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Barney Frank: Joe Wilson's "you lie" remark wasn't a big deal
Frank said last night on the Rachel Maddow show that Wilson was frustrated, and the tirade shows that Obama's speech was effective and the GOP couldn't handle it; but that this was not a big deal, citing heckling in the British parliament.
What do you guys and ladies think about the fact that we think it was a big deal and progressive stalwart Barney Frank doesn't?
MADDOW: A Republican Member of Congress named Joe Wilson of South Carolina screamed, "You lie" at the president tonight, interrupting his speech. Is this an "ignore the tantrum" moment or is that a big deal?
FRANK: I don't think it's a big deal. Look, I think free speech--you know, heckling is a tradition, obviously, in the British parliament. They even have mikes that come down to hear the heckles.
I think what we should take it as--it is unusual--it's a sign of how effective the president was. These guys just couldn't handle it. I looked at John Boehner and he looked about as glum and as dour as--as possibly he could be.
So what Joe Wilson did was just scream out in frustration because the president was nailing it.
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There's a saying in politics, "Never try to commit homicide on someone who is committing suicide." Wilson and his right-wing allies have engaged in a major attempt at self destruction, and the results, as Barney Frank recognizes, will be more effective if there are no fingerprints from the Democratic opposition.
September 11, 2009 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
In other words, Frank was being dishonest?
September 11, 2009 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think Frank was being dishonest, and I think Fred has it right.
Heckling? Bad form, rude, etc. But as a strategy against Obama during this great speech? No. It was as if Wilson had tried to derail a speeding train by pooping on the track.
Pooping on the track is rude and gross, needs to be dealt with. But the conductor doesn't have to stop the train and personally explain how pooping on train tracks is a big and growing problem.
Drive the train, folks. Drive the train.
September 12, 2009 12:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's right it's no big deal, even though he's obviously shilling for the effectiveness of the speech (because he's a team player and so he has to).
This meme of "respect for the office of the president" is so phony. To expect and to insist that anyone has to kiss any president's ring is to acknowledge that the president doesn't instill and win respect on his own and without help. And I'm sorry, but we all know that Democrats were heckling Bush like crazy. Silently. Because they just didn't have the balls.
Wilson's heckle was bad because it was bad manners. Not because the living national treasure was giving a performance of a lifetime on that stage.
September 11, 2009 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shorter Frank: No BFD.
What do I think? I think Frank is a (really bad) liar, LOL!
September 11, 2009 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe Wilson: You lie!
Joe Wilson (Barney Frank remix): He's nailing it!
September 11, 2009 10:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! Exactly. :-)
September 11, 2009 10:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barney Frank, of all people, knows that there are bigger fish to fry. He's been trying to cope with the banking/mortgage crisis, and after being shut down on the mortgage cramdowns for bankruptcy legislation (also known as the last gasp for the little guy) was heard to remark that the financial institutions "run the place."
Joe Wilson and the Health Insurance Companies probably seem like a honky tonk band by comparison.
September 12, 2009 12:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I wish Barney Frank would start frying some fish already.
September 12, 2009 1:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow--next, she'll be making ballgowns out of the curtains.
September 12, 2009 1:47 AM | Reply | Permalink