Pants on Fire

During President Barack Obama's speech regarding health care, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouted, "You lie!" He subsequently apologized for his outburst. The blogs went wild (pardon the redundancy, please).

Wilson's taunt disgraces him, his party, and his constituents. Its boorishness also makes it typical of the times -- which explains why Wilson has become an overnight sensation. He is despised by many yet celebrated by others -- a backbencher nevertheless. Yet although it shocked many Americans, the incident should have reminded them how genteel our politics are, particularly as practiced in Congress -- for the most part.

The best reality show on TV does not star Paula Abdul or Tom DeLay but members of Britain's Parliament. Broadcasts of the sessions in which MPs question the prime minister delight and amaze. For one thing, the quality of the debate -- intellectually and rhetorically -- exceeds the quality of most U.S. debates by several miles (or kilometers). For another, MPs berate the PM and each other. They shout insults, and crack jokes. One side jeers, while the other side cheers. The speaker calls for order, usually to no avail. The MPs give no quarter. The House of Commons gives uncommon pleasure.

The blogosphere and the airwaves may thrive on red-hot rhetoric (that usually lacks wit), but in the halls of Congress the tone pretty much remains prim and proper -- especially when compared to the antics across the pond.