U.S. President Barack Obama was giving a speech to Congress Wednesday night about health care. Until Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina decided to interject.
Here's how the exchange (if you can call it that) went:
- Barack Obama: " ... There are also those who claim that our reform efforts would insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false ... the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally."
- Joe Wilson: "You lie!"
This is, truly, the classiest, most effective way to disagree with someone.
You might expect such a response to Obama's address to school children ... actually, no you wouldn't. Five-year-olds typically have better manners than this.
Perhaps it was a perfect storm of controversial topics helped evoke Wilson's bizarre, negative and universally-criticized outburst. It was the South Carolinan who had been reinforcing the belief that health care reform includes "Death Panels."
YOU LIE: Hopefully Joe Wilson doesn't subscribe to OK! Magazine. We imagine him calling them out when he opens the mail and sees every Robert Pattinson cover.
Wilson called it an "end-of-life counseling program, which has been highlighted by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a program which could lead to seniors being encouraged to seek less care to protect the government´s bottom line."
Minutes before Wilson's outburst, Obama's speech debunked that: "It's a lie, plain and simple," he said, which brought most of Congress to its collective feet.
After the speech, reaction to Wilson's remark was bipartisan.
Sen. John McCain, among many others, said the outburst was "totally disrespectful" and demanded that Rep. Wilson apologize to the president, which he did.
Check out the video of Joe Wilson's "You Lie!" moment ...
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46 Comments
September 10th, 2009 7:42 AM
H.R. 3200 does not contain any restrictions on noncitzens—whether legally or illegally present, or in the United States temporarily or permanently—participating in the Exchange.
Republicans put forward an amendment to enforce keeping illegal immigrants from HR3200 health care benefits.
Democrats killed it in a party line vote in the ways and means committee.
The democrats say they won't cover illegal immigrants in their plans, but they killed the only means of enforcing it.
Obama and the Democrats are in fact LYING.
Even the Associated Press has published a piece debunking Obama's numbers.
Medicare is going insolvent in a couple of years.
So how why are we expanding the healthcare under the government if Medicare is going broke?
How are we going to pay for the expansion in healthcare?
Not only Medicare, but Social Security is also going broke.
Shouldn't we fix those first before we add more fuel to the fire?
Where are we going to get new doctors to cover this new Obamacare?
September 10th, 2009 8:01 AM
get over it. you should watch the british house of commons sometime. this sort of thing happens every week only much worse
September 10th, 2009 8:27 AM
Just because the Brits do this in this House of Commons, doesn't make it right or decent. The Brits can be very vulgar, disprectful, and condescending...especially after a pint or two. What Wilson did was just plain rude and discourteous.
September 10th, 2009 8:36 AM
Thank God we're not like the Brits, "ft". Those people could screw up a two-car funeral. They're still building brand-new hotels with no telephone in each room, and brag if the place has central heating. I'm only surprised they aren't still bragging about indoor plumbing.
Joe Wilson's behavior is inexcusable. He shows behavior that used to be exhibited only by the lowest and most ignorant persons. That shouting aggressive behavior demonstrated by so many Republican supporters over the past summer at Town Halls is nothing but low-class rabble-rousing. They evidently have no power of reasonable debate so in their frustration, they turn to behaving like angry children or common thugs. It's totally insane and will not be condoned or accepted by normal, reasonable people.
September 10th, 2009 8:43 AM
It's about time someone grew a pair. Kudos to Wilson. I hope he runs for senator in South Carolina so I can vote for him.
Next, someone like him should get after the main media in this country, the "4th Estate", who are the main reason that American voters remain in a dumbed down condition, (running a close second to our public schools).
Go,Joe ! We're with you.
September 10th, 2009 8:47 AM
I don't understand all this talk about a liberal media. Do you know what the highest-rated cable network is, by millions of viewers? Fox News.
John McCain called the Wilson outburst ""totally disrespectful."
September 10th, 2009 9:14 AM
Seth Goldstein (@sethgoldstein) is suing South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson for "Being Delusional, Disrespectful, And Childish During President Obama's Speech". Join the case, cast your vote and add your argument - http://bit.ly/AllRise255
September 10th, 2009 9:45 AM
Joe Wilson's outburst is not surprising. We can disagree without being disagreeable. It just goes to show that loud-mouth rednecks in politics need a lesson in manners. Way to go South Carolina, you're batting 1000 (Mark Sanford).
September 10th, 2009 10:01 AM
South Carolina's state motto on its license plates reads (or at least used to) "Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places."
They should change it to "First to Secede, Last to Read"
September 10th, 2009 10:24 AM
I'm thinking Tourette's Syndrome. Either that or he's an idiot. Either way, at least he had the sense to apologize. But as punishment, I think he should be forced to attend the next address with his mouth duct taped shut, just to avoid a repeat.