September 17, 2009
Posted: September 17th, 2009 07:25 PM ET

From
Rob Miller first challenged Republican congressman Joe Wilson in 2008.
Rob Miller first challenged Republican congressman Joe Wilson in 2008.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Rep. Joe Wilson's Democratic challenger Rob Miller has collected more than $1 million online since Wilson shouted "You lie!" at President Obama, but next week Miller will be raising money the old-fashioned way.

The South Carolina Democrat, who has yet to make a public appearance since Wilson's outburst, will head to Washington for a pair of fundraisers on Capitol Hill.

A group of ex-staffers for former South Carolina Sen. Fritz Hollings and Rep. Jim Clyburn will host an event for Miller at a Capitol Hill restaurant on Wednesday, with a minimum suggested donation of $250, according to an invitation provided to CNN.

Later in the evening, Miller will head over to a Pennsylvania Avenue bar for a low-dollar meet-and-greet with "young professionals." The entry fee for that gathering is $20.10.

Wilson, meanwhile, continues to soak up online donations - the Republican has raised nearly $1.8 million since last Wednesday, including several thousand dollars since he was formally punished by the House on Tuesday for his outburst.

Follow Peter Hamby on Twitter @hambypCNN

Filed under: Extra • Joe Wilson • Rob Miller • South Carolina


Sue   September 18th, 2009 12:31 am ET

Mr. Wilson – you were RIGHT!!! obama does lie!!! How bout his statements to Congress Sep. 9 – regarding DEFENSIVE???Medicine??? And UNNECESSARY tests? Well nobody better darn well tell me I should not be tested further for ailments NOR be accused of having doctors "defensive medicine" disregarded for MY health!!!!!
Please continue to help the Real poeple who care about their longevitivy on this earth. We're not here Forever, so we try to hang on as long as we can – and need doctors to care about us!!!!!

Nija   September 18th, 2009 12:24 am ET

Were can I donate some funds for you?

Lamps   September 18th, 2009 12:10 am ET

And Miller will still lose.

Pat Dunedin Fl   September 18th, 2009 12:02 am ET

Lets hope good prevails, he deserves to hold office
Has anyone ever found out if Joe Wilson was a immigration
Lawyer? Msnbc said he has never had anything to do with
immigration perhaps he has it confused with segregation!

Crock   September 18th, 2009 12:02 am ET

those donations to Joe Wilson only demonstrate the depth of racism in this country...what he did was WRONG...pure and simple...he owes me and every other American an apology...

Capsaicin   September 17th, 2009 11:48 pm ET

Appears to be some overcompensating going on with Joe Wilson's donors–or just tacit anonymous approval of his classlessness. It would be nice to make this race a big money pit for the Republican Party–forcing them to defend Joe Wilson's 'honor' or something.

Tom in Delaware   September 17th, 2009 11:45 pm ET

Gee, I wonder if his fundraising is in reaction to CNN's hourly postings of Miller raking in the contributions after the speech last week....yet another liberal scheme that's completely backfired...what a shame.

Alex   September 17th, 2009 11:42 pm ET

"...next week Miller will be raising money the old-fashioned way."

Yes, by pledging allegiance to the Wall St. agenda that has put both Democrats and Republicans alike into office! Schmoozing with the inside-the-beltway elite may be a valuable career skill for those wishing to be in the US Congress, but it is not particularly valuable for those who want to be worth voting for. Let us know when he's hitting the pavement in his district.

We need Clean Elections nationwide! $peech does not equal "Speech", as protected in the 1st Amendment.

marcus2   September 17th, 2009 11:26 pm ET

I'm for Miller 100%. Joe Wilson has no shame.

Abbott   September 17th, 2009 11:10 pm ET

Ugh! That is going to be one disgusting congressional race in 2010.

please   September 17th, 2009 10:59 pm ET

Only in America can a person who degrades not only President Obama, but the office of the President, raise 1.8 million. The kicker is Wilson called Obama a liar, when Wilson was really the liar.

The bill specifically prevents illegal aliens from receiving any government money. While it may require them to purchase health care at full cost; unsubsidized, that only helps. The more people that pay into a insurance pool, the less the cost. Illegal aliens have to be treated in ER rooms, so their health care is already paid for by the people. Isn't better to get them to by health insurance and stop clogging up the ER rooms?

Dick Cheney had elective surgery under his socialized government run health care plan. Why can't I?

Only in America...

