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ChocChipCookie wrote:

He called a liar for what he is, and he did it in a hugely public way. Most of our Republican Congressmen and Senators scuttle around Washington like scared rats.

First, I’m glad he called a liar a liar. But I can’t help but think there might have been a way to do this that was more civil and less rude. Maybe I’m a little old fashioned, but I think that in some settings, with certain people, it’s not appropriate to just shout out your opinion, no matter how much I may personally agree with that opinion.

I’m actually glad that he apologized for a “lack of civility” in his actions. He’s right in that apology.

Now, to the topic of this thread. You suggested that I should make a contribution to the campaign to get this congressman re-elected. I did what I always do when someone suggests that I contribute to a re-election campaign. I did some research. I went to Thomas, the online database of congressional legislation, records and roll call votes. I searched for legislation that he is sponsoring, legislation that he is cosponsoring. I also looked at votes on legislation and votes on certain procedural items. Here’s what I looked at, why I think it’s important, and why I think Mr. Joe Wilson of South Carolina should not be returned to the Congress:

The man has sponsored a bill that applies only to one specific person by name. Now, I’m not getting into this person’s situation, and whether there is some problem with the law that needs to be addressed. There might well be a problem here. But from a constitutional and fairness point of view, I never agree with a law that applies only to one specific person. If such a law specifies a punishment or penalty for that person, it’s called a “bill of attainder” and it’s explicitly unconstitutional. I don’t think our founders intended that the congress could bestow specific benefits on single individuals, either. Taken too far, you end up with a United States Code that reads like a phone book or directory of names and the laws that apply to each. That’s not what this nation is about. Laws must apply equally to all.
He has cosponsored several other measures which look consitutionally dubious. Perhaps he could tell me where in Article 1 Section 8 of the constitution of the United States we the people have delegated authority for these proposals to the Congress. I’m open to discussion and debate, and if he has thought about this, and in good faith he believes that Congress gets that authority from the Constitution, perhaps I could be swayed. But I think it’s far more likely that he doesn’t care to stay within the confines of Article 1 Section 8, and is willing to usurp powers not granted to him and the Congress. I can’t support that, and I would urge you not to support it either.
On procedural votes, I firmly believe that final floor votes shouldn’t occur until both the public and the members of Congress themselves can read the bill and have informed debate. Enough time that people can read the bill, and contact their representative with their concerns or opinions about the bill before the vote is taken. On several occasions, Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina has voted to end debate and move to a floor vote on a large bill (many hundreds of pages) which had only been published for relatively few hours. BTW, most Congress Critters fail this test. This is a big reason that I think nearly all incumbent Congress critters should be voted out in 2010 and replaced with more Constitutionally aware and more open government oriented candidates.

Given those thing, I can’t support this man for re-election to Congress. I don’t think this man has proven that he understands his role as a Congressional representative, and I think the people of this country would be better off with this man removed from his seat in Congress than they would be if he returns. Based on that, I can’t send financial support to his re-election campaign.