Jimmy Carter’s determination that Congressman Joe Wilson’s outburst of “You lie!” last week has racial undertones is so far-fetched and manufactured as to be laughable. Since when is the objection to someone’s untrue remark a comment on their race? I’ll tell you when – it’s when the administration is losing the argument over healthcare and other issues, and needs to create an uproar to divert attention from their struggles.
Granted, Wilson’s remark was out of line, but only because ANY outburst in that setting is outside the rules of protocol in the halls of Congress. If he had shouted “I love you!” he would have been equally out of line. The President’s race was immaterial – Wilson’s outburst was an emotional reaction to Obama’s words, not the color of his skin.
Wilson acknowledged he was in the wrong and apologized to Obama. That should have ended the matter. Instead, he has been “rebuked” by Congress, which is overkill, in my opinion.
Wilson is running for re-election this fall, and his opponent bragged that his campaign has received an large influx of donations because of anger over Wilson’s statement. A news report a few days later stated that his opponent has received $1.5 million dollars recently. However, the same report states that Wilson has received $2 million. Apparently, more people support Wilson (at least with their contribution dollars) than are angry with him.
The shameful thing, and the thing that makes it seem like an orchestrated diversion, is the media frenzy that has kept this minor infraction in the headlines for the past week. The press leapt on this incident with rabid enthusiasm from the start, and now Carter’s recent remarks have mixed a completely unrelated issue into it. Can you say “tempest in a teapot”? Some people may indeed oppose Obama because of his race, but Wilson’s remarks have absolutely no connection to those sentiments – that’s a totally separate issue.
Whatever happened to Obama’s early promise that his administration would be “transparent” and give legislators and the public at least five days to read and discuss bills before they were voted on? One bill was over 1,000 pages, and was released only one day before the vote, as I recall.
Did the President lie, about that and more? I think he did. Good on ya, Joe, for speaking up!
Tags: politics
