The Day Decorum Died

The 'Honorable' Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted "You lie" at the President of the United States while Obama was delivering a speech about health care to a joint session of Congress.

As President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night, the nation's rapidly deteriorating discourse hit yet another low.

It happened at 8:40 pm, just after the president vowed to lawmakers that his health-care reform proposals would not provide benefits to illegal immigrants. As millions of Americans watched from home, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouted at the president from his fifth-row seat: "You lie!"

Murmurs of "ooh" filled the stunned chamber. Nancy Pelosi's chin dropped. Obama moved on to the next sentence in his speech, about how no federal money would be used to fund abortion. "Not true!" came another shout.

The Republican Response, Arriving a Little Early
By Dana Milbank
Washington Post
Thursday, September 10, 20

This wasn't a political rally; this wasn't a vitriol-filled town hall session. These were the halls of Congress.

No matter that I think Wilson is wrong or no matter that you may think I am wrong. Wake the kids. Tell them: this is the day decorum died.