Your email address is safe with us. View our Privacy policy.
Author Bio:
Kathleen Parker is one of America's most popular opinion columnists, addressing the country's mental health through her views on current national ...
Read more about Kathleen Parker.
Kathleen Parker is one of America's most popular opinion columnists, addressing the country's mental health through her views on current national ...
Read more about Kathleen Parker.
Joe Wilson Loses It
Kathleen Parker
WASHINGTON -- South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson seems to have set a
precedent Wednesday night when he called the president a liar during a
joint session of Congress.
That's the official word from House deputy historian Fred Beuttler, who says that though cheering and jeering between parties are commonplace, a single individual seldom steals the floor.
Yet, there was Wilson, red-faced and alone, jabbing the air with his index finger and shouting to Barack Obama, "You lie!!!"
As we say down South, "What in tarnation?"
Much of the post-Wilson harrumphing has focused not only on his outburst, for which he has apologized, but also generally on "heckling" by Republicans.
Where have these folks been during previous presidential addresses? Although heckling by individuals usually emanates from the public gallery, group histrionics are a time-honored tradition in American political theater. Without which, honestly, how many of us would make it to the end?
What's more memorable: a president's rehearsed assertions from the podium or a bunch of congressmen booing the leader of the free world?
Otherwise, jeers, eye-rolling and other expressions of disapproval are practically de rigueur for opposition leaders. The queen of disapproving glances isn't Nancy Pelosi, who glared at Wilson, but Hillary Clinton, who listened to George W. Bush's State of the Union addresses with the sort of expression one usually associates with sailing the Drake Passage.
And who can forget Sen. John McCain's dozing through Bush's 2007 State of the Union? Or Democrats booing and heckling Bush throughout his 2005 address? The list goes on.
This is not to excuse Wilson's behavior, which caused him to become an overnight Twitter sensation. His offense sets a new low bar. But as a nation, we have entered a political era of uninhibited belligerence. The civility we insist that we prefer has been in short supply at town hall meetings, several of which Wilson conducted.
A review of his Twitter log during the August break reveals a busy slate of meetings with angry crowds -- 1,500 people in Beaufort, 1,000 in Hilton Head.
"People want insurance reform, not government takeover!" he tweeted.
Was Wilson, perhaps, still reeling from these overheated exchanges in the state once famously described as too small to be a nation, too large to be an insane asylum?
Hysteria is, after all, contagious.
Wilson's apparent cognitive lapse reminded me of a favorite story around our house about my impeccably well-mannered husband as a college student. He was listening to his math teacher droning on about what to expect on an upcoming exam, thinking to himself: "Do we have to prove this s---?"
After the bell rang, his classmates approached him with glee, saying, "We can't believe you said that?!" Said what? To my bewildered husband's horror, he had uttered aloud his private thought -- though, thankfully, beyond the professor's hearing.
It happens.
And thus, we have a new addition to the list of proper nouns that have become verbs. To "Borking" and "Nifonging," we may now add "Joewilsoning," as in, "OMG, he Joewilsoned right in the middle of the sermon!"
Obviously, a comparison between the congressman and the college student begins and ends with both having said regrettable things. The congressman is held to a higher standard. But it's hard to imagine that Wilson meant to say what he did. Taking him at his word, the outburst was spontaneous. And, according to witnesses, Wilson seemed to be shaken and left the chamber quickly at session's end.
There's no excusing a Joewilson, but the congressman's continued pummeling seems overdrawn. The tut-tutting on TV has begun to sound like a drum corps. And heaven forbid pursed lips should go out of style.
No one is more surprised by Wilson's implosion, meanwhile, than those who know him to be polite, humble and deferential. (Disclosure: A nephew works in his office.)
A former aide to Strom Thurmond, Wilson apparently acquired the late senator's knack for constituent service. Few are quicker with a congratulatory letter or a note of sympathy. Wilson's actions Wednesday, in other words, seem vastly out of character and, perhaps, evidence of what the ladies back home might call "a case of the nerves."
Wilson's psychoanalysis will have to fall to others, but further public persecution is unnecessary. Wilson's opponent for re-election, a Marine captain and Iraqi War veteran, Rob Miller, reportedly has increased his coffers by $400,000 since Wilson's one-man siege. Obama escaped the assault both unruffled and unscathed.
Though he may have stolen the show, Wilson may have lost his audience.
