On Joe Wilson, did you notice that his official U.S. House Web site was shut down much of Thursday? Instead, you’d get indications of high traffic or down for maintenance.
In the aftermath of President Barack Obama’s health care reform speech to a joint session of Congress, the blood-boilers of each side had burners set on high.
The PAC “Americans for Legal Immigration” applauded Republican Wilson. They wanted more to be done like what Wilson did, they said. In ALIPAC’s words, “It is a real shame that the rest of Congress was not on his or her feet pointing out the President’s lie.”
180-degrees from there, backers of Wilson’s Democratic opponent in South Carolina said he raised $200,000 or more not even a full day later from Americans outraged by Wilson’s remark.
I asked Delaware Republican Congressman Mike Castle about Wilson’s outburst.
It was “not good from a lot of perspectives,” Castle said.
Wilson “lost his composure for a moment” and that it “will hurt the GOP to some degree,” said Castle.
Politics
Republicans cannot have blanket opposition to the President but rather need to be focused, Castle added.
As for the speech, Castle called it “persuasive,” “eloquent,” and that it contained “valid points,” but that it fell short. President Obama needs to sit down with Republicans and moderate Democrats to resolve the many details not talked about, including questions about how Obama reform would be paid for, the Congressman said.
Castle does not believe fraud and waste elimination can be relied on. “I have rarely seen this place cut a lot of costs,” Castle stated.
He also reflected what many Republican members of the House feel. They don’t know what President Obama’s plan really is, as opposed to Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s. They do believe the Senate Finance Committee legislation expected in the next week or two will be more reflective of Obama’s desires.
Generally, Democratic elected officials told me that the President hit the ball out of the park with the speech. We’ll see if more people play ball together or blow like Joe.
On another matter, On Monday watch for former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan to announce that he is running for Congress in the 7th Congressional District.
Meehan, a Republican, plans stops in Drexel Hill, Bridgeport and West Chester.
Democrat Joe Sestak is not seeking re-election in the 7th so that he can focus on taking the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination from Arlen Specter.
