House Democrats are planning to censure Joe Wilson for “breach of decorum” for yelling “you lie!” during Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress.
We all know how deeply devoted to decorum our Democrat representatives were back in 2005, when Bush addressed Congress on the issue of Social Security reform and they booed:
Perhaps the House Democrats will even retroactively censure themselves for that act, so dedicated to decorum are they.
[NOTE: The possibility that this action will backfire on House Democrats probably will do nothing to stop them. But it’s interesting to me that Michael Kinsley, a man of the Left (although a relatively moderate one), has requested in this WaPo opinion piece that the Democrats cease and desist in their hot pursuit of Wilson.
Kinsley’s argument is a pragmatic one; he’s not calling the Democrats out as hypocrites, nor does he defend or approve of Wilson; if fact, he criticizes him in no uncertain terms. But still, Kinsley’s is a voice of comparative reason (and even humor) compared to so many others in the Democrat camp:
If [Wilson] won’t apologize on the floor, [House Democrats] want a resolution officially declaring that he’s “it” or he has cooties — or whatever the appropriate language is under House rules.
…The more times [Wilson] is required to write “I will not call the President a liar” on a special blackboard set up in the well of the House, the bigger hero he will become to a large chunk of the population. And, of course, forcing him to grovel will not help to convince him or his supporters that the president is not a liar…
Wilson is obviously a bozo. (I can say this because I’m not on the House floor.) But all the attention is making him more popular within his own constituency, not less so. Why can’t the Democrats be the class act here and just drop it? Sticks and stones, and all that.
Kinsley asks a good question. I’ll make a stab at an answer: because they can’t help themselves. Power has a tendency to encourage people to overreach and overdo, and most politicians have a head start on that sort of behavior anyway, as well as a vast serving of hypocrisy.
There’s also hubris, and then there’s nemesis. We’ll see whether these ancient laws will play out and the tables turn. It’s interesting, as well, to note that among the offenses featured in the original ancient Greek definition of hubris was the “humiliation of a defeated foe.” Hmmm.]
[ADDENDUM: I further commend Kinsley for writing that entire WaPo piece without once calling Wilson or his supporters racists. How refreshing.]
Previously a lifelong Democrat, born in New York and living in New England, surrounded by liberals on all sides, I've found myself slowly but surely 
September 14th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
When the dems go after Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, John Murtha and Charlie Rangel, they can “censure” Joe Wilson. What a pile of steaming **** this Congress has become.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
My message to Joe Wilson would be to stand proudly on the house floor and take Nancy Pelosi’s best shot; then laugh.
My other message would be to fix your web-site so it will process my credit card.
When Michale Kinsley is cited as a voice of reason, that tells you all you need to know about the mind-set of the left.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Censor him, or not. He clearly doesn’t care, and I don’t either. There was a day when Congressman beat one another with their canes, not that I’m arguing for that mind you.
But I will speak out against our pussified elite culture–note elite. We out here in the boonies still beat one another’s asses as required.
Back to the elite pussies, could anything be more pathetic or boring?
September 14th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
If nemesis were a football team, I’d buy a jersey for every day of the week.
Gooooooooooooo Nemesis!
September 14th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Ahmadinejad’s a racist! Probably a Rethuglican!
September 14th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Sorry, wrong thread.
I’ve been amazed by the Dems pushing Wilson to center stage. Biggest boost he could have gotten. Anyone with common sense would have realized that, and ignored the whole thing as much as possible.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
It does seem like the dems are fast becoming the crowd that couldn’t shoot straight. They are about to make this guy a real hero and are too dumb to realize it.
September 14th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
If they strike him down, he will only become stronger….muahahahahahahah….
Sorry - back to seriousness now.
Joe Wilson ought to specifically ask that the censure be provided in writing, then use it in every advertisement, billboard and newspaper/magazine ad he buys for his next campaign.
He also ought to frame it and display it prominently in his office!
It’s the best advertising the man could hope for. Who outside of SC had ever heard of this guy before this?
And when the pendulum swings back - and it will - and the dems find themselves on the outs again (probably as soon as the 2010 elections) the reps could then beat them over the head with their own hyperbole next time they want to offend the sainted decorum of the chamber…..
September 14th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Joe Wilson ought to announce a “major News conferance.” Build it up big. Then come out and say “I will apologize again when congress persons x,y, and z apologize for booing Former President Bush during his speech on date x before congress.” Then turn and walk away- answering no questions. The only clip they would have to play is the short sentence.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Joe Wilson has already apologized. President Obama has accepted the apology and told everyone to move on. Democrats are being vindictive and overbearing. This is childish. Good grief. These people run our Congress?
September 14th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Good, disrupting free speech is NOT free speech — latch on to a brain cell and discern the difference; a murmuring booing by many as opposed to a blurted out YOU LIE. Again to be fair — there was some true to it and it wasn’t that much of a disrupting — but for a Senator, he should know better. Tough one to call actually…
September 14th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
It was a breach of decorum, and therefore to be regretted. I’d hate to see that sort of thing become the norm.
