Gee, thanks, Mr. Wilson

Thanks, Mr. Wilson, and boos to Mr. West and Ms. Williams. In the words of comic strip character Dennis of “Dennis The Menace,” I say “Thanks, Mr. Wilson.” I’m not referring to Dennis’ neighbor but Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. The boos are directed toward tennis star Serena Williams and hip hop singer and producer Kanye West.

Don’t for a minute think I’m sincere when thanking Mr. Wilson, of South Carolina. I thought Wilson’s outburst, calling President Barack Obama a liar during his address to both houses of Congress last week was rude and disrespectful.

Saturday night at the U.S. Open Tennis championship in New York, Serena Williams went even further by displaying poor taste, bad manners and a lack of professionalism. She cursed a line judge over a questionable foot-fault call that ultimately cost her the match.

The third incident occurred at the televised MTV awards show Sunday night. While award winner Taylor Swift was giving her thank-you remarks, West took the microphone and told the audience that another singer should have won.

There is no excuse for Williams or West’s behavior. As I write, Williams and West have apologized. As far as I know, this is the first time Williams made a fool of herself but West has done so on several occasions.

Williams blamed her bad manners on the tired excuse most sports stars and celebrities use: that she got caught up in the “heat” of competition or moment. I doubt if it was the first “bad call” she’d ever received and won’t be the last. It should be noted that she was fined $10,000 for her tirade. The money is pocket change but her image may suffer untold damage.

As for West, he thrives on bad manners and controversy. He’s either too young or too stupid to realize his actions are in poor taste. Even President Obama called him a jackass in off-the-record remarks Tuesday.

My only reason for thanking Wilson is because it galvanized Obama supporters and congressional Democrats. I also hope his insult will make African American leaders speak up and out in support of the president. Their silence during these last two or three months have been baffling to say the least.

Since his inauguration, President Obama has been in the rhetorical, and real, bull’s-eye of far-right conservatives, gun-rights advocates and many congressional Republicans. And since his inauguration, it seems that most liberals and many Democrats stand on the sidelines keeping silent rather than defending him or their own ideals.

In the case of President George W. Bush, his supporters, including most Republican congressional leaders,  defended him even as his failed policies led America down the wrong path.

It’s time that Obama supporters, in and out of Congress, defend him and his policies. Your support shouldn’t have ended on Election Day.

My question for the timid liberal leaders – black or white – and elected congressional Democrats. Why did it take Joe Wilson to make you show some backbone?

Nelson Graves, of Augusta County, is a columnist for The News Virginian. E-mail him at .