The latest from Katrina vanden Heuvel:

KatrinaNationJoe Wilson’s despicable words are dangerous signs of times. Mainstreaming hate.kvh

First, I’m not sure it’s clear that Wilson was motivated by hate. It could have been truth — which doesn’t excuse the behavior, but it’s something different. It wasn’t nearly as clear as, say, when the head of the Democratic party actually says he hates you. (Read Jay from the other day if you haven’t already.)

I’m also not sure it was dangerous. He did take a deep breath and apologize, as was only appropriate. Passion and politics naturally live together when one has his eye on real issues and stakes.

And if talking about lying liars who bear false witness is despicable, she might want to ask the president to quit it too.

The stakes are high. We have to fight for our values and principles. We’ve had presidents before this who had disdain for our ideas and values (though, yes, this is a very bad time!). We debate. We work — in the statehouses, in our homes, on our laptops, serving others, educating, saving lives. America’s full of people who work to make it great in many and various ways. We create alternative media. We remind people why they love this country and why these debates are important. We remind them what leadership is. And we take deep breaths because, while we know that there are high stakes — freedom itself — we also know that there is more to life than a joint-session-of-Congress speech. And by living this — living what we say we believe alongside people who think differently — we remind them why America is exceptional.