. Joe Wilson needed to apologize for his outburst in Congress because a certain level of decorum is expected of our elected officials.”
This is exactly right — but make no mistake: “leaders” are routinely and publicly taken to task over their failings and flaws, and no one is more eloquent in doing so than the British (Obama should thank his lucky stars he wasn’t addressing a bunch of conservative Brits like Daniel Hannan).”
Listen as Daniel Hannan (a Conservative MEP for the South East of England) (and author of: The Plan: Twelve months to renew Britain speaks truth to Gordon Brown | blindness.
(This could very easily have been addressed to team Obama — and it should be):
Daniel Hannan MEP: The devalued Prime Minister of a devalued Government.
RomanticIdeal on September 11, 2009 at 12:26 AM
Rep. Lynne Woolsey let Code Pink idiots into Bush speeches so they could scream at President Bush. And we’re supposed to be appalled by what Wilson did? Give me a f-ing break.
Django on September 11, 2009 at 1:14 AM
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