Having said that, there is the dictum that the truth is a total defense.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
anyone here doubt that if they had the power, they would have purged him
September 14th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Censored by Congress? He must be doing something right.
On another subject, I just caught Kanye West on the new Jay Leno show, offering a deeply heartfelt and utterly abject apology for his behavior to Taylor Swift at the Video Music Awards. No excuses, just “it was wrong.” He’s apologized, and I believe the world is going to let him move on.
The Congress should offer Joe Wilson the same courtesy.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Heckling is part of free speech if it doesn’t prevent the speaker from being heard and if it doesn’t continue to the degree that the speaker can’t continue. Saying “You lie” is unparliamentary language, and certainly a breach of decorum. As if that matters.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
VDH nails it, as usual:
http://pajamasmedia.com/victordavishanson/the-rise-of-the-uncouth/#comments
September 15th, 2009 at 2:35 am
Truest thing said today: NOTE: The possibility that this action will backfire on House Democrats probably will do nothing to stop them.
They really are turning into the party of… Don’t open that door! Aarrrgh!!!! Slash! Impale! Squirt! Gush!
September 15th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Not racists. But he did call Joe a “bozo.”
Joe was just telling the truth, which is why Pelousy glared at him like a vampire sighting a garlic bag.
September 15th, 2009 at 3:45 am
And as for everyone who got their panties in a bunch about the “breach of decorum,” I sure wish people would keep their priorities straight.
When does a minor breach of etiquette trump the necessity of telling the truth in a matter of grave importance to the nation? Telling it in a way (the only way) that will get past the Dem gatekeepers of the information industry?
Good for Joe; and if they try to force him to grovel (with their jackboots firmly pressed on his neck, holding him to the floor), he should tell them “Sure, I’ll apologize — after you lot apologize for booing President Bush during his State of the Union speech. And NOT before.”
September 15th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Meanwhile, Chris Dodd, the old sot and crook who was Kennedy’s partner on his drunken, teenager-mauling rampages, wants to name the Senate Caucus chamber after the old murderer.
Isn’t that special.
September 15th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Meanwhile, Chris Dodd, the old sot and crook who was Kennedy’s partner on his drunken, girl-mauling rampages, wants to name the Senate Caucus chamber after the old murderer.
Isn’t that special.
September 15th, 2009 at 3:49 am
Sorry for the double post. Was changing teenager to girl; tho he did Try to get some teen action on more than one occasion.
September 15th, 2009 at 4:22 am
Good, disrupting free speech is NOT free speech — latch on to a brain cell and discern the difference; a murmuring booing by many as opposed to a blurted out YOU LIE.
OK, lemme get this right:
a group of people booing and shouting down the speaker is free speech, but a fed up congressman blurting out the truth is not free speech.
Got it.
September 15th, 2009 at 8:02 am
After re-reading “Old Dad”, I have a suggestion for the republican congress critters.
All of them should show up for the next session carrying walking sticks!
September 15th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I’m not sure Madame Speaker et al know how to behave like grown-ups any more. They are so insulated from 95% of the world that they seem to have lost touch with the reality that the rest of us are living in. Out here, someone gets out of hand and apologizes, the offended party accepts the apology, and life goes on. Maybe this is partly to spook the Blue-dogs and anyone else considering jumping ship.
September 15th, 2009 at 11:35 am
The Democratic Congress is getting “all wee wee’d up” !!!
September 15th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Obama also called Sarah Palin a liar in that speech although he at least did not call her out by name. Nonetheless, he demeaned himself in doing so (not that he or the teleprompter cared) and gave those of us who are following the debate over passage of health care legislation (or health insurance legislation, or whatever it has morphed to this week) additional pause to question his good faith. What his personal attacks reveal is a little man in a job way over his head. And, given his writing that he has the ability to say what he thinks others want him to say without regard to his true feelings or opinions, his anger is begin to slip out.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Wilson has already raised more money in the past week for his re-election than he had raised in his previous campaign.
September 15th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
This is rather beside the point, but funny. Last night Jay Leno showed a clip of Joe and Nancy smiling at each other during Obama’s speech. He said they look like a couple from the Cialis commercials preparing to have sex.
September 15th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Joe Biden not Wilson of course!
September 15th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
SAB, it was the chairs Biden and Pelosi sat in, side by side, that reminded Jay of the Cialis couple in their side by side bathtubs. It’s true, they looked just like the ad!
I’ve never understood that imagery - what’s sexy about sitting in separate bathtubs outdoors in a public space? It doesn’t matter what kind of drug the man’s taken, nothing fun is gonna happen in that kind of configuration.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:57 am
E: It was also their huge complicit grins as well…
September 16th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Good point! : )