'You lie': Rep. Wilson apologizes
By Molly K. Hooper - 09/09/09 09:45 PM ET
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) apologized Wednesday night for heckling President Barack Obama as a liar during the president's speech to a joint session of Congress.
Wilson shouted to the president "you lie" after Obama said illegal immigrants would not benefit from health insurance coverage from the reform bill. Obama glared disgustedly in the direction the remark came from, as did Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Vice President Joe Biden.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Democratic leaders immediately called on Wilson to apologize, and he did so in a statement that said he’d let his emotions get the better of him.
“This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill,” Wilson said.
“While I disagree with the president’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility.”
House Democratic Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) called Wilson's outburst "embarrassing," while McCain said it was "totally disrespectful" and that there was "no place for it in that setting or any other."
McCain said Wilson “should apologize for it immediately.”
Clyburn said South Carolina was already suffering because of Gov. Mark Sanford. "Now we got one of our Congresspeople to drive our reputation to a new low."
Sanford has endured calls for his resignation after admitting to an affair.
Inappropriate yes, but I beleive it is an emotion word being used arounr the country to describe this bill and this administration. The glares from Pelosi and Biden would have had me in tears from laughter. I am torn here, but heck you look at other assemblies of politicians in other countries heck they get at it right over the benches! I think he speaks for quite a few people, I wonder how many here would have had the guts to do it? Again I am torn, but he speaks for quite a few w/ his emotions.
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"There is nothing in the world like a persuasive speech to fuddle the mental apparatus and upset the convictions and debauch the emotions of an audience not practiced in the tricks and delusions of oratory." --American author and humorist Mark Twain (1835-1910)
I don't know ... I think a small lack of decorum and civility is the smallest problem that our legislators have to worry about right now. It's not like some of the video I've seen of Asian countries' parliments where fist fights break out, LOL!!!
But yeah, Congress isn't supposed to heckle the POTUS during an address.
I think it shows the level of frustration with the displays of power from the president and the left.
You may not like the president, but he is not one to be trifled with. He is also, in my opinion, being handled well, compared to President Bush. The timing, the appearances, the speeches being written; all are promoting momentum for his policies and ideas and keeping the republicans playing a ton of defense.
He has made relatively few mistakes politically speaking.
History is happening. It will take a long time to "undo" some of this stuff.
I don't think we should sink to the level of the parlimentary system of Europe where fights and shouts are the norm. I also think this type of behavior degrades the meanigful debate to take place in the future. If we are going to form opinions (and by extension policy) based on who shouts the loudest catchy slogan which merely panders to an emotional whim - then we are sunk as a nation. McCain was right to chatise Wilson and Wilson was right to eat crow and apologize. A shouting match does not a constructive enviroment make.
I don't think we should sink to the level of the parlimentary system of Europe where fights and shouts are the norm. I also think this type of behavior degrades the meanigful debate to take place in the future. If we are going to form opinions (and by extension policy) based on who shouts the loudest catchy slogan which merely panders to an emotional whim - then we are sunk as a nation. McCain was right to chatise Wilson and Wilson was right to eat crow and apologize. A shouting match does not a constructive enviroment make.
I trust that, in the interest of consistency, you held the same opinion about the Democrats who regularly booed and hissed during W's addresses to Congress...
Texas Gulf 3 if you read history the writers of our constitution held many meeting when loud boisterous rhetoric could be heard outside the rooms walls. It is the very emotions of any discussion that lead to good common sense answers. Heck this Political Board would be loud if not for keyboard clickclak.
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"There is nothing in the world like a persuasive speech to fuddle the mental apparatus and upset the convictions and debauch the emotions of an audience not practiced in the tricks and delusions of oratory." --American author and humorist Mark Twain (1835-1910)
Joe Wilson "You Lie"
