(Updated): Wilson's opponent raises more than $500K
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/09/10/obama.heckled.speech/art.joe.wilson.heckling.gi.jpg caption="Joe Wilson's outburst has resulted in a cash windfall for his 2010 Democratic challenger Rob Miller."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - Joe Wilson's outburst has resulted in a cash windfall for his 2010 Democratic challenger Rob Miller.
According to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Miller raised $100,000 overnight from 3,000 individual donors after Wilson shouted "You lie!" at President Obama during his address to Congress on Wednesday night.
Miller released a statement last night accusing Wilson of "engaging in childish name-calling and disrespecting out Commander-in-Chief." Wilson's shout prompted Democrats on the Web to direct donors to Miller's Web site and to the Democratic fundraising site ActBlue.
Miller gave Wilson the toughest re-election challenge of his career last year in one of the country's most conservative congressional districts. Miller lost by eight points, and decided to challenge Wilson again next year.
Wilson apologized to the president after the speech, calling his comments "inappropriate and regrettable."
UPDATE: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported Thursday morning that Miller's post-speech total had risen to $200,000.
UPDATE 2:45 pm: The DCCC reported Thursday afternoon that Miller's new post-speech total had risen to $400,000, via 11,000 individual contributions.
UPDATE: 5:45 p.m.: The DCCC reported Thursday evening that Miller post-speech total had risen to more than $500,000, via 14,000 individual contributions.
Rep Wilson's comment was rude. But it was also true. With 15 million illegal immigrants in this country (maybe 5 million of which live in southern California) how can his healthcare plan not include them? When the president made that statement probably everyone in that room was thinking "That just not true" but Wilson blurted it out.
So Wilson should apologize for rudeness and President Obama should apologize for the lie. Then we need to get back to work and figure out how to cover the 15 million illegal immigrants. We also need to figure out how to instill this illegal immigrant work ethic into our own lazy population.
Well, he did lie but the jeer was totally out of place and Joe Wilson should have to sit in the corner with soap in his mouth for at least 30 minutes. The proof will be in the pudding so to speak, when we actually see the text of the bill offered by the house......assuming we get to see it again. I don't anticipate there will be much change, only the phrases and names used to describe the same thing will change...like "illegal aliens" versus "illegal emigrants". Why don't we call them non-US citizens and be done with the word-play? The good news is it is 2 election cycles away so if we don't like what's being 'shoved in', we can change it.
Truth hurts.....
Wilson has apologized, but he should also resign. South Carolina and the nation deserve better.
You would think that Wilson would have been able to read the bills he is opposed to in the month congress was off. To just be opposed with no knowledge of what he is opposed to tells me it is time for him to go. Imagine how much better the state of South Carolina will be without Wilson and Sanford.
Wilson is a clear example of what has gone so wrong with our politics. The GOP will never stop their behavior of hate/fear/obstructionism because they believe that is the way to gain power and to keep it. So we as a people need to let the GOP no more by voting out any who continue this behavior.
A spirited debate is good for our country but once an election is over or once a bill has been completed then it is time for our elected officials to come together and make it work.
we can not continue to allow this kind of behavior from some of our elected officials or we will never get back to a country that is for us all.
When has it ever been acceptable to disrespect our President. While I never agreed with the former President, I always respected him as our leader.
Mr Wilson's behavior was boorsish and childish! he embarrassed not only himself, but the country and his state. I for one do not accept his apology and believe he should be censured by the House of Representatives.! he has no business holding this office if he cannot behave like a gentleman and respect the Office Of President.
The Republican party has truly made fools of themselves. Whether they agree with the President or not, we have to set examples of respect for our higher offices. For those who support groups that act like this, may want to consider changing parties. For the past 7-8 months the Republicans has brought out the worst in the United States. I believe it is time for this group to either make changes or die slowly.
No Mr. Wilson, you lie!
I wouldn't send Miller a wooden nickle.
I guess he drinks the Rush kool aid.
Mr. Wilson's disrespectful attitude during the President's shows the Republican's current mission to disrupt & to continue their quest as a party of "No." An educated person, at least, would give due respect to the Head of the country; Mr. Wilson & the other Republic party members (shame on them) purposely attended the session to disrupt.
What's next? Rock throwing? I guess years of getting your pockets greased by big money lobbyists isn't enough. The GOP feel "entitled" to power and money and who does the President think he is to come between them and their bacon. The HMO lobby and those who have accepted money from them should all be jailed.
Here's an idea Congressman wing-nut....how about this.....if you think we have over looked something in that section of the bill entitled NO BENEFITS FOR ILLEGAL ALLIENS why don't you step up and offer some constructive input on how to improve on that instead of sitting in the peanut gallery yelling lier lier?
It is time for South Carolinians to support Rob Miller.
A sign of the kind of Pres we have ie his friends Van Jones, Sustein (writes to have animals sue people), Holdren, Singer – the bums of the 21st Century.
People are fed up with the lies, and the far left radical "control" freaks.
Jane C
WI
Heck, I don't even live in South Carolina (thank goodness) but I'm willing to throw a few bucks Rob Miller's way. Rep. Wilson was disgraceful – not just in his disrespectful outburst, but in the fact that he is the one who lied. NONE of the proposed health care bills cover illegals and HR 3200 (the one the fear mongers hate the most) specifically bars coverage for illegals.
Yes, we do have freedom of speech in this country and although Mr. Wilson has a right to his opinions, for him to shout out "you lie" during President Obama's speech was wrong. The other thing that should be pointed out is that members of congress wearing signs around their necks and holding papers in the air. In all my years of watching these speeches I have never seen this before. The Republican's better wake up and smell the coffee because if you think you have had problems this last election, you may find yourself out of a job.
Your apology, Mr. Wilson, is utterly inadequate. You very carefully crafted your words to say you were sorry to breach protocol, but you disagree with Obama.
The proposals specifically exclude illegal aliens. Not only were you rude, you were lying. You, and most of your neocon pals, know there is a prohibition against benefits in the bill for illegal aliens, yet you perpetuate the lie. Just like Palin's death panels, the birthers, and all the other garbage you neocons spout, it is dishonest.
So, please apologize not only for disrupting the speech, but for doing so with a lie. Then resign and take your rude self back to the South Carolina bowling alley from wence you came
I'm in Ohio, but I'd like to donate $50 or $100 to the democratic challenger of this rude jerk Mr. Joe Wilson. If this is OK for a non-resident of SC to do so, then I'll send my contribution by next week. Good luck Mr. Miller.
I'm a Democrat that live in Texas. President Obama hasn't been respected as our President since he won the election. Most people don't even call him President Obama. So for the GOP to call him a liar is the level of respect that is given to our President. We all need to come together as one nation, and put all the bad mouthing behind us until we can come together as one, to get the issues resolved that make our country the best in the land. God Bless America.
What's with So. Carolina? It's Representative? What a jerk. Shows how little he respects the office of the President (Shame on him). I was totally embarrassed.
Caption for photo: Putting a rube in a suite does not improve behavior.
Well, you couldn't script something like this. Nothing shows how utterly bankrupt and desperate the hue and cry against the proposed healthcare reform really is more clearly than Senator Claghorn's bellowing ouburst. Thanks Joe. I knew some republican windbag couln't keep his mouth shut. Obama looked gutsy, honest and reasonable. You singlehandedly made the opposition look idiotic. Keep it up guys.