(CNN) - How much are the words "You Lie" worth when directed at President Barack Obama on national television?
Well over $4 million collectively, newly filed campaign finance reports show.
According to the new Federal Elections Commission disclosure forms, South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson raised $2.7 through September 30 of this year, nearly all of it coming after the infamous outburst during Obama's September 9 prime-time address to Congress, Wilson's campaign told CNN.
Rob Miller, Wilson's likely Democratic opponent in next year's congressional election, has collected close to $1.7 million through September 30, 95 percent of which came after the "You Lie" incident, according to Miller's campaign. Wilson beat Miller by eight points in last year's election.
The combined $4.4 million cash haul has transformed what was once a low profile congressional race into what appears will be the most expensive campaign for a House seat in South Carolina history.
– CNN's Peter Hamby, Robert Yoon, and Alexander Mooney contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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Telling the truth always pays off.
The Republican Party is a disgrace and an abomination. There is something putrid about these guys and gals. The Republican Parties of past decades did not make me want to shower after I hear or see them speak on issues. I think it may have started with the Newt Gingrich Crew a few years back.
I don't think Obama was telling a lie. I just think is does not know what he is talking about. I hope ObamaCare does not run medical inovation in the ditch by removing the financial incentives.
Joe Wilson apologised for yelling you lie, now it is time for Obama to apologise for lying.
Wilson needs to give some thought as to how he acts. He may have raised money, but we need him to behave a little better. His actions were condemed by the House very lightly. He got off easy since he directly called the president a liar while the president was speaking to the full congress.
Good, I'll contribute the maximum to Wilson's campaign!
Disgusting. If ever there was a more clear call for a total overhaul of the way campaign finance and campaigning are handled in the US I'd love to hear about it. Don't think for a minute all the other two-bit, no-name, backbenchers in the House aren't paying attention to this...2010 will be an ugly prelude to 2012.
I think this situation just proves that the people in this country that openly admit to being a Conservative/Republican seem to be embracing incivility and hatred.
When you stop for a second and think about the issue that Joe Wilson accused President Obama of lying about...illegal aliens getting insurance coverage, just stop and think about that.....
I can honestly say that I do love the country of my birth, but there is a segmant in our society that is extremely embarrasing and shameful to be associated with as a country, the Republicans are a disgrace to America.
It is amazing what speaking the truth will bring you!!
Though it will be certainly glossed over by the DNC, Wilson's campaign contributions reflect the dissatisfaction by a lot of American taxpayers in this administration and the rubber-stamp Congressional majority, plain and simple!
no surprise that Republicans have continued to support this racist, lying moron. The GOP rewards the worst elements of our society.
hmmmm, 4 million per Obama lie, someone ought to have a billion piled up by now
this Wilson is a joke.
Not surprising. Hatred and fear sell, especially in South Carolina. (A former resident)
People who donated to the $4.4 million "cash haul" simply disgust me. Yes, let's praise this man for being a loud-mouth jerk!
I dont care what isle you are on – what he did was rude. End of story.
Just shows the level of disrespect and ignorance in this country.
What happened to the UNITED States of America. We are a divided nation filled with people who get their information from Cable News channels that are more filled with propaganda and advertisements than actual news and information.
We are a sad and pathetic nation, how do we reclaim our greatness??
But he feels so bad about it, he's donating all this money to charity-right?
No surprise here. The Republican Party has devolved into a bunch of whiny, lying, name-calling hate- and fear-mongers who put party before country; of course they're going to back a rude ignoramous like Wilson!
Anything to Make US Fail – that's the new GOP motto.
Disrespectful outburst that I do not condone, but true non the less.
I guess a whole lot of people agree, Obama is a lier. No surprise there though, over 45% of americans new that last November.
Wilson was right. Obama lies....so does the teleprompter.
I guess the GOP has more money than integrity.
I took a look at this senate health bill and although Obama says no one will be denied insurance due to preexisting conditions, there is a huge loophole. You will be required to maintain your cholestorol, weight, and unspecified "living habits" that meet the requirements or you will pay a hefty price. I think this does in fact open a whole can of worms. Now that I have read the bill....yes I would say that Wilson was right...he lied.
President Obama is a politician first ,than the President. He said what was needed to get him elected, once elected he has not lived up to his promises. Where is the transparency ? Where is the posting of bills on the Internet so all Americans can read the bill? Continue the way you are going right now and you will be a one term President, with not much to show, except for the pressure you placed on the American people, no job growth and using one party system to get what you want done.
Wow folks shelling out for such ingnorence and disrspect,how sad the repulican party has become.
See, in the end, the truth always pays.
Just wait until our money flows to anyone but people who voted for Obama's ridiculous health care plan. We are ready to mobilize and flow the money to the opposition. We will NOT let Obama be a dictator any longer. 2010, here we come.
