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Takin' Names...
I teach a speech class, and the second day of class we cover Ethical Communication. Since listening is half of the communication process, Ethical Listening comprises half of the lesson. I try to make it clear - to be ethical you don't have to agree with the speaker, but you do have to show them the same respect you'd expect when you give a speech (there's a lot more to it than that, but that's one of the underscored points). In my class, individuals who don't listen respectfully to their classmates' speeches are asked to leave and they'll see their own speech grades deducted 20%. Listening is HALF of the communication process. If you don't listen, you can't learn. And you can't expect others to listen to you.
Joe Wilson is taking a lot of flack for his boorish behavior last night, and he should be. Shouting like a buffoon at the President of the United States who was a guest on the floor of the House of Representatives was a new and shocking low, and it needs to be admonished swiftly. I don't care if he gave a non-apology apology. He behaved like a three year old and should be put in time out (by "time out" I mean his website which is still down, and his career which is looking shaky now that his outburst is raising funds for his opponent).
But, Joe Wilson ended up being the scapegoat for a lot of bad Republican behavior. There were other things shouted last night - mostly indistinguishable because the instigators waited for applause (unlike Wilson who interrupted the president with his name-calling). Others held up signs and bills like opposing fans at a baseball game. Eric Cantor - poster child for disengaged from reality now that W is retired - spent the speech playing on his Blackberry (Tetris, maybe?). If Cantor had been in my class, he would have been kicked out immediately for his inattention, and I guarantee you none of my freshmen speak like President Obama. Feigning attention shouldn't be that hard.
Altogether, their behavior is deplorable in any public speaking setting, doubly so because they are elected representatives listening to the President. You hear that, South Carolina? Joe Wilson's behavior represented YOU. YOU disgraced yourself in front of the President because you elected this joker to speak for you in DC.
So, while Wilson's site is out of commission, I want the names of the other Congresspeople who were disrespectful to the President. I want them to share in the disgust I've been channeling at Rep. Wilson. They too need to be put in time out. For now, that will mean their websites, but hopefully in the future that will mean early retirement. If you recognize some of the faces, please post their names below, and help me in carpetbombing their offices with our discontent.
Joe Wilson is taking a lot of flack for his boorish behavior last night, and he should be. Shouting like a buffoon at the President of the United States who was a guest on the floor of the House of Representatives was a new and shocking low, and it needs to be admonished swiftly. I don't care if he gave a non-apology apology. He behaved like a three year old and should be put in time out (by "time out" I mean his website which is still down, and his career which is looking shaky now that his outburst is raising funds for his opponent).
But, Joe Wilson ended up being the scapegoat for a lot of bad Republican behavior. There were other things shouted last night - mostly indistinguishable because the instigators waited for applause (unlike Wilson who interrupted the president with his name-calling). Others held up signs and bills like opposing fans at a baseball game. Eric Cantor - poster child for disengaged from reality now that W is retired - spent the speech playing on his Blackberry (Tetris, maybe?). If Cantor had been in my class, he would have been kicked out immediately for his inattention, and I guarantee you none of my freshmen speak like President Obama. Feigning attention shouldn't be that hard.
Altogether, their behavior is deplorable in any public speaking setting, doubly so because they are elected representatives listening to the President. You hear that, South Carolina? Joe Wilson's behavior represented YOU. YOU disgraced yourself in front of the President because you elected this joker to speak for you in DC.
So, while Wilson's site is out of commission, I want the names of the other Congresspeople who were disrespectful to the President. I want them to share in the disgust I've been channeling at Rep. Wilson. They too need to be put in time out. For now, that will mean their websites, but hopefully in the future that will mean early retirement. If you recognize some of the faces, please post their names below, and help me in carpetbombing their offices with our discontent.
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Very good point. Communication is PARAMOUNT to just about everything we do. MOST communication is "non-verbal"... it's our cadence, volume, body language, clothing, etc... etc...
But it is critical that BOTH (All) sides "Listen" to each other sincerely.
One person can be a very good communicator, but if the other person isn't paying attention, then all of the communicator's efforts were for naught. Kinda like talking to a tree stump.
