This is going to be a very short diary, but what I have to say won't take long. Joe Wilson's stunningly rude outburst during the President's speech to Congress tonight got me thinking about the difference between Democrats and Republicans. More below the fold.
Tonight a Republican congressman essentially called the President of the United States a liar during a nationally televised speech delivered before both Houses of Congress. The congressman, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, has since offered a feeble apology. And to their credit, it appears that some Republicans actually called upon him to apologize.
But what if the shoe were on the other foot? What if a Democratic congressman had interrupted one of Bush's speeches to Congress by calling Bush a liar? What do you think would have happened then?
I can tell you what would have happened. There would have been immediate demands from Republicans that the offending Democrat resign his office. The next day, the Republican leadership in both houses of Congress would introduce resolutions condemning the congressman for his disrespect of the president.
Naturally, the Democratic congressman would get no support from members of his own party. They would be falling all over themselves to condemn his outburst themselves, lest they be accused of tolerating that kind of behavior, or even worse, of being "Bush haters." The resolutions of censure would pass with the support of all Republicans and strong majorities of Democrats. The congressman might even be driven to resign. Even if not, he'd be subjected to protests in his district and in Washington. (Needless to say, the news media would join the baying hounds calling for his head.)
But Joe Wilson is a Republican. So I'm betting that none of the above will happen to him. His party will circle the wagons around him and defend him against all comers. He'll even develop something of a fan club because of it. You can be virtually certain that Joe Wilson will survive this incident.
And that, my friends, is the difference between the two parties in a nutshell. (Somehow seemed appropriate to quote John McCain.)