So, we had the President acting like a statesman and continuing to offer to work with Republicans (even as he did call out some of their lies.) And, we had a Republican member of Congress screaming like an idiot.
I wasn't fortunate enough to watch President Obama's speech last night, as I was on my way home from work (hey, out here on the Left Coast, these things start early...like 5pm). I was sitting in a parking lot at an Albertson's in Tigard listening to the speech on NPR when I heard Congressman Joe Wilson's (R-12th cent.) outburst. With two simple words: "YOU LIE!!"- and the vitriol contained within- Wilson went from being an anonymous, irrelevant, and impotent Republican ideologue to being the very embodiment of Republican self-parody and lunacy.
If Rep. Wilson had bothered to read the bill (Section 246) President Obama was referring to, he would have known that the bill does in fact expressly exclude illegal aliens from coverage. So, in the space of a few short moments, Rep. Wilson exposed himself as a first class fool, a liar, and an embarassment- to his state, to his party, and to his country. Methinks this is perhaps why the Japanese invented seppuku. If Rep. Wilson had even the barest shred of human decency, he'd do the right thing and fall on his sword. Instead he'll probably be feted by Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs and their ilk today and hailed as some sort of Hero and Defender of the Common Man. Lord knows if there's one thing wingnuts appreciate, it's a man willing to embarrass himself for a cause.
Free speech is a good thing, and heckling is not uncommon...in the House of Commons. Here in this country, we generally expect that our Presidents will be treated with dignity and respect- even if you're an ignoramus. Rep. Wilson just demonstrated in spades that Republicans have nothing- no ideas, no plans, no alternatives, no positive contributions to the debate over health care reform. Being the party of "NO!" and the party of wingnuts, birthers, and irrational zealots is really about all they have left.
So, d'ya STILL believe that bipartisan health care reform is within the realm of possibility? And I suppose you still believe in the Tooth Fairy? And Santa Claus? And the designated hitter? Dream on, y'all...because to Republicans, "compromise" is the rule of the minority.
