South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson has apologized for his outburst during Barack Obama's health care speech to a joint session of Congress. It was a cringing moment (video here) and a signal one. When Wilson shouted "You lie!" at the president, he represented in that moment, what has been the very worst part of the health care debate.
Incivility and hostility became the story. He became the story, and he made all Republicans, and all Republican opposition to Democratic health care plans, look childish, more about anger than policy. And he put the GOP back on the defense.
It's the kind of rancor to which liberals say, "Keep it coming. Keep making yourself look bad."
So it's not surprising that Wilson was quick to issue an apology.
"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," the congressman said in a statement. "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."
Both sides condemned the outburst:
House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn , a fellow South Carolinian, said Wilson's heckling was more damaging to South Carolina's reputation than the exploits of Republican Gov. Mark Sanford, who admitted to having an extramarital affair with an Argentinian woman.
"I thought he [the governor] had embarrassed us as much as we could be embarrassed. But to have a congressman use the floor of the House of Representatives in a joint session to insult the president the way Joe Wilson did is as embarrassing as anything anyone could think of," Clyburn said. "Our state can do without this."
Wilson also reportedly called the White House to apologize.
It's to be expected that some on conservative blogs gave praise to the outburst but like some on both sides of the aisle, a little class goes a long way. We seem to have forgotten that.
Comments
SHAME ON WILSON-this type of disrespect is why our Nation is going down the tubes. There are no longer role models for our young people. HE SHOULD RESIGN!!
I was ready to give the man a BIG HELL YEAH, and send him a box of cigars, until I heard he apologized. Did obama ever apologize to Officer Crowley, that's what I thought. Sorry Charlie no cigar for you....
Bring Civility & Respect back to SC! Give to Rob Miller for Congress, Defeat Rep. Joe “You Lie” Wilson!
Wow... a Republican representative from one of the POOREST (and most poorly run) states in the nation. No wonder. Immature and idiotic at the same time. It wasn't a town hall meeting... it was a speech. What happened to respect for the President of the United States? My parents didn't vote for Reagan, but they taught me to honor esteemed authority figures.
I'd give most poorly run to uber-liberal Mexifornia.
All we have heard are Lies from the GOP! It started with George W & his buddies...now it continues. They say if you tell a lie enough, people will start to believe it. I think the time has come for the Republicans to stop their lies & start listening to the common folk! REFORM is needed...if not in Health Care then in the voting booths on election day!
Was it just me or did obama sound like an incoherent 50-minute infomercial?? Did pelosi have too many glasses of wine, what's with the alien looking far-away stare, weird man weird.
www . politifact . com /truth-o-meter/article/2009/sep/09/obama-speech-health-care-reform/
bye the time obama is done will they still be illegal?????????
Thank you, thank you Joe!
Rep. Wilson has a long-standing rep. for bad ideas, bad behaviour and idiotic thoughts and actions. S.C. isn't exactly a well-oiled machine, and anyone who has ever been in that state (I traveled there for a job, I'm a carpenter.) has a pretty good sense of what people think of our President there; lots of racist comments. The guy is a clown. He just disrespected the Leader of The Free World.
First, how civil was the Left with Bush? So let's not be hypocritical. Second, I cannot blame Wilson. Obama was lying like a rug. Third, I LOVED PELOSI'S SHOCKED FACE!!!
I love president obama! People just don't give the man no respect at all. They are all prejudice a-holes. It's nice to know that America still has some ignorant people like Joe Wilson. I hope he feels like a real man now. Lol
This was not a football game, it was a PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH! Since when is it appropriate for "leaders" of our nation to yell out comments, inappropriate or not, at a time when our PRESIDENT is making such an important televised speech? He should be reprimanded to the highest degree. Totally inexcusable!
Way to go Joe.....You are the man....Tell it like it is...2010....Yes we can......2012....Yes we Will get rid of this horrible pack of Socialists......
All we have heard are Lies from the GOP! It started with George W & his buddies...now it continues. They say if you tell a lie enough, people will start to believe it. I think the time has come for the Republicans to stop their lies & start listening to the common folk! REFORM is needed...if not in Health Care then in the voting booths on election day!
Me No Speakee English says: "I'd give most poorly run to uber-liberal Mexifornia."
That's a myth, actually. California is far redder than you think. I know, I live there, and I live in nearly the reddest county in the entire country. It's the large urban centers of LA and SF that tip the balance, but come to the Central Valley and you'll find a very different stock of individual.
I love how all these LIBTARDS are saying doesn't the POTUS deserve respect blah-blah-blah. First of all a title doesn't give you respect, you earn respect and this clown hasn't done anything to warrant respect. Second the way you LIEberals treated Dubya, give me a break you left wingnut wackos.
