This will probably be the shortest diary I ever write, but my dander is well and truly up and I want this scumbag called out early and often.
As MSNBC pointed out-Obama, was heckled from the right side of the aisle. Well Politico, ID'ed the culprit for this breach of decorum and civility, and shocker of shockers, it was a southern Republican:
"There are also those who claim that our reform effort will insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false - the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally," President Obama said.
A loud voice from the Republican side of the hall answered, "Lie" -- my colleague Glenn Thrush reports it was Rep. Joe Wilson (R - S.C.) --
Which is not only a violation of the basic standards politeness one would expect from a grown adult, but of House Rules which specifically outlaw such language.
But even worse than being a violation of Bobby's Rules Of Order, tradition, and civility. Rep Smith's accusation was, not to put to fine a point on it, a lie: (from the Poltico again):
The bill is designed to exclude those immigrants, though some Republicans have called for more explicit bans on funding for illegal immigrants and have claimed the bill will funnel money to illegal immigrants.
FactCheck.org described those claims as "false" and noted that one version of the legislation already includes an explicit bar on federal funding for illegal immigrants' health care.
In fact here's precisely what FactCheck had to say about it
Claim: Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
False. That’s simply not what the bill says at all. This page includes "SEC. 152. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE," which says that "[e]xcept as otherwise explicitly permitted by this Act and by subsequent regulations consistent with this Act, all health care and related services (including insurance coverage and public health activities) covered by this Act shall be provided without regard to personal characteristics extraneous to the provision of high quality health care or related services." However, the bill does explicitly say that illegal immigrants can’t get any government money to pay for health care. Page 143 states: "Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States." And as we’ve said before, current law prohibits illegal immigrants from participating in government health care programs.
So once again we a Republican looking in a Mirror and seeing Obama rather than himself, YOU Rep Wilson, are the liar, as well as an uncultured oaf who'd have dragged off the floor and beaten silly by the Sargeant at arms in more civilized times.
But I can't just leave it at that, there is too much of a pattern developing here. From Saxby "what the hell kind of name is Saxby?" Chambliss's demand today that Obama show some "humility" (whatsa matter Saxs? He getting a mite uppity for your tastes?) to Rep Lynn King's wish last week for the GOP to produce a "Great White Hope" (for those not totally hip on their racist vocabulary, that's what they used to call all the white boxers they put up against the first Black Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson, hoping on of them would show that uppity boxer the superiority of the White race- Johnson took some glee in thoroughly kicking their asses, each and every one)
As someone on a discussion forum asked today:
Why... why... why... must {The GOP have polticians}that have such a tin ear to when they say blatantly racist crap.
and I was moved to ask this question :
Tin ear or Dog Whistle? He IS a southern Republican after all; and I'd wager a majority of his base have a custom-tailored set of bedsheets in their house. Maybe not theirs, but their pappy's or grand-pappy's and they just hang on to them to "celebrate their heritage"
This is happening too much to be a coincidence. From the TX school district that refused to play Obama's speech, but will BUS kids to hear a speech by W (and denies there's a double standard; to to Rep "Mean Jean's" Stage whisper that she didn't think Obama was really the president at townhall last night to this disrespectful display by Rep Wilson tonight, something dark and ugly is happening on the other side of the aisle right now.
Loyal reasoned opposition, is one thing, and necessary to the health of the Republic. This ugly, disrespectful, racially-tinged contempt they are displaying to the man and office of the President? This has got to stop or be called out for what it is and held up to the light.