Joe Wilson is in the headlines again:

“One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country.” This written statement by Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina on the health care bill was identical to one by Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer and used language suggested by lobbyists.

The headline from the New York Times article reads “In House, many spoke with one voice: Lobbyists’” and has Joe Wilson on the front cover. We know Mr. Wilson from my blog post on his outburst during Obama’s speech and the importance of transparency.

With the technology and ability to reference check on the spot and look into ties, why do so many public figures insist on feeding us lines? I don’t think it has hit home quite yet that these aren’t the 1990′s, when you could claim or say anything and chances of you getting called on it were slim. We are in a different age. I look forward to an interesting backlash.