From a reader:
You are wrong, and Joe Wilson was wrong to apologize. He shouted what he thought was true, in a forum wherein he expected the truth to be badly served.
Decorum is a useful concept, but so is directness. There is a horrible agreement among most pundits, media people, and politicians on both right and left that prohibits things like shouting at an opponent or calling him or her a liar. McCain’s statement was especially awful. In the real world, we say what we think. That has served America well for most of its history. The new agreement inhibits honest discussion.
Presidents, members of Congress, and media elites should replace their thin skin with better stuff.
I liked this email chiefly because it’s honest about a point I’ve been making with correspondents. If Wilson was right, he shouldn’t have apologized and people who are cross with me should be even more cross with him for apologizing. Usually, when someone apologizes for something it means they are sorry they did it and wish that it hadn’t happened. I’m at a loss as to why my stance on the issue should carry anywhere near as much weight as Wilson’s.
Update: From a reader:
As I recall, Wilson apologized for the venue, not the content of “liar” shout
Me: Okey dokey. I was never complaining about the merit of the accusation, just the venue.