(CNN) - Less than a day after Rep. Joe Wilson formally apologized to President Obama over his "you lie" outburst, a campaign aide confirms to CNN the South Carolina Republican has raised "more than $200,000" in the wake of the now-infamous moment.
News of that cash haul comes after Wilson directly asked in a Web video for campaign cash to fend off attacks from political opponents and said he's standing by his opposition to Democratic efforts at health care reform.
"On these issues, I will not be muzzled, I will speak up and speak loudly against this risky plan," Wilson said in a YouTube video released Thursday evening. "The supporters of the government takeover of health care and the liberals who want to give health care to illegals are using my opposition as an excuse to distract from the critical questions being raised about this poorly conceived plan."
The congressman disbursed the video via Twitter and asked his followers to "please watch and pass on."
"[Democrats] want to silence anyone who speaks out against it," Wilson also says in the video. "They made it clear they want to defeat me and pass the plan. I need your help now... contribute to my effort to defeat the proponents of government-run health care."
Wilson also sent a fundraising appeal via e-mail, saying he is confident "my voice is serving as the voice for Americans across the country who are tired of irresponsible government programs that have only worsened our situation."
The appeal for cash came as Wilson's Democratic opponent in next year's congressional race, Rob Miller, reported raking in $750,000 as a result of the outburst during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress. Miller ran against Wilson last year, losing by eight points. It was Wilson's smallest margin of victory in his five elections for Congress.
In an e-mail to supporters Thursday night, Miller said he is aiming to top over $1 million in the next 24 hours, a total that dwarfs the $67,000 he has took in during the entire first half of the year.
From CNN Politics
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I all of my years watching Presidential speeches, I have never ever seen someone be as disrespectful as Joe Wilson. I think that Congress should reprimand him for his actions. If a Democratic congressman (or woman) would have yelled out like that, the Republicans would be calling for them to be torn out of Congress. It's so disheartening to see the Republicans do everything and anything that they can to make this President fail. They don't care that his failure would be this country's failure. However, President Obama is strong and tough and he will prevail.
Wilson is still a loser behind the all the emotionless apologizes. If he was pressured– would we apologized. He meant it form the heat, so I don't beleive him. Man, what's up with all the loser in SC. Sex lies and micorphones.
It just goes to show you...Republicans hear logic & reason...and just let it go in one ear & right out the other. They're dense. D-E-N-S-E. It's almost as if Wilson didn't even hear when Obama directly refuted the government 'take-over' allegations ALONG WITH...illegals being covered. Wilson is either deaf...or stupid. Probably both.
greedy sanctimonious jerk
So, you WEREN"T sorry when you gave apology to the president.. seems like YOU LIE too.
I would not pay a dime....i bet it is all humbug...
Embarrassing on so many levels....
I think that he should war more patriotic flair on his lapels. Only two pieces of patriotic flair usually indicates dangerous centrist thinking and a potential for leadership and compromise.
Say it ain't so Joe. Joe, you missing the point. Speak as loud as you want, but do not disrespect the Office of the President no matter whose in office. Its OK to disagree , but do it with style. You are a leader, Joe. Act like one.
"The supporters of the government takeover of health care and the liberals who want to give health care to illegals..."
Except for that whole provision (Section 246) that specifically prohibits undocumented aliens from receiving government-subsidized health insurance/care...
This congressman needs to be censure. I called the office of Minority Leader John Boehner yesterday to complain and all I was given was the same old condescending line. The republican leadership if you can call it that is straddling the fence and losing respect of many people. Politics aside, disagreements yes, defiance and disrespect is not acceptable , should not be tolerated and enough is enough. These republicans and their kind is determined to bring the country down with their racist, fear mongering tactics. and enough is enough already. I think Congress ought to take a stance censure Boehner, and Wilson. ASAP
Rep. Joe Wilson you have to proud becuase no one else in this country (elected officials – Allo knew his policy will make this country like a 3rd world country ofcourse I know practically....)have the guts to speak against the bad policies of the president.
I will not give this Ugly American one cent, he is a disgrace to our country. I will, however, donate to Mr. Miller. I cannot believe the nerve of this man to ask for donations after his disrespectful outburst, but then again, he is a Republican/Conservative so I guess I shouldn't be surprised at his gall.
this rude, disrespectful, uninformed man needs to go away. he should be censured as evidently his behavior is still inappropriate and his apology was not genuine and now he's drumming for money.
how low will they go???
Wilson is a stone idiot! He should resign his office. President Obama deserves our highest respect, regardless of whether we agree with him or not. Again, another degrading display of a Republican politician. It wouldn't matter what President Obama did, Wilson, and Republicans like him, would try to villify him! Now Wilson is receiving praise from low-lifes and he is trying to cash in on it. The only reason he apologized is because he was told to. He is not sorry for if he were, he wouldn't try to cash in on his display of disrespect.
Please extend a "big thank you" to United Health Care, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, etc. Yeah! They will write you a check any day while they deny the coverage of people dying of simple sickness!
I wonder, how much of the money came from drug and insurance companies ?
I hate to break this to Mr. Wilson, but his inability to control himself has made him the face of intolerance. Its not the fact he objects to the President's plan, its the way he did it. It will be very interesting to see how this outburst, along with the support Wilson has garnered from extremeists in the Conservative movement, affects the attitudes of independent voters. They hold the key to how the healthcare reform debate procedes from here, and if this is how a self-described low-key backbencher reacts, it will scare the hell out of independent voters in favor of the President.
I can't stand it when people lie like this moron. The bill DIRECTLY SAYS NO ILLEGALS WILL BE COVERED.
It also seems the Wilson did not pay attention to how to apologize in Kindergarten. It isn't an apology if you keep pressing your point. This guy is a tool, and South Carolinians should be embarassed by him.
Anyone who gives cash to this traitorous idiot is one themself.
CNN, the bias of your articles is exceeded only the the bias of the links on the main page. I would also appreciate it if you would remember the booing and the outcries against then-president Bush by the minority Democrats at a couple of his state of the union messages.
Public disrespect of our sitting president is always wrong. Why do you only think it is wrong now?
Irrespective of political preferences, the heckle raises the larger issue of respect for the Office of the President. We have always regarded that office with deference regardless of its occupant. While an apology may be owed the President Obama, an apology is definitely owed to the American people for the insult to one of our treasured institutions. As a nation, we have always welcomed dissent. We have come to expect that the dissent expressed by our representative leaders will be rational and articulate. The heckle is the first chink in our civility towards our government institutions and our heritage that sets us apart from other nations.
Oh, so now poor Joe is the victim? Still a clown.
What a tool.
Poor Mr. Wilson. Obviously doesn't understand the word "liar". Probably he needs to look in the mirror more often.