# 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:** 19
**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, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/361 "2009-09-11T14:45:19Z")
He lies! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/362 "2009-09-11T14:45:26Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > So he should invade Iraq as a way of making amends for trying to fuck up Obama’s health care speech? You’re a smart one today, **Frank**. You’re an idiot. What’s with the lack of middle ground? ---
**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, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/363 "2009-09-11T14:46:35Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > So, does that mean he takes back his apology? Are you trying to wind me up? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/364 "2009-09-11T14:48:30Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > What the hells a “99er”, anyway? Ah, Barbara Feldon wanted me, I always knew it … ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/365 "2009-09-11T15:01:56Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > From your link: > > “On these issues, I will not be muzzled, I will speak up and speak loudly against this risky plan,” Wilson said in a YouTube video released Thursday evening. “The supporters of the government takeover of health care and the liberals who want to give health care to illegals are using my opposition as an excuse to distract from the critical questions being raised about this poorly conceived plan.” > So, does that mean he takes back his apology? No. It’s very craftily worded to put lump two different ideas together as if they were one, without coming out and saying it. He’ll speak out against 1) “supporters of government takeover of heath care” and 2) “liberals who want to give health care to illegals” He clearly did not say that the health care plan gave health care to illegals because, gosh, he’d already apologized for that outburst and it’s just not the case. No. His beef right now is with the health care plan in general AND with people who wish to give health care to illegal immigrants. But seeing as that’s not in the plan, one wonders why he would need to bring it up. Why rail against the people and their opinion when that opinion doesn’t affect the proposed law one way or the other? Because if you don’t parse his words correctly, you come to the assumption that he’s STILL saying health care is provided to illegal immigrants but, he still gets to plausibly deny that was his intent if called on it. Also because “On these issues, I will not be muzzled, I will speak up and speak loudly against this risky plan,supporters of the government takeover of health care and the people who hate chocolate ice cream” just doesn’t have the same ring to it. ---
**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 11, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/366 "2009-09-11T15:05:36Z")
Meanwhile, Rob Miller (USMC) has now received over [$750,000](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/joe-wilsons-opponent-now-at-over-750000-since-outburst.php) in donations as of this morning. Miller could never have dreamed of a break like this. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/367 "2009-09-11T15:30:03Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Meanwhile, Rob Miller (USMC) has now received over [$750,000](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/joe-wilsons-opponent-now-at-over-750000-since-outburst.php) in donations as of this morning. Miller could never have dreamed of a break like this. I signed up for his newsletter when I made my donation and his campaign sent me an email describing the amount of money coming in as “jaw dropping.” He said this about Wilson: > [@](#): > > As a former Marine who proudly served this nation in Iraq, I was absolutely appalled at watching anyone call our Commander in Chief a liar. But to do it in front of the Congress and the entire nation was even more outrageous. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/368 "2009-09-11T15:36:30Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Done. Do I have to wait three years for muh money? Nah, I’ll say 18 months. ---
**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, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/369 "2009-09-11T16:03:28Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > What’s with the lack of middle ground? Let Wilson find his own damn middle ground. He’s the one who tryed to sabotage the president after all. If he can’t come up with something good, I’d be happy to see him censured. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/370 "2009-09-11T16:10:12Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Let Wilson find his own damn middle ground. He’s the one who tryed to sabotage the president after all. If he can’t come up with something good, I’d be happy to see him censured. _Sabotage_? What he did was wholly inappropriate, but you’re going just a little over the top. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/371 "2009-09-11T16:28:41Z")
I think trying to attribute any forethought to this or anything the teabagging birthdeathers do is a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/372 "2009-09-11T16:40:24Z")
No, [this](http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/bush-shoes1.jpg) is sabotaging a president. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/373 "2009-09-11T16:48:37Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > _Sabotage_? What he did was wholly inappropriate, but you’re going just a little over the top. Actually, I think “sabotage” is about right, in that Wilson surely surmised his outburst would dominate a news cycle (and “blog cycle” – is that a phrase?) which otherwise would have been devoted to discussing the meat of the proposals Obama outlined in his speech, the reasons Obama gave for the urgency of each proposal, and how best to move forward on those proposals. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/374 "2009-09-11T16:53:26Z")
He may have quickly realized it after the fact, but suggesting it was pre-planned is a little out there, don’tcha think? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/375 "2009-09-11T16:54:04Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Actually, I think “sabotage” is about right, in that Wilson surely surmised his outburst would dominate a news cycle (and “blog cycle” – is that a phrase?) which otherwise would have been devoted to discussing the meat of the proposals Obama outlined in his speech, the reasons Obama gave for the urgency of each proposal, and how best to move forward on those proposals. That’s a fair point, actually, although I’m not sure I’d credit Wilson with that much foresight. I suppose it’s possible, though. ---
**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, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/376 "2009-09-11T16:57:48Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > That’s a fair point, actually, although I’m not sure I’d credit Wilson with that much foresight. I suppose it’s possible, though. Sabotage, like murder, does not need to be premeditated. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/377 "2009-09-11T17:02:14Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Sabotage, like murder, does not need to be premeditated. He may not have planned to shout out during the speech, but it’s not all that hard to believe that he didn’t intend to dominate the news cycle, he was just being a douche. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/378 "2009-09-11T17:04:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > He may have quickly realized it after the fact, but suggesting it was pre-planned is a little out there, don’tcha think? Yeah, I agree with this. Seems old Joe [lets his emotions get the best of him](http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/you-lie-not-the-first-time-rep-wilsons-emotions-got-the-best-of-him.php) as a rule, not an exception. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/379 "2009-09-11T17:54:36Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > No, [this](http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/bush-shoes1.jpg) is sabotaging a president. Only if it was a wooden shoe. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496/380 "2009-09-11T17:58:40Z")
I don’t think Wilson’s outburst was planned. I do think he is in a culture of conservatives who find no problem shouting people down. Beck and Rush never sit politely while the evil liberal speaks. They scream and cut them off. They showed the same sensitivity in town halls. Apparently manners are a sign of weakness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-heckled-obama-during-his-address-to-congress/509496.md?page=20)