Partisan Heat Shows No Sign of Cooling

Washington Post: On Capitol Hill, There's Anger -- and Then There's Anger About Anger

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Joel Achenbach.

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The raw emotions of American politics found full-throated voice Tuesday in and around the Capitol. At any given moment, someone was expressing outrage -- or counter-outrage.

In the House chamber, Rep. Joe Wilson argued that he should not be reprimanded for shouting "You lie!" at the president. Democrats took turns hammering the South Carolina Republican for his indecorous behavior. Republicans defended him, some calling him a patriot and saying that he has a son serving in Iraq, or argued that Democrats were wasting time that would be better spent on more important issues. On a largely party-line vote, the House passed the "resolution of disapproval," the gentlest form of punishment for members.

Meanwhile, 45 conservative radio hosts gathered at the Phoenix Park Hotel to blast lawmakers for not doing more to stop illegal immigration. In response, advocates for immigrants held a prayer vigil and denounced what they consider racist and hateful rhetoric.

All of which indicated that the searing politics of summer are showing no sign of abating and may be heading in the other direction as Congress struggles with a legislative agenda bristling with live-wire issues.

Some front-line culture warriors were just getting warmed up. At the Phoenix Park, radio and TV host Lou Dobbs took a break from his broadcast to applaud Wilson for helping the political establishment transition from constrained civility to what Dobbs calls "forthrightness."

"I think he's owed a great deal of gratitude for doing that," Dobbs said. "I applaud him."

Health-care reform remains the most pressing and complex item on Congress's docket, but even without that issue, lawmakers would find themselves with an ambitious fall calendar. They are also working on legislation that would sober up Wall Street, change the way energy is used and take a crack at ameliorating global warming.

At the close of Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid's weekly news conference, a reporter asked if he would consider separating the energy component of the far-reaching energy and climate bill from the climate component. But the Nevada Democrat made it clear that energy and climate are going to be on the back burner until at least the end of the year while the Senate handles health-care and banking reform.

Throughout the day, the "House triangle" -- the spot where lawmakers speak to the cameras, the Capitol angling away in the background -- was a scene of heavy traffic. First there was a health-care news conference at 10 a.m. with parents of disabled children. Then, at 11, the issue was same-sex marriage. At noon, the prayer vigil took place. As the vigil was breaking up, a gaggle of college kids poured into the triangle, some members of Congress and staff gathered, and a black Suburban pulled up and disgorged Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

"This is a big, big deal," Duncan said into the microphones. Everyone on hand knew he was referring to the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 -- "the largest investment in college education since the G.I. Bill."

But his media turnout was relatively feeble. The major news of the day Tuesday was the debate in the House over whether to pass the resolution targeting Wilson. In the chamber, lawmakers discussed whether the vote was a "partisan stunt" or the appropriate reaction to "reprehensible conduct." Outside of it, Rep. Hank Johnson, a black Democrat from Georgia, invoked the Ku Klux Klan in talking about Wilson's behavior.

Somewhere along the way, five senators tried to drum up publicity with a news conference on the "national dairy crisis." Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified about flu pandemics. House lawmakers held a hearing on whether humanity has a destiny in space. Toss in hearings on ambassadorial nominations, a transportation bill, a measure on funding health-care benefits for Postal Service retirees, and so on.

As emotions churned across the Hill, the question of what is next on the hot-button issue of immigration remained a mystery. It has been a couple of years since Congress made a serious run at immigration reform, and it went nowhere. Legislation co-sponsored by the late senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was so unpopular among conservatives that it nearly sank McCain's presidential campaign.

The issue has gained attention since Wilson's outburst, which came in response to Obama's statement in an address to Congress last week that new government-funded health coverage would not be provided to illegal immigrants. On Tuesday, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), a conservative advocacy group, gathered the radio talk show hosts, including Dobbs, for a set of broadcasts to push Congress to do something about illegal immigration.