Intelligentia   September 17th, 2009 10:52 pm ET

It is amusing how shouting "You Lie" made this Wilson guy a hero. Some call it standing up to Obama. The way they praise him for it, you would think he went into a ring and knocked out Mike Tyson in his prime with 2 seconds of round 1. Wimps always feel powerful over what a 5 year old can do. Even a cripple in a wheel chair can shout; "You Lie." So, give it up, he is no hero!

bush league   September 17th, 2009 10:41 pm ET

lets see....first black president in history, first president ever to be heckled at a joint session of Congress......no, it cant be racism...it must be something else.

Joe   September 17th, 2009 10:39 pm ET

It's Miller Time!

centerleft   September 17th, 2009 10:31 pm ET

Way to Miller good luck!!

Annie, Atlanta   September 17th, 2009 7:31 pm ET

It's going to be hard to unseat Joe "You Lie" Wilson in that district, but it's not impossible and will be fun to watch. He disgraced himself calling his President and Commander in Chief (as a reservist) a liar, but that doesn't seem to even matter anymore. Good luck Mr. Miller.

Perusing-through   September 17th, 2009 7:30 pm ET

$250.00 is a relatively in expensive down payment if it will help rid South Carolina politics of "Foul Mouth" Joe.

Joshua College Station Texas   September 17th, 2009 7:29 pm ET

JOE WILSON, YOU LIE!

Oh, sorry Joe. [But I'm not sorry to the rest of you I just offended by blatantly disrespecting Joe here on the Ticker, because Joe wouldn't agree with that.]

Best of luck Rob Miller.

www.robmillerforcongress.com   September 17th, 2009 7:28 pm ET

I've already contributed to Rob Miller for Congress this month.

Mr. Miller is a former marine, an Iraq war veteran, and owns a small business in South Carolina.

Rob Miller for Congress 2010!!!

Gus The Willie   September 17th, 2009 7:15 pm ET

Congressman Joe should have been tarred and feathered!

williefloyd   September 17th, 2009 7:12 pm ET

Praying that my fellow citizens in the Palmetto State will say enough of the Sons of the Confederacy politics. I hope we can convince citizens from other states that there are decent, respectful native South Carolinians.

JR   September 17th, 2009 7:07 pm ET

Hardly surprising that Wilson would gain a cash inflow after his absurdly childish action, the GOP is the party of NO morals or common decency, they always reward the worse among us.

Ron   September 17th, 2009 7:05 pm ET

Didn't the Democrats know that Joe Wilson would just raise that much more money if they "punished" him? Both sides are like school-boy bullies. But the Democrats weren't even smart on this one. Just more attention for Joe Wilson and making him into a hero amongst the right-wing crowd.

HUGO   September 17th, 2009 6:53 pm ET

It won't matter how much he raises, Joe Wilson is a National hero for calling out the President in one of his many half truths or outright misrepresentations on healthcare reform. Reading many posts on this blog page however continue to support my beliefs that liberals are not all bad people, they are just people with bad ideas. I would recommend further education and gainful employment, should any be lucky enough to find gainful employment in the private sector, you will eventually become a fiscally conservative centrist. It stems from trying to provide for your own family while our Government takes 30 or so % of your paycheck to pay for those "special" among our population. In many ways being a liberal parallels to the 20 year old that is out tatooing their face, piercing their nose, ears and splitting their tongue. One day they look in the mirror of their economy car while delivering pizzas and realize they are forty, suddenly they realize this is not what they envisioned for the rest of their life.

Nateer   September 17th, 2009 6:51 pm ET

I hope Rob Miller cleans Wilson's clock.

Anonymous   September 17th, 2009 6:51 pm ET

all politicians are liars, so whats the big fuss that wilson said out loud. good for him because obama is up to some thing with health care. should worry about the economy and jobs, and if politicians would start paying their taxes and quit stealing(sanford) we could pay off the debt.

Sniffit   September 17th, 2009 6:49 pm ET

Doesn't SC have any minorities that can run??

Mark   September 17th, 2009 6:40 pm ET

I've already contributed to Wilson and I'm not even from that state. I'm sure some Hollywood liberals can square this guy away!

VGal   September 17th, 2009 6:37 pm ET

Yeah, I'm sure the insurance industry is flooding Rep Wilson with tons of additional money.

Unfortunately for Miller, he's just getting small $ amounts from a bunch of disgusted individuals. At least he's representing the people, not insurance.

Willy Brown   September 17th, 2009 6:34 pm ET

Go for you but you will lose marine.

