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Wilsonian Democracy
09-15-2009 The U.S. House of Representatives passed a formal resolution of disapproval late this afternoon against South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson for his “You lie!” outburst against President Obama. You won’t be surprised to learn that the resolution passed along party lines, but you might be surprised to learn that neither of our U.S. Representatives, Democrats Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter, voted in favor of the resolution. Hodes voted against it, and Shea-Porter voted “present.” While excoriating Wilson’s behavior earlier today, Hodes explained his rationale for voting against the resolution:
…the focus on his [Wilson’s] outburst has served as a distraction to the larger goal of providing affordable, portable, high quality health care to every family. We need to work together as Republicans and Democrats to craft a bill that seeks to lower costs, increase quality of care, and put families back in control of their health care. In my judgment, it’s time to move on and I do not support this resolution. We should not allow Mr. Wilson’s reckless conduct to overshadow the need to work together to craft a strong health care reform measure that gives Americans lower costs, more choice, and real control in a fiscally responsible fashion.
I have to say I agree with Hodes on this one. Anytime one of these wrist-slapping resolutions passes on a party-line vote, citizens usually chock it up to intramural partisan warfare among political elites inside the beltway. And, a resolution of disapproval isn’t even as strong as censure, which is typically viewed as the optimal wrist-slap for bad legislative behavior.
So, while I understand the thirst for revenge among Democrats, and the need to uphold our institutional traditions against a loss of decorum, the exercise was (as Hodes suggests) a waste of time. I would add that its primary impact will be to make Wilson an even bigger (and better funded) folk hero among movement conservatives than he already is.
As for Shea-Porter, I haven’t yet heard why she chose to vote “present,” rather than take a stand one way or the other. If she hasn’t offered an explanation already, I am sure some intrepid New Hampshire reporter or blogger will ask her for clarification. For now, I can at least say that Hodes got this one right. Comments: Posted On: 09-17-2009 09:54:14 by Jim Splaine
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