Republican Racism Rears its Ugly Head Again Toward Hispanics

• Republican Congressman Joe Wilson interrupted President Obama’s speech with shout of “You lie!”
• Congress rebukes Republican Congressman Joe Wilson for shouting ‘You lie’
• Former President Jimmy Carter said Republican Wilson's shout "based on racism"
• White House disputes Carter’s analysis
• Republican racism rears its ugly head toward Hispanics
• Fear of growth of Hispanics in America
• The hatred of Hispanics is the root cause in such states as Arizona
• Garrido adds, "The only other national party may be a third party: The American Hispanic Party if Democrats fail to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform."

PHOENIX (By Jon Garrido, The Jon Garrido News Network and News Services) September 21, 2009 — As President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress on September 9, 2009, the nation's rapidly deteriorating discourse hit yet another low. In a significant breach of protocol that governs the United States Congress, with an angry and very audible outburst, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson interrupted President Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress with a shout of “You lie!”

It happened at 8:40 p.m., just after the president vowed to lawmakers his health-care reform proposals would not provide benefits to undocumented Hispanics. As millions of Americans watched from home, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson shouted at the president from his fifth-row seat: "You lie!"

Murmurs of "ooh" filled the stunned chamber.

Nancy Pelosi's chin dropped. Obama moved on to the next sentence in his speech, about no federal money would be used to fund abortion.

"Not true!" came another shout.

The national debate, already raw for years, had coarsened over the summer as town hall meetings across the country dissolved into protests about "death panels" and granny-killing.

Guns were brought to Obama appearances. A pastor in Arizona said he was praying for Obama to die.

But even by that standard, there was something appalling about the display on the House floor for what was supposed to be a sacred ritual of American democracy: the nation watching while cabinet members, lawmakers from both chambers and the diplomatic corps assembled.

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson was only the most flagrant. There was booing from House Republicans when the president caricatured a conservative argument by saying they would "leave individuals to buy health insurance on their own." They hissed when Obama protested their "scare tactics." They grumbled as they do in Britain's House of Commons when Obama spoke of the "blizzard of charges and countercharges."

When Obama asserted "nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have," there was scoffing and outright laughter on the GOP side. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (Tex.) shook his head in disbelief. Several Republicans shouted "What plan?" and Rep. Louis Gohmert (Tex.) waved at Obama a handwritten poster he made on a letter-size piece of paper: "WHAT PLAN?" Gohmert then took that down and replaced it with another handmade poster that said "WHAT BILL?"

The irony was Obama had used his speech to offer a significant concession to Republicans and to break with liberals in his own party. There was a cool silence in the chamber as the president told "my progressive friends" the "public option" they treasure as part of health-care reform could be sacrificed in favor of other ideas.

Next came the shout "You lie" directed to America's undocumented not being included in any health care reform proposal being readied for "mark up" by House and Senate committees now drafting health care reform legislation.

The "You lie!" shout from Republican Congressman Joe Wilson was a blatant attack on Hispanic undocumented possibly being included in health care reform legislation. They are not and the very thought undocumented Hispanics would be included angered and caused the racial outburst by Republican Congressman Joe Wilson.

Such behavior from a sitting congressman from South Carolina clearly identifies the hatred many Republicans have across America for Hispanics.

This venomous attack on the undocumented is not only aimed at the undocumented but is directed to all American Hispanics.

To have this Republican hatred rise its ugly head in a joint session of the Untied States Congress clearly reinforces a Republican fear of the growth of the Hispanic community across America.

Republican Congressman Wilson's eruption — in response to Mr. Obama’s statement Democratic health proposals would not cover undocumented Hispanics — stunned members of both parties in the House chamber.

Democrats said it showed lack of respect for the office of the presidency and was reminiscent of Republican disruptions at recent public forums on health care.

"I was embarrassed for the chamber and a Congress I love," Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said on ABC’s "Good Morning America." "It demeaned the institution."

Biden said he had not spoken to President Obama since the speech. But, "knowing the president, I’m sure he accepted the apology," The Associated Press reported.

After the speech, Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff who sat a few rows in front of Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, said he immediately approached senior Republican lawmakers to encourage them to identify the heckler and urge him to issue an apology quickly.

“No president has ever been treated like that ― Ever,” Mr. Emanuel said.

Other Democrats said it bolstered their contention some Republicans were not interested in constructive dialogue, and they noted Democratic plans specifically barred coverage for undocumented Hispanics.

