# 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:** 15
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/281 "2009-09-10T22:57:15Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Comedy gold! Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/282 "2009-09-10T22:59:18Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > I didn’t say he _has to_, just that it would be a nice way for him to actually show some contrition. As things stand, I don’t believe a word of his forced apology, and no one else should either. That being the case, he needs to be _punished_ for breaking the rules. **Bricker** is absolutely correct in that it is not necessary for Wilson to change his stance on the issue for his apology to be valid. The validity of his apology can be judged by his future actions. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/283 "2009-09-10T23:05:55Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The notion that **Diogenes** is going to react to anything political on a more sophisticated basis than “Dem - good! Repub - bad!” is ludicrous. One simple question: Is it appropriate for a member of Congress to shout out, “You lie!” while the President of the United States is addressing a joint session of Congress? ---
**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, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/284 "2009-09-10T23:16:43Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > **Bricker** is absolutely correct in that it is not necessary for Wilson to change his stance on the issue for his apology to be valid. The validity of his apology can be judged by his future actions. Sure, but until he takes some action that reflects on the validity of his apology, there is absolutely no evidence that his apology _is_ valid. In fact Wilson has a history of letting his emotions get the better of him in public discourse: [Flashback: Wilson Shouted At Dem Opponent, Ranted About His “Hatred Of America” — On Live TV!](http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/flashback-wilson-shouted-at-dem-opponent-ranted-about-his-hatred-of-america/) Wilson is _not_ deserving of the benefit of the doubt this time, and should be punished unless he is seen to take concrete steps to mend his childish ways. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/285 "2009-09-10T23:17:17Z")
First you get the money, then you _write the thank you notes_, then you get the powah, **then** you get the wimmin! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/286 "2009-09-10T23:23:56Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Wilson is _not_ deserving of the benefit of the doubt this time, and should be punished unless he is seen to take concrete steps to mend his childish ways. And that’s fine - I’m not against his censure by the House, if such should happen - but to require as a condition of his apology is that he now support UHC is really pushing it. ---
**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, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/287 "2009-09-10T23:45:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > No amnesty has ever included a way around the procedural hurdles currently in place. I suppose the administrations administration policy _could_ offer some such thing, but there’s no reasonable argument suggesting that it _will._ I’ll bet you $20 that the Obama administration will propose a path to citizenship that will enable resident illegal aliens to become citizens without having to leave the country or pay fees of over $1000, and which can be successfully navigated in less than three years. Deal? ---
**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, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/288 "2009-09-10T23:47:21Z")
Well, OK, OK. _Hara kiri_ in the Rose Garden? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/289 "2009-09-10T23:54:01Z")
> [@furt](#): > > I’ll bet you $20 that the Obama administration will propose a path to citizenship that will enable resident illegal aliens to become citizens without having to leave the country or pay fees of over $1000, and which can be successfully navigated in less than three years. Deal? It’s not possible for immigrants of any stripe to become citizens before they have five years residency. Perhaps you’d like to make this bet more clear. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/290 "2009-09-11T00:09:01Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > And that’s fine - I’m not against his censure by the House, if such should happen - but to require as a condition of his apology is that he now support UHC is really pushing it. As I’ve said several times, that’d be a very nice way for him to show what a changed man he is. If he’s not up to it, so be it. Maybe he can even find a gentler path to demonstrating his contrition, but it’s going to have to be more than an apology forced on him by party bigwigs to be very convincing. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/291 "2009-09-11T00:09:46Z")
