October 16, 2009
Posted: October 16th, 2009 08:39 AM ET
Wilson's infamous comment has resulted in $4.4 million of campaign cash.
Wilson's infamous comment has resulted in $4.4 million of campaign cash.

(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, Rob Yoon, and Alexander Mooney contributed to this report

Filed under: Joe Wilson • Rob Miller


Too True For You   October 16th, 2009 10:57 am ET

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.

Dominican mama 4 Obama   October 16th, 2009 10:55 am ET

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.

hockeybear   October 16th, 2009 10:54 am ET

Joe Wilson is a traitor to America and deserves to be censored. He also deserves to lose his seat.

AEK   October 16th, 2009 10:52 am ET

Yep, totally a spontaneous outburst!

Did vote Obama and Never Again !!   October 16th, 2009 10:49 am ET

Will donate to Joe Wilson to help him pass the 5 million mark.

cal   October 16th, 2009 10:48 am ET

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

Erasmus   October 16th, 2009 10:45 am ET

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.

Bob in Pa   October 16th, 2009 10:40 am ET

Guess it pays to tell the truth.

Jim   October 16th, 2009 10:39 am ET

it's a shame poor behaviour results in a cash windfall.

fellow from chicago   October 16th, 2009 10:38 am ET

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.

Ray   October 16th, 2009 10:37 am ET

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 ;-)

rob   October 16th, 2009 10:37 am ET

hes a loser. such a waste of money. It should be given to those that are in need. Who cares about this jerk anyway.

Dar   October 16th, 2009 10:36 am ET

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.

trish   October 16th, 2009 10:35 am ET

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.

Tim   October 16th, 2009 10:31 am ET

I guess ACORN can't corrupt South Carolina.

Tulsa   October 16th, 2009 10:28 am ET

....and this just in.... Joe Wilson is still telling lies.

IndyVoter   October 16th, 2009 10:26 am ET

Just goes to show stupidity pays.

The people speak.....   October 16th, 2009 10:24 am ET

with their pocket books. Guess Obama DID lie.

Obama is ONE and DONE.

Me   October 16th, 2009 10:24 am ET

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?

New Yorker   October 16th, 2009 10:23 am ET

Money talks and it's refreshing when it speaks the truth. Joe Wilson simply said what many already knew.

Robin   October 16th, 2009 10:21 am ET

So will Joe get an apology if what he said was true?

Tom St. Paul   October 16th, 2009 10:19 am ET

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.

Steve   October 16th, 2009 10:18 am ET

Well... it just goes to prove, "there's one born every minute"

Brian   October 16th, 2009 10:17 am ET

Maybe with all that money he can buy some integrity.

Dave in Albuquerque   October 16th, 2009 10:16 am ET

The GOP has stopped being about conservatism and is now about reactionism. This guy epitomizes what has happened to a once grand old party.

Deb (long island)   October 16th, 2009 10:13 am ET

It is utterly disgusting to see that so many people support this total lack of respect towards the office of the President.

Lcrawford   October 16th, 2009 10:11 am ET

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

Marty, Grand Rapids Mi   October 16th, 2009 10:10 am ET

Another pathetic display of how bad the American public can be,

T'SAH from Virginia   October 16th, 2009 10:09 am ET

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!!!

Greta   October 16th, 2009 10:08 am ET

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. :)

Pragmatic   October 16th, 2009 10:07 am ET

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" ...

Jose from Tampa   October 16th, 2009 10:07 am ET

Well well well.... The family values party rewarding bad behaviour.

Dennis   October 16th, 2009 10:05 am ET

I'm sure in his home district, it has made him very popular. Sometimes you get rewarded for telling the truth.

Hugo   October 16th, 2009 10:05 am ET

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.

papa   October 16th, 2009 10:04 am ET

Excellent! Now they both have enought money to tell their own lies!!

Annette   October 16th, 2009 10:01 am ET

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.

katiec   October 16th, 2009 10:00 am ET

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,

Feed-Up with Politicians...   October 16th, 2009 9:56 am ET

this is unbelievable that any politician could make money after insulting the president; what a bunch of sick people

Fools and their freedoms are soon parted   October 16th, 2009 9:56 am ET

I always thought telling the truth was priceless.