Wilson (and the GOP) are the tree stump.
September 10, 2009 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
If there's one thing I hope our culture learns from Obama it would be the practice of listening to the people we disagree with because we will come to understand the source of their discontent and get some real work done.
It's really appalling that the GOP was up in arms about the President speaking to schoolchildren when they're not even able to model civil behavior.
September 10, 2009 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
While your heart is in the right place, you logic needs mending.
The fact is obvious to the most casual observer - the republican have no intention of listening - period. That's because no one is big enough to make them.
They have discovered the rabblerousing remnants of the what's left of the GOP are all for creating havoc rather than work with the opposition. So their platform is simply be as obstructive as possible hoping their actions will bunt the Democrats efforts every step of the way - it's what their constituents want and they're more willing to do exactly whatever is necessary to keep them happy.
In short, they don't care what happens so long as the Democrats get all the blame for the actions of the republicans. They're hoping all their obstructiveness will payoff big time in the 2010 election cycle and they can come back with a majority.
September 11, 2009 2:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Some names have already been mentioned. The House Minority leader twittering through it. But maybe you mean more than just inattention.
September 10, 2009 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi amike -
I'm referring to the people I could hear shouting at some applause lines, but the camera wasn't showing who they were. Or, there are photos of individuals holding signs, but the photos don't have names in the captions. The only names I've heard tossed about are Wilson and Cantor, when I know others were loudly rude as well. I want those names.
Not to trot out this tired phrase, but the GOP chucked Wilson under the bus when many more were guilty of boorish behavior. And Cantor wasn't just inattentive - that would suggest he passively spaced out. Twittering during the speech (or whatever he was doing) was ACTIVELY rude and disrespectful.
September 10, 2009 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
My understanding is that twittering during speeches is fairly common now in DC.
September 10, 2009 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it too much to ask people to be on their best behavior when their President is speaking? Seriously?
September 10, 2009 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
As long as the behavior isn't disruptive and we can hear what Obama is saying, what does it matter to us what Eric Cantor wants to do with his time?
Personally, I wish Congress would drop the far more annoying tradition of ritual applause and cheers. It lengthens what could be terse and efficient speech into a dragging affair.
September 10, 2009 8:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's rude. It's just plain rude. It's behavior adminished of our children in schools. Why should it be tolerated when the President is addressing the Congress and the nation? Because it is the President and he is addressing the Congress and the nation. That is plenty of reason to me.
September 11, 2009 12:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know you can figure out I meant admonished, but I should have edited better in my response. Not adminished, admonished.
September 11, 2009 12:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not showing up for floor speeches is pretty common too (note the empty seats on CSPAN) - doesn't make it okay.
Is it wrong to expect "best behavior" when they're being addressed by the President? Is the Office of the Presidency no longer worthy of our respect?
September 10, 2009 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I feel the same way. In fact I intend to write to the speaker recommended that they reprimand and/or censure the behavior quickly.
If they do not, the republicans will take this further in the future. They have already demonstrated their lack of restraint and willingness to abuse publicity. I consider it irresponsible on the part of the democrats and republicans in congress if they do not condemn this behavior and engage boundaries and consequences.
Frankly it was all very childish and should not be tolerated.
September 10, 2009 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi Sync :)
I agree with the reprimand, but I wonder if it needs to come from within their party, not the Speaker. Certainly, if the Dem leadership stays above this argument they will look like mature leaders, just as they demonstrated last night. Also, a censure be a distraction from the legislation, which the President reminded us needs to come first.
No, I think the cage rattling needs to come from us - crash their sites, fund their opponents, voice your disapproval. Make it clear that WE won't tolerate this immaturity when it comes time to select people to represent us.
Let the Dem leadership stay on message.
September 10, 2009 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree on the point of not wanting to distract from getting health care reform done.
On the other hand this is a chronic issue that will not go away if not strongly addressed so it may take some energy now to stop it from becoming much worse in the future.
I fully support public censure and funding opponents. Talking with our dollars definitely often gets more attention that other ways of expressing our views.
September 10, 2009 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup! I think on this particular issue WE have the power to do more damage than Pelosi could.
