For the record, I think Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst during President Obama’s speech was inappropriate, because that’s just not the way things are done over here. Not that there’s anything fundamentally wrong with British-style debate, but for some reason our Congress likes to pretend that everyone gets along.
But there are a few things to observe:
- It’s awfully rich for Democrats to pretend that Wilson’s breach of decorum is somehow unprecedented. For example, Rahm Emanuel said “No president has ever been treated like that. Ever.” Really? What about our last president?
- Obama was, in fact, lying. Worse, in so doing, he was calling other members of Congress liars.
- Through his outburst, Wilson may have forced Democrats to take action on the matter:
In the Senate, Democrats in the so called “Gang of Six,” a group of bipartisan senators on the Senate Finance Committee which is the last panel yet to release its bill, began moving quickly to close the loophole that Wilson helped bring greater attention to.
In light of the above, I think Democrats are overplaying their hand by making a big deal out of this. Ultimately, it will serve to draw attention to a matter that is not at all favorable to Democrats, and away from the president’s speech. Already Wilson has become the main story, and I really don’t think that helps them. So, by all means, let’s have a full investigation and a vote to censure Wilson.
UPDATE: Eeeexcellent. . . (Via Hot Air.)
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