"The president [don't get us started on capitalization!] was greeted by booming applause from Democrats and polite handshakes from Republicans. But the political challenge at hand soon became clear as several Republican lawmakers heckled Mr. Obama. . . . 'You lie!' Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina yelled back after Mr. Obama said it was not true that the Democrats were proposing to provide health coverage to illegal immigrants." ("Obama, Armed with Details, Says Health Plan Is Necessary")
"Though President Obama has formally accepted the apology of Joe 'You lie!' Wilson, the fallout from the emotional outburst continues to ripple across the nation, even raising doubts about the Republican congressman's political future. . . . 'There ought to be a reprimand or censure,' Sen. Arlen Specter, D-PA, said. . . . 'I cringed,' Rep. David Dreier . . . said. . . . 'I've been here a long time,' said House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter, D-NY. . . 'I've never heard anyone accost a president like that.'" ("The 'You Lie!' Aftermath")
Never? Really? Hard to believe--and disappointing--that no Democrat ever so vehemently denounced George W. Bush. Maybe not on national television, but still. . . .
Much as we revel in schadenfreude at the sight of yet another Republican self-destructing, we feel a need to point out that what Rep. Wilson did really wasn't all that bad. He called the president a liar. Tacky? Sure. Inaccurate? Yes. Inappropriate? OK. But, still, all good liberals who giggled and/or applauded when that Iraqi journalist played slipperfling with W should be defending Rep. Wilson's right to verbally express his own misplaced outrage.
Besides, think about what President Obama has heard over the last couple of years: thinly (or not) veiled racial slurs, political sneers, clumsy attack ads from Democrats and Republicans alike. Frankly, we imagine "You lie!" ranks pretty low on the offense-o-meter. Probably sounds positively flattering.
Look, folks, in all honesty, we think American democracy could use an infusion of Wilsonian spirit. Have you ever seen "Question Time" in the British Parliament? The Prime Minister regularly submits himself to raucous verbal confrontation by members of his own party and the opposition. If a back-bencher screamed "You lie!" at Gordon Brown, he would probably face scorn and condemnation--from Gordon Brown. Not because of impudence, mind you, but because of unoriginality. The Brits may not explicitly endorse rudeness, but we're fairly certain they have even less patience for dullness.
"You lie!" Rep. Wilson? Is that the best you can do?
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