Obama accepts Lawmaker's apology

[talisyn]

I have come to the conclusion that all the interesting stuff happens when I work. For instance, last night this happened Obama accepts lawmaker's apology for 'lie' remark - Yahoo! News

I was a bit surprised that it hasn't shown up here yet, so let me give a few quotes

President Barack Obama accepted a South Carolina Republican's apology for shouting, "You lie!" during his speech to Congress, and House Democratic leaders showed no interest in sanctions against Rep. Joe Wilson.

Obama said Thursday that Wilson apologized "quickly and without equivocation" and the congressman told reporters the shout-out was "spontaneous."

"We all make mistakes," Obama told reporters, a day after Wilson stunned the president and his colleagues with his outburst.

For a minute there I was like 'Cool! We're now like the rest of the world! All we need now is fisticuffs'

He erupted after Obama stated that his health care overhaul would not "insure illegal immigrants."

"You lie!" Wilson shouted from his seat.

The House version of the health care bill explicitly prohibits spending any federal money to help illegal immigrants get health care coverage. The bill's exact language: "Nothing in this subtitle shall allow federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully in the United States."

But Wilson is far from alone in thinking that the prohibition in the House bill doesn't go far enough. For him and other Republicans, the problem is not what's in the bill, it's what the bill leaves out — namely a provision to enforce the no-illegals rule.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I thought all those local and state laws in AZ and TX and CA were shot down because of all those federal laws already in place? Wasn't that the judicial reasoning?

Anyways...

Wilson bolted the chamber as soon as Obama was finished speaking. Shortly thereafter, he issued an apology and called the White House to deliver one to the president personally. But he ended up on the line with Rahm Emanuel, Obama's fiery chief of staff, instead.

"This evening I let my emotions get the best of me," he said in a statement. "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."

We have all seen the ire and spite the issue of offering insurance to the people too rich to qualify for state programs and too poor to buy it themselves has created. We have heard the name-calling on both sides. I hope this serves as a reminder that people need to show a bit more courtesy to those who disagree with us. I will do my part in not being so snarky

How embarrassing though, to call the President a liar on national (and international) TV for something he wasn't lying about?

Edited September 10, 2009 by talisyn
spelling

[bytor2112]

For a minute there I was like 'Cool! We're now like the rest of the world! All we need now is fisticuffs'

Well.......that's better than the majority of the Democrats "booing" President Bush when he addressed Congress about trying to save Medicare and Social Security from collapse. Booing.....multiple times and loudly......Better to have one horses @!$ than a bunch of horses @!$.

Sidenote: I thought Pelosi's eyes were gonna bug out of her head!!!

[Just_A_Guy]

How embarrassing though, to call the President a liar on national (and international) TV for something he wasn't lying about?

Are you sure about that?

(Analysis based on Congressman Lamar Smith's column, which you can find here.)

[Hemidakota]

Sidenote: I thought Pelosi's eyes were gonna bug out of her head!!!

I cannot figure out who in this stae keeps voting for this politician.

[Just_A_Guy]

San Francisco. Who else? :)

[bytebear]

I love these incidents just to see Pelosi's reactions. Priceless.

[talisyn]

Well.......that's better than the majority of the Democrats "booing" President Bush when he addressed Congress about trying to save Medicare and Social Security from collapse. Booing.....multiple times and loudly......Better to have one horses @!$ than a bunch of horses @!$.

Sidenote: I thought Pelosi's eyes were gonna bug out of her head!!!

There was booing? I never heard about that. If so then I apologize on behalf of those of us dems who believe in civil discussion.

[bytor2112]

There was booing? I never heard about that. If so then I apologize on behalf of those of us dems who believe in civil discussion.

On more than one occasion. Personally, I could care less....I kind of like British Parliament....everyone gets in on the action.

(Are you sure your a Democrat? You seem way to reasonable. )

Edited September 11, 2009 by bytor2112

[talisyn]

Most Democrats are reasonable. Unfortunately reasonable doesn't make for good TV. I am acquainted with enough Republicans to understand this is common with both parties

[bytor2112]

Most Democrats are reasonable. Unfortunately reasonable doesn't make for good TV. I am acquainted with enough Republicans to understand this is common with both parties

Seriously, I am more of a libertarian in my views (not the party). I am registered Republican, but only, because they CLAIM to best represent my views and the founder's wishes for America.....not so much in reality. But, it's easier to change a party from within than from without....I think.

