In grasping for some rationalization for standing by their man who shouted "You Lie!", the Republicans have ONCE AGAIN chosen bald-faced lies.*  "Obama started it" just doesn't fly, and here's (one of several reasons) why:

Rep. Steve King's (R-IA) remark about Obama throwing "the first punch" is the clearest GOP comment using this meme.  He connects Obama's "prominent politicians" remark with his (spurious) we-said-it's-gonna-fund-illegals claim.  However, Obama's "prominent politicians" phrase was connected to the "death panel" refutation - NOT the "illegal immigrant" refutation.  (See, Palin and Grassley re: "death panels", but no similar prominent pols were beating the "illegals" drum that I can think of.)

As for the portion of King's rationalization that "a lot of us said, well, this health care bill is gonna fund illegals", that part is false, too.**  SOOOOOOO, King makes a FALSE connection AND the basis for that false connection is FALSE, too. 

That's a double fail, Congressman!

 

Here's the relevant  transcript portion from Obama's speech:

*** Some of people's concerns have grown out of bogus claims spread by those whose only agenda is to kill reform at any cost.  The best example is the claim made not just by radio and cable talk show hosts, but by prominent politicians, that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens.  Now, such a charge would be laughable if it weren't so cynical and irresponsible.  It is a lie, plain and simple.  (Applause.)   There are also those who claim that our reform efforts would insure illegal immigrants.  This, too, is false.  The reforms -- the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.    AUDIENCE MEMBER:  You lie!  (Boos.)   THE PRESIDENT:  It's not true.  And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up -- under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.  (Applause.)  

***

 

* http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/new-gop-meme-on-joe-wilson-obama-started-it.php?ref=fpblg

** http://factcheck.org/2009/08/twenty-six-lies-about-hr-3200/   Page 143 states: "Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States." And as we've said before, current law prohibits illegal immigrants from participating in government health care programs. 

***Transcript: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-to-a-Joint-Session-of-Congress-on-Health-Care/