> [@legalsnugs](#): > > The clear winner of the speech is Rob Miller, who’s coffers now have over half a million dollars for his campaign! I’m sure, since he’s a well-brought-up Southern boy, that he will be sending Joe Wilson a nice thank you note. I dunno. By all accounts, Wilson’s from a deeply conservative area, and what with the most recent opinion polls of congress in general, and Obama in particular, he may have shored up, and even gained some, support from his constituents. They might even be printing the, “You tell 'em, Joe! Yeehaw!” placards already. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/292 "2009-09-11T00:16:58Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > They might even be printing the, “You tell 'em, Joe! Yeehaw!” placards already. [SC voters surprised by Wilson’s ‘You lie’ outburst](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090910/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_heckling_wilson) > [@](#): > > some supporters shudder even as others believed it could give Wilson a political boost in his conservative hometown. > > “He’s the only one who has guts in that whole place. He’ll get re-elected in a landslide,” said John Roper, an insurance agent, as he sat among patrons at a diner near Columbia. > > Still, Southern sensibilities reign in the district the 62-year-old has represented for the past eight years. Added Roper, “He probably shouldn’t have said it in that context.” > … > Wilson told WIS-TV “by calling the president right away following the speech, I feel that covers the issue the apology called for, and the response was accepted, and I’m now grateful we can get on to the issue itself.” AFAIK, Wilson hasn’t apologized to his constituents yet. I doubt he will. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/293 "2009-09-11T00:21:55Z")
Well, now, this Miller fellow is an Iraqi war combat vet. I know nothing else about him, save for seeing his picture, an all-American, bullet-headed Saxon mother’s son. But the image and the backstory hits the Southern conservative right where he lives, the knees go weak. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/294 "2009-09-11T00:22:30Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > As I’ve said several times, that’d be a very nice way for him to show what a changed man he is. If he’s not up to it, so be it. Maybe he can even find a gentler path to demonstrating his contrition, but it’s going to have to be more than an apology forced on him by party bigwigs to be very convincing. No, this is nonsense. You’re saying that the only way that you will accept that Wilson’s apology for his outburst is valid is by his changing his stance on UHC. He doesn’t need to change that stance, he only needs to change his response to the President addressing a joint session of Congress. If he doesn’t do it again, then I suspect his apology was valid. If, in real life, you should happen to call someone an asshole because they disagree with you and then apologize for calling them an asshole, how does the meaningfullness of that apology require that you will now support the stance that you disagree with? ---
**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 11, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/295 "2009-09-11T00:23:07Z")
> [@furt](#): > > I’ll bet you $20 that the Obama administration will propose a path to citizenship that will enable resident illegal aliens to become citizens without having to leave the country or pay fees of over $1000, and which can be successfully navigated in less than three years. Deal? Define ‘propose’. If you mean ‘send to Congress’ then I’ll take that bet in a second. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/296 "2009-09-11T00:29:43Z")
Addison Wilson wasn’t, by any chance, a plumber before entering Congress, was he? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/297 "2009-09-11T00:31:16Z")
Then all that would remain would be to place the amount of the bet in escrow, so to speak, in the hands of someone of impeccable honesty and trustworthiness. I stand ready to serve, if stern duty demands. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/298 "2009-09-11T00:47:53Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > This is Mr. Wilson’s opponent, just in case anyone thinks he could use a donation. He’s an Iraq War veteran who got 46.5% of the vote in 08 in a heavily Republican district. > \ hehe that’s clever! I read somewhere Millers donations have jumped today. ---
**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 11, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/299 "2009-09-11T00:48:53Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Define ‘propose’. If you mean ‘send to Congress’ then I’ll take that bet in a second. I’d take it without any restrictions. It is not going to happen. furt, you’re aware that the path for a Legal immigrant takes in the neighborhood of 8 years from green card application to citizenship (unless you’ve acquired family connections to a citizen in the meantime; that speeds up the green card process considerably), and costs at least that much? And that’s not counting the time you have to spend in the country legally on a Visa before you qualify to apply. ---
**Author:** ![Jerseyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Jerseyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerseyman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/300 "2009-09-11T00:51:10Z")
> [@furt](#): > > I’ll bet you $20 that the Obama administration will propose a path to citizenship that will enable resident illegal aliens to become citizens without having to leave the country or pay fees of over $1000, and which can be successfully navigated in less than three years. Deal? Like it was when the USA was the Big Bold New Opportunity at its greatest period in the late 19th century you mean? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496.md?page=16)