Joe "You Lie" Wilson to stump Oct. 2 in Jackson

By TODD SPANGLER

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg of Tipton is bringing South Carolina’s Joe Wilson — the Republican congressman who started a stir by shouting “You lie!” during President Barack Obama’s speech to Congress this month — to Michigan.

Walberg, a one-term Republican who was beaten in his re-election bid by Battle Creek Democrat Mark Schauer, announced the event on his campaign Web site, saying Wilson will be at the Commonwealth Conference Center in Jackson for a fund-raiser on Oct. 2.

It costs $150 for two tickets and a photo with Wilson at 7:30 a.m., or $20 a person to get into the 8 a.m. gathering. For more details, go to www.walbergforcongress.com.

Wilson apologized for his outburst — which came during a speech on health care to a joint session of Congress on Sept. 9 — and Obama accepted the apology. But it hasn't hurt Wilson’s popularity among many conservatives. On Walberg’s Web site under Wilson’s name, it says, “Stand for Truth.”

Wilson shouted, “You lie!” after the president said health care reform would not cover illegal immigrants. Critics have said that without plain language denying illegal immigrants entry into a public option health plan and federally mandated health care exchanges, it would effectively cover them — even though, the legislation clearly states they would not be eligible for federal premium subsidies.

A bill being debated in the Senate Finance Committee says that illegal immigrants would not be able to take part in the exchanges, and it excludes the public option entirely.

Sarah Blaney, Schauer’s spokeswoman, had this to say about the Walberg event: “By embracing his former colleague, Tim Walberg has made it clear that he embraces what is wrong with Washington and is not serious about fixing our broken health care system. If you are the company you keep, then Tim Walberg stands with Joe Wilson and the obstructionists.”

Health Care Bill To Cover Undocumented Immigrants? False.

ByJason Linkins

Over at Media Matters, Eric Boehlert calls out the media for covering Rep. Joe Wilson's interjectory fireworks during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night without delving into whether Wilson was correct in his assertion -- that Obama was lying when he said that illegal immigrants would not qualify for credits for the proposed health care exchanges:

What's been completely glossed over by the press is the fact that the "You Lie!" was itself built upon a lie. That the rude outburst was yet more GOP misinformation. Instead, too many in the press treat the exchange as a he said/he said. i.e. Obama claimed illegal immigrants won't be covered, and Wilson called him a liar. What are the facts? Which man was telling the truth? The press won't say.

In an update, Boehlert credits Michael Scherer at Time Magazine for digging into Wilson's claim. But he should also dole out a kudo to MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan, who invited Politifact's Bill Adair on the show to provide fact-checking of the speech. Ratigan got right to it, leading off the segment by asking Adair to rate the accuracy of Wilson's outburst, citing it as "the obvious [item] to fact check." Adair, noting that it was the first time he'd ever "fact-checked a heckler," said that he rated Wilson's assertion "false."

ADAIR: Obama is right. When you look at the bill, it does go to some lengths to make sure that illegal immigrants do not get the credits for the health care exchange that would allow them to get free care. They'd have to pay for it, like everybody else. False for Wilson.

Politifact goes into greater detail in its assessment here.

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Limbaugh wishes Rep. Wilson didn't apologize

By.Stephen C. Webster

Pinning someone under a lie can be a tricky thing. It requires nuance, preparation, persuasion and resolve to convince a group that another person is or has been lying. This is especially true in preaching across ideological lines, where many are already inclined to believe the words of another.

Take Rush Limbaugh, for example. In a Thursday radio broadcast, the right-wing leader lamented Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-S.C.) apology for interrupting President Obama's speech with a jeer of, "You lie!"

"One of the things that's really irritated me all morning and last night," began Limbaugh, "was listening to Republicans, after Wilson had apologized -- and I wish he had not -- but he's apologized and, even after he's apologized, members of his own party are all over television denigrating him, 'Mmyeah it was bad decorum.'"

Limbaugh then claimed efforts to broaden access to health care are actually moves "to completely tear down the institutions and traditions that have made this country great."

He added: "He is lying, President Obama is. From the moment he opens his mouth until he ends the speech."

Wilson interrupted Obama's speech after a cascade of boos from Republicans triggered an explicit admonition from the president over alleged coverage for undocumented immigrants in the health insurance reform proposals.

"This too is false," Obama said. "The reforms I am proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally."

"You lie!" jeered Wilson.

A cavalry of condemnation rode through the chamber. Even Republicans joined in.

"That's not true," said Obama.

Limbaugh added that he was shouting "You're lying" at his television through the entire thing.

Shout as he may, on this point the president is truthful.

In the America's Affordable Health Choices Act (PDF link) legislation currently circulating the House, page 243, Sec. 246 reads:

SEC. 246. NO FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS. Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.

In plain(er) speak, that means no government subsidies will be appropriated to make an illegal immigrant's health coverage cheaper. Citizens and legal residents are the only groups covered.

An interesting passage, considering how many Republicans have loudly called on Congress to "read the bill."

While there are several competing packages of reform legislation at the moment, it would appear as though Mr. Limbaugh and Rep. Wilson did not abide by their own constituents' advice.

M.C.L comment: Rush is so full of dog crap, if any Democratic congressmen got up and called Bush a liar(which Bush was a liar) the Republicans and their storm troopers in the right wing media would declare an war on that Democratic congress person. The right wing used this mythical reason of well the Democrats did it to Bush, as far to the left some members of the Democrats in the congress not one of them interrupted Bush by calling him a liar during one of his speeches.

Which brings up what I've been saying even before President Obama got swore in, the Republicans and their whores in the right wing media will magically remember there's something called freedom of speech and they're going to excise their rights to voice their displeasure with President Obama even though they made sure critics of George W. Bush were kept silent or face retaliation i.e. the Dixie Chicks.

For the right wing to act like people on the left or elected Democratic office holders had the same level of freedom voicing their opinions of George W. Bush is a lie, just watching the documentary "Shut up and Sing" proves it. If you was a high profile Bush critic you probably got enough hate mail that you could make two books out of them or if you're one of the lucky ones you got death threats from probably one of these proud tea baggers that's screaming about their first amendment right.