Tapper: Wilson Took To Conservative Media Limelight 'Like Moth To A Flame'

Tapper: Wilson Took To Conservative Media Limelight 'Like Moth To A Flame'

By Mark Finkelstein (Bio | Archive)
September 11, 2009 - 08:29 ET

Jake Tapper has distinguished himself within the White House press corps as someone consistently willing to pose probing questions to the president and his aides. But on today's Good Morning America, ABC's chief White House correspondent used a particularly unflattering metaphor for Rep. Joe Wilson and his decision to go on Fox News to defend himself. As a clip of Rep. Wilson on last night's Sean Hannity show rolled . . .

JAKE TAPPER: Although Wilson apologized to the White House for his lack of civility, he quickly took to the limelight of conservative media like a moth to a flame.

Just an hour before Wilson went on with Hannity, Olbermann devoted an entire Special Comment to denigrating the SC Republican, referring to him as "stupid," "pathetic," and likening him to "a drunk" at a ballgame.

It's also been widely reported that Wilson's Dem opponent for his House seat has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in the "you lie!" aftermath.

Surely Tapper can't believe Wilson should play rope-a-dope with those who would destroy him?

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Unlike the other Joe

September 11, 2009 - 08:40 ET by motherbelt

Unlike the other Joe Wilson, who had to be dragged kicking and screaming, onto the stage, along with his "covert agent" wife....

Surely Tapper can't believe Wilson should play rope-a-dope, abandoning the ring to those who would destroy him?

Of course they do! He was wrong, wrong, wrong!! He should take his medicine like a man and resign, instead of making Liberals pressure John McCain to force him out in the name of civility!

\sarc

He's a politician, everyone

September 11, 2009 - 08:40 ET by Radical1979

He's a politician, everyone of them loves the spotlight.

My question is why does Fox News keep having Ed Rendell (PA governor) on when that jackass can't get a budget passed in his own state.

Maybe Wilson should go on

September 11, 2009 - 08:40 ET by BKeyser

Maybe Wilson should go on Countdown?

Tapper is the only one outside of Major Garrett in the Press Corps who does ask questions that can make the thin-skinned Gibbs recoil, but that's not saying much. He get's cudos here, and on other conservative sites because of this, though in comparison to the last administration, he still lobs softballs. And he can come off quite smug at times. All-in-all, I'd say he's middle-of-the (current)-road fair, but by no means sympethetic to the conservative cause.

To draw a graphical representation: Tapper's walking down the double-yellow lines, Garrett is just to his right, and the rest of the Press Corps is on the shoulder, far to his left. (Helen Thomas, however, was abducted by aliens- years ago.)

There Is A Difference...

September 11, 2009 - 08:41 ET by BondPlainBond

...between a sincere, reasoned, and rational voice asking probing and detailed questions and a hysterical, shrieking, accusatory, sarcastic, imperious, and derogatory voice posing same.

To which would you react most favorably?

Yeah. Me, too.

ya know...

September 11, 2009 - 08:44 ET by sarainitaly

I just listened to this clip again,

http://www.youtube.c...

And the statement RIGHT before the one that caused Joe to yell out made a lot of Congress yell out and grumble.

I think Joe was caught off guard like people are when they are singing at the top of their lungs, and someone suddenly turns off the radio. He was yelling out like everyone JUST had, only, this time, no one else said anything.

That, and he was responding to Obama calling them liars...

Obama accused them of spreading false information, and lies. Seconds later, Joe replied that HE was telling a lie.

Seems completely fair to me. Especially since it appears Obama is the one spreading false info.

The clip

September 11, 2009 - 10:46 ET by lbcdawn

This year I am striving to make a difference. I was at work yesterday and I mentioned that I was so flustered by the ones speech that I forgot to make dinner and my poor children starved ( no they didn't I was being dramatic) My union mentality co-workers-I am non union- said oh yeah the girls were talking about that earlier (?) and I heard there was some sort of outburst and some Republican was shouting out names to the president. I quickly shut that rumor down. I said yes he said you lie or you liar once. The union mentally and literally employees said huh? only once? Yes and it was following on the presidents remarks that named names of dissenters and berated them for telling falsehoods and lying. The union gals were shocked. One said wait didn't they rip all over Bush for calling terrorist evil doers? How come the President (cue music)can call people liars and the media doesn't get all over him? They started rambling on about the injustice of a sitting president making those types of allegations. Within about 60 secons they were convinced that Joe Wilson was within his rights and more should have spoken up.

I end this by saying I am Joe the Wilson.

~lbcdawn Religion is about doing. Christianity is about done.

nope...