Paul Affenita says: "First, how civil was the Left with Bush? So let's not be hypocritical. Second, I cannot blame Wilson. Obama was lying like a rug."
I demand proof. Show where the bill pays for the health care of illegals. Frankly, if Mr. Wilson were a true lawmaker, he'd have done that himself. Instead he name calls? Please bring proof of this claim.
Second: No member of Congress ever disrespected President Bush like that. Civilians? Sure. Lawmakers? Never. Unless you have proof of a similar incident? Do you? So slow down!
Oh, and I caught Pelosi's look, too. Almost made me feel sorry for Wilson. Say what you want about her, but a lawmaker messes with Pelosi at his or her own peril!
So much for southern civility! The Republican Party is fast becoming a nothing more than a group of hooligans.
bye the time obama is done will they still be illegal?????????
GTO says: "I love how all these LIBTARDS are saying doesn't the POTUS deserve respect blah-blah-blah. First of all a title doesn't give you respect, you earn respect and this clown hasn't done anything to warrant respect. Second the way you LIEberals treated Dubya, give me a break you left wingnut wackos.
At the risk of having to deal with someone driven by emotion, you fail to make the distinction between citizens and lawmakers who are supposed to represent a higher station in society. Citizens can resort to name-calling all they want. Look at you, for instance. But lawmakers? There's no place for that against a president and never in that chamber, nor has any lawmaker ever disrespected President Bush like that --they still haven't. Civil people understand that such reflexive anger is of little value. Stay angry, if you like, but such hatred isn't going to get you anything but higher blood pressure.
"First of all a title doesn't give you respect, you earn respect and this clown hasn't done anything to warrant respect."
Bull...crap. Being the president of the United States of America ABSOLUTELY entitles you to respect, regardless of how you view his/her politics! I disliked Bush (both of them, actually) and wasn't too overly fond of Carter, but at no point would I have expected or tolerated a member of the House of Representatives that disrespected the duly elected President in such a manner. That was a f'ing joke. No, he should not resign and his apology will have to do for now, but he should be publicly condemned and disgraced (as evidenced by virtually any member of the Republican Party, even John McCain).
Privately, they may be patting him on the back and buying dinner.
bcgut says: "bye the time obama is done will they still be illegal?????????"
Ya know, I know illegal immigrants who know the difference between "by" and "bye." They're even Bilingual. You? You're so ticked at illegals you forgot to learn to spell. Some citizen you are.
But to answer your question, it'll depend on whether greedy businesses continue to BUY political power to keep immigration status quo so they can continue to hire and exploit cheap labor.
How ironic, the left calls the right uncivilized and notes the "lack of respect" meanwhile Obama is up there clearly still campaigning against Sarah Palin (and calling her a liar by the way)...does he even realize he's the president yet?
It was a bald face lie by saying it won't cover illegal immigrants, but ignoring the line in the bill that makes it illegal to ask for legal status.
WestCoaster says: How ironic, the left calls the right uncivilized and notes the "lack of respect" meanwhile Obama is up there clearly still campaigning against Sarah Palin...
And you know this how? Are you a mind reader? Don't make crap up.
"Calling her a liar by the way"
She DID lie. Or she had no clue what she was talking about.
"It was a bald face lie by saying it won't cover illegal immigrants, but ignoring the line in the bill that makes it illegal to ask for legal status."
Cite the location in the bill and the appropriate link. Put up or shut up.
Section 246 of H.R. 3200 says, "Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States." But WITHOUT income requirements could receive vouchers that can be used to purchase health care. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? THERE IS NO MECHANISM TO VERIFY CITIZENSHIP IN THE BILL!!! OBAMA DECEIVED AMERICA. JOE IS THE HERO FOR TRUTH. There you go Bruce, you lib jackass!
South Carolina is a joke; and once again, it provides the American people with the evidence. Rep Wilson should be ashamed of himself, as well as the rest of the Republican party. How we've all had to hear the bemoaning in how Pres. Obama is disgracing the Oval Office by not wearing a coat-and-tie. Yet, look at their behavior in the House of Representatives. They are the angry white man party that screams "Do as I say but not as I do because I'm more special than you"; and Rep Wilson is their Poster Child. It goes to to show that the Lord will eventually expose those who try to defraud his children by wrapping themselves around the cross. Need we say more or have to see any more. Get over yourselves and start becoming part of this Nation's solutions rather than probelms.
GTO: That's why I called Joe the Slug a dishonorable liar on his website. He is a representative of the nowhere state.
Title means nothing BUT I like for you to tell your boss he is a liar and make it on primetime TV
Thank you Joe for taking off the hood and reinforcing Pres. Obama slogan of "YES WE CAN" we will CAN his stinky lying racist butt in 2010.
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