The New York Times demands high enough standards of evidence when the target of a defamatory remark is a liberal. But Joe Wilson is fair game – not because he behaved so badly, but because the financially troubled “old gray lady” and her employees are still in the grip of Messianic delusions.

From David Shuster of MSNBC:

President Obama is the first ever African-American to hold the nation’s highest office, and now he’s the first President to be openly heckled during an address to a joint session of Congress.

Every president faces scathing criticism from the fanatical fringe, but this at least feels different.

First black President, first to be heckled. Ergo, heckler = racist. Got it. (This is pretty easy– I could get used to this!)

And if that logic doesn’t hold up, David Shuster has “feelings.” And I’ve watched enough MSNBC to know how this works– his feelings trump your facts.

Via News Busters.

Does anybody else think it’s kind of strange that in the USA, we behave like prissy throne-sniffers regarding a President’s address to Congress, while the British Parliament is alive with boisterous repartee and heckling? Witness this 2007 feud between Prime Minister Gordon Brown and David Cameron–

(And please do not cite procedural esoterica. I am aware that differences exist, but that’s not the point.)

UPDATE: From Slate:

In the United Kingdom, prime ministers expect less decorum from representatives. Every Wednesday while the House of Commons is in session, the prime minister spends half an hour answering questions—and enduring boos and snide remarks—from Members of Parliament.

UPDATE: I guess the answer to my question is “yes.” Alex Massie from The Daily Beast in praise of hecklers.