========
Kathleen Parker's e-mail address is kathleenparker(at)washpost.com
Copyright 2009 Washington Post Writers Group
This news arrived on: 09/11/2009
Printer Friendly Version | Send this page to a friend | Post Comment
Rate This Story:
Great - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - Bad
Posted Comments:
09-14-2009 11:02
JCE wrote:
JK
I have never said that. While it is true that the south is where most of the white racists have been, by no means are all whites from the south racist. But even you will have noticed that most of the racists online here when identifying where they live, live in the south. And most of the politicians who are so racist against blacks do come from southern states. Anyone looking at a political map, and a geophysical map will be struck by the similarity between where the southern states are, and where the white supremacists are. That isn't my opinion, it is well established fact, and can easily be further proven by going online and looking up the hate groups, where they are located, and who their leaders are. Sorry that myself and the truth is so disappointing to you. I don't care to be thought of. I am just happy to be right as often as I am. And to be a lightening rod to those who are wrong, and to the racists, and supporters of the special interest groups, and the extremist terrorists. That makes me happy. And I don't find their desperation and anger at me for being right and in the majority tiresome at all. We don't want to go back to slavery. We do want reform, especially of health care, but in human rights in general. And those who think like you can only low it down, not stop it. That opposition of yours to peoples rights, and reform of our government, and systems, is tiresome, I will admit.
09-14-2009 08:59
JK wrote:
Jce
The inference that anyone from the south is racist is yours not mine. Go back and read what you have written in the past. For someone who wants to be thought of as smart the spin you put on your own positions is self defeating. The long posts and the number of them dosent make you smart. And yes you are tiresome bla bla bla. Obama is great bla bla bla Anyone who dosent see the world as Jce does is raicest bla bla bla. Tiresome isnt it?
09-13-2009 21:21
JCE wrote:
JK
Your inference that a person from the south is a racist is typical of all that you say. Many people in the south are white, and not racists, many who aren't white are racists. I am white, and I am from the south. So is my dad. I have lived and traveled all over the south, and I liked it and many of its people a great deal. While Wilson is from the 2nd Congressional District in South Carolina, and that is home of a very high % of racists, that doesn't mean he is one, at least, that fact alone. There is plenty of evidence in his history to suggest it, however, and if one was a betting man, one would bet on it. Funny how when I speak against the things Obama is doing, I don't call myself a racist. Most of my friends are against many things Obama does, and even my online friends don't like everything he does. Perhaps the reason that you find my stuff tiresome is because I don't suffer fools well, and none of my friends are racist. Even tho I didn't support everything Bush did, I respected him. Even now, if I met him, knowing him for a murderer, liar, and war criminal, I would treat him with respect. Why not? You will never come to Alaska. This is God's country, and a mans country. It is hard to live here. Takes a certain kind of person to be able to take the conditions. You talk like someone who couldn't measure up. But I wish you could come up here. It would be the experience of a lifetime.
09-13-2009 21:05
JK wrote:
Jce et al
So if I understand your position Joe Wilson is white and from the south so he is a racist? I did not vote fore Obama not becuse he is black but because I felt he was not the best man for the job. And nothing he has done so far has changed my openion. When anyone speaks of Obama in turms you dont like you yell racist. It gets tiresome. And if I ever get to Alaska I will let you know where I can be found so you can see and touch me. If you ever come to Chicago please do the same for me. Sleep tight internet tough guy!
09-13-2009 18:29
JCE wrote:
Until the 109th Congress, it was not in order to make certain references to the Senate or individual senators. However, at the beginning of that Congress, the House removed the prohibition on making references to the Senate, leaving only the requirement that debate be confined to the question under debate and avoid “personality.” The precedents of the House allow a wide latitude in criticism of the President, other executive officials, and the government itself. However, it is not permissible to use language that is personally offensive to the President, such as referring to him as a “hypocrite” or a “liar.” Similarly, it is not in order to refer to the President as “intellectually dishonest” or an action taken by the President as “cowardly.” References to the Vice President, in spite of his role as President of the Senate, are measured against the standard used for the President rather than prior standards used to govern the Senate.
Comment archive | Comment FAQ's
 |
 |
|
View Kathleen Parker ezine stories by date or visit the complete archive |
The ArcaMax Politics channel is one of 70 content categories offered by ArcaMax Publishing on this ... |
VideoSquares.com
