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Updated Tuesday, September 15, 2009 9:13 am TWN, The China Post news staff

Lessons of the Obama heckling for Taiwan

The debate now raging within the United States about how to punish U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson for heckling President Barack Obama has become somewhat of a curiosity here in Taiwan. While many in the U.S. may be outraged over Wilson's unusual behavior, people in Taiwan have become accustomed to angry outbursts and antics by their elected lawmakers.

The high standard Wilson is being held to should be thought of as a point of reference for members of the Legislative Yuan. According to reports from Washington, Wilson violated the House of Representatives' “Rules of Decorum and Debate” when he shouted “You lie!” during Obama's speech to members of Congress last week.

Several congressmen have called for Wilson to be censured for his heckling. The “Rules of Decorum and Debate in the House” bind House members to refrain from “speaking disrespectfully of the Speaker, other Members, the President or Vice President.”

Besides the public humiliation of a censure by his colleagues, the most serious punishment for violating decorum rules is having offending remarks stricken from the record.

But over the years, only a handful of congressmen have violated these rules, helping most debates remain civil and respectful. Among other things, House members are barred from using “profane or vulgar language” and normally cannot even refer to the official conduct of other members, such as the way they voted on a particular bill.

When a member of Congress is speaking on the floor, other members are forbidden from disrespectfully walking around in the well behind the speaking member. Written materials handed out by House members and their staff on the House floor, as well as adjacent hearing rooms, must comply with “rules of propriety for spoken words.” This is a fancy way of saying that printed materials and posters are held to the same standards of decency as the spoken word.

In Taiwan, the Legislative Yuan has become infamous for angry debates, including many where profane and vulgar language, and sometimes violence, has been used. Many lawmakers take silly props with them to hang on the lectern, or stage ridiculous antics, such as singing a song, to get media attention.

The ROC Constitution provides immunity from prosecution for legislators with regard to anything they say on the grounds of the Legislative Yuan. This immunity was intended to free lawmakers from fear of persecution for their political views. But in practice, it has encouraged lawmakers to abuse their immunity by making false and vitriolic statements.

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September 17, 2009 eddie@

I think it's a real, long, long shot to make these lawmakers act politely and with civility. They don't come from a background where they were raised with western concepts of manners and politeness. Also, the vast majority of people they want to appeal to, demand freak shows like the ones they put on. They are trying to get the attention of the average Taiwanese person, who is not educated in the ways of western civility. So there is no reason for them to tone it down. Although, I do admit that it would be a breath of fresh air to see these elected officials behave like decent human beings.


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