Last night, during President Obama’s historic speech on health care — as opposed to his dozens of other historic speeches on health care — America witnessed the most stunning, disgraceful attack on an American president ever. Move over, John Wilkes Booth. Make room, John Hinckley. There’s a new name in evil: Joe Wilson.

The enemy of the state who bellowed “You lie!” was Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, and never in the history of the Republic has anyone shown such disrespect for the President of the United States. This menace must be stopped! Can no one rid me of this meddlesome pest? Who can imagine a more nauseating outrage than–

Oh. Well, that’s different. That was the bad president. This is the good president. The same standard doesn’t apply because… well, it just doesn’t.

Wilson has now apologized, and Obama has accepted. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are still waiting on their apology for being called “an angry mob,” “un-American,” “terrorists,” “evil-mongers,” “racist, teabagging rednecks,” and whatever else. Have they been called “dirty stinky poopheads” yet? At this point, why not? Obviously, anybody who disagrees with anything Obama says must be stopped at all costs, so why hold back?

Insult and disdain the people you’re supposed to be governing long enough, and eventually one of them might insult and disdain you right back. Try not to act so shocked.

(Hat tip to Ed Morrissey)

Update: Almost forgot. Just minutes before Joe Wilson shocked the nation by saying what at least 50% of them were thinking, Honest Barack said this (emphasis mine):

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 prominent politicians, that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens. Such a charge would be laughable if it weren’t so cynical and irresponsible. It is a lie, plain and simple.

Guess it doesn’t count if you don’t name any names.

Update: As Gabriel Malor points out, Obama also said this:

But what we have also seen in these last months is the same partisan spectacle that only hardens the disdain many Americans have toward their own government. Instead of honest debate, we have seen scare tactics.

And then he said this in the very same speech:

Everyone in this room knows what will happen if we do nothing. Our deficit will grow. More families will go bankrupt. More businesses will close. More Americans will lose their coverage when they are sick and need it most. And more will die as a result.

“Don’t let these scare tactics stop you, or we’re all gonna die!” Sometimes Past Obama and Present Obama are in the same room at almost the same time.