"You Lie!"

Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina (whose official site is currently offline due to high traffic) made international news last night and in some ways stole the show. As Barack Obama ground through his proposals for health care reform, Wilson channeled his inner British Member of Parliament and shouted in disgust "You lie!"

As usual Obama tried to play it both ways, suggesting the public option was a great idea, but that he migth consider other options. He pleaded for bipartisanship, but slammed dissidence. It was a typical act that, according to polls, was just as well received as the failed Clinton effort to pass his version of socialized health care one year before the GOP retook Congress.

Wilson's shout broke the tradition of recent decades that Congressmen and women must remain quiet during presidential addresses with the exception of applause. One registers disapproval by refusing to make any appreciative noises. Wilson's anger hearkens back to the original century of congressional deportment. George Washington briefly attended congressional debates until he found himself repeatedly attacked and vowed to never return except when constitutionally mandated.

The focus on "You Lie!" reintroduces into the responsible media the persistent gaps between what Obama says and what the proposed legislation could do. He keeps Factcheck.com extremely busy. For left wing Democrats it represents the final nail in the bipartisan coffin. For Republicans it is a war cry. Some will debate the propriety of Wilson's action, but not the message it conveys. "You Lie!" is not the cry of the old school GOP leadership, but of the Tea Party movement, educated by years of Bush bashing in confrontational politics.

What is promises is that this fight will get uglier. As we approach the next election cycle, the chances that Obama will get anything he wants dims. However the bruised egos and hostile emotions will only burn brighter. 2010 will be one of the nastiest campaigns in American history because the stakes are so high. "You Lie!" was the first shot across the bow.