Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Leave Wilson Alone: Parker

Outbursts par for the course in partisan politics

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 11, 2009 9:38 AM CDT

(Newser) – After Joe Wilson's “you lie” outburst, we may need to add “Joewilsoning” to the lexicon, as in, “OMG, he Joewilsoned right in the middle of the sermon!” writes Kathleen Parker of the Washington Post. Still, the reaction to the outburst seems a wee bit overblown. Wilson is, in normal circumstances, "polite, humble and deferential," says Parker, who acknowledges that her nephew works in his office.

Wilson says the outburst was spontaneous, and he regrets it. Let it go. But many commentators on TV aren’t just upset at Wilson, but at “heckling” by Republicans. “Where have these folks been?” asks Parker. “Group histrionics are a time-honored tradition in American political theater.” Remember the heckling during the 2005 State of the Union address? "As a nation," she points out, "we have entered a political era of uninhibited belligerence."

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. applauds at right as fellow House Republicans hold up their health care proposals, Wednesday, during President Barack Obama's speech on healthcare. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., center, listens during President Barack Obama's speech on health care to a joint session of Congress, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. speaks to reporters outside of his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

As a nation, we have entered a political era of uninhibited belligerence. - Kathleen Parker

Jeers, eye-rolling and further expressions of disapproval are practically de rigueur for opposition leaders. - Kathleen Parker

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 32 comments

IndependentThinker

Sep 14, 2009 8:27 AM CDT

It is one 24 hour newses network but true but the fox news network is much larger than that. It the spawn of Murdoc and is molded in his image. He controls most of the media about there and is a solid conservative. Yes it is true that most journalists are liberals, but most editors and news bureaucrat are conservative so it maybe written by liberals but it is filtered by conservatives. In the end the more extrema conservative ideas get though the edits where the more liberal ones do not. By calling the media liberal your just pointing out how little you can see with conservative eyes.

godawgs

Sep 12, 2009 6:43 AM CDT

do you watch anything other then msnbc, really? do you have anything to backup your claim of racism or is it just opinion?

godawgs

Sep 12, 2009 6:41 AM CDT

@IT You realize that Fox is only one network right?

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

Washington Post (Source Grid »)

Politics

Republican • South Carolina • partisanship • speech • US Congress • State of the Union Address • George W. Bush • Kathleen Parker • President Obama • heckling • Joe Wilson

More Newser Stories

Public Hates Democrats, Hates GOP Even More

But Republican backers are more likely to vote

(NEWSER) - It's good news/bad news time, Democrats. Bad news: The public doesn’t much like you. In fact, a whopping 60% disapprove of the job you’re doing in the latest AP poll. Good news: They dislike Republicans even more; 68% disapprove of them, and Sarah Palin and George W. Bush are viewed significantly more negatively than President Obama. But more bad news: The people who dislike Democrats are more likely to actually vote. More»

Obama, Please Don't Dumb It Down

He needs another speech on par with the one about Rev. Wright

(NEWSER) - If President Obama hopes to pull off a winning speech tonight, he might look back to candidate Obama for guidance, writes Johnathan Cohn. Remember the Jeremiah Wright controversy, when Obama faced the first "speech of his life"? Most candidates would have taken the politically easy route of disavowing Wright for his charged racial comments. Instead, Obama gave a nuanced speech on race relations and won the day. More»

Obama Lifts HIV+ Travel Ban

President extends bill funding care for low-income HIV/AIDS patients

(NEWSER) - HIV-positive individuals will no longer be banned from visiting or immigrating to the US, President Obama announced today. The president discussed the revocation of the ban, which has stood since 1987, at today's signing of an extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS bill. That bill provides funding for HIV/AIDS testing and treatment for low-income individuals. More»

'Kiss My Gay Ass': Calif. Dem After Heckling Arnold

... after interrupting governor's speech by yelling 'You lie!'

(NEWSER) - Slightly different forum, very different personalities, same heckle. And California Democratic Assemblyman Tom Ammiano apparently followed up his “You lie!” interruption of a speech last night in San Francisco by Arnold Schwarzenegger by walking out and telling the Republican governor to “kiss my gay ass.” Ammiano’s defense is that Schwarzenegger crashed a Democratic fundraiser: “This is our house—and it’s like someone came in and took a big dump. He showed up; it was rude.” More»

Obama's Gandhi Act Ties Supporters in Knots

President seeks a fundamental change in our political discourse: Goodman

(NEWSER) - Even President Obama's fans are beginning to wonder when—or even if—his "inner fighter" is going to emerge, writes Ellen Goodman of the Boston Globe. His collaborative style entranced many during the campaign, but supporters are groaning as the president listens calmly to the opposition rather than putting up his dukes. It’s telling that, when a student asked his ideal dinner date, the president answered, "Gandhi.' More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Leave Wilson Alone: Parker