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Holly Bailey

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Posted Thursday, September 17, 2009 11:41 AM

How Joe Wilson's Heckle Became a Campaign Cash Cow

Holly Bailey
Did Democrats actually do Rep. Joe Wilson a favor by rebuking him on the House floor? In the week since the South Carolina Republican interrupted President Obama’s speech, Wilson has raised almost $1.8 million for his 2010 reelection bid, thanks in part to all the publicity. Rob Miller, Wilson’s Democratic opponent, has raised about $1.6 million. And money on both sides keeps rolling in, in part because of some aggressive efforts to tap into online political donors while the drama is still hot.

Just check out Google─where parties working on behalf of both Wilson and Miller have been running online ads that come up when people look for certain phrases. When you Google the phrase “Joe Wilson,” at least four sponsored political ads show up. One is paid for by Wilson’s reelection campaign: “Joe Wilson Under Attack: Stand with Joe and fight back.” Another is from ActBlue, the liberal political-action committee that acts as a conduit for Democratic candidates and is raising money for Miller: “Say no to Joe.” Even Senate Democrats are trying to raise funds over Wilson’s drama: “Had Enough of Hecklers?” The link connects to a donation site for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Indeed, political ads both in opposition and support of Wilson pop up no matter how you search for information on the incident. Both Wilson and Miller are running ads on the search phrase “You lie.” Wilson’s campaign also has ads on searches for “Joe Wilson rebuked” and “Joe Wilson race”─though it's unclear if “race” refers to the actual campaign or the recent debate over whether Wilson’s heckle was “based on racism,” as former president Jimmy Carter suggested in an interview this week. There are also pro-Wilson ads on searches for “you lie congressman,” “you lie Obama,” “Wilson liar,” and “Rob Miller Congress.” But it's not just Google ads where we're seeing post-heckle fundraising efforts. On Wednesday, the Republican National Committee sent an e-mail blast to its members soliciting donations in the wake of the House's rebuke of Wilson, while last week the Democratic National Committee reportedly raised $1 million the day after Obama's speech, a haul credited in part to outrage over Wilson's outburst.
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Member Comments

Posted By: drewand (September 20, 2009 at 9:41 AM)

Disagreeing and disrespecting are two entirely different actions. Being liberal does not mean that a person necessarilly believes in all things liberal. Common sense is lacking in our government and our people. What is right is right, whether you are conservative or liberal. I advise everyone to give their pesonal issues some thought before you blindly support any politician because they are a conservative or liberal. Actually there aren't that many real liberals out there, mostly centrists. Joe Wilson is only promoting himself

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Posted By: newsweek65 (September 18, 2009 at 7:35 PM)

P.S. I KNOW IT'S ALOT AT FIRST...REMEMBER TO PLACE RIGHT HAND OVER HEART....WHEN SAYING....MUCH LOVE YA'll...I LOVE MY COUNTRY, BUT FEAR MY GOVERNMENT....

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Posted By: newsweek65 (September 18, 2009 at 7:25 PM)

IT'S,OK...THE PROBLEM HERE THESE HATERS (LIB./DEM) ARE BY-PRODUCTS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SAY "THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE" OR TAKING A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN SCHOOL....BUT WHAT THEY DON'T REALIZE IS THAT THEIR PARENTS WHO FOUGHT FOR THIS WERE HIGH ON LSD BACK IN THE DAY.....THEY DIDN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES,  THEY JUST NEEDED A CAUSE....THERE IS A CURE THOUGH,... IT MIGHT BURN A LIITLE AT FIRST....JUST HANG AN AMERICAN FLAG AND SAY IT OUT LOUD...I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD (GO AHEAD... SAY IT!)  INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL...NOW THAT WASN'T SO BAD ...WAS IT?  KEEP PRACTICING.....

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