# Who heckled Obama during his address to Congress? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 10, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496 "2009-09-10T00:52:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/201 "2009-09-10T15:46:27Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Am I the only person here who feels that booing and heckling are two different things? Nope. Booing is a disrespectful way of showing disagreement. Shouting “you lie” goes quite a step beyond that. ---
**Author:** ![Kiber](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiber/32/317_2.png) [@Kiber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiber)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/202 "2009-09-10T15:46:32Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Like I said, the outrage is quite selective. My point is exactly what I have stated repeatedly - when a Republican does it, it is a big deal. When Dems do it, it isn’t. I think a big “Thank You” is in order for our friend **Shodan**. Look - most of us stupidly assumed that this discussion was about the Op and something a Republican did - oh, about 16 hours ago. But **Shodan** rightly pointed out that we couldn’t possibly express any valid opinion about this recent event unless we simultaneously address every other event that might ever have happened on the D side of the aisle. Fair and balanced and all . . . . . . ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/203 "2009-09-10T15:47:23Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Am I the only person here who feels that booing and heckling are two different things? You are not. One is a ad hominem, the other is an expression of disapproval of what the speaker is saying. ---
**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 10, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/204 "2009-09-10T15:49:49Z")
Why the hell should he be censured? He said something stupid and apologized. It’s not like it did any lasting damage; does anyone really think of the US House of Representatives as some sort of shining bastion of civility? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/205 "2009-09-10T15:52:52Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > Someone is making a fool of themselves in this line of discussion; I’m pretty sure it isn’t me. You probably should take a minute to consider whether the political leanings of the person you are accusing of a “Dem good, Republican bad” stance actually coincide with the accusation. Try to keep up **storyteller0910**. If you do not call Obama a socialist, lying death camp enabler, then _ipso facto_, you must think that he is the messiah and worship the ground he walks on. We’re dealing with simplistic thinkers here, who can only understand black and white; there are no shades or subtleties with them. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/206 "2009-09-10T16:01:33Z")
Wilson’s rudeness aside, it is not a cut and dry issue that illegals will be covered in the proposed legislation. [Here is the CIS take on it.](http://www.cis.org/feere/healthcare) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/207 "2009-09-10T16:05:08Z")
It is a cut and dried issue that illegal immigrants will NOT be covered. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/208 "2009-09-10T16:09:16Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It is a cut and dried issue that illegal immigrants will NOT be covered. So you either chose not to read the cite. Grand. ::shrug:: ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/209 "2009-09-10T16:12:09Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No. As demonstrated, it happened in 2005, and I made no objection. Can someone find that thread from 2005? I remember it existed. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/210 "2009-09-10T16:12:28Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > But that’s the extent of his contrition: to yell liar was both rude and wrong. But he can still oppose a public health care plan on the basis of cost, on the basis that government should not take the role of ensuring health care for everyone anymore than it should ensure college educations for everyone, or on any other principled basis. Well sure, but a come to Jesus moment on government run health care would be a far _better_ indication he actually _feels_ contrition. Being an optimist I like to see people do their _best_ to show sincerity. If all Wilson is willing to give is words, the House should take action to make sure he is less prone to such outbursts in the future. If not formal censure, then a _unanimously_ passed motion of repugnance, or some such would do the trick. ---
