Republican shouts 'You lie' during Obama speech

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By Christina Bellantoni

It took less than an hour after he heckled President Obama for Rep. Joe Wilson to become an Internet sensation.

When Mr. Obama told lawmakers during a joint address to Congress that his health care plan does not cover illegal immigrants, Mr. Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, shouted in the chamber, "You lie!"

The controversy over whether illegal immigrants can benefit from the health reforms Mr. Obama is proposing was a hot topic at a number of health care town halls over the August congressional recess.

Mr. Obama noticeably paused after Mr. Wilson's outburst, then repeated, "It's not true."

The incident shocked Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose mouth dropped open as she turned toward the Republican side of the chamber. In video images Mrs. Pelosi appeared to whisper Mr. Wilson's name to Vice President Joe Biden, who sat beside her behind the president.

The incident also sparked a liberal fund-raising surge for Democrat Rob Miller, Mr. Wilson's 2010 Congressional challenger.

Right-leaning blogs posted links to contribute to Mr. Wilson.

Liberals also mounted an effort to send complaints to the congressman, and soon both his congressional and political Web sites appeared to be bombarded with traffic while his phone lines were busy Wednesday night.

Mr. Wilson, who overwhelmingly won his seat in a 2001 special election, is a staunch opponent of Mr. Obama's plan.

The Republican wrote on Twitter Monday from a Labor Day parade in Chapin, "[M]any people called out to oppose Obamacare, which I assured them would be relayed tomorrow to DC."

Sen. John McCain said on CNN Mr. Wilson should apologize and called his comment "totally disrespectful."