[talisyn]

Seriously, I am more of a libertarian in my views (not the party). I am registered Republican, but only, because they CLAIM to best represent my views and the founder's wishes for America.....not so much in reality. But, it's easier to change a party from within than from without....I think.

lol I agree, it's easier to change things from within than without (very subversive, btw). My political leaning is more anarchist, but I figure since we're stuck with a gov't we might as well put it to work

[beefche]

I think it is absolutely ridiculous that a grown man would behave in such a way. I disagreed with the idiots who booed Pres Bush and I disagree with this idiot. I'm glad to see Pres Obama extend courtesy in freely accepting the apology (thru his Chief of Staff).

Someone has to stand up and say enough is enough. We can disagree civilly. There is a time and place to make your voice heard, but during a presidential speech being broadcast to the world is not the place.

[bytor2112]

lol I agree, it's easier to change things from within than without (very subversive, btw). My political leaning is more anarchist, but I figure since we're stuck with a gov't we might as well put it to work

BUT....the government as it is doesn't work. To steal a phrase from Mitt Romney, Washington DC is fundamentally broken. I am for smaller, efficient, effective government. I have no problem with EFFECTIVE social programs that actually help rather than hinder and chain people to a life of government handout. I would so much rather slash waste, create a FAIR tax and develop programs that educate and lift rather than barely help someone who is struggling to stay afloat in a worsening situation. Government can and should help, but at present we spend to much, waste to much and the programs are more lip service than real solutions to often generational problems.

[annewandering]

We all want the same thing, surely? If we do then why do we fight about it and call each other liars and not work to solve the problems?

Rhetoric never solved anything. It did earn Wilson about 200k in donations though. What does that tell us about us?

[MrsAri]

Problem #1. Obama

[Maxel]

I can sympathize with the representative. Listening to Obama lie through his teeth and receive a standing ovation for calling Palin and various others "liars" (when they're not, in fact, lying) isn't easy to bear- especially if someone actually cares about the country.

I can't say I'd do so much better if I were a representative in the situation. It's not like his actions were premeditated.

[john doe]

I wonder-- did Obama apologize for lying?

[talisyn]

Did he lie? I have yet to see the stat-by-stat from someone who does not foam at the mouth at the mere mention of our president's name.

[bytor2112]

Did he lie? I have yet to see the stat-by-stat from someone who does not foam at the mouth at the mere mention of our president's name.

He's a politician isn't he?

[Just_A_Guy]

It did earn Wilson about 200k in donations though. What does that tell us about us?

Boy, am I behind the times! I see "Wilson" and I think, "Woodrow?"

At any rate: Obama said "The reforms I am proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally." This is verbal sleight of hand if the bill contains no meaningful mechanism as to how health care providers are to distinguish between the citizens and the illegal aliens.

And it doesn't.

And he knows it.

Edited September 13, 2009 by Just_A_Guy

[Just_A_Guy]

Slightly off-topic, but I thought this was interesting. Granted, it's hardly a scientific survey (and from what I can glean, the number of protesters was probably more on the order of 500K - 1 million, not 2 million).

[talisyn]

Boy, am I behind the times! I see "Wilson" and I think, "Woodrow?"

At any rate: Obama said "The reforms I am proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally." This is verbal sleight of hand if the bill contains no meaningful mechanism as to how health care providers are to distinguish between the citizens and the illegal aliens.

And it doesn't.

And he knows it.

But no one knows how to do that, just ask the hospitals by the southern border. If the Republican politicians know how then they are keeping a very tight lid on it. According to the laws we have, already in place, everywhere (!), the President was speaking factually.

LOL, I thought 'Woodrow' too.

[Just_A_Guy]

Just because something is really hard to do, is no reason for a President to get up and tell the country it will be done when in fact it won't be.

By the way: I find this highly amusing, though I would never buy one myself.

[DigitalShadow]

Just because something is really hard to do, is no reason for a President to get up and tell the country it will be done when in fact it won't be.

The statement Obama made was factual. Is it a "lie" to say "People are not allowed to download music that they do not have the rights to"? While it's true that people do it anyway and it is very hard to stop, that does not mean the are "allowed" to do so.

A more accurate (but still inappropriate) outburst would have been something like "How are you going to enforce that!" but that is not what was said. What was said was the result of a visceral reaction that has become the standard in political disagreements these days, it was not a well thought out retort designed to give deeper insight into the matter.

The outburst was inappropriate and counterproductive to both sides. He was right to apologize and Obama was right to accept the apology.

[Just_A_Guy]

The statement Obama made was factual. Is it a "lie" to say "People are not allowed to download music that they do not have the rights to"? While it's true that people do it anyway and it is very hard to stop, that does not mean the are "allowed" to do so.

Here's what the President said:

There are also those who claim that our reform efforts would insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false. The reforms -- the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.

To use your analogy:

If Obama is trying to convince his audience that, as an objective fact, no illegal downloading will happen under his plan, then it is blatantly misleading to say that "People are not allowed to download music that they do not have the rights to".