September 11, 2009 - 13:12 ET by Kekela Ward

"like people are when they are singing at the top of their lungs, and someone suddenly turns off the radio"

Nope...never happened to me. I have no idea what you're talking about.

In truth, that is the finest explaination yet to be given.

Sam: "I hurt somebody's feelings once"

Get to the facts

September 11, 2009 - 09:05 ET by mattm

I have yet to see ANY liberal media "reporter" analyze the actual facts of the matter to see if Wilson was right or not.

Check the facts, media; is Obama lying or not? If not - rip Wilson a new one, but if so, praise Wilson for standing up for truth.

Instead, the Liberal Media flock to kiss Obama's gluteus maximus like crack whores in need of a fix, while performing a character assassination for their Führer.

And we won't see a serious

September 11, 2009 - 09:19 ET by celator

And we won't see a serious analysis of the charge from them. Wilson IMMEDIATELY got the Sarah Palin/Joe the Plumber treatment. The liberal media followed their instructions perfectly. Trained seals. Honk, honk, honk.

I will never forget those evil, dark, staring eyes, that look of outrage and hate that came from Obama, Biden and Pelosi when Joe Wilson made his comment. That was for real.

No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.

~If looks could kill.....

September 11, 2009 - 10:14 ET by choselife3x

Don't back down, Joe.

i faxed good ole joe

September 11, 2009 - 09:14 ET by larry on LI

a nice big ATTA BOY!

Too much attention

September 11, 2009 - 09:34 ET by richb313

The liberal media will find that they are paying too much attention to the freshman congressman. The more they denagrate Mr Wilson after he appologized the more the fool they look. What Mr. Wilson did was a break in decorum. But what does that really mean? Decorum is supposed to be the rules the various houses operate under. Like not calling an opponent a liar, even if he or she is one. The same rules exist in the UK. You can say almost anything but if you call someone a liar you are escorted out of the Parliment for the day. Mr. Wilson removed himself after his outburst. He appologized for the outburst, but unlike some here think he did not retract his statement. Maybe the rules of Decorum need to be changed so that when someone lies you can call them on it. That would be a refressing change.

The only reason Tapper was peaved was because Mr. Wilson went on Fox and not on ABC. I think all Republicans, Independents and Blue Dog Democrats should boycott ABC, NBC. CBS, MSNBC, CNN and PBS until these networks start doing thier jobs and report the news.

By those rules Obama should

September 11, 2009 - 10:07 ET by mattm

By those rules Obama should have been escorted out - he called everyone who opposes him a liar....only he didn't use the word liar, so he gets away with it. Just like the lie that "Death Panels" are not part of the plan simply because the phrase isn't in the document even though the description is there.

Liberals have great skill in manupulating the language to where their lies are truth and the truth is a lie.

hmmmm

September 11, 2009 - 13:22 ET by Kekela Ward

Silly me, I thought decorum in Congress was requesting a duel, or just bashing your opponent in the head with an iron tipped cane ala Lovell Rousseau.

But nothing as violent as yelling.

Sam: "I hurt somebody's feelings once"

Of course Mr. Thumb Tack

September 11, 2009 - 10:17 ET by marpel

Of course Mr. Thumb Tack insulted Wilson...makes him think it will get bigger...sorry, Toots!

The Bamster's Fine New Suit

September 11, 2009 - 10:22 ET by slickwillie2001

Those two words spoken by Joe Wilson (R-SC) appear to be bigger news than the same old pap served up to us by the Bamster that night. Perhaps it's because Wilson was the only one that told the truth that night.

When someone in Congress speaks the truth, it's big news. Wilson's words will go down in history, and South Carolina is blessed to have him.

The Media Analysis

September 11, 2009 - 10:24 ET by KC Mulville

Joe Wilson shouted at the president.
Game over.
Healthcare will pass now.

September 11, 2009 - 10:43 ET by jessieH

It doesn't matter what the MSM thinks or says, in my opinion Wilson is a Patriot. With a backbone!

The Joe Wilson episode and

September 11, 2009 - 11:08 ET by celator

The Joe Wilson episode and Democratic/liberal reaction is history repeating itself. Here is an event which occuring in March 1933, when Hitler was demanding passage of the Enabling Act, which would suspend all civil rights of the German people and lead to Hitler's insane rule as Fuhrer. Pardon the length of the quote, but the similarity to Wilson's treatment and Otto Wells is uncannily similar. Web site link is

http://www.historypl...
---------------------------------------------------

"But one man arose amid the overwhelming might. Otto Wells, leader of the Social Democrats stood up and spoke quietly to Hitler.

"We German Social Democrats pledge ourselves solemnly in this historic hour to the principles of humanity and justice, of freedom and socialism. No enabling act can give you power to destroy ideas which are eternal and indestructible."

