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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
It was wonderful to see Obama remind us of why we elected him. He was eloquent and inspiring last night.
The same can't be said for Rep. Joe Wilson - who heckled Obama in the middle of his speech. I don't think I've ever seen anything so rude and obnoxious in my lifetime. The question for Republicans should be: what message does this send to the children?
How can teachers and parents demand respect as authority figures, when a congressmen goes nutty on the President of the United States during a prime time address? Once again, these Republicans are increasingly insane and a threat to basic civility and human decency. They simply have no shame and dress up their tantrums in religious garb to justify their immoral outbursts.
I hope Obama can build from his successful speech and provide helathcare for Americans.
14 Comments:
I hope we get real reform like single payer or the public option.
posted by libhom, at
9/10/2009 10:46 PM
We didn't elect Obama to have him break all his promises, and that's why we're marching on D.C.
posted by Joey, at
9/11/2009 3:25 AM
Lets not forget Eric Cantor, house minority whip sitting there texting on his blackberry. It defies good manners and sends the wrong message to children.
Wilson should have been given a reprimand, Nancy Pelosi should have used the gavel.
Libhorn....we're not going to get single payer, something Obama campaigned on and the main reason I voted for him. The Public Option is the compromise, not truly universal health care but a step in that direction. The only way the current insurance companies can really compete is if they drop the pre-existing condition clause but I don't see that happening without increasing premiums to make up for the loss of profit and bonuses for their top executives.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/11/2009 9:15 AM
The single best way for gays to help President Obama would be to throw themselves under the bus so he doesn't have to.
It is amazing what has become of the Republican Party. The President was indeed eloquent and inspiring, and having Wilson yell out during his address, within Congress no less, was really disgusting. Apparently, the GOP itself made him apologize, but this only begs the question: How is it that Republicans don't know that you're not supposed to do/say these things BEFORE they do/say them? Of course, Wilson will now grow a mailing list and will solicit donations based upon the "left-wing" attacks against him. I can guarantee it.
posted by Chris L., at
9/11/2009 3:12 PM
Chris, its already happening, they now have t-shirts supporting him and donations are pouring in. You know, bring it on. It only polarizes the GOP even more and that's a good thing. The more garbage coming out of their mouths, the better. The GOP will implode eventually if this continues.
Though I commend Obama's speech, I wish he'd grown a pair and told the nation's republican seniors that if they don't like government run medicare, simply turn in your card and go out and buy more insurance, ditto all of the republican senators and congressman who currently enjoy government run health care paid for by us. Why is nobody saying that?
posted by Anonymous, at
9/12/2009 9:25 AM
The Rethugs are just disgusting. I can't recall a President ever being heckled by Congress. I hope they keep it up--maybe then they'll implode and we can get on with trying to make this country great again.
Yeah I wish Obama had just told the Rethuglican seniors that if they don't like it they can buy their own insurance. It's not like they voted or will vote for him!
posted by Merlyn, at
9/12/2009 11:43 AM
Bill Maher made some great comments (as usual) about this last night. Their main goal is to de-legitimize this president, the 'birther' nonsense was only the beginning. He also pointed out (and I agree) that the heckling during his address to congress probably never would have happened to a white president. They never even did that to Clinton and their hatred for him was white hot (no pun intended). To them, Obama is the ultimate in the uppity negro who doesnt know his place. I even heard that this Wilson jerk has connections to white supremicist groups (what a surprise). The right even went bonkers at the thought of Obama addressing the nation's school children about getting a good education etc. and once again the White House caved and said no one had to watch it if their parents didnt want them to. For as smart as Obama is, will he ever realize that the right HATES him and will NEVER work with him. The more he reaches out to them the harder they kick him. Mr. President and all Dems...please, when will you all GROW A PAIR and start SMASHING back!?!?
posted by Anonymous, at
9/12/2009 2:42 PM
i disagree somewhat. Although i disagree with republican right wing philosophy, i do wish there was more ruckus when people pumped out their manufactured and practiced polished speeches written by others. I also think it is democratic to have people openly boo if they do not agree and it should have happened much more whenever that fuck Bush spoke in the past. So yes i do completely disagree. Politics has never been civil. Our representatives should be ripping into each other if they disagree and it should happen in the public square and while televised much more often. I love watching Parliament take to task the prime minister. The president should not have this quiet time to shove anything down our throats silently. Those can be saved for radio addresses. Representatives should be voicing the concerns and reactions of their constituents.
posted by Spouse Walker, at
9/13/2009 5:06 PM
Wayne has selective amnesia. Some liberals did the same thing to George Bush as Joe Wilson did to Pres. Obama. The same sinful heart rages in liberals as does Republicans. I have a hard time when a Democrat or Republican points the finger at those on the other side. We all are screwed up.
posted by Jay Jay, at
9/15/2009 7:37 AM
JayJay how about you take your little sermons elsewhere? Is anything NOT sinful in your eyes that doesn't tie in with the Religious Wrong Xtian agenda?Bush was nothing more or less than a tyrant and deserved to have far more happen to him than someone making catcalls-liked IMPEACHED and imprisoned. Because of him, we have things on the books such as the Patriot Act, an act which was already drawn up and ready to take to the floor before 9/11--the Patriot Act has significantly decreased the freedom of every American. George Bush was, and is, a chancre sore on the buttocks of America. Unfortunately our Congress didn't have the stones to take him on.
Get over yourself, JayJay, no one here takes your neocon bullshit seriously. Yes, I called you a neocon. A true conservative (and I do number them amongst my friends) wanted the man out of office as badly as any liberal.
posted by Merlyn, at
9/15/2009 9:32 AM
Merlyn, if I met you at a cocktail party I know I won't like you. You are narrow, bigoted, one-sided and generally full of bull shit. It is your way or the highway. Unless someone believes in your "eye of the needle" mindset they are wrong. Your arrogance makes me sick.
posted by JayJay, at
9/15/2009 9:44 AM
JayJay, LGBTQ people hear crap like yours every day of the week. We don't care what you think. You come here only to annoy us. I will say what I please and I don't give an airborne copulation if you like what I have to say or not.
The bottom line is that Bush was a tyrant and our country is considerably less free since 9/11. Real terrorists are smart enough to jump through all the hoops correctly. It is American citizens and innocent foreign visitors who are being inconvenienced and made to try to jump through hoops--and goddess help you if every I isn't dotted and every T croseed. Not to mention being under the threat of being imprisoned with no recourse to our human and civil rights.
I called you out for what you are--a fundie neocon with internalised homophobia issues. I wouldn't like you should I be so unfortunate as to run into you at a cocktail party. Fortunately my friends move in classier circles.
posted by Merlyn, at
9/15/2009 11:20 AM