Dan   September 17th, 2009 6:25 pm ET

Thanks Wilson for explicitly challenge the notion that we support illegals with our tax money. (I do not justify the behavior, but the outcome of focusing on this is a good one for democrats and republicans as well).
The rest is media noise....

victim of republican greed   September 17th, 2009 6:25 pm ET

1.8 million for Joe 'the liar' Wilson. Southern aristocracy is shelling out for a man who proclaimed he was an immigration lawyer, and that is a lie. Wilson may not be a true American, but he is a true son of the confederacy.

TCM   September 17th, 2009 6:24 pm ET

Miller's a puppet....clueless.....

Fan of Common Sense   September 17th, 2009 6:21 pm ET

Notice this guy turns to Washington D.C. when he wants cash....NOT to his fellow South Carolinians. Need I say more?
Southerners are much smarter than the rest of the country gives them credit for. I don't think ol' Joe has much to worry about.

Georgia   September 17th, 2009 6:21 pm ET

Anyone can do a better job than Wilson! So. Carolina is the worst state in the nation in almost every category except for golf courses! Good Job Wilson!!!

Republican's = Incompetence!

Brenda in Detroit   September 17th, 2009 6:19 pm ET

I contributed to his campaign the day after the ignorant, rude, crude outburst from Joe Wilson. I would love to see Joe Wilson outed from public office. And will keep fingers crossed.

Truth-Bomb Thrower   September 17th, 2009 6:15 pm ET

The fact that this guy is making his first fund raising appearances in D.C. and NOT in his home district pretty much says it all. DEAD MAN WALKING! DEAD MAN WALKING! :-)

Lisa P   September 17th, 2009 6:13 pm ET

That would be thirteen-year Marine Corps veteran Rob Miller, right? Go Rob!

No Incumbents 2010   September 17th, 2009 6:09 pm ET

Wilson is toast. Wilson wants to be a lifelong officeholder like Strom Thurmond, but it's time for a change. Wilson will soon learn firsthand that racism is not a winning political platform.

Terry from West Texas   September 17th, 2009 6:08 pm ET

It would be wonderful if Rob Miller actually defeated Wilson. It would redeem South Carolina voters somewhat in the nation's eyes. Their elected officials have not exactly measured up too well lately.

Aunt Bea and Opie   September 17th, 2009 6:01 pm ET

We will send money,the people there need help.The republicans are worse than a hurricane.

MikeH   September 17th, 2009 6:00 pm ET

Independant Vet, you gotta put down that bottle of Thunderbird and check yourself into rehab.

Deuce   September 17th, 2009 5:54 pm ET

A Dusty Trail Blazing Democrat. wants to dip in Obama pockets..

kathy   September 17th, 2009 5:54 pm ET

It is sad when people are awarded for rude behavior. Raising money for yelling at the president. In the south where I was born a black man is always treated poorly..... Did anyone look at the republican section at the speak lily white just like the tea party events. They are all a bunch of idiots doing just what the rich health insurance industry wants them to do. They do not care about there children and grandchildren I am not fooled they are worried about #1 and there own Medicare benefits. It is the old TO HECK ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE! ME 1st attitude. Sign me RN, 30 years mother grandmother and for universal healthcare for all.

Jann in Denver   September 17th, 2009 5:52 pm ET

Wilson must go; and I believe he will be beaten in the next election.

Billy J ..Texas..   September 17th, 2009 5:49 pm ET

I hope Wilson gets a credible primary challenger. Whoever that is will get my money.

Failing that, then I would be very comfortable with an Iraq vet (Rob Miller) and will give more than the 25 bucks I already pledged. He really can't be much worse than Wilson, who seems crooked, mean spirited AND dumb (not unlike pols on both sides of the aisles, but this guy is taking the cake at the moment)

Somebody has to stop the madness, and if money is what it takes then, I intend to spend a little whenever I see the need to send a message. I guess that's what the supreme court means by free speech although I would still rather there be some limit to what and who can give money to an already money spoiled system.

Dave   September 17th, 2009 5:45 pm ET

Although it might not have been the correct forum to call out the President, Wilson is correct to note that there are no mechanisms to prevent illegal aliens from recieving health benefits. And this whole notion of racism is disgusting. The details of this plan are either missing or being glossed over because the American people don't accept them.

Nateer   September 17th, 2009 5:42 pm ET

I've donated and I would suggest that others do too. Wilson needs to be ousted.

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