Why Does Joe Wilson Matter?
By HHR | September 13th, 2009 | Category: Featured, General, HHR Contributors, Politics | 4 comments
When I wrote my earlier post on the President’s health care speech, I had some knowledge of what Joe Wilson had done during the speech. But I ignored it. I mean, the real issue here was not about some obscure congressman but about tackling the important issue of health care, right?
Boy was I wrong.
Joe Wilson has become a poster boy of sorts. He has been blamed for taking people’s attention off the important health care debate. He has been a hero to some, and a lout to others.
But why does he matter?
I know, I know: it’s because he called the President a liar. I agree that it’s quite boorish. Republicans have made it a habit lately in acting like children, but then so did the Democrats when they were the “out” party. The thing is, our political culture is filled with people on blogs, talk shows and books claiming that so and so politician is a liar. We seem to revel in calling people fakes; it’s a good way to reveal how pure and true we are.
With such incivility everywhere in American culture these days, I don’t know why we should get all into a bother because someone was uncivil on the floor of the House; Wilson was just doing what has become normal in our political life these days.
Wilson has been used by various people for various reasons. For Democrats, he is the poster boy of a Republican party gone mad, not to mention a rallying cry to raise more money. For the media, it’s another trivial character they can focus on; another example of political entertainment. For Republicans, he’s an example of the “common man” standing up to the liberal elites. For Joe Wilson himself, it’s a nice way to raise money for his re-election campaign.
Joe Wilson in my view, doesn’t matter. We should have not paid attention to him, instead, focusing on how best to solve the issue of health care. But we live in a world where politics and entertainment rules, and so we focus on some unknown representative from South Carolina.
Let’s focus on what matters. There is nothing to see here. Move on.
Dennis Sanders is a pastor living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has worked on centrist Republican issues for years, including stints as President of the Minnesota chapter of Log Cabin Republicans (a gay/lesbian advocacy group) and Republicans for Environmental Protection. Dennis blogs at NeoMugwump and happily lives with his partner Daniel and serves two cats, Morris and Felix.
This article was first posted on http://republicansunited.us/
HHR Note : For supporters of Joe Wilson there is a new site defending him http://www.joewilsonforcongress.com/
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I’m sorry Rev. but this is too agregiuos to not respond to. I know Y’all HHR’s prefer to remain above the fray in your smoking jackets, white gloves, tails and just “look the other way” when the very people you’re in league with are “mopping the floor with you”!
from Maureen Dowd’s NYT OpEd column: “But Wilson’s shocking disrespect for the office of the president — no Democrat ever shouted “liar” at W. when he was hawking a fake case for war in Iraq — convinced me: Some people just can’t believe a black man is president and will never accept it.”
Many of us people of color knew it was so the minute we heard it! My protest placard consisted of only two words BUSH LIAR, simpIe and effective, But I am a citizen on a street corner in SoCal not a congressman sitting in the Congress!! For God’s sake man!! Read the column, the very embodiment of southern racists just spat at a black POTUS and you write this DRIVVLE. With all due respect rev. I’m really not surprised, you are a “Log Cabin Republican” aren’t you?? Double your trouble….. Lord have mercy!!
youunless the disrespect is so
Another psychotic outburst from col.Kurtz
I worked with Kenneth Blackwell a great Black Republican back ion the 1970′s …and honestly just thought of him as a Great Republican.
No, Joe Wilson does not matter, but he did bring focus to the Senate on the LIAR about illegals and it brought about change.
I think the important thing about Joe Wilson (or any vocal critic) is the swift demonizing him by the opposition party.
Very uncivil.
It was great to find this HIP HOP group….I wish you great success…
I am a “Republican”.
I am pro choice. & pro personal freedom. I do not care if if you prefer men, women or both as partners.
Most would call me a libertarian. That is ok…
Just don’t call me late for dinner.., ha ha.
Jose psychotic is this…..SCOREBOARD!!! …….. Black POTUS, Dems 1, Repukes <0 yep, LESS than Zero! Not now, not EVER, NEVER!
Read ‘em and weep Jose!!!
But you’re right, I was bailing outta this blog anyway, too depressing, nay NAUSEATING!! Well the Algerians had their Harkis, Aztecs their Malinchistas, Leonidas his Ephialtes, Sampson his Delilah, Caesar his Brutus, Arthur his Modred, Pisa their Ugolino, Washington his Arnold, Free France their Vichy, Vietnam their Emperor Bao & Diem, the MOB thier Sammy Bull Gravano…etc etc