No matter what you thought about President Barack Obama's speech urging lawmakers to back health care reform, one thing was generally expected: Congress is not Britain's Parliament. That is to say that while presidential addresses may stimulate zealous applause, they are not typically a place for opponents to voice disagreement. It's normal in Britain, but rarely happens in the United States to a president.

Well... until tonight, when South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson, a Republican, went where few Brits would go, boldly shouting "You lie!" as Obama said health care would not be extended to illegal immigrants.

In his last political campaign, Wilson received backing from Americans for Legal Immigration PAC. The group supports deportation of illegal immigrants and opposes amnesty, rating Wilson tops -- an "A" -- for his answers on a report card, including his opposition to programs like in-state tuition and driving licenses for undocumented workers.

Wilson's outburst came during the nationally-televised address that some pundits portrayed as Obama's last-ditch effort to get lawmakers to enact comprehensive health care reforms that lower individual health care costs and insure all Americans. How influential Obama's words were, remains to be seen.

According to his website, Wilson thinks "Americans deserve affordable health care, and we can make that a reality if we focus on patient-centered solutions not greater government interference." In this video, linked through Wilson's House website (which is now un-accessible for unknown reasons), Wilson describes how Republican efforts to sway a reform bill were stymied during a 20-hour meeting. He says health care reform is a "a government takeover," exactly the kind of characterization that Obama took issue with during his speech tonight.

"I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than to improve it," Obama said in a clear reference to defiant Republicans and others who are trying to block the plan.

READ THE FOLLOW-UP TO THIS STORY HERE.

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