A well orchestrated "outburst" by the ambulance chaser from South Carolina. Let the good folks of that state set the record straight. For the rest of us he is a crude joke of "gentleman".
and respect is deserve to a dog we love to accept the negative of something and try to make it look good. congulation on mr wilson monry he raise but money cant buy u everything
no matter how much it gets him...Joe Wilson should be ashamed...
So, Blowhard Joe's yawp was a callous grab for money, an empty gesture, and indeed a lie in itself.
In joe the heckler's scenario, that's not a good thing.....Parents shouldn't reward their children for bad behavior......Grown ups shouldn't reward another grown up for bad behavior......Only in the elitist GOP could such a dastardly thing happen.......Peace.....
America needs more in congress like Mr. Wilson.
Liars typically point the finger at other people and claim that they are lying to cover up the fact that they are lying...
I imagine this type of thing will continue to happen. Internet based society seems to like it's trolls.
"You lie" also equals setting a terrible example of polotics gone wrong. Say what you will about freedom of speech (chances are you don't really understand that right) but once our Government officials start to behave in a manner less than gentlemen, then how can we expect any respect to be paid to anyone?
Disagree all you want, loudly if you need, but don't applaud the Kanye West of politics for uttering a sentence fragment angerly at the President, an action that would be condemned when directed at an auctioneer, let alone a white President.
Love Joe Wilson – one politician who is not afraid to speak the truth. Keep up the good work and call everyone up there out on their lies and misdeeds to the American people. That's just what you were elected for – to represent us and you're doing a superb job. Like all the libs said during the election – if Mr. Nobama can't take the heat, get him the heck out of the kitchen and back to his playroom in Ohio.
those who donated for his campaign should be ashamed of themselves for encouraging others to disrespect our president, encouraging dirty politics.
When a Congressional member can raise money on violating the rules of decorum for the House and totally disrespect the President of the United States with a statement that has been debunked by every legitimate fact-checking organization, it says just as much about his donors as it does about him.
I'd bet GOPsnotsters are so proud. They will go in the history books as the party that opposed health care for all americans and called the first african american president a liar on worldwide t.v.
How proud you bunch of space cadets must be! So much so...you're contributing millions to this loser of a congressman. What sleazy, disrespectful, hateful, hypocritical portion of our country this all represents. Where's the intelligent debate, respectful polical discourse and collobration of the best ideas / best results for the country? Calling the president a liar....really? that's it? GOP = 0.00 IQ
But again....I'm sure you "Ring Wing Ding Dongs" are proud
So what people learn from this is Joe Wilson's apology wasn't sincere at all. He's been using the stunt for his own gain – playing it up at every opportunity. Pretty disingenuous.
That was not an outburst! It was a cold calculated move to engender funds from the other wing-nuts. This guy is a liar, a fraud and a cheat – typical of Red State Republicans.
I did not know you can "urn" such money by
telling someone else is lying.
Fear and hate are strong these days.
But, at the end, there will be victory for Barack Obama.
I am 100% sure on that. Go Barack, this world needs you!
Looks like the people of South Carolina want skeptical, audacious representatives. I wish my state was like that. We instead vote for state lawmakers who get caught on FBI cameras stuffing bribe money in their bras.
And you can bet that President Obama will be putting in numerous public appearances on Miller's behalf. Revenge is sweet, or so they say. It will be a bitter taste in the mouths of many Democrats though when they see that the truth is hard to swallow.
All of this could have been avoided if Obama had simply included the Republicans in everything he promised during his campaining.
I always thought telling the truth was priceless.
this is unbelievable that any politician could make money after insulting the president; what a bunch of sick people
This just goes to show that the republican party and their supporters have thrown all integrity, honor, respect to the wind.
When politicians are as irresponsible and disrespectful as Wilson was, and people stoop to that level by rewarding this behavior, it
makes one wonder about those who support extremist behavior.
And, what caliber of people they want running our country,
Yea, and that also equates to the kind of division the GOP has created and the kind of fearmonging to win over folks, insincerities. and uncertainty. That amount does not surprise me at all, in fact I am surprise it wasn't more.
Excellent! Now they both have enought money to tell their own lies!!
Maybe Joe Wilson and Rush Limbaugh can band together and stand up to the Left's continued use of the slanderous RACE card calls. Maybe Attorney General Holden can declare it a hate crime and put all those racists that continue to try to use this word as a political tool of deception...
When one speaks the truth he shall be rewarded with Gold! Looks like Rush and Joe must be doing something right.
I'm sure in his home district, it has made him very popular. Sometimes you get rewarded for telling the truth.
Well well well.... The family values party rewarding bad behaviour.
Looks like the recession is over! republicans have plenty of money to buy any election they want ... but they may find that the American voters are "not for sale" ...
I'm so sad he made money based on acting like a jerk. Democracy is over-rated. Look at the people we vote in. Look at the people we allow to vote.
