Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) Yells Out "You Lie" When President Obama Says His Health Care Bill Won't Mandate Coverage for Illegal Immigrants

Once again, the Republican Party shows that it has no class. During President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress tonight regarding health care reform, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) yelled out "lie" when the President said his health care bill would not mandate coverage for illegal immigrants. I can't recall hearing any member of Congress interrupt President George W. Bush or President Bill Clinton during their address to Congress. Why should President Obama be continually subjected to such crass behavior at the hands of his opponents? We have lost all sense of decorum in this country. This is a travesty and this congressman is a disgrace.

I can't recall hearing Rep. Wilson calling Governor Sanford a liar and a cheat when he left his office to go for a booty call in South America. Sen. John McCain, during an appearance on CNN after the president's speech, said Wilson's outburst was "totally disrespectful -- [there's] no place for it in that setting or any other and he should apologize immediately." Now, that's the John McCain I liked before the presidential campaign. First Lady Michelle Obama, overhead in the visitors' gallery, shook her head from side to side.

FactCheck.org described the claims made by Rep. Joe Wilson as "false" and noted that one version of the legislation already includes an explicit bar on federal funding for illegal immigrants' health care. There is an http://act.ly/iqpetition going viral, asking @CongJoeWilson to apologize for yelling "YOU LIE" in President Obama's speech.

If you'd like to sign,please click here. 

UPDATE #1: Joe Wilson is being challenged by Rob Miller for SC-02. You can donate to Miller's ActBlue page here.

UPDATE #2: In less than two hours, challenger Rob Miller has raised over $11K. Joe Wilson is shaking like a leaf at the outrage being leveled at him and the prospect that this outburst could, and should, cost him reelection. He has issued the following apology:

“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. 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.”

UPDATE #3: True to form, Fox News stepped up to the plate and showed just have right wing they are. On Fox Business News, Karl Rove and host Neil Cavuto thought Wilson shouting at the President was hilarious. "Joe Wilson, good guy," said Rove. "Lovely," agreed Cavuto.

Sorry, but if he wasn't called out on his despicable behavior, he would not have apologized. These are the bottom feeders who are making decisions for Americans. Time for this moron to go back to South Carolina!

UPDATE #4: It turns out that Joe Wilson was once a member of Sons of Confederate Veterans. According to Crooks and Liars, this is an organization that, as the SPLC has detailed assiduously, has been taken over in the past decade by radical neo-Confederates who favor secession and defend slavery as a benign institution. Leading the takeover is a radical racist named Kirk Lyons, who's been an important legal figure on the far right for some years.

Joe Wilson, as a state legislator, was one of only seven Republicans to go against their own party and vote to keep the Dixie Rebel flag flying over the South Carolina capitol:

The flag came down that year after Republicans in both houses went for a compromise that would put it on Statehouse grounds at the Confederate Soldier’s monument. The “Magnificent Seven” of Senators who voted to keep the flag up included current Congressman Joe Wilson (who I served with in the 218th Infantry Brigade of the National Guard.) Source: Crooks and Liars

Joe Wilson's contact information:

Joe Wilson
South Carolina-2nd, Republican
212 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-4002
Phone: (202) 225-2452

Wilson Joe Congressman
1700 Sunset Blvd
West Columbia, SC 29169 Map
(803) 939-0041

And email him at http://www.joewilson.house.gov/

To watch the video, CLICK HERE

Watch the entire speech:

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