In one of the most extraordinary breaches of congressional etiquette in the history of presidential addresses to Congress, Rep. Joe Wilson (R., S.C.) screamed at President Barack Obama last night “You lie” during his speech on health care. In this video, you can see the surprise on Pelosi’s face who appears honestly and legitimately shocked.
The President had just declared that it is not true that the health plan would cover illegal immigrants and the President immediately looked over to Wilson who can be heard clearly screaming “You lie.”
In fact, Section 246 of the law states:
NO FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS.
Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for
affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully
present in the United States.
Wilson represents the second district in South Carolina. His actual name is Addison Graves Wilson, Sr. but goes by Joe. He was an aide to Sen. Strom Thurmond. He is best known to many citizens for his crusade against online poker. However, he has also supported such worthy projects as the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005, legislation that made safe water and sanitation an objective of U.S. assistance to developing countries.
Within minutes, conservative groups rallied to defend Wilson and this video defense was released calling Obama a Liar.
Wilson apologized after the speech and insisted that the statement was “spontaneous“. He released a statement of contrition and called the White House:
“This evening, I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the president’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility.”
Ironically, this is only the latest live mike problem this week for Republicans, here.
It is not that Dems cannot show bad form, but the worst breach of civility came when they booed President Bush in 2005, which is mild in comparison:
This is still far better than what English Prime Ministers have to put up with on a regular basis:
For the full story, click here.
if in the case that the mega Pelosi/E.Emmanuel bill is passed, undocumented Mexicans will, as Obama has promised, be granted amnesty. Therein lies the rub. What the bill states, will mean nothing.
My hope is that alternative health care and preventive medicine (my M.D.for instance) is not run out of practice.
That Big Pharma’s attempt to coral vitamin supplements will not
happen…
Also that along with H.R.875 and closely related bills, organic farming and family farms would be outlawed under the guise of e-coli dangers or ?
The Mansanto Dream Bill as it is nicknamed.
Vaccinations another concern? whatzup w/ National Emergency time?
The special interests, FDA and the AMA are far too powerful now.
Good morning,
I know I’m late to the party on this discussion, but I have been trying to get an answer to a question regarding Rep Joe Wilson’s comments. I am hoping there is an analytical mind out there that can shed some light on my thought.
For 12 years, Barrack Obama served as a professor of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School; as a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996, and as a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004. He is well versed in the cases and court decisions that have shaped our Constitution, including those of the 14th Amendment – more specifically, Section one – referred to as the “Equal Protection” clause.
Two Supreme Court cases come to mind that have shaped this section; one being Plyler vs. Doe (1982) by the Berger court and the other the decision of 9th Circuit Court Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer, overturning Prop 187 in California in 1997. These opinions set into law that, whatever benefits the State makes available to the US Citizens, cannot be kept away from a class of persons based on their immigration status or that of their parents.
As there is language in HR3200 denying affordability payments to undocumented immigrants, isn’t this section vulnerable to challenge in the Supreme Court?
You might ask the question then – President Obama, being a Constitutional Law Professor, shouldn’t he know there will be a question of constitutionality in denying coverage to undocumented aliens? Did he in fact “lie,” or just not present the whole truth?
Glenn Greenwald has a very different take on this than JT. Here’s the link:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/
Personally, I wish Republicans and Democrats would have yelled “liar” at Bush instead of insanely clapping during his, “we’re going to war” speech. There’s a time for politeness and there’s a time for telling the truth in a very public way. In this case, Wilson was yelling about something being a lie, when it was not. But when Obama gives the “we need Indefinite Detention speech”, (meaning we need to completely destroy the Constitution speech) and when he gives the, “we need to kill more Afghanis, Pakistanis and our own people” speech, then by god, I hope every Democrat and Republican of conscience takes off their coat and wears a T-shirt that says, I WILL NOT ASSENT TO THIS. It is wrong. I will not be party to the destruction of our Constitution and the funding of unjust empire. Regular people are arrested for doing such things. It is time for our Congress to be willing to risk arrest on behalf of the Constitution and justice.
I must add that this congressman had an outburst after Strom Thurmond’s illegitimate black daughter went public, even though Thurmond’s entire family had formally acknowledged the illegitimate black daughter. Joe Wilson called her a “smear” and said she should have kept quiet.
I have to correct you Professor Turley, calling someone a “liar” is expressly prohibited in the British House of Commons. http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/09/the-british-counterexample.html
The effective equivalent of throwing a shoe in disgust American-style might be to send that penny in a loafer, don’t you think? 😉
As in Leon Uris’ book, “QB7,” I am sending Mr. Wilson a penny, the lowest coin in our little realm, to convey my sense of the value of the loss of his kindly offices to the nation caused by his “muzzling.”