September 10, 2009 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
What if the Dems merely identified those who behaved poorly and gave the names and misbehaviors to the GOP with a note that the GOP could decide to handle the situation. Dare the GOP to confront their frat boys and openly rebuke their behaviors. Make it an open letter for the MSM and underscore how these bahaviors, intolerable in a high school, are under the same scrutiny in the Congress. Also, make sure the purpose of the criticism is to get the discussion going about healthcare so the American people can be given the relief they need. 14,000/day are losing coverage. Hundreds are dying. These games are immature and those who play them are unworthy of the venue to which they bring them.
September 10, 2009 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree so long as the rebuke is tied to the issue. Just a blanket "shame on you" could be a distraction.
September 10, 2009 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup! just like Obama said. Call them out, each and every one.
Frankly, there was a guy next to Cantor looked like a real creep. He was chewing gum like a horse. I even think that was discourteous. We were always told we had to take out gum out in school. Of course, now that I am older, I don't need to be told, but evidently these kids do.
September 10, 2009 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
The US House of Representatives has never been known for its good taste or dignified manners.
September 10, 2009 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
It should be.
September 11, 2009 12:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
In the TPM photos he has a copy of the bill raised over his head.
September 10, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is that what they were holding? The bill. Which bill? What was holding it up supposed to mean, I wonder?
September 10, 2009 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who knows? Thanks to Rep. Wilson they lost their opportunity to explain it. I understand there was a lot of other fusses being made that did not get the attention of everyone the way Wilson did.
September 11, 2009 12:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
YOU TEACH SPEECH?
I just had this conversation with Acamus and others. Give the name of a speaker for the repubs right now?
The art of rhetoric is fading.
Obama is the speechmaker for the ages. ha
DO NOT TEACH YOUR SECRETS TO REPUBS. HAHAHAH
September 10, 2009 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, DD, the man is our Rhetor in Chief. Now, if only he could communicate in everyday life as well as he does behind a podium and we'd be shakin' and bakin'!
September 10, 2009 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed, Burnie...we're getting to be such fund raising pros around here...anyone know what a full page ad in a major newspaper runs these days? ...maybe the names listed in big print might be worth considering.
Remember McCain's promise to make people adding pork to bills famous? These folks need to be famous as well.
September 10, 2009 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
The sad thing is, they don't feel disgraced. The majority of them are cheering him on like he's some hero.
They believe what that man did was right. They think that it's totally fine to show no respect whatsoever to the President.
If we had done that to Bush, heads would have been rolling in less than a second.
September 10, 2009 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
If we had done it to Bush it would be "why do they hate America and freedom and apple pie?"
September 10, 2009 6:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
So.... why do they?
September 10, 2009 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's what separates the adults from the wingnuts: we think he's an idiotic, disrespectful asshat(and, okay, probably a little (lot) bit racist) who is lies and lies, but not a actual traitor to his country for calling the President a liar.
September 10, 2009 9:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
And don't forget the troops. They'd say we hate the troops and want the terrorists to win. Bah!
September 10, 2009 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
They disrespect the troops when they disrespect the Commander-in-Chief. This is where the drill seargent gives the private a thorough tongue lashing for disrespecting the Commander-in-Chief.
September 11, 2009 12:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wilson has a career out of apologizing.
September 10, 2009 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rep Shimkus got up and walked out. It wasn't on camera, but I think I read it on HuffPo.
September 11, 2009 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Shimkus!!! He's from Illinois! WTF...I hope Rahm unleashed on that guy, too.
And I forgot to mention this when Synch suggested censure above - don't forget that the Dems have Rahm as their brute strength. I'm sure he does way more damage behind the scenes than Pelosi could do in public
September 11, 2009 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Republican party is flop sweating. Their pulse is rapid and shallow. Breathing is raspy. Eyes wide and unfocused.
All they have left are empty outbursts and smoke and mirrors. That ALWAYS works.
"Daddy, every time a Republican does something inane and/or stupid, an angel gets its wings!"
"That's right, sweetheart...that's right!"
cue the credits
September 11, 2009 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Very funny! If only the angel part were true :)
September 11, 2009 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink