Comments on: Aw: Wilson apologizes to Obama

By: mer

mer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:38:36 +0000

Well, reading the apology a few times, it seems that Wilson is apologizing for the outburst, not the content of the outburst. I don’t see where Wilson retracted the “liar” part.

By: Cassy Fiano » Where was the respect for the office of the president in 2005?

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:52:54 +0000

[...] and a seething glare from Obama. While I applaud Wilson for calling Obama out on one of his lies, Wilson quickly apologized. It’s not good enough for liberals, though, who are still furious over the lack of respect [...]

By: Mat

Mat — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:37:42 +0000

Again, I don’t see why Wilson decided to apologize. Obama is, in fact, a goddamn liar. End of story. It’s nice to see that someone, however briefly, called him out on it.

By: mj

mj — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:36:56 +0000

Though sometimes something of an excitable crank myself, I wasn’t exactly overjoyed with the outburst. As to the apology, I think it was worthless. It certainly isn’t going to comfort anybody’s hurt little feelings. And, “You lie” is far less guff than many in Congress gave President Bush in 2005.

I would certainly have approved if the rebuttal afterwards mentioned that President Obama has not met with Republicans since April, despite his alleged interest in bipartisanship. I might have even enjoyed a walkout after he decried the incivility and then started tearing into those who oppose his wishes.

How important is it really, though? Folks may want to appear nice, but those who call them Nazis or terrorists for not going along with the flow really aren’t going to esteem them too highly.

By: Chris M-G

Chris M-G — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:16:14 +0000

To those saying that this has never happened before:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/03/politics/03scene.htm?_r=1

Paragraph six. Borrowed from Newsbusters.

By: BobV

BobV — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:52:10 +0000

Remember Joe, it’s not slander if it’s true.

If anything you should apologize for letting so many lies slip through, without pointing them out.

By: btenney

btenney — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:05:27 +0000

Thanks Joe, you don’t have to apologize for being truthful.
As a constituent of John McCain I wish he would either man up and get in Obama’s face or shut the hell up and let stronger people like Joe or Sarah defend Americans from the Socialist Menace they brought down on themselves.

By: Ron S.

Ron S. — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:25:50 +0000

Here is what I wish Rep. Wilson would have said “While the manner in which I delivered my disagreement was not civil and for that i am sorry, the content of the message was correct and for that I do not apologize”

By: Kevin M

Kevin M — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:34:39 +0000

“sit” s/b wit.

Damned typos!

By: Kevin M

Kevin M — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:34:04 +0000

Civility has nothing to do with this exchange. Jenkinsbrigade makes a valid point: the British PM gets FAR WORSE every day in Parliament, and somehow he manages to survive. Perhaps that’s why the ability to speak with some measure of eloquence and sit is more treasured by the Brits than here. There is far too much lip-service given to the bully pulpit in this country. “I won the election; ergo, I must be exalted.” It didn’t fly for Bush, so Obama has no right to gripe.

The devil is in the details, not the broad strokes. But it’s the broad strokes that make the legendary speeches. Then the population gets saddles with the little details that all add up to decay.

Our celebrity-addled culture pays too much respect to the likes of Matt Damon and Oprah Winfrey to think for themselves. Small wonder the latest teenager got elected to the White House.

I’ll wait for the next election. As far as I’m concerned, American politics has become a parlour game for cable TV pundits. And don’t think I have a molecule of respect for FoxNews, either. They are an embarrassment to both journalism and the right wing they claim to champion.