Obama heckled by GOP during speech: 'You lie!'

Obama heckled by GOP during speech: 'You lie!'

Buzz up 1088

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer Laurie Kellman, Associated Press Writer – 55 mins ago

WASHINGTON – In an extraordinary breach of congressional decorum, a Republican lawmaker shouted "You lie" at President Barack Obama during his speech to Congress Wednesday.

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., tried to call Obama to apologize in person, but ended up speaking to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.

The contrite congressman, "expressed his apologies" to Emanuel, not the president at whom he had shouted a few hours earlier, Wilson's office said.

By that time, Wilson's House Web site had crashed and he had taken a brutal beating on his Twitter page for breaching protocol and good manners during a presidential speech to a joint session of Congress.

"This evening I let my emotions get the best of me," Wilson said in a statement. "While I disagree with the president's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility."

Wilson's outburst came after Obama said that extending health care to all Americans who seek it would not mean insuring illegal immigrants.

"You lie!" Wilson shouted from his seat on the Republican side of the chamber.

Republicans froze, with several looking in Wilson's direction.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi directed a fierce frown at him; first lady Michelle Obama pursed her lips and shook her head from side to side. Vice President Joe Biden looked down and shook his head, too.

Obama, meanwhile, looked toward the outburst and replied, "That's not true," and went on with his speech.

Right away, Wilson seemed to sense that he had fouled up. Wilson appeared to consult his Blackberry for much of the rest of Obama's speech. He shook his head defiantly after several of the president's statements. When Obama finished, Wilson bolted from the chamber.

Wilson's wasn't the only interruption during Obama's speech, but it was the most notable.

Obama's Republican rival from last year's presidential race for the White House defended the president.

Wilson's behavior was "totally disrespectful," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said on CNN. "There is no place for it in that setting, or any other, and he should apologize for it immediately."

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said "I have never in my 29 years heard an outburst of that nature with reference to a president of the United States speaking as a guest of the House and Senate."

"It was a shameful act," he told WTOP radio.

Hoyer said he'll work with GOP lawmakers to decide whether to punish Wilson.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090910/ap_ ... e_heckling

I wish all of the Rep's would have stood up and chanted lies, lies and more lies at the televised meeting.

PS
Obama wasn't heckled. It was one lousy comment.

Mr. Wilson was obviously incensed when hearing another false statement about illegal aliens and health care legislation. Who believes that La Raza, SEIU, ACORN, and unions are not demanding that illegal aliens get health care under the bills proposed? No verification of citizenship and loopholes will allow for illegal aliens to be covered. SCHIP is a prime example of illegal alien coverage, though some Congress members still say that they are not included.

Jeremiah 29:11

the truth hurts .... I dont care who you are... if your spin wild tales .. you still told a lie

I am sick of the lie's of the lie, that bends the truth, that distorts the actual reality

these people need to stop smoking crack ... kid's ... pay attention... this is what happens when you grow up in a libertal environment, smoke crack and think you are god when in fact

your just a broke down, Fascist Lie'r and scared to death of the truth

I believe Joe Wilson was disrespectful, to the office of the President.

However, I used this opportunity to email the President. I asked him to explain how illegal aliens will be denied federal health care benefits, when they get county and state benefits. If we can't inquire about their legal status, how will they be denied benefits ? Please explain how the process of denying them benefits will work.

I also believe health care reform is necessary. Insurance companies are good at taking our money, not keeping us healthy. They collect premiums, until we get sick, then we are denied coverage.

The costs for employers is increasing 30 - 40% a year. Most employers want to ELIMINATE health care benefits. Without reform, we will be buying our own insurance or going with out it.

Defined pension plans have almost been eliminated, health insurance is next on the list. This country needs healthcare reform The Republicans should take part in this reform, instaed of spreading lies about it.

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Originally Posted by magyart

I also believe health care reform is necessary. Insurance companies are good at taking our money, not keeping us healthy. They collect premiums, until we get sick, then we are denied coverage.

The costs for employers is increasing 30 - 40% a year. Most employers want to ELIMINATE health care benefits. Without reform, we will be buying our own insurance or going with out it.

Defined pension plans have almost been eliminated, health insurance is next on the list. This country needs healthcare reform The Republicans should take part in this reform, instaed of spreading lies about it.

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I agree with you to some extent - health insurance reform is necessary. But the current bill is not the answer. There is simply too much government involvement in the proposed plan. Rep. Mike Pence of the National Republican Conference listed 53 new agencies, panels, and committees that would be created by H.R. 3200. See this site for a full list: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/200 ... _obam.html

It's almost like saying because I have a kitchen sink with a dripping faucet, I need to tear down the whole house and replace it with a travel trailer. There are simpler and less costly measures that can be taken such as tort reform, portability, allowing insurance sales across state lines. One of the most helpful actions that could be taken would be to eliminate state requirements that force us to buy and pay for coverage we don't want or need. For example, my company insurance covers autism treatment for children I don't have and maternity coverage for the men in our company.

We need some govt. regulation and over sight. A lack of this enabled our banking industry to led the entire world to near financial ruin. My home value and 401k plan hasn't yet recovered.

The managers of the banking industry and many in the healthcare industry are cut from the same cloth. They are most interested in profit, stock options, and bonuses. The executives at an insurance company are not interested in our health, but their wealth.

I looked at the list. Here's two items we should all, readily want. I can't help but believe with the shortage of nurses, we all want the best quality care they can provide.

23. Quality assurance and performance improvement program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 1412(b)(1), p. 546)
24. Quality assurance and performance improvement program for nursing facilities (Section 1412 (b)(2), p. 548)

Many items on this list are the types of things already done in the healthcare field. These items are NOT upsetting to me.

The URAC organization inspects and evaluates our health care facilities, such as hospitals and audits many health maintenance organizations. These organizations must adhere to min. levels of quality and follow correct policies and procedures. Most people have never heard of it, or understand what it does. This is a form of regulation and oversight. Believe me, it's necessary.

The govt. actually does a good job with medicare, medicaid and the VA. The costs to run these programs is much lower than the costs insurance companies incur. People actually like these programs and normally don't refer to them as socialism, but that's what they are. These programs work well, even though they are govt. run. Ask your parents or any veteran if they should be eliminated.

Our govt. runs the military and we have the BEST, in the world. Unfortunately, some of the things that make the military run well, aren't transferable to the public sector. However, many veterans turn out to be excellent public managers, after they retire from the service.

I agree with your recommendations about tort reform, portability, allowing insurance sales across state lines.

I also agree with the President about eliminating "pre-existing conditions". You can bet the insurance companies will fight this.

The govt. needs to regulate and over see the insurance companies to prevent abuses. There is not enough competition and our health care is too expensive. We have the MOST expensive care, but not the BEST care.
Too much money is used to stock options, executive bonuses, govt. lobbyist. This reduces the money available for our healthcare.

I don't believe the President is trying to destroy what we have and start over. I believe he sincerely wants to improve healthcare and the quality of our lives. He is really taking a centralist approach, He will be attacked from the left and the right.

Insurance companies will declare war against him and spend millions of dollars to scare you, regarding any change. This industry doesn't want change, or tort reform, or more competition, or less profit.

Healthcare reform is necessary or we all will lose health insurance. I believe the President is on the right track and Republicans should get involved with this process of change. Standing on the side lines and saying, "No", is the correct solution.

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/65/pantse.png

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You lie!" Wilson shouted from his seat on the Republican side of the chamber.

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WAY TO GO JOE!!!! :D