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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."

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.
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.
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.
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)
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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

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COMMENTS
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?
 

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