The House voted 240-179 last night in favor of a resolution rebuking Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) for shouting “You Lie!” in a crowded theatre of liars. The resolution admonishes the congressman for violating “basic rules of decorum and civility.” Um hmm.
For his part, the President took the outburst and ensuing apology in stride. “He apologized quickly and without equivocation, and I appreciate that,” Obama said. “I do think we have to get to the point where we have a conversation without…assuming the worst in people.”
“We are all Americans,” Obama added, “For the most part, we have the same motives.”
And apparently the same tactics. Isn’t this same “in your face” style of confrontation and disruption the preferred method utilized by the president’s previous employer, the Association of Community Associations for Reform Now (ACORN)? From an article detailing the inner workings of the group:
Acorn protesters have disrupted Federal Reserve hearings, but mostly deploy their aggressive tactics locally. Chicago is home to one of its strongest chapters, and Acorn has burst into a closed city council meeting there. Acorn protestors in Baltimore disrupted a bankers’ dinner and sent four busloads of profanity-screaming protestors against the mayor’s home, terrifying his wife and kids. Even a Baltimore city council member who generally supports Acorn said their intimidation tactics had crossed the line.
Wilson’s temper got the best of him, and he was wrong to use that particular forum to express himself. But spare me the hyperventilating and righteous indignation from the party that booed the previous president during the 2005 State of the Union, and whose party leadership continually referred to that same president as a “failure” and “loser”.
Their man in office should be used to such tactics - it was part of his curriculum.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
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4 comments:
In 2007 all 168 Republicans on hand supported the measure offered by minority leader John Boehner to censure (far more serious than 'disapproval') Dem. Pete Stark for less than civil comments made about President Bush's position on the war.
He apologized to Congress. The measure didn't pass.
Too bad Wilson didn't learn from that part of his curriculum.
Do you suppose the measure's defeat had more to do with the Democrat-controlled House and less to do with the actual apology? I think so.
Rep. Wilson apologized to the White House, the President accepted and Speaker Pelosi stated her preference to "move on" from the whole affair - but not far enough from the wonderful political theatre these things seem to produce.
Wilson's outburst was an emotional response to a perceived lie. Regrettable but understandable. He apologized. Pete Stark stood in the well of the House and calmly read a statement calling Bush a liar. To my knowledge he has never apologized. The Democrats for years called Bush a liar on WMDs when they themselves, from John Edwards to Howard Dean to Hillary Clinton, had repeatedly said they believed Iraq had them.
Ghost, have you no shame sir, have you no shame?
I'd love to craft an "apology" speech for Wilson to offer to give to the Congress of Democrat pimps, whores, and thieves run by "Madame" Pelosi.
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