# 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:** 12
**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, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/221 "2009-09-10T16:45:18Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > So you either chose not to read the cite. Grand. ::shrug:: I read the article. It’s specious at best. The fact remains that there is NO proposal to cover illegal aliens. Period. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/222 "2009-09-10T16:46:02Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Am I the only person here who feels that booing and heckling are two different things? A distinction without a difference. Neither one constitutes an argument. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/223 "2009-09-10T16:46:07Z")
> [@furt](#): > > 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. No, Republicans would whine and cry and carry their little gunny-wunnies to public meetings anyway. There is nothing - nothing - about which Republicans will not cry having lost an election. I learned that during the Clinton Administration and lurking here has done nothing to change my mind. I recall one of them wishing death on me (and my women) because I don’t condone prisoners being tortured as per Bush spec. ---
**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, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/224 "2009-09-10T16:50:43Z")
> [@furt](#): > > 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. Bush supported amnesty. Illegal immigrants would be explicitly excluded from coverage under any plan that Obama would sign. Everything else is just hysterical speculation. Why is it that righties are so appalled at the idea that some poor Mexican kid might get a flu shot anyway? Who gives a shit? ---
**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, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/225 "2009-09-10T16:51:53Z")
> [@furt](#): > > 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. There is no “easy route to citizenship”, even for _legal_ immigrants. In any case, the amnesty proposal will offer illegal workers who come forward a “Z” workers’ visa, renewable for four years. Those on Z visas would not be eligible for permanent residency/Green Cards (I-551s) until the backlog of existing applications clears. At current USCIS staffing levels the backlog will take a minimum of 10 years to clear. The proposed healthcare bill, incidentally, specifically bars anyone other than citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) from receiving benefits. ---
**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, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/226 "2009-09-10T16:52:40Z")
> [@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. I’ll say it. The right wing preoccupation with “illegals” is at least xenophobic and quite often outright racist. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/227 "2009-09-10T16:56:13Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Why is it that righties are so appalled at the idea that some poor Mexican kid might get a flu shot anyway? Who gives a shit? Because they could have bought a new Xbox for their kid with the money that instead they are paying in taxes so that ILLEGALS can get FREE HEALTH CARE. Why do you hate Republicans’ children? Don’t they deserve a new Xbox for Christmas? You’re a bad man. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/228 "2009-09-10T17:09:06Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > This is why I am necessary to the boards… Next you will tell my hemorrhoids are necessary to my asshole. **Shodan** , the swollen, burning pile on the anus of the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/229 "2009-09-10T17:13:16Z")
Frankly, I wish that Obama had taken a higher road during his speech. He called the people spreading lies and fear about his plan liars outright and even though he was correct on that it just made them feel they could do the same. He knew that all those people talking smack about his plan were right there in the same room with him. Had he only attacked the wrong messages that were being spread and not the messengers, it would have made them look even worse when they continued to try and spread their lies. ---
**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, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/230 "2009-09-10T17:18:18Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Because they could have bought a new Xbox for their kid with the money that instead they are paying in taxes so that ILLEGALS can get FREE HEALTH CARE. Why do you hate Republicans’ children? Don’t they deserve a new Xbox for Christmas? You’re a bad man. XBoxes don’t even play Blu-Ray discs. No Republican child would accept such a plebian game system! ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/231 "2009-09-10T17:18:39Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Next you will tell my hemorrhoids are necessary to my asshole. > > **Shodan** , the swollen, burning pile on the anus of the SDMB. I would like to order fifty boxes of Preparation H and a bazooka please. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/232 "2009-09-10T17:32:09Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Frankly, I wish that Obama had taken a higher road during his speech. He called the people spreading lies and fear about his plan liars outright and even though he was correct on that it just made them feel they could do the same. He knew that all those people talking smack about his plan were right there in the same room with him. Several of them, but by no means all. Reps. Limbaugh, Hannity, and Palin (R-Unbilled) were conspicuously absent. As to the “high road,” I truly believe that’s Obama’s first inclination—perhaps to a fault—but ignoring the liars hasn’t proven too effective thusfar. He exercised considerably more restraint than I would’ve, given the world’s greatest bully pulpit and staring directly into the glirine eyes of those who’d mounted a campaign of unrelenting horseshit against me and my efforts. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/233 "2009-09-10T17:40:57Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Shodan, the swollen, burning pile on the anus of the SDMB. All the **Shodan** -insulters here are forgetting that his continual shit-stirring snark is merely what he [promised us nearly a year ago](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10327507&postcount=50), when he resigned himself to the prospect of an Obama victory: > [@Shodan on 10/17/08](#): > > I have basically given up on the election. Obama is going to win. The Blessed One is going to turn the White House beige. He will inherit a whole shit load of problems, and no doubt create a whole shit load more on his own. > > So one derives what pleasure one can from the debacle. I am going to make fun of those things I find amusing, and the worshipful reverence the Obamaniacs expect of their Chosen One is a big, bad, juicy target, and I intend to kick it until it stops amusing me or my toes get tired. **Shodan** has no purpose or goal in discussions about Obama, as he clearly acknowledges, except to beat up on his strawman of Obama-worship and enjoy pissing off other posters. It relieves his resentment about the fact that Obama won. And he’s going to keep doing it for another three to seven years at the very least. It’s not about “keeping people honest” or providing any kind of rational counterweight to pro-Obama bias: it’s simply about making **Shodan** feel better. (In fact, such a rational counterweight **is** a useful thing to have, but we have to look to posters other than **Shodan** to provide it.) So no arguments about the dishonesty of his posts or anything else you can say to him is going to change his shit-stirring snark. Yeah, calling him names in return may make **you** feel better, but is it really worth it? ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/234 "2009-09-10T17:41:22Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Frankly, I wish that Obama had taken a higher road during his speech. He called the people spreading lies and fear about his plan liars outright and even though he was correct on that it just made them feel they could do the same. He knew that all those people talking smack about his plan were right there in the same room with him. Had he only attacked the wrong messages that were being spread and not the messengers, it would have made them look even worse when they continued to try and spread their lies. Oh, come on! The rightwing has been calling Obama much worse than just a liar for over a year. You honestly think they needed “permission” to keep doing it? ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/235 "2009-09-10T17:45:27Z")
Plus, you have to admit it’s an effective tactic to use on the perpetually irritated Left, like me. We’ve been watching the people who supposedly speak for us (or should at least pretend to) roll over and play dead for Republicans to step on and spit on for years and years, and they’re still doing it. Even a tiny little sign of spine like this is like water in the desert to us. Obama can probably keep most of us going for another three months on that one word. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/236 "2009-09-10T17:46:00Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I think the way Pelosi’s reaction was priceless. Such unmitigated disbelief. > [@Kozmik](#): > > Pelosi _glared_ at the heckler. How could you tell?😉 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/237 "2009-09-10T17:46:37Z")
Update: Rob Miller has raised over $200,000 since that little outburst by Wilson. Way to go, Joe! Keep up the good work! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/238 "2009-09-10T17:49:17Z")
But what if he’s smarter than us, **Cousin Vinny**? What if he knows what he’s doing, and we just don’t quite get it. Harvard Law. Law review. Won the nomination and an election which, frankly, I was pretty sure he couldn’t do. Consider the political judo of all this. He knows going in that opposition to his plans will be hysterical and unrelenting, Big Money is jerking the Pubbie strings feverishly, they must not lose this fight, at whatever cost. What does he gain by answering blazing shit with blazing shit? Last night, he stood and presented himself as calmly reasonable, but firm. Willing to listen, willing to compromise, sensible, reasonable, and adult. And then Rep. Wilson rushed to his aid and offered himself for contrast. [Mr. Burns] _Excellent_![/MB] Now, I’m not wholly convinced. But he just \*might \*know what he’s up to. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/239 "2009-09-10T17:49:37Z")
What’s the result of censure? A funny mustache drawn on the Congresman’s photo in the yearbook? The word “ **DICK** ” (bold, all caps) inserted in all official references to him? His salary goes to his opponent for a year? I thought censure was a historical footnote, not something involving jail time or hand-lopping. So he got emotionally carried away? Bullshit, he choked on whomever was teabagging him at the time and forgot that he wasn’t in a town hall meeting where it’s appropriate to shit on democracy. Interrupting debate to “throw the speaker off” (or whatever the How to Act memo that started a lot of this actually said) isn’t democracy, it’s the root of the very tyranny their using as a scare tactic. Cockknocker. I guess when President Palin is giving her State of the Union address in a few years **Shodan** will think it perfectly acceptable for Hilary to let out a loud queef of disgust. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/240 "2009-09-10T17:50:59Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Rhetorical question: Why, why, \*why \*does everything have to boil down to “illegals” with Republicans? Why in the world would you put _illegals_ in quotes? Are you implying that illegal immigrants are _not_ in the country illegally? And why on earth would they want to come to this country anyway? According to Barack Obama, the health care system in their own country is much better than ours! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496.md?page=13)