Wilson Taps "You Lie" Fundraising for Fellow Republicans

South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson has raised more than $1 million for his own campaign treasury since his "You lie" shout during President Obama's address to Congress two weeks ago. And now Wilson is spreading the wealth with his Republican colleagues.

Wilson is headed to Michigan Oct. 2 for a fundraiser with Tim Walberg, a Republican who held the 7th District seat for one term before he was ousted by Democrat Mark Schauer in 2008. Walberg is now seeking a rematch in what is expected to be a competitive race.

According to Walberg's Web site, the event in the 7th District city of Jackson, "will feature Congressman Wilson and Tim Walberg discussing health care and the need to stop a government takeover."

For $150, attendees would get two tickets and a photo with Wilson.

Wilson chief of staff Eric Dell told CQ Politics that the four-term congressman -- who is seeking re-election next year -- will then head to Missouri later that week for a speaking engagement with local politicos at the request of Rep. Roy Blunt, the likely GOP nominee in the state's open-seat Senate contest.

Wilson also put his name on a fundraising e-mail sent Friday by the National Republican Congressional Committee, in which the House Republicans' campaign arm lambastes Democrats for not supporting legislation Republicans have been pushing that would require Congress to post all major legislation online for a minimum of 72 hours before it can be brought to a vote.

"It's up to us to hold the Democrats accountable and that's why I'm turning to you for your immediate help," Wilson writes. "If we can raise more money than the Democrats, we'll send a message to [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi, Obama, and their friends that the American people are firmly behind the Republicans in opposition to government-run health care."

And earlier this week, Wilson sent an e-mail to supporters of Virginia House Speaker William J. Howell, seeking to raise money for Howell's Dominion Leadership Trust political action committee, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Wilson faces his own competitive race in 2010, against Democrat Rob Miller, who has also raised more than $1 million since Wilson's outburst. Their contest will be a rematch of their 2008 race in which Miller, then a little-known political newcomer, held Wilson to an 8 percentage-point victory margin.

UPDATE: Democrats are promptly hitting back against Wilson's latest fundraising appeals with their own. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee just sent out an e-mail, authored by Democratic consultant Paul Begala noting "the very liars who heckled President Obama for calling them out are raising millions of dollars off of their rude, dishonest attack" and asking supporters to respond with donations to the DCCC.

And Democratic Governor's Association Finance Director Colleen Turrentine pinged the organization's e-mail list with a note calling Wilson "shameless" for "using his newfound 'celebrity' to raise money so that other Republicans can flaunt the rules and redistrict themselves back into power.

Financial reports filed next month will show which side gets more mileage. The quarter ends Sept. 30.
By Emily Cadei | September 25, 2009 10:48 AM
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Are you surprised that people would donate money to a person who shouted at a sitting U.S. president - no matter what their (or your) political beliefs are?

This article indicates that this fundraising tactic is working for the Republicans. Do you think a political party should use an incident like this one to raise money? Why or why not? Does it matter which party, Democrats or Republicans, use the incident?

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