Anti-Immigrant Zealot of the Day: Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Bill Hing wrote earlier in the week about “The Joe Wilson Spectacle.”  It is more than fair to say that, until this week, relatively few Americans had ever heard of Joe Wilson.  But that has changed.  For his nationally-televised anti-immigrant tirade against our first African American President (BTW, has anyone asked whether Wilson is a “birther” who contests the outcome of the Presidential election?), Wilson is our inaugural Anti-Immigrant Zealot of the Day.

It has been interesting to watch the changes over the week in the Wikipedia report on the incident.  Here is the latest:

“Outburst during 2009 Presidential address

During President Obama’s September 9, 2009 speech to a joint session of Congress, in which he discussed health care reform, Wilson interrupted the President’s address during a statement that the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (which specifically excludes illegal immigrants from coverage[15]) would not include coverage for illegal immigrants. In a breach of decorum,[16] Wilson interrupted by pointing and shouting, “You lie!”,[17][18][19][20] reflecting his view that the protections in the bill against illegal immigrants receiving benefits are too weak.[1] After the session, members of Congress from both Republican and Democratic parties condemned the outburst, with John McCain saying it was “Totally disrespectful. No place for it in that setting or any other and he should apologize immediately.”[21][22] Later that night, Wilson’s office issued an official statement saying, “This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the President’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility.”[23] President Obama accepted Wilson’s apology, saying, “I’m a big believer that we all make mistakes. He apologized quickly and without equivocation and I’m appreciative of that.”[24] Within 36 hours after the incident, Rob Miller, Wilson’s anticipated upcoming opponent in the 2010 Congressional race had received over $700,000 in campaign contributions,[25] more than the $614,487 Miller raised in the entire 2008 campaign cycle.[26]”

Daphne Evitar for the Washington Independent quips that “Perhaps Wilson believes that illegal immigrants ought not get emergency medical treatment, which is the only medical benefit they might qualify for — when they show up in a hospital on the verge of death, for example.”  she also notes that “Wilson’s last campaign was supported by the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC — a restrictionist group that supports deporting all illegal immigrants in the United States rather than offering any opportunities for legalization, or `amnesty.'”  ALIPAC gives Wilson an “A” for opposing “amnesties and ‘guest worker’ programs for illegal aliens along with other rewards such as in-state tuition and driver licenses.” Finally, Wilson “has been writing op-eds spreading the rumor that Obama wants to install `death panels’ to hasten the death of grandma.”

The Washington Post has a report on whether undocumented immigrants would be covered by the health care reform proposal on the table.  Robert Gittleson has a blog story about the Wilson speech, immigrants, and health care reform on Standing Firm.

KJ