Wilson rebuke deserved

Congressman Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) got just what he deserved Wednesday when the House of Representatives voted to admonish him for his callous, disrespectful outburst during last week’s speech by President Barack Obama. Wilson’s shout of “You lie!� at the president marked a new low for the United States Congress, which is no stranger to single-digit approval ratings.

Democratic legislators noted that Wilson had an entire week to apologize to the House of Representatives for violating House rules, but Wilson seemed content with a phoned-in apology to the president, followed by an immediate online campaign to raise money for his re-election. Wilson proudly announced he would “not be muzzled� by members of the opposing party, whatever that means.

Congressional historians noted during the past week that Wilson’s outburst is unprecedented in recent history. Going back more than 100 years, experts could not find an instance in which a single member of Congress shouted directly at the president during a speech. The sheer audacity of the act should be enough to make members of both parties cringe in disgust and embarrassment. Add to that the fact that Wilson is a retired colonel in the South Carolina Army National Guard, and his direct insubordination to the commander in chief becomes an ignorant, unprincipled offense. Congressional colleagues, blind to the transgression, went so far as to call Wilson’s outburst “inadvertent.�

Many have wondered aloud if there are racial undertones to the conflict, but Wilson’s outburst should be seen for what it was —  an abandonment of general decorum and respect for the sake of a partisan argument. Thankfully, 240 members of the House agreed that this was unacceptable. Anyone who continues to support the congressman is missing the point, which is that he crossed the line and earned a rebuke from his colleagues.

Latest News

Water main cleaning in North Canaan

NORTH CANAAN – Aquarion Water Company today announced a water main cleaning project in the company’s North Canaan system. The project is scheduled to take place from Monday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 16, and is being undertaken to ensure customers in North Canaan continue to receive the highest quality water.

The cleaning for April 1 and April 4 (subject to change) will take place on the following streets:

Keep ReadingShow less
Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less