# What do conservatives, generally, seem to think of what Wilson did? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 10, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595 "2009-09-10T19:42:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/21 "2009-09-12T01:24:38Z")
I predict he will be become a conservative hero, inducted into the Maverick Hall Of Fame. I thought his apology was carefully crafted to save face with the birther/town hall Republican base. ---
**Author:** ![Stowed\_Bob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stowed_bob/32/3312_2.png) [@Stowed\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stowed_Bob)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/22 "2009-09-13T01:25:07Z")
Through most of this thread, I thought it was about Woodrow Wilson passing the Federal Reserve Act. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/23 "2009-09-13T02:00:58Z")
Mostly not my fault. šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/24 "2009-09-13T02:38:35Z")
Not a big deal at all. Actually I like watching the British Parliament where they do British versions of that all the time. He apologized, that should be the end of it. But of course some moron in the WH had to say something like: Itā€™s all overā€¦he apologizedā€¦but heā€™s still an ass-zit. Much worse in that he had time to think about it and obviously had BHOā€™s approvalā€¦and still hasnā€™t apologized. [http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/85046/](http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/85046/) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/25 "2009-09-13T03:52:29Z")
Unless we want to see more of this, there should be an ethical charge for being out of order and the appropriate level of punishment. As entertaining as PMā€™s questions can be, it doesnā€™t seem to be any constructive purpose to it. If there isnā€™t a punishment, the hundreds of thousands of dollars raised by Wilson since this will encourage more of it, and if many start doing it, there wonā€™t be counter money raised. Iā€™m all for an formal admonishment or censure so that our national legislature doesnā€™t become further debauched. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/26 "2009-09-13T10:16:07Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Iā€™m not a conservative, but Iā€™ve been accused of being one. > > I have no problem with Wilson calling Obama a liar if he believes Obama is a liar. But I donā€™t think it was the right venue for it. This. There is normally cheering and jeering during presidential speeches to Congress. Theyā€™re not really speeches to Congress as much as they are speeches to the public with congressional window dressing. Wilson is one of those people who doesnā€™t know when to clap with the rest of the crowd. Had he groaned on cue with the other Republicans he would have been another member of the dog and pony show surrounding the President. Wrong venue. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/27 "2009-09-13T11:53:35Z")
To address the secondary thread here, he sure paid too much attention to that wanna-be Adam Weishaupt, ā€˜Colonelā€™ Edward Mandell House. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/28 "2009-09-13T13:29:15Z")
What does the word ā€œconservativeā€ _mean_, these days?šŸ˜• Not anything I associated with it. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/29 "2009-09-13T13:35:40Z")
I think it must mean ā€œracistā€ now. Iā€™m basing this purely on the number of people who suddenly feel the need to start with ā€œIā€™m not a conservative, butā€¦ā€ šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/30 "2009-09-13T22:09:20Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > I think it must mean ā€œracistā€ now. Iā€™m basing this purely on the number of people who suddenly feel the need to start with ā€œIā€™m not a conservative, butā€¦ā€ > > šŸ˜› I would be considered more libertarian than anything but I donā€™t feel slighted if you call me conservative. I associate the term with fiscal responsibility and the idea that if you let people keep their own money they will be better able to care for themselves. It doesnā€™t mean pure capitalism nor does it ignore social needs but it does allow for personal responsibility. There are also religious connotations that many people wish to distance themselves from in a political discussion. Since it encompasses many ideas the definition has different meaning depending how itā€™s used which is how many words are in the English language. ---
**Author:** ![yuliya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/f6c823/32.png) [@yuliya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yuliya)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/31 "2009-09-13T23:39:26Z")
My conservative mom is not a fan. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/32 "2009-09-14T00:42:34Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I guess Iā€™m a conservative. Iā€™m definitely not a Republican though so I donā€™t think my opinion is what youā€™re looking for. > I can only picture what it would be like if the roles were reversed. What if Bush, giving a speech before a joint session of Congress got heckled and a Democrat yelled ā€œyou lie!ā€ (justified or not). I would find it crass and grossly inappropriate. If you donā€™t want to clap or shout praise, then sit there in stony silence. But respect the office of the President, respect your own office, and respect the situation youā€™re in by showing some fucking class. I honestly donā€™t get this position. Iā€™ve never voted Democrat, and I wanted very much to yell something like this at W. I had small fantasies of his trying to shake my hand on camera so that I could could icily turn away. What is this ā€œrespect for the positionā€? What if some total lying jerk has gained the position? ā€œI respect the office of Deutchland Chancellor, and refuse to desecrate it.ā€ This is from someone who thinks Dodger fans are low-class for booing Albert Pujols for hitting against them. The difference is that Pujols is an upstanding man who did a good job in a non-critical contest, and W. is a lying scumbag who ran up the deficit and embroiled my country in an unwinnable war. The point is the actions of the person, not the height of the position. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/33 "2009-09-14T00:43:39Z")
> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#): > > Iā€™m a conservative. The guy was a jackass. We conservatives just spent 8 years complaining about nasty protesters screaming at President Bush and other Republicans. We should be striving to demonstrate the classy way to express our dissent, not playing the same game. That word ā€œweā€ paints a lot of us with a very broad brush. Limbaugh and his ilk do NOT represent me in any way. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/34 "2009-09-14T04:48:20Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > I honestly donā€™t get this position. Iā€™ve never voted Democrat, and I wanted very much to yell something like this at W. I had small fantasies of his trying to shake my hand on camera so that I could could icily turn away. > > What is this ā€œrespect for the positionā€? What if some total lying jerk has gained the position? ā€œI respect the office of Deutchland Chancellor, and refuse to desecrate it.ā€ This is from someone who thinks Dodger fans are low-class for booing Albert Pujols for hitting against them. The difference is that Pujols is an upstanding man who did a good job in a non-critical contest, and W. is a lying scumbag who ran up the deficit and embroiled my country in an unwinnable war. The point is the actions of the person, not the height of the position. If you donā€™t get it, Iā€™m not sure it can be explained. Your coworker might be a total jerk. Yet if you accuse him of lying during a proposal, but offer no proof, do you think you would keep your job? Itā€™s the same thing. Everybodyā€™s watching, so youā€™d better observe the rules of decorum. I think the guy should get impeached. But I felt the same about Clinton, and anyone else who lied in official capacity while in office. I think we tolerate way too much in this country. If our representatives were actually afraid that they might face repercussions, they might do a better job. ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/35 "2009-09-14T12:20:30Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > What is this ā€œrespect for the positionā€? I personally believe the office of the President should be respected, but I also think that if nothing else you should respect the decorum for ā€˜yourā€™ office. As a representative or Senator you should respect your position or title if nothing else, and what you represent to your consitutuents. So regardless of your thoughts on the President, show respect to your own office and more importantly to those people that elected you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/36 "2009-09-14T13:39:43Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > That word ā€œweā€ paints a lot of us with a very broad brush. Limbaugh and his ilk do NOT represent me in any way. Unfortunately(and I mean this sincerely), until you and _your_ ilk find some way to out shout he and _his_ ilk, to the public at large he represents the Republican Party. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/37 "2009-09-14T15:18:49Z")
Speaking as a Brit it seems to me that he was wrong because he contravened the conventions of his own institution and I suspect that the apology was lip service only. In Britains House of Commons proceedings are a lot more boisterous,aggressive even, but calling a fellow member, let alone the head of government a liar is totally not allowed. I donā€™t think that the apology was heartfelt because now the rightwingers are selling Tee shirts saying the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/38 "2009-09-14T15:33:09Z")
This increasingly moderate liberal thinks everyone needs to shut the hell up about it. Complete non-event, meriting Wilsonā€™s complete non-apology and Obamaā€™s complete non-response. > [@Cardinal](#): > > That word ā€œweā€ paints a lot of us with a very broad brush. Limbaugh and his ilk do NOT represent me in any way. Yes they do. Theyā€™ve got microphones and they raise some of the same talking points (and Republican congresspeople are lining up to kiss Rushā€™s ass). Unless you take away their microphones or get yourself a bigger one they do represent you, Iā€™m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/39 "2009-09-15T17:53:59Z")
Maureen Dowd (NY Times op-ed writer) claims that he was really trying to say, ā€œYou lie, boyā€. She adduces sufficient evidence of Wilsonā€™s racism to make a good point, that he just cannot accept a black president. From what she says, he is being made out a hero for it in Carolina. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595/40 "2009-09-15T18:09:42Z")
OK well my claim is that he was really trying to say ā€œMai Laiā€, and was accusing Obama of being a murderer and war criminal. My other theory is that he was really trying to say ā€œYou die!ā€, which was a coded signal to his assassination coconspirators, who, however, failed to materialize as planned, due to a lack of health insurance and the line at the ER being longer than they had planned. Then thereā€™s my third theory, that he was really trying to say ā€œYou, President Obama, are my hero, and your fearless and courageous battle against established special interests on behalf of our country is an inspiration to me and indeed to all Americansā€, but due to the obvious time constrictions it got shortened considerably and came out wrong. One way or the other, we can certainly agree that itā€™s silly to just assume that Wilson meant to say what he actually said, and itā€™s obvious that he really intended to say something much more loaded with controversial meanings. Itā€™s only a matter of figuring out which it was ā€¦ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-conservatives-generally-seem-to-think-of-what-wilson-did/509595.md?page=3)