Scolding Republicans for scoring "short-term political points," Obama wasn't subtle in his effort to make his foes look cruel. The White House stocked the first lady's box at the speech with a virtual medical ward: a woman with sarcoidosis, a colon cancer patient, a recurrent cancer survivor, a double amputee, two women with breast tumors, a woman with eye problems, a man with high cholesterol, two brain tumor survivors, the son of a brain cancer victim and the fathers of children who have seizures and hemophilia.

But while the majority of both parties' lawmakers behaved as adults, the insolence by House Republicans stole the show. There was derisive laughter on that side of the chamber when Obama noted "there remain some significant details to be ironed out." They applauded as he spoke of "all the misinformation that's been spread over the past few months." They laughed again when he said "many Americans have grown nervous about reform."

When Obama addressed the charge he plans "panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens," someone on the GOP side shouted out "shame!" The president went on: "Such a charge would be laughable if it weren't so cynical." "Read the bill!" someone shouted back. Obama mentioned those who accuse him of a government takeover of health care. "It's true," someone shouted back.

The antics continued when Obama urged opponents to "come to me with a serious set of proposals." About 20 Republican members raised copies of the GOP health-reform proposal over their heads. They raised their props again when Obama criticized those who think "it's better politics to kill this plan than improve it."

Even as Obama delivered a tribute to the late senator Ted Kennedy, Republican Tom Price (R-Ga), a leader of House conservatives, perused his BlackBerry. Shortly before the speech ended, Republican Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) walked out to beat the rush.

Above all, though, was Republican Congressman Wilson's effrontery. From the reaction in the chamber — one Democrat could be heard calling for him to be thrown out — Republican Congressman Joe Wilson knew he had stepped in it. He shrugged, then consulted his BlackBerry. He puffed out his cheeks to exhale and licked his lips.

Toward the end of Obama's speech, the text of which was handed out before the congressman's outburst, was a fitting rebuke of the sort of behavior Republican Congressman Joe Wilson had just exhibited. When "we can no longer even engage in a civil conversation with each other over the things that truly matter," Obama said, "we don't merely lose our capacity to solve big challenges. We lose something essential about ourselves."

As Obama spoke these words, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson twiddled his thumbs, then took his BlackBerry from its holster to consult it yet again. The speech ended, and, as his colleagues applauded, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson beat a hasty retreat.

An incensed White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel went up to GOP Reps. Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Paul Ryan (Wis.) to complain about the outburst. "No president has ever had that happen," Emanuel said. "My advice is he apologize immediately. You know my number."

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson did as Emanuel advised. After all that shouting, it's a wonder he wasn't too hoarse to place the call.

Congress rebukes Republican Congressman Joe Wilson for shouting ‘You lie’

Six days after Republican Congressman Joe Wilson outburst of "You lie,"  Republican Congressman Joe Wilson was formally rebuked by the House on September 15, 2009, for his outburst during President Obama’s health care address. The vote came after a Congressional clash over civility that showcased the deep partisan divisions in the House.

In a mainly party line vote of 240 to 179, the House held by shouting “You lie” during the president’s speech Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, committed a “breach of decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session, to the discredit of the House.”

The resolution was the latest — and many lawmakers hoped final — development in an episode that has generated significant public attention. The outburst prompted millions of dollars in political contributions to both parties and made Republican Congressman Joe Wilson a hero to some and an embarrassment and symbol of Republican disrespect to the president to others.

Seven Republicans joined 233 Democrats in approving the resolution; 12 Democrats joined Republican Congressman Joe Wilson and 166 other Republicans in opposing it.

Leading Democrats said the resolution put on the record the House “disapproves of the behavior of Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, during the joint session of Congress held on September 9, 2009,” and was needed to protect the integrity of the House and deter such acts in the future.

“This is about the rules of this House and reprehensible conduct,” said Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the No. 3 Democrat in the House and a home-state colleague of Republican Congressman Joe Wilson who led the Democratic argument for the resolution.

Democrats characterized the sanction as mild and said they would not have pursued any action at all had Republican Congressman Joe Wilson taken the floor and apologized to his colleagues for disrupting the address.

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson briefly argued his own case Tuesday and refused to offer the apology demanded by House Democrats, saying Mr. Obama had already accepted his apology and that should have ended the matter.

“The challenges our nation faces are far bigger than any one member of this House,” said Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, who was comforted and encouraged by his Republican colleagues as he faced the vote against him. “It is time we move forward and get to work for the American people.”

While some lawmakers have suggested Republican Congressman Joe Wilson’s outburst had a racial component, top Democrats played down that view and said they were acting strictly to uphold proper order in the House.

“I did not take a racial connotation from Republican Congressman Joe Wilson’s remarks,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, who introduced the resolution. “I do believe there are expressions throughout the country being made that are unusually harsh. I think the attacks being made on Mr. Obama are unusually vitriolic.”

