Stupid Joe Wilson (and Other Stupid People)
Oh, Joe Wilson.
That was a good job you did, insulting the President on the House floor with millions of people across the country watching, wasn't it? Go you.
Of course, he apologized, and of course, it was forgiven. At least by the White House. By some other Democrats, perhaps not. That, I find, is a bit much.
House Democrats want him to apologize, just not to the White House via telephone, but also to address Representatives on the House floor and apologize. It does seem a bit odd that he refuses to do this - if you called your boss a liar during a board meeting, wouldn't you apologize to the board? You would if you wanted to keep your job. But no, not Joe Wilson!
I also think it's dumb of Democrats to insist on formally chastising him in front of the entire House if he doesn't do it. The guy knows he shouldn't have done it, or he wouldn't have called the White House to apologize. A lot of politicians don't apologize for things they shouldn't have done. I'm sure he's gotten a lot of flack for it as well. He's already stuck his foot in his mouth. People are upset with HIM. Now you're being petty and making people upset with YOU. Way to go, House Democrats.
As an aside, I read that a lot of his constituents were happy about it. Um, really? OK, I believe in free speech, but during a speech in the House on live television? I'm not saying it should be illegal, but it's frankly rude and not the smartest move. Chastise him later, write an editorial, have a news conference, send your supporters e-mails and call him a liar. Even someone's supporters aren't going to agree with them on everything, and political free speech is an important part of our democracy. But wow, that's the wrong time and place. Let's support being rude to our president! Way to go, electorate! And while those constituents will re-elect him, it seems, I'd also think that would go against him if he were to ever seek or be appointed to some higher office.
So to you, Joe Wilson, some House Democrats, and some voters in South Carolina, I say this: you're all a big pair of crazypants.
That was a good job you did, insulting the President on the House floor with millions of people across the country watching, wasn't it? Go you.
Of course, he apologized, and of course, it was forgiven. At least by the White House. By some other Democrats, perhaps not. That, I find, is a bit much.
House Democrats want him to apologize, just not to the White House via telephone, but also to address Representatives on the House floor and apologize. It does seem a bit odd that he refuses to do this - if you called your boss a liar during a board meeting, wouldn't you apologize to the board? You would if you wanted to keep your job. But no, not Joe Wilson!
I also think it's dumb of Democrats to insist on formally chastising him in front of the entire House if he doesn't do it. The guy knows he shouldn't have done it, or he wouldn't have called the White House to apologize. A lot of politicians don't apologize for things they shouldn't have done. I'm sure he's gotten a lot of flack for it as well. He's already stuck his foot in his mouth. People are upset with HIM. Now you're being petty and making people upset with YOU. Way to go, House Democrats.
As an aside, I read that a lot of his constituents were happy about it. Um, really? OK, I believe in free speech, but during a speech in the House on live television? I'm not saying it should be illegal, but it's frankly rude and not the smartest move. Chastise him later, write an editorial, have a news conference, send your supporters e-mails and call him a liar. Even someone's supporters aren't going to agree with them on everything, and political free speech is an important part of our democracy. But wow, that's the wrong time and place. Let's support being rude to our president! Way to go, electorate! And while those constituents will re-elect him, it seems, I'd also think that would go against him if he were to ever seek or be appointed to some higher office.
So to you, Joe Wilson, some House Democrats, and some voters in South Carolina, I say this: you're all a big pair of crazypants.