"Hitler was enraged and jumped up to respond.

"You are no longer needed! - The star of Germany will rise and yours will sink! Your death knell has sounded!"

"The vote was taken - 441 for, and only 84, the Social Democrats, against. The Nazis leapt to their feet clapping, stamping and shouting, then broke into the Nazi anthem, the Hörst Wessel song.

"Democracy was ended. They had brought down the German Democratic Republic legally. From this day onward, the Reichstag would be just a sounding board, a cheering section for Hitler's pronouncements."

No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.

I normally like Tapper, but

September 11, 2009 - 11:10 ET by bdshepherd

I normally like Tapper, but he has become entirely untrustworthy on anything related to health care 'reform.' I think as passage of a bill looks less and less likely his inner liberal is asserting itself more and more.

He is almost hysterical in his reliance on articles (he helped write) which 'debunk' Palin's death panel comment and Wilson's assertion that Obama was lying -- articles which rely entirely on semantics, rather than hard facts, to reach 'conclusions' that no objective reporter should claim any faith in.

Tapper is still better than most, but that's not a very high bar any more.

What a wit!

September 11, 2009 - 11:38 ET by StarAZ

Like a moth to a flame, huh? Really original.

He's just POed that the

September 11, 2009 - 12:29 ET by deerjerkydave

He's just POed that the alternative media is getting the big interview and he has to report from the sidelines.

The general public

September 11, 2009 - 12:34 ET by Southern voter

may hear Obama state "illegal immigrants will not get Universal Heathcare'....however most listening to that speech do not understand that the requirement to show proof of citizenship...prove you are legal...provide a social security number, etc....was voted out of the bill....

We have to show an id to purchase alcohol in a grocery store however to receive Universal Heathcare no proof is required...

Bravo Zulu Mr Wilson !!! the one brave voice in the crowd...

Jake seems to be getting

September 11, 2009 - 13:06 ET by bigtimer

Jake seems to be getting back in line recently like a good boy for the left.

I saw this earlier regarding Joe Wilson...I hope he does NOT apologize anymore...the hypocrisy from the left is a mind-bending disgrace as far as I am concerned...their tactics will backfire, their too arrogant to realize it.

'Go Green...Recycle Congress'

After the way the Left treated President Bush

September 11, 2009 - 13:33 ET by DoktorFranken

After the way the Left treated President Bush and VP Cheney they can all, to a person, kiss my butt.

X

September 11, 2009 - 14:08 ET by serfer62

I understand that as of yesterday Joe raised $400,000.00.

I sent him some but does anyone know for sure?

serfer... I don't know

September 11, 2009 - 14:21 ET by bigtimer

serfer...

I don't know the latest update on that...we will sooner or later though.

Here is another link if some want to donate.

https://www.fundraisingbynet.net/fbn/ContributePac.asp?guidRegistration=595F5D56

'Go Green...Recycle Congress'

Jake Tapper, Libs, News Media: You Lie

September 11, 2009 - 14:52 ET by JDW

Remember Reid running to 'the media limelight to call Bush a liar? What about Gore saying Bush betrayed his country? ...

Obama called his critics liars and his positions have been proven wrong.
He said he wants to work with the GOP, wrong.
He spoke of end of life decisions, wrong.
He spoke of no coverage for illegals, wrong.
He said only 5% would be forced into the public option, wrong. ...

Why was Wilson upset? The free ride is over, it's past time somebody stood up. If the libs want to expel Wilson the GOP must walk out of the House and demand attention for their side.

JDW

DAILY WAVE

Hoping for change

JDW... What I read here

September 11, 2009 - 15:01 ET by bigtimer

JDW...

What I read here regarding this this morning, it says Boehner was also urging Wilson to apologize in the House as well.

These people are our biggest problem as far as I am concerned....when are they ever going to get a clue as to why we are angry out here...when?

'Go Green...Recycle Congress'

Boehner

September 11, 2009 - 15:32 ET by JDW

Politico: it’s highly unlikely any Republicans would back a censure resolution, GOP aides tell me

Doesn't sound like the GOP is backing down. The libs have interrupted in the past, what will they look like if they do this alone?

JDW

DAILY WAVE

Hoping for change

Highly unlikely?

September 11, 2009 - 15:38 ET by FeynmanFan

The correct response would have been a resounding "NO".

"Reason and persuasion are the only practical instruments against error. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged" - Thomas Jefferson

Running to the limelight???

September 11, 2009 - 15:30 ET by jdripper

There has been a standing joke for years in Washington, DC that the most dangerous place in the country is to be standing between Chuck Schummer and a TV camera.

Jack

"If at age 20 you are a conservative then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are a liberal then you have no brains." Sir Winston Churchill