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Barack Obama health care speech: Republican calls president a liar By Alex Spillius in Washington
That remains to be seen, though after a passionate and self-confident speech, he is more likely than not to get his way. But about half way through his 40-minute address to a joint session of Congress, Mr Obama certainly became the first president in living memory to be called a liar in front of a joint session of Congress. The president was dispelling a list of myths and "bogus claims" spread by opponents of his plan, when he denied the assertion that his proposed reforms would not provide health insurance to illegal immigrants. Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, pointing angrily at the president, blurted at the top of his voice: "You lie!" His outburst prompted cries of "Shame!" from the Democratic benches, while the president looked startled and Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, shot a furious look to the left of the dais. First Lady Michelle Obama, watching from the public gallery, shook her head in dismay. Even the Republican colleague to Mr Wilson's left patted his arm to calm him down. As soon as the president had uttered the last word of his speech, Mr Wilson bolted from the chamber of the House of Representatives on a media-evasion mission. Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff and a former whip in the House, moved rapidly towards the area where Mr Wilson had been sitting and remonstrated with Lindsey Graham, the senator from South Carolina and whichever Republicans were listening. Veteran Congress watches had never heard anything like it. Previous presidents have been subjected to the odd ironic chortles, a disapproving murmur or perhaps a jocular heckle, but not a full-throated insult like this. It was a new low, and a sign of the strength of the antipathy Mr Obama provokes in some of his opponents. It was also a moment straight out of the rancorous town hall meetings on health care that have made the debate so bitter, one that as the president said, goes to the heart of America's character. Mr Wilson showed an ugly side of America. Perhaps the depth of his feeling, and of the protestors who have denounced Mr Obama with such fury so readily, really see him as a socialist menace threatening to undo all that is sacred about the nation, determined to sneak in a government takeover of health care, dissolve gun owners' rights and indoctrinate children. But the question may well soon begin to be asked: perhaps it is just that they are not comfortable with having the first black American in the White House. In a post-speech interview with CNN's Larry King, Senator John McCain of Arizona said Mr Wilson's behaviour was disrespectful and called on him to apologise to the president.
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