LIP   October 16th, 2009 9:55 am ET

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.

Tony   October 16th, 2009 9:54 am ET

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.

T. van Tol   October 16th, 2009 9:54 am ET

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!

Nick   October 16th, 2009 9:50 am ET

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.

D. Tree   October 16th, 2009 9:50 am ET

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.

What???   October 16th, 2009 9:48 am ET

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

Jessie   October 16th, 2009 9:47 am ET

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.

Samuel   October 16th, 2009 9:47 am ET

those who donated for his campaign should be ashamed of themselves for encouraging others to disrespect our president, encouraging dirty politics.

Nana5   October 16th, 2009 9:46 am ET

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.

Bananarama Victim II: Electric Boogaloo   October 16th, 2009 9:44 am ET

"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.

Brian   October 16th, 2009 9:43 am ET

I imagine this type of thing will continue to happen. Internet based society seems to like it's trolls.

Jeff   October 16th, 2009 9:43 am ET

Liars typically point the finger at other people and claim that they are lying to cover up the fact that they are lying...

mark   October 16th, 2009 9:40 am ET

America needs more in congress like Mr. Wilson.

Simmy   October 16th, 2009 9:38 am ET

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.....

Brian   October 16th, 2009 9:32 am ET

So, Blowhard Joe's yawp was a callous grab for money, an empty gesture, and indeed a lie in itself.

Crock   October 16th, 2009 9:32 am ET

no matter how much it gets him...Joe Wilson should be ashamed...

townna brown   October 16th, 2009 9:30 am ET

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

RTB   October 16th, 2009 9:29 am ET

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".

Wake Up   October 16th, 2009 9:22 am ET

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.

Tim   October 16th, 2009 9:19 am ET

See, in the end, the truth always pays.

not alone   October 16th, 2009 9:19 am ET

Wow folks shelling out for such ingnorence and disrspect,how sad the repulican party has become.

jp,michigan   October 16th, 2009 9:19 am ET

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.

rjt   October 16th, 2009 9:19 am ET

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.

DSH   October 16th, 2009 9:18 am ET

I guess the GOP has more money than integrity.

mjm   October 16th, 2009 9:18 am ET

Wilson was right. Obama lies....so does the teleprompter.

seebofubar   October 16th, 2009 9:17 am ET

I guess a whole lot of people agree, Obama is a lier. No surprise there though, over 45% of americans new that last November.

obummer, 1 and done   October 16th, 2009 9:17 am ET

Disrespectful outburst that I do not condone, but true non the less.

ThinkAgain   October 16th, 2009 9:16 am ET

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.

gypsydaveywithablowtorch   October 16th, 2009 9:14 am ET

But he feels so bad about it, he's donating all this money to charity-right?

J   October 16th, 2009 9:13 am ET

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??

A. Goodwin   October 16th, 2009 9:12 am ET

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.

Ken in Gainesville   October 16th, 2009 9:11 am ET

Not surprising. Hatred and fear sell, especially in South Carolina. (A former resident)

pete   October 16th, 2009 9:06 am ET

this Wilson is a joke.

Jim in Florida   October 16th, 2009 9:06 am ET

hmmmm, 4 million per Obama lie, someone ought to have a billion piled up by now

Frozone   October 16th, 2009 9:01 am ET

no surprise that Republicans have continued to support this racist, lying moron. The GOP rewards the worst elements of our society.

Albo58   October 16th, 2009 8:59 am ET

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!

Free Thinker   October 16th, 2009 8:58 am ET

It is amazing what speaking the truth will bring you!!

K   October 16th, 2009 8:57 am ET

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.

Scott   October 16th, 2009 8:56 am ET

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.

Troubled   October 16th, 2009 8:52 am ET

Good, I'll contribute the maximum to Wilson's campaign!

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ   October 16th, 2009 8:51 am ET

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.

Tom   October 16th, 2009 8:47 am ET

Joe Wilson apologised for yelling you lie, now it is time for Obama to apologise for lying.

Angus McDugan   October 16th, 2009 8:47 am ET

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.

TLDSR   October 16th, 2009 8:47 am ET

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.

Dean   October 16th, 2009 8:44 am ET

Telling the truth always pays off.

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