For Shame, Wilson: You Have Free Government Health Care

Consistent with his “You lie!” outburst the other night, Joe Wilson’s campaign website loudly proclaims he's “PASSIONATE ABOUT STOPPING GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE!” That sentiment would ring truer if the congressman weren't the beneficiary of what he calls “world class” government-run health care, Adam Weinstein writes for Newsweek. As a retired Army National Guard colonel, Wilson is set for life—as are his four sons, who've also served in the military.

The free coverage, known as TRICARE, means “Wilson gets a lot of benefits,” Weinstein writes, though he apparently missed “respect for one’s commander in chief.” The South Carolina Republican has also voted 11 times against benefits for vets and even tried to cut funding for TRICARE. He seems at best ambivalent about a government option, Weinstein writes. “Just not when it comes to his own flesh and blood.” (More Joe Wilson stories.)