Brad Tidwell today offers a thoughtful rebuttal to my September 17th post Joe Wilson, 9/12, and the GOP Image Problem. In that response, my conservative colleague correctly observes that conservatives face a built-in uphill battle on the media front. He further reminds readers that Joe Wilson’s outburst was not exactly incorrect on its merits. On these two issues, Brad Tidwell and I are in agreement.

While Joe Wilson was correct that, under HR 3200, illegal immigrants would be able to purchase health care without subsidies, this is not a change to my knowledge from present law. Likewise, the requirement that hospitals not report to federal authorities illegal immigrants receiving medical care would go unchanged under existing Democratic reform proposals. It is telling also that the number of uninsured Americans dropped by fifteen million in Obama’s last speech to Congress from earlier Democratic estimates.

Where Brad Tidwell and I disagree, it seems is on the merits of Congressman Wilson’s decision to yell ”You Lie!” during the address by President Obama. Interestingly, my colleague points to recent pop culture instances of outbursts successfully conveying broader messages. He offers as evidence viral media clips of Serena Williams’ conduct at a tennis match, and that of singer Kanye West at an awards show to convey his point.

The problem here is that “You Lie!” clips don’t discredit President Obama the way the clips of Kanye West at the awards show discredited Mr. West. Instead, the opposite is true. In the public consciousness, the conduct of  Mr. West was out of line, akin that of Congressman Wilson; much as Kanye West ruined Taylor Swift’s moment, Joe Wilson ruined President Obama’s moment.  

Brad and I would likely agree that the current U.S. President seems to like being on television almost as often as some of his leftward Latin American counterparts. This, however, is not the point. Instead of forcing “responsible” journalists to report fairly on President Obama’s remarks to Congress, Joe Wilson’s outburst gave the media the story they wanted.

Brad Tidwell and I both keep up with current events. However, not everyone does so to the same extent. Tidwell, I reiterate, was right to point out that there were and continue to be inconsistencies in President Obama’s healthcare message. However, in an environment wherein much of the media is reluctant to show skepticism to the present administration, conservatives can be hurt by the wrong headlines. In some contexts, bad publicity may be better than none at all, but in this case that concept simply does not apply.

James O’Keefe has offered a way, using viral media, to get the word out on politically relevant stories ignored by all too much of the contemporary American media.  His ACORN investigation not only rendered incompetent or irresponsible more traditional journalists, but it very well may have hurt the popularity of the current administration in Washington. Conservatives, thus, should be free to push the envelope, but need to avoid becoming the story themselves.

Last 5 posts by James Kane

• A November to Remember - November 8th, 2010
• On hope and fear - October 18th, 2010
• Expecting Different Results - September 12th, 2010
• A glaring omission on Iraq - August 31st, 2010
• Employing a losing strategy - August 7th, 2010