Was Joe Wilson justified in calling Obama a liar?

Perhaps Joe Wilson achieved the unintended when he accused Obama of lying yesterday during the much anticipated health reform speech. Every blog, news source, cooler conversation is buzzing about yesterday’s reaction. Today on talk radio in the morning, callers were passionately arguing the actions of Joe Wilson and condemnation from Wilson’s party has been vociferous.

In this video, you can see for yourself what the hoopla is all about and notice Obama comes out slinging first accusing Republicans of spreading bogus lies and being cynical. While I found the entire experience enjoyable, it was only because of the factual underpinnings – that is Obama was indeed being less than truthful and as discussed in my previous post, the usual number of 45+ million uninsured most DEFINITELY includes illegal immigrants.

However, Joe Wilson broke with tradition and interrupted a presidential speech to a joint meeting of Congress. As with any kind of argument about the spread of government and the slipping slope of bureaucracy we should apply the same kind of fair reasoning here. That is, if we were to allow angry Congressmen or Senators to shout out their opinions, thoughts and convictions regardless of their passion, we would be allowing actions that could potentially dissolve the process. Our highest legislative body should not reduce itself to the likes of a circus and while I can appreciate the passions of Joe Wilson, allowing this kind of behavior can usher in a dangerous precedent. While Wilson spoke for many of us who were frustrated by clear obfuscations and lies, he did so inappropriately and without justification.

We must maintain order and civility and find mechanisms by which we can point out the President’s misinformation outside of his televised speeches.