And that's all irrelevant.
What is relevant is that we live in a country, and profess a political ideology, that believes in free speech. Not polite free speech or appropriate free speech, but just plain free speech, even for people like Joe Wilson who would take it away in a second from people whose politics he didn't like.
Never forget that we've just been through eight years of Orwellian rule based on the Big Lie. We all have the right to ask why every congressperson and senator who sat and listened to George Bush lie to joint sessions of Congress didn't stand up and call him on it. We all have the right to ask why every news organization that reported Dick Cheney's lies didn't follow with a sidebar reporting the truth.
Maybe the representatives who voted to censure Joe Wilson should instead have spent their energies documenting the money trail behind the real lies about death panels. Muzzling one sad stooge hurts freedom. And does nothing to pass legislation that millions of people desperately need.
I respectfully disagree with your conclusion. Yes, free speech (even shrill, ugly, inappropriate speech) is the cornerstone of America's form of democracy. But, respect for the office of President is also a critical element. Our stable and..(cough)..effective government has been the standard around the world. Other, younger democratic governments are raucous affairs - from the British parliament "debates" to outright brawls in young democracies. To allow our government to devolve into that in the name of "free speech" would not only set a terrible example, but would wipe out any bipartisanship left in the our Capital. When congressmen and women sat in relative silence during Bush's terrible speeches, they weren't showing respect for the man, they were showing respect for the office. They maintained a historic civility that allowed our government to assist in creating the greatest nation on earth.
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