The House historian’s office said no lawmaker had ever previously been held to account for behavior toward the president during an appearance on Capitol Hill — though lawmakers have been cited for personal attacks on a president during routine House debate when the chief executive was not present. House guidelines on the rules of debate say it is impermissible to refer to the president as a liar.

The vote put Republicans in the position of opposing a resolution that condemned behavior virtually all of them had agreed was improper, as has Republican Congressman Joe Wilson himself. Even his wife, Roxanne, conceded on a video put on his campaign Web site after the speech she asked him, “Who’s the nut that hollered out, ‘You lie or you liar?’ ”

“I couldn’t believe Joe would say that,” Ms. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson said, “but he is very passionate and he is fighting the good fight.”

The White House pointedly stayed out of the dispute.

“That’s House business,” said Bill Burton, a White House spokesman. “Congressman Republican Congressman Joe Wilson called the White House to apologize. The president accepted his apology.”

The episode has become a political bonanza for both parties as Republican Congressman Joe Wilson and his Democratic challenger in the 2010 election, Rob Miller, have each raised over $1 million in the aftermath, and the two parties have benefited as well.

Mr. Boehner, the Republican leader, said policing such minor activity through a resolution could set a dangerous precedent.

“There has been behavior that has gone around here far more serious than this,” Mr. Boehner said. “My goodness, we could be doing this every day of the week.”

Republicans also said the heckling was out of line. “I think we ought to treat the president with respect,” said Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, “and anything other than that is not appropriate.”

And the House Republican whip, Eric I. Cantor of Virginia, told ABC on Thursday: "Obviously, the president of the United States is always welcome on Capitol Hill. He deserves respect and decorum.” He said Republican Congressman Joe Wilson’s apology “was the appropriate thing to do."

But Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the House Democratic leader, said he considered Republican Congressman Joe Wilson’s apology insufficient. "I think, frankly, he ought to apologize to the House as well," he told MSNBC.

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson seemed rattled in the wake of his comment, and quickly left the chamber at the end of the speech.

His office later issued an apology, saying: “This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president’s remarks regarding the coverage of undocumented Hispanics in the health care bill. While I disagree with the president’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility.”

Former President Jimmy Carter said Wilson's shout "based on racism"

Former President Jimmy Carter six days after the September 9, 2009, speech said, "U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson's outburst to President Barack Obama during a speech to Congress last week was an act based on racism and rooted in fears of a black president."

"I think it's based on racism," Carter said in response to an audience question at a town hall held at his presidential center in Atlanta. "There is an inherent feeling among many in this country an African-American should not be president."

The Georgia Democrat said the outburst was a part of a disturbing trend directed at the president that has included demonstrators equating Obama to Nazi leaders.

"Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care," he said. "It's deeper than that."

The shout came after the president commented undocumented Hispanics would be ineligible for federal subsidies to buy health insurance. Republicans expressed their disbelief with sounds of disapproval, punctuated by Wilson's outburst.

Carter called Wilson's comment "dastardly" and an aftershock of racist views that have permeated American politics for decades.

“Racism ... still exists and I think it has bubbled up to the surface because of a belief among many white people, not just in the south but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It’s an abominable circumstance and grieves me and concerns me very deeply,” Carter told NBC News.

"The president is not only the head of government, he is the head of state," he said. "And no matter who he is or how much we disagree with his policies, the president should be treated with respect."

The former president also said he believed Obama had the personal qualities to “triumph” over any such negative attitudes.

White House disputes Carter’s analysis

The White House, however, says President Barack Obama doesn't believe he's being criticized because of his race.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs said Wednesday Obama — the nation's first black president — doesn't think criticism of his policies is "based on the color of his skin."

Gibbs was asked about the topic following comments by former President Jimmy Carter. Gibbs says some people have disagreements with some of Obama's decisions but those concerns were not because of his race.

The shout came after the president commented undocumented aliens would be ineligible for federal subsidies to buy health insurance. Republicans expressed their disbelief with sounds of disapproval, punctuated by Wilson's outburst.

Republican racism rears its ugly head toward Hispanics

Former President Carter is partially right stating Republican Congressman Wilson's shout "You lie," was directed to racism. The White House is partially right on President Barack Obama doesn't believe there was racism in Republican Congressman Wilson's shout "You lie."

Former President Carter is right about racism but Republican Congressman Wilson's shout of "You lie" was not directed to President Obama being black but to Hispanics.

When Republican Congressman Wilson shouted "You lie," the shout was directed to America's undocumented Hispanics being included in any health care reform proposal being readied for "mark up" by House and Senate committees now drafting health care reform legislation.

