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“LIES” on Health Care and Immigration, Which Way Forward for the GOP?

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Taking a cue from the “tea parties” and rowdy townhalls this summer, perhaps, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) shouted, “You lie!” at President Obama during his speech last night. The topic? “ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS” of course…

According to the Associated Press: 

OBAMA: “The reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.” One congressman, South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson, shouted “You lie!” from his seat in the House chamber when Obama made this assertion. Wilson later apologized.

THE FACTS: The facts back up Obama. The House version of the health care bill explicitly prohibits spending any federal money to help illegal immigrants get health care coverage. Illegal immigrants could buy private health insurance, as many do now, but wouldn’t get tax subsidies to help them…

Watch the clip:

Wilson also made it clear that the immigration wedge strategy Republican politicians have used unsuccessfully during so many policy debates and so many elections just won’t die.  Already this year, Republicans have tried to use the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS bogeyman to derail progress on a number of issues, from SCHIP expansion, to the flu pandemic, to economic recovery, but they’ve only succeeded in further marginalizing themselves among Latino voters and other swing demographics who want policymakers to solve tough problems— not pander with cheap scare tactics.

A range of tweets shone the spotlight on Wilson — he’s become the top “trending” topic on Twitter since last night’s outburst:

RT @politicalbaron: I applaud Congressman Joe Wilson and his brave battle with Tourettes.

RT @blakerutherford: RT @TheFix: Donations to Joe Wilson’s D opponent — Rob Miller — now over $200K since “You Lie”. within two hours after Joe Wilson yelled out ‘You lie’ to the president, his opponent Rob Miller raised $25,000 from people via Twitter!

RT @lancole NEWS: Lou Dobbs apologizes for ventriloquism prank involving Congressman Joe Wilson.