‘Semi-Literate Wackadoodle’: Joe ‘You Lie!’ Wilson Mocked After Democratic Congressman Shuts Him Down

Few members of Congress are able to instantaneously gain national attention on live television, catapulting their status from unknown backbencher to overnight demagogue, but U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) is one of the few.

Many remember his outburst during a joint session of Congress, when the 535 or so members of the House and Senate sat together in Sept. of 2009 to hear President Barack Obama make his case for reforming the U.S. healthcare system, which led to he passage of the Affordable Care Act.

As President Obama told the people’s elected leaders that ObamaCare would not insure undocumented immigrants, that “the reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally,” Congressman Wilson shouted out, “You lie!”

It was moment so stunning, such a historic breach of protocol and respect for the Office of the President, that the House voted 240-179 to reprimand him.

On Monday Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly (photo) delivered a different kind of reprimand, after Rep. Wilson used his time during the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Afghanistan to read a tabloid opinion piece claiming President Joe Biden lied about the withdrawal.

Congressman Connolly accused Wilson of “committing one of the most grievous acts” and suggested he “take more care about enumerating other alleged lies.”

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) calls out the damaged credibility of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) for having yelled “You lie!” during President Obama’s State of the Union address. pic.twitter.com/nkHbIw9qS9

— The Recount (@therecount) September 13, 2021

Many agreed with the Democrat from Virginia:

Joe Wilson of SC was the national embarrassment who shouted “You lie!” at Barack Obama. His rant at the Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Afghanistan shows that he is even more of a national embarrassment.

— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) September 13, 2021

Go @GerryConnolly shut Joe Wilson’s sorry butt down!!

— Sophia A. Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) September 13, 2021

Joe Wilson tried to lie his way into 2021 relevancy.

Gerald Connolly slapped him back down into 2009.@GerryConnolly @RepJoeWilson pic.twitter.com/bl9gdBZs54

— Evan (@daviddunn177) September 13, 2021

Rep. Joe Wilson is a complete idiot just spewing bullshit!

— Bob Levine (@idguy) September 13, 2021

Rep. Joe. Wilson of South Carolina would be a more compelling partisan attack dog if he first learned to read before issuing his, ah, written statement. He made himself sound like a semi-literate wackadoodle.

— Scot Lehigh (@GlobeScotLehigh) September 13, 2021

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) doesn’t really ask a question of Sec. Blinken regarding Afghanistan withdrawal, but does call on him to resign. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA) delivers what I can only describe as a sick burn in response to Wilson’s remarks.

— Chase Laudenslager (@News2Chase) September 13, 2021

@RepJoeWilson Joe Wilson of SC was the national embarrassment who shouted “You lie!” at Barack Obama. His rant at the Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Afghanistan shows that he is even more of a national embarrassment.

— Steven McCraw (@steven_mccraw) September 13, 2021

Rep. Joe Wilson in spectacular fashion as always spends his entire time reading as if it’s something new, denigrating Biden and Blinken completely forgetting Trump’s deal w the Taliban the release of 5,000 murderous enemies and the leader we now have to negotiate with

— JimWyler (@JimWyler) September 13, 2021

Rep. @GerryConnolly just put on a master class in this hearing, smacking down Trump, Pompeo & Wilson, and injection some history and reality about US policy on Afghanistan.

— Tom Perriello (@tomperriello) September 13, 2021