Posted on 09/09/2009 9:10:49 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
All eyes were on Barack Obama entering Wednesday night's address to Congress, but a little-known South Carolina Republican may have done more than the president’s combative speech to unify besieged Democrats around health care reform.
The night's defining moment — which Democrats hope to transform into a turning point – came when Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) shouted "You lie!" as Obama claimed his plan wouldn't offer free care to illegal immigrants.
Wilson's boorishness — for which he quickly apologized — enraged audience members on both sides of the aisle.
It also overshadowed a speech that included some of Obama's harshest attacks on his GOP critics to date, including a denunciation of "death panel" alarmists as liars — a veiled swipe at Sarah Palin — and a warning to Republicans who want to "kill" reform.
"What we have also seen in these last months is the same partisan spectacle that only hardens the disdain many Americans have toward their own government," Obama said. "Too many have used this as an opportunity to score short-term political points, even if it robs the country of our opportunity to solve a long-term challenge. And out of this blizzard of charges and counter-charges, confusion has reigned.
"Well, the time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed," he added, to Democratic cheers.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Obama has been calling Republicans and tea party protestors liars for weeks.......
Which is more boorish: To stand up in front of a joint session of Congress and a national TV audience, and lie like a dog, or to stand up and call the liar out?
Yeah! We all know how being called a liar worked out for President Bush.
“.....hardens the disdain many Americans have toward their own government.”
Obozo your attitude and policies have brought a level of disdain for the government by the citizens of this country like we have never seen. May Almighty God curse your presidency in such a way so that no one will ever dare go down the path you have set ever again.
Maybe it would have been better for Joe to throw a shoe at him
Oh dear, LOL
I got a simple rule
Respect the office, even when you disagree with the man in it.
Sorry fellow Freepers, what Mr. Wilson did is beneath the behavior of how our side should act.
Did the President have many lies? Yes
Was the way Mr. Wilson expressed it appropriate? Hell to the effing no
Instead of being able to highlight his lies, the media is now focused on Mr. Wilson
Great job you dumbass. Respect the office, and this isn’t a problem. Don’t sink to the low levels of liberals and how they acted during the Bush years
“Wilson’s boorishness — for which he quickly apologized — enraged audience members on both sides of the aisle.”
LOL! And delighted conservatives everywhere.
Yeah and I will call the White HOuse tomorrow and demand an apology as all of America should. The president stood there and called, the media, radio, leaders in washington and the American citizens liars.....WE THE PEOPLE SHOULD CALL HIM OUT- ON IT.
He was calling Sarah Palin a liar right in the speech! Right before Wilson’s well-reasoned and accurate point.
I am 100% in agreement with you.
I wish ill for the evil man infesting the highest office of our land. However, I do not wish or want to cause disrespect to the office itself.
I was listening on the Radio (Levin show) when this happened, and was taken aback.
It is sheer idiocy and stupidity.
You don’t win wars with emotion and shooting from the hip
You use smarts and intelligence to outflank the opponent and attack his weakness
Instead, Wilson has allowed the President to turn a potential weakness into a strength.
I hope the man gets voted out of office next election for being a dumbass
Yes he was.......and there ran that moron McCain in front of the cameras to defend OBAMA....
Dude, Obama was the first one in the room tonight to call "prominent politicians", liars.
It was Obama’s most bitter and partisan speech yet, and now it is glossed over by the outburst of one GOP rep!
I don’t care. Liberals do the damn “he started it” BS
The “he started it” nonsense is for children on the playground, not for adults trying to save the Republic.
Shooting from his fat mouth, Mr. Wilson has dealt a self inflicting wound to our side for no reason. People like Mr. Wilson are the same people that get our soldiers killed in the field for acting like a dumbass, not thinking with his head, and shooting off his big mouth.
I am sorry, when we are in the struggle we are in now, of an ever expanding government, you gotta be smart and on top of your game. In particular when you are outgunned at the moment.
Mr. Wilson’s dumbass comment instead takes the focus off the lies and half truths in Obama’s speech, and instead puts the focus “on those unreasonable Republicans”
Respect is earned.
Authority is granted.
Never confuse the two.
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