Democrats raise money off 'You lie' outburst
'We will not stand for our president to be called a liar in front of the nation'
Posted: September 10, 2009
1:58 pm Eastern

By Chelsea Schilling
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

The House Democrat campaign operation is using an outburst during President Obama's health speech to a joint session of Congress to make at least $100,000 in donations in the next 48 hours.

As Obama delivered his Sept. 9 health-care speech and claimed his plan would not be provided to illegal aliens, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., shouted, "You lie!"

A video of the incident follows:

As WND reported, the version of Obama's universal health-care plan pending in the U.S. House specifically states that illegal aliens should not receive benefits. However, Stuart Bybee, spokesman for Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., told WND restrictions on illegal alien enrollment are not clearly enforced under the current House bill.

"Essentially, it's just a very vague provision, and it really doesn't have any enforcement capability to it," Bybee said. "It just says if you go in and claim that you are a citizen, that's good enough."

He said Heller offered an amendment to H.R.3200 during the House Ways and Means Committee markup that would have ensured that illegal aliens would not qualify for health-care benefits under the bill.

Heller's amendment would have required the federal government use the same database it currently uses to determine eligibility for welfare recipients to ensure illegal aliens do not enroll in the government health-care plan. Applicants would have to show eligibility through the Income and Eligibility Verification System and the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system.

"Under the affordability credits, they have to verify your income in order to make you eligible for the subsidy for the government-run program," Bybee said. "It is simply one extra step just to insist on verification. It doesn't require a new agency. It doesn't require a new program. It's stuff that's already there and available, and it's a step that should be taken to ensure fraud and abuse does not occur in the system."

The House Ways and Means Committee rejected Heller's amendment on July 17 in a straight party-line vote.

Bybee said, "If the intention was to make sure that only citizens had access to this care, then the congressman's amendment should have passed."

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, as many as one-third – or 15 million – of the often-cited "46 million people" without insurance are illegal aliens and their children.

But in an interview with CBS News, Katie Couric asked Obama if illegal aliens should be covered under the proposed health plan.

Obama replied, "no."

"First of all, I'd like to create a situation where we're dealing with illegal immigration, so that we don't have illegal immigrants," he said. "And we've got legal residents or citizens who are eligible for the plan. And I want a comprehensive immigration plan that creates a pathway to achieve that."

However, he explained that he believes illegal alien children should be an exception to the policy.

"The one exception that I think has to be discussed is how are we treating children," he continued. "Partly because if you've got children who may be here illegally but are still in playgrounds or at schools, and potentially are passing on illnesses and communicable diseases, that aren't getting vaccinated, that I think is a situation where you may have to make an exception."

A video of the interview follows:

(Story continues below)




While he still disagrees with the president's claims, Rep. Wilson offered Obama a written apology for his demeanor during the health-care address.

"This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill," he said. "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."

But, despite the apology, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Executive Director Jon Vogel has responded with a letter to supporters stating, "Calling the president of the United States a liar in front of the nation is a new low even for House Republicans and it deserves the strongest response we can give."

As part of that response, Vogel is asking for money.


Democrats request donations "to send message to Republicans"

"Help us raise $100,000 in the next 48 Hours to send a message to Republicans like Congressman Joe Wilson that we will not stand for our president to be called a liar in front of the nation," his letter states.

Vogel said Obama called on Congress to act on the issue of health care and "echo the words of the late Senator Ted Kennedy by showing the 'character of our country.'"

"And this is how House Republicans respond?" he asked.

The National Republican Congressional Committee declined to respond to WND requests for comment on the Democrats' solicitation for money.

Vogel said Republican disrespect for Obama and refusal to engage in meaningful debate is nothing new.

"But disrespecting the president before the eyes of the nation and just at the moment when President Obama was offering his solution to the greatest challenge of our time is truly an outrage," he declared.

Once again, Vogel asked for financial contributions:

Help us raise $100,000 in the next 48 Hours to send a message to Republicans like Congressman Joe Wilson that we will not stand for our president to be called a liar in front of the nation. Your contribution will be immediately put to work to defeat Republican members of Congress and support meaningful health insurance reform.

He also added, "As President Obama said last night, 'If you misrepresent what's in the plan, we will call you out.' Help us start right now with Congressman Joe Wilson."

Vogel signed his letter and closed it with yet another request for donations.

But William Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC said his organization stands behind Wilson.

"It is a real shame that the rest of Congress was not on its feet pointing out the president's lie about illegal aliens in his health care plans along with Joe Wilson," Gheen said in a statement. "When a politician lies to Congress and the public in front of Congress, our elected officials should speak out as Joe Wilson did."

Gheen said dissent has a proper place in any debate and that Obama supporters should not deify the president.

"Joe Wilson yelled out what millions of Americans were thinking during Obama's speech," Gheen said. "We agree with what Joe Wilson said, and even if we did not we would defend his right as an American to speak his mind."


Chelsea Schilling is a staff writer for WorldNetDaily.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=109462