You should be able to speak whatever is on your mind regardless of what arrogant others think. Remember the saying opinions are like a-holes everyone has one.
Also there are a number of people that work for organizations like ACORN and the community groups that were posted on Craigs List a few weeks ago. These people are making 10-14 bucks an hour so they are grateful to have a job, they are taking the political crap seriously. People know the government is killing private employment. Only jobs growing are working for government.
I know what you mean and it wouldn’t be the first time that I was labled.
What’s sad is that most of the rational people in this country are afraid to post their opinions for fear of being ridiculed and labeled by people like him…to the extent that all you ever read or hear are the radical rants and ravings of these bigots.
As a first time blogger, I thank buddha for his ilk. It finally pushed me to the point to speak up.
He hasn’t posted yet today because he was up til 4 in the morning on another hate filled spew against some other hate filled spewer named Patty C. I have resolved myself to any of there hate filled spews by simply saying thanks for the comment. It use to really get under my skin and then I made a really hateful comment to another poster here that I regret to this day.
You’ll notice that if your opinion is different than that of the regulars here they label you.
bdaman…Thanks for the update and it sounds about right. Someone with that much anger and resentment needs some counseling before they go postal.
SKEW here is some recent advise I got in reference to the little green( with envy) man, thought it was appropriate
BIRTHER 1, September 10, 2009 at 9:37 pm
bdaman,
You should ignore the wounded pit bull.
He’s just a disbarred attorney from Kansas City, KS.
His rather annoying demeanor is what cost him his license to begin with.
You should read some of the complaints that have been filed against this guy.
As long as he hides behind his little fat man avatar, he feels pretty smug. In the real world he’s a failure.
NOT VERY GOOD AT SCIENCE EITHER.
Well don’t you think that the collapse of the economy was engineered ? How else would all these so called economic professionals NOT see the BIG bubble bursting ? Is this how they want to push a global currency ? China has agreed to buy the first International Monetary Fund bonds for about 50 billion dollars, the IMF said Wednesday. An SDR is an interest-bearing IMF asset based on a basket of international currencies — the dollar, yen, euro and pound — that is calculated daily and which members can convert into other currencies. You don’t find this info from so called main-stream media in this country either. Why else would you push for health care when it would mostly go for illegals and younger people that DON’T want to pay for health care because they are healthy and young. 77% of people are happy with their health care. This will just be an even BIGGER PONZI scheme. Think of the ponzi scheme that is wall-street and the FED. The masses enslaved in that usury scheme, then globalize it. Scary picture isn’t it.
Look at your passports, what is in them ? Then add the national ID cards for the masses that don’t go abroad. Don’t think political parties because both parties are out to destroy the Constitution.
victoria dilling….you are right on the mark. Unfortunately for us the truth gets lost in the all of the political speak that is meant to confuse people.
Buddha…your life must be really miserable to have to resort to slinging such bulls..t about other people you don’t even know. So let’s get down to your problem…it must be that liberal trait that runs thru your yellow spine. You don’t have a clue about what I do and I could care less about what you do. I may be wrong, but your attitude and spite makes you sound like a two-bit lawyer, you know, the ones that are a boil on the backside of every hardworking American.
And by the way, I don’t work for an insurance company. I work for employers that scramble everyday to find the best, most affordable benefits for their employees while trying to adhere to the constant flow of bureaucratic crap that flows out of washington. Let’s see how smart you are…have you ever known an insurance company that has kept a person from having treatment? If you say yes, then you are a truely an imbecile. As I said before, doctors and hospitals break their hippocratic oath if they choose not to treat a patient because a treatment or patient is not covered by insurance. They, not insurance companies, make the decision, based on money, who receives treatment.
I tire of your constant degrading banters so to get back on track…this bill is supposed to be about healthcare reform, not health insurance reform. If congress and the president would concentrate on the problem of healthcare treatment and cost first, then health insurance reform would be easier to accomplish.
H.R. 3200: Sec 246 — NO FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS
Don’t let FACTS get in the way.
The remark of Obamas’ is contrary to the CBO’s assessment of how the bill reads and the projected amount to be paid out to illegal aliens. Further more, the subject would become a mute point IF the proposed health bill is shoved through, amnesty for 20 million or more illegals would give them coverage. Also,the Dems in D.C. would assure more votes in 2012 along with ACORN and others. (supporting brothels and encouraging tax fraud, vote fraud etc.) – news 9/10/09 Wall St. Journal and Fox news.
How refreshing to hear a clear true and objective comment voiced during a bull session/sales job putting listeners on a flying carpet of info that could of taken 20 minutes.
Isn’t it queer that Obama’s complaint of Republican’s scare tactics were later followed by Obama saying that without healthcare reform SOON, bankrupt country, jobs lost and people would die… etc.
just dangerous and tanking the country to weaken us for ?