In response to Rep. Joe Wilson‘s shout of “You Lie!” to President Barack Obama during his health care reform speech last night, right-wing Americans have come out of the woodwork to defend Wilson’s right to free speech:
Pat:
Actually, I applaud Joe! We still have FREE SPEECH in this country
Now we can talk about free speech, and certainly its not good form to shout down your political opponents, but Obama was not shouted down. Audience reactions in the form of cheers or jeers are common during addresses of joint sessions of Congress. That Wilson’s particular jeer was a bit more boisterous than most hardly makes it any worse than run-of-the-mill booing.
You go Joe. He only spoke what a majority of Americans are saying and thinking. Thank you. Look at history people. This is what political parties do in chambers. They give and take. Our founding fathers would argue back and forth on the floor. All countries pols will shout from the seats during speeches. It is what free speech is all about.
He has nothing to be sorry for, freedom of speech remember. It’s about time a R stands up and does the right thing for the people. I would move to S.C just to support him. I know his heart is in the right place. Please don’t back down. Please we need you in our corner. This President is a very mean, hateful person, and I have lost all respect for him and the office of President because of his ways in talking to people, He can talk to his kids that way but not to us. He is a very bad example for a black president.
Hell Wilson’s right!! Obama lied all through this joke of a speech. He doesn’t deserve any damn respect. Respect for what? Ruining and bankrupting the country!! What happened to freedom of speech? All those bastard are hypocrites anyway
We should remember how Republicans got so incensed about “disrespect” shown to the President when people disagreed with George W. Bush. This makes those Republicans into hypocrites. Obama partisans who speak of respect for the President this morning but spoke of dissent as the highest form of patriotism four years ago are just as hypocritical. Philip Munger of “Progressive Alaska” provides the most stark twistaround today, repeatedly calling Joe Wilson a “traitor” for his act of disagreement with Barack Obama. Watch who turns, watch when they turn, and you’ll be able to figure out when people are really being honest about what motivates them.
What I find really interesting are the policy preferences of the man whose right to engage in free speech, even and especially controversial free speech, is being so vocally defended this morning. Rep. Joe Wilson cosponsored legislation last year to punish schools that allowed people to say the pledge of allegiance in any language other than English. That’s not defending free speech. Rep. Joe Wilson has cosponsored a constitutional amendment to ban political expression involving any harm done to an American flag. That’s not defending free speech. Defenders of Joe Wilson’s controversial free speech should keep in mind just how eager Joe Wilson is to squash the controversial free speech of others.