Pushing the Envelope on Wilson

| September 16, 2009

I noted last week that Congressman Wilson’s outburst during the Joint Session of Congress was inappropriate and that he did the right thing in apologizing.  Not everyone agreed with that assessment, and that’s fine. 

I also noted the hypocrisy that the Democrats were showing by not dropping the issue.  Yesterday they pushed the envelope further.  The House voted to rebuke Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) for shouting “You lie!” during the President’s address.  They wanted another apology, he refused, and they voted 240 to 179 to ratify a “resolution of disapproval.”  We have stupid, but then we have outrageous as Fox News reported:

Making an obvious reference to the Ku Klux Klan, Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., said Tuesday that people will be putting on "white hoods and white uniforms again and riding through the countryside" if emerging racist attitudes, which he says were subtly supported by Wilson, are not rebuked. He said Wilson must be disciplined as an example.

Gee that’s original.  You criticize President Obama, you are a racist.  We’ll all break out our KKK outfits that we were keeping in storage for just a time as this.  And I suppose I am now racist for criticizing Congressman Johnson.

You might as well accuse me of ageism as well since former President Jimmy Carter said something equally stupid:

Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst to President Barack Obama during a speech to Congress last week was an act "based on racism" and rooted in fears of a black president.

"I think it’s based on racism," Carter said in response to an audience question at a town hall held at his presidential center in Atlanta. "There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president."

The Georgia Democrat said the outburst was a part of a disturbing trend directed at the president that has included demonstrators equating Obama to Nazi leaders.

"Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care," he said. "It’s deeper than that."

No, it couldn’t possibly be because of a deeply held beliefs and values you hold are being trampled on.  It has to be racism.  They pushed the envelope on Wilson, and they may find that it pushes back in time.

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Category: National Politics & Government

About the Author ()

Shane Vander Hart is the founder and editor-in-chief of Caffeinated Thoughts.  He is also the President of 4:15 Communications, LLC, a social media & communications consulting/management firm.  He is a communications director for American Principles Project’s Preserve Innocence Initiative.  Prior to this Shane spent 20 years in youth ministry serving in church, parachurch, and school settings.  He has also served as an interim pastor and is a sought after speaker and pulpit fill-in.  Shane has been married to his wife Cheryl since 1993 and they have three kids.  Shane and his family reside near Des Moines, IA.  You can connect with Shane on Facebook or follow him on Twitter and Google +.
  • http://realchoice.blogspot.com Christina

    I’m one of many Obama opponents who wanted Alan Keyes. I wonder what the race baiters would say if we all just started wearing Alan Keyes buttons at every Tea Party event.
    .-= Christina´s last blog ..1999: Woman dies after 20 years in nursing home thanks to safe, legal abortion =-.

  • Mike

    Hi Shane,

    You know, I know we are to speak the truth in love as you rightly pointed out concerning Mr. Wilson’s outburst but I just can’t help but call this as I see it. Jimmy Carter is a moron. I just don’t see a more accurate or truthful depiction. And then to equate Mr. Wilson’s disgust for the liar who occupies the Oval Office to racism is absolutely nothing short of incredulous idiocy. It’s pretty bad when our own national leaders will stoop so low as to call the criticism of a standing president’s policy racist just because he’s black. Who gives a rip what color he is? The problems are his POLICIES; not his skin color. I could care less if he was black, white, red, green, yellow, or had pointy ears and said, “live long and prosper.” The fact of the matter is that he is an out and out liar. Period. That has NOTHING to do with skin color. It does happen to have a lot to do with the sinful human nature though. Why didn’t any of them play the racism card when Dubya was president? They should have been saying that it’s because he’s white that he started a war with Iraq. It’s because he’s white that he wanted to reform welfare where a majority of recipients are minorities. It’s because he’s white that “name your scenario.” Where are THOSE cries from the Dems, or anyone else for that matter? Get a clue, Dumbocrats. It’s about policy; not pigmentation.

    Ok, Shane. Sorry for the rant but I just have a very low tolerance for stupidity and, as usual, it’s not surprising to see that their education is not getting in the way of their ignorance up on the Hill.

    Humbly submitted,

    Mike

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