Undocumented Hispanics are not included but the very thought undocumented Hispanics would be included infuriated Republican Congressman Wilson to the point of raging racism causing the blatant attack on President Obama calling the President of the United States a "liar."

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson's hatred for Hispanics is shared by many Republicans and this venomous attack on undocumented Hispanics is not only aimed at the undocumented but is directed to all American Hispanics.

To have this hatred rise its ugly head in a joint session of the Untied States Congress clearly substantiates a Republican fear of the growth of the Hispanic community across America.

Fear of growth of Hispanic population in America

Singling out Hispanics because of fear of the growth of the Hispanic community in America is a caldron of hate being cooked by Republicans toward Hispanics because with American Hispanics now turning to support the Democrats and most importantly, because of the substantial growth of American Hispanics now at 17% of America's population and growing by 1% per year.

Nowhere was the impact of this Hispanic growth felt as much as the 2008 presidential election when Hispanics turned away from Republicans and supported the election of a Democrat enabling a black named Barack Obama to become President of the United States.

American Hispanics carry California, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida. In the 2010 congressional elections, American Hispanics will add Arizona and Texas giving American Hispanics one third of the electoral votes in electing the next President of the United States.

Thereafter, with each succeeding presidential election, American Hispanics will add additional states. It will be forever more American Hispanics who will decide who becomes President of the United States.

This trend is known by all and is greatly feared by Republicans because Republicans know American Hispanics will never again support a Republican to become President of the United States. In addition, Republicans are fully aware American Hispanics will never vote for Republican candidates in local, state or congressional elections.

The hatred of Hispanics is the root cause in such states as Arizona

Arizona leads the pack of states where hatred of Hispanics is the root cause of such states cutting back essential services and programs. Arizona is where conservative white Arizona legislators are adamant about raising taxes to pay for essential services required by not only by Arizona residents but specifically, Arizona's undocumented Hispanics.

In conversation with a Republican state legislator from Fountain Hills, Arizona, the woman legislator believes Arizona has no responsibility to educate the children of the undocumented and for the good of Arizona, undocumented Hispanics and their children should go back to Mexico.

Across the United States, this sentiment of Hispanics should go back to Mexico has an adverse impact on assimilation of American Hispanics not only in Arizona but throughout America.

Arizona Republican legislators are cutting back on essential services and programs such as education but even more immediately devastating is the lack of health care for Arizona residents and the downward spiral each day of decreasing the Arizona's heath care services that have an impact on all low and middle income Arizonans which includes Arizona American Hispanics.

The latest blow to low income Arizonans is 10,000 working parents will lose health insurance because Arizona is unwilling to provide matching funds for federal program.

Nearly 10,000 working parents will lose their health insurance this month in the wake of state budget cuts, leaving some families with nowhere to turn as they seek affordable coverage.

KidsCare Parents, a program that provides low-income families with inexpensive insurance. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), which administers the program, could not pay the $6 million annual cost following cuts by the Legislature. Arizona faces a $3 billion budget shortfall.

The move comes as demand for government assistance is skyrocketing. Arizona has lost an estimated 240,000 jobs since December 2007, and AHCCCS has added 150,000 people to its rolls since January.

Families received letters last week, informing them parents will have no insurance as of October 1. Children covered by KidsCare will keep their health insurance.

KidsCare Parents began in 2003 as an extension of the federal State Children's Health Insurance Program, called KidsCare in Arizona. To be eligible for coverage, families had to make less than two times the federal poverty level, or about $44,000 a year for a family of four.

For a $6 million annual contribution, Arizona received $18 million in federal grants to administer the program for parents. Patient premiums, which were set at 3 to 4 percent of monthly income, covered the rest.

"The impact is devastation," said Dana Naimark, president of the Children's Action Alliance, a Phoenix non-profit that advocates for social services. "Parents are making desperate phone calls to anywhere they can think of, and the problem is there are almost no alternatives for them."

AHCCCS recommends families without health insurance seek care at community health centers, which provide basic care on a sliding-fee scale. But those centers have also lost state funding, advocates said, and some are being stretched to the breaking point.

The centers also can't provide the more specialized care needed by many people enrolled in KidsCare Parents.

The KidsCare Parents, a program that provides low-income families with inexpensive insurance, will end September 30. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, which administers the program, could not pay the $6 million annual cost following cuts by the Legislature.

The best thing for the future of Arizona is too now work to replace existing conservative Republicans in the Arizona State Legislature with those with families and those who support the inclusion of Arizona's Hispanics.

Jon Garrido

Owner and CEO

The Jon Garrido News Network