**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 10, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/211 "2009-09-10T16:16:35Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > So you either chose not to read the cite. Grand. ::shrug:: Did you read it? It amounts to “I think illegal aliens might get benefits even though the bill specifically bars them from doing so”. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/212 "2009-09-10T16:16:41Z")
If you are near a radio, turn on Rush. He is on a roll, comedy gold. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/213 "2009-09-10T16:17:49Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Sure. In addition to the apology, which he’s already made Is a forced apology really an apology? > [@](#): > > Wilson also confirmed that the GOP House leadership contacted him after his outburst and told him to contact the White House and apologize. [http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/09/shaky.php?ref=fpblg](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/09/shaky.php?ref=fpblg) No doubt you’ll want to verify this at other sites. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/214 "2009-09-10T16:22:04Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > So you either chose not to read the cite. Grand. ::shrug:: Rhetorical question: Why, why, \*why \*does everything have to boil down to “illegals” with Republicans? Serious question: What do you want the bill to include? How thorough would the measures to bar undocumented residents from benefiting from the plan have to be in order to satisfy you? Does the bill need to lay out the details of the residency and SSN verification process? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/215 "2009-09-10T16:28:10Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > Someone is making a fool of themselves in this line of discussion; I’m pretty sure it isn’t me. It isn’t you. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/216 "2009-09-10T16:30:19Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Did you read it? It amounts to “I think illegal aliens might get benefits even though the bill specifically bars them from doing so”. I think a large part of the concern is that the admin has already said that immigration is the next issue they want to take on. If they pass Obama’s plan in October, then issue an amnesty and an easy route to citizenship to illegal aliens in January (which I think they are likely to pursue), they have, _de facto_, extended government healthcare to all people who are (now) illegal immigrants. If Obama wanted to take amnesty off the the table w/r/t immigration, it would help him with healthcare. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/217 "2009-09-10T16:31:35Z")
> **[Do State of the Union Speeches serve any usefull purpose anymore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=357210)** > > There’s no Constitutional Requirement that the President address Congress in an actual spoken speech. “The President shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as... > **[Republicans and Independant: What did you think of the SOTU address last night?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=356775)** > > I only see one thread on the SOTU address in GD right now and it is a prediction thread, speculating on what folks thought Bush would have to say. Well, we’ve seen what he said now and I was wonder if I could get the reaction from Republicans and... > **[Way too long Bush Bashing SotU blow by blow](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=300404)** > > I hate to clutter the serious debate thread with my overlong reactionary Bush-bashing rants, so here it is…my blow-by-blow of the State of the Union address: and this time we were actually elected! Unlike the old…uhhh…unsoverign Iraq? I think... After careful examination, nobody watching actually _noticed_ any booing at the time. In fact, applause from both sides was remarked on. The dems applauded when he mentioned his social security not passing, was mentioned as cute, but slightly inappropriate. Contrawise, the heckling in the middle of the speech was _quite_ noticable and an audible interjection. As well as a violation of the rules of the chamber. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/218 "2009-09-10T16:32:10Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Rhetorical question: Why, why, \*why \*does everything have to boil down to “illegals” with Republicans? Because they’re all racists of course. :rolleyes: If you want to say something, just say it. Insinuation is the coward’s way out. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/219 "2009-09-10T16:38:57Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Because they’re all racists of course. :rolleyes: > > If you want to say something, just say it. Insinuation is the coward’s way out. Wait, there are too many layers here, and I’m getting confused. Are you insinuating that I’m insinuating that his and comments insinuate racism? Keep your pants on, buddy, all I’m doing is pointing out how frequently a debate, no matter what the topic, somehow degenerates into talk about illegal immigrants with right-wingers. Housing crisis? Caused by banks lending to illegal immigrants. Cash for clunkers? Some rebates may go to illegal immigrants. Health care reform? Our tax dollars are paying for illegal immigrants. Enough already. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/220 "2009-09-10T16:43:17Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Hooray! It took less than 12 hours for you to find a tu quoque that would allow you to offer an opinion of the incident with mitigation! > > There are in reality 3 things that are certain in life: death, taxes and that Mr. Moto’s positions will be represented with a tu quoque. I plead innocent. I don’t think what Joe Wilson did was right at all, and I’m not afraid to say so. The other cited examples come into play when considering whether censure is appropriate - and I disagree with my friend **Bricker** here since applying this penalty seems wildly out of proportion to the offense. Hell, Joe McCarthy was censured. Do you see an equivalence here? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496.md?page=12)