YOU LIE will not even spend 4.4 million dollars on his campaign... The election is LOW LEVEL and if he spends that much on air, people would get bored with him.
Rob Miller's donations most likely came from the community and not from EVERY FAR-RIGHT person in the United States!!! That does not say much for YOU LIE WILSON. Voters out of their district cannot even vote – so donors out of the district WASTED their money.
$4.4 million dollars worth of ATTACKS may not even be warranted against Rob Miller!!! He seems like a decent man and just might beat YOU LIE WILSON on DECENCY!!!
Another pathetic display of how bad the American public can be,
This is bogus. If Joe Wilson is able to raise money from his very inappropriate comments targetting OUR president(including him) Barack Obama, this shows you were we are located in this time in America. This country is now ran by drama, and the fact that Wilson can raise 4.4 million dollars after the comments shows that either people still do not support Obama or the country are full support of bogus comments
It is utterly disgusting to see that so many people support this total lack of respect towards the office of the President.
The GOP has stopped being about conservatism and is now about reactionism. This guy epitomizes what has happened to a once grand old party.
Maybe with all that money he can buy some integrity.
Well... it just goes to prove, "there's one born every minute"
Oh good. Now we can expect more staged or spontaneous outbursts at formal national addresses and events. After all, it's worth cash! Too bad the Dems didn't think of this earlier. Hillary Clinton's campaign fund would never have run a deficit if she would've thrown her shoes at President Bush. Shame on Wilson for his "spontaneous" outburst and on those who have given him money because of it. They have further cheapened our national dialog. Our nation is devloving back to the 1800s.
So will Joe get an apology if what he said was true?
Money talks and it's refreshing when it speaks the truth. Joe Wilson simply said what many already knew.
So it is now advantageous & voters r willing to say their hard earned cash to someone who chooses to object to policy to `challenge` by yelling down a speaking t t president to call him a liar. Does this not frighten you?! Do the application of wisdom and decorum farm more in this country than the childish expression of uncontrolled said?
with their pocket books. Guess Obama DID lie.
Obama is ONE and DONE.
Just goes to show stupidity pays.
....and this just in.... Joe Wilson is still telling lies.
I guess ACORN can't corrupt South Carolina.
It should have been a lot higher than that.The republicans stole billions of dollars ,from the country and from fellow republicans,while on bush`s watch.Is that all they`re willing to give to Joe?He`ll need it because he lost a lot of credibility as a senator,republican and as a man.Don`t try to downplay what he did.It was a horrible thing to do to any President even when your colleagues pat you on the back and smile in your face they know that what you did was political suicide.I never want a man that can`t control his emotions to represent me in any arena,even when you disagree.He showed his true colors and I am very disapointed in what I see.
This should tell you something, more people beleive that Odumbo lies than that dont. Dont get me wrong most politicans lie. it's a way of life for them.
hes a loser. such a waste of money. It should be given to those that are in need. Who cares about this jerk anyway.
So...some dude was rude enough to interrupt our President-PRESIDENT-in the middle of a speech, and he's given 4 million bucks...
You stay classy, Republicans
And we'll keep on giving until all the lying Dems are voted out of office in 2010 and 2012. Give America back to Americans.
it's a shame poor behaviour results in a cash windfall.
Guess it pays to tell the truth.
The issue is not money. The issue is that somehow there are people in this country who gave 2.7 million dollars to a candidate, not because he is intelligent or has skills that would enable him to help people in his district or further the interest of the United States, but rather because he represents the right of every ignorant American to close their ears and minds while screaming self serving drivel. This sad individual should not be in public office where important things are being decided. He is better suited for a Floyd's barber shop setting where he can stir up the passions of other ignorant people who mistake opinions for facts or maybe a bar where he can arm wrestle with people and then fight them out in the parking lot.
This is the dumbest article I read this week. How in the hell can the federal elections committee even print something that is sooooooo stupid is beyond me. This is giving polarization to that idiot racist wilson by saying his outburst and disgrace to the american people has benefited him. What a bunch of clowns
Will donate to Joe Wilson to help him pass the 5 million mark.
Yep, totally a spontaneous outburst!
Joe Wilson is a traitor to America and deserves to be censored. He also deserves to lose his seat.
There is always the distinct probability that You Lie Wilson is probably lying about his cash haul, and its' origins. He is after all a LIAR.
Well, what a condemnation of our society that a disrespectful outburst by an ignorant demagogue is rewarded so richly. It is truly sad that these mental midgets rally around such mendacious behavior. Weren't these the same people so quick to label ANY opposition to Bush as "unpatriotic" and "un-American"? Yet here they are, cheering on the mendacious behavior of this idiot. Hypocrites.
I suppose if Wilson had thrown a shoe at Obama, physically threatened him or committed any other such felony stupidity he might have raised even more dirty dollars from the tin foil hat party.