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"Immigration's always on the agenda," FAIR President Dan Stein said. "It's like a good, recurring evergreen issue."

FAIR's event inspired the prayer vigil, organized by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.

"We must clearly say shame, shame, shame on those who depend on our immigrant brothers and sisters, use them and often abuse them, and then turn against them with their racism and hatred," said Bishop Minerva Carcaño, who helped put together the vigil.

Said Paco Fabian, a spokesman for the immigrant rights group America's Voice: "Anti-immigrant groups bring up the issue of immigration for everything. 'Cash for Clunkers,' steroids in baseball. They even blame immigrants for global warming."

"This is juvenile muck-slinging," responded FAIR's Stein, standing in the hotel basement next to a "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" banner.

[hockeyrocker]

It's no wonder Lou Dobbs' ratings are tanking big time. He has become a sad, little man spewing vile and disgusting hatred on a daily basis.

It is no wonder that Hillary Dobbs is so embarrassed by her dad's views and doesn't agree one iota with him.

[stn_sage]

Lou Dobbs needs to make his mind up. Is he for civility in government and society OR is he not?!

I've heard him many times cajole and lament over the precipitous decline of civility amongst both politicians and the public; yet, he extolls the virtue of Joe Wilson's outburst as being "forthrightness"!

Come now, sir! Surely, you jest! But, please decide for or against civility---and then, stick with it! Otherwise, you look as sad as the cretins you criticize!

[payback108]

The next three years will be interesting

[gboyd41]

I could find no article on CBS regarding ACORN, so I thought this was the next best forum. Contact your elected officials and tell them you do not want your tax dollars to go to ACORN!

[texanforlogi]

You didn't look very hard. I found about a dozen.

[kansas1946]

The matter is of color. Mr. Obama believes in red. Americans believe in red, white, and blue.
************************************************

Yeah, Obama is about as "red" as GWB, and you don't speak
for all Americans.

[kansas1946]

All of the hatred started with Republicans over abortion, went on to include gay rights issues, and hasn't gotten any better.

[pjk12354]

Joe wilson is stupid enough to say something stupid at the wrong place at the wrong time.........and the Republicons try to make him a martyr.........then they think yhey know better........go figure....

[agidoi]

i think he was in the right cause there are illegals that are already getting free money, health care, and schooling. here in the u.s.a. and our president is backing it all the way. as a nation we are going the wrong way people. we need to stand up and take controle. as a nation we fought england for the same thing they are trying to push down our throught's. TAXES

[tucano2]

The matter is of color. Mr. Obama believes in red. Americans believe in red, white, and blue.

We agree investigation of A CON and its founder is long overdue.

[agidoi]

i think he was in the right cause there are illegals that are already getting free money, health care, and schooling. here in the u.s.a. and our president is backing it all the way. as a nation we are going the wrong way people. we need to stand up and take controle. as a nation we fought england for the same thing they are trying to push down our throught's. TAXES

[gramto8]

by agidoi September 16, 2009 6:04 PM EDT
i think he was in the right cause there are illegals that are already getting free money, health care, and schooling. here in the u.s.a. and our president is backing it all the way. as a nation we are going the wrong way people. we need to stand up and take controle. as a nation we fought england for the same thing they are trying to push down our throught's. TAXES




You want to know which President is the one that instigated making sure even illegals got to be treated whether they were going to pay for the treatment or not? That was good ol' Ronnie Reagan. Yep, the origin Trickle Down man. Now, tell me how that falls to President Obama as being his fault.

[stuart-johns]

Why are you people soooooooooo obssessed with ACORN? CBS has ran a half a dozen stories on ACORN since lastweek. Where have you been?

[opinionsrule]

Where is the ACORN story? Did you fire all of your investigative reporters?? Get with the program guys....

[gboyd41]

Don't you understand? CBS does not want to get anywhere near that story. Contact your elected officials and tell them you do not want your tax dollars to go to ACORN.