This morning I awake to the non-apology apology of the distinguished honorable representative from South Carolina, Joe Wilson. According to the media, he has apologized. AND released his apology to the media. And probably rushed right out to speak at (a) a town hall, (b) the morning Fox show(s), and © Rush's radio broadcast.
Rightfully so. He will, by the end of the day, become their poster boy, their saint, their hero.
Why?
Not necessarily for his outburst in the hallowed chambers of the United States Congress. No, I think these media outlets will skip the basics. They will immediately reference his non-apology apology. Only they will call it a heroic call to justice.
Why?
His statement and his intent is clear. He is not really apologizing. He is equivocating in the fine tradition of politicians everywhere. With the phrase:
"... listening to the President's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill.."
Joe Wilson has offered "real" grounds for his outburst AND for all the world to see, has focused a big white spotlight on what he believes is the truth. The weasel might as well have screeched, "He made me do it! He made me do it!"
Then he goes on to report that he does not agree with the president's statement. He's not referencing the REAL statement from the president, as in not covering illegal immigrants. Noooo... he's referencing his own lie in the dang non-apology. He's purporting as fact that the president is covering illegal immigrants. This congressman has now turned the world upside down.
Joe Wilson is not ashamed or sorry. He believes, or wants to use as foder, the idea that illegal immigrants will be covered in the health care bill. He states just that in the non-apology, purposefully twisting the president's words to substantiate his claim.
The president said illegal immigrants would not be covered, but this is never mentioned in the non-apology. Wilson directs the world's attention only to his own lie. And that will be the story.
On Hannity, Limbaugh, and Beck -- the story will be the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. They will all agree that illegal immigrants are covered. They will focus only on this for the next news cycle, or for as long as they get traction and whip their followers crazies into a frenzy for a new round of some kind of parties.
Representative Joe Wilson will be their darling and that will be their story. Because of his outburst he will be their darling. Because they will not have to talk about the president's speech. They will not have to talk about what's IN the speech. They are salivating to talk about what is not. They are drooling over the president as "liar."
Is it a crazy, mixed-up world? Undoubtedly, when a lie becomes the truth, after the truth is called a lie; when an apology is not an apology; when common decency, once a virtue, has been turned on its ear as a vice.
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