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Lawmaker shouts at president during speech Date published: 9/10/2009
LAURIE KELLMAN, WASHINGTON (AP) — In an extraordinary breach of congressional decorum, a Republican lawmaker shouted "You lie" at President Barack Obama during his speech to Congress Wednesday. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., tried to call Obama to apologize in person, but ended up speaking to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. The contrite congressman, "expressed his apologies" to Emanuel, not the president at whom he had shouted a few hours earlier, Wilson's office said. By that time, Wilson's House Web site had crashed and he had taken a brutal beating on his Twitter page for breaching protocol and good manners during a presidential speech to a joint session of Congress. "This evening I let my emotions get the best of me," Wilson 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." Wilson's outburst came after Obama said that extending health care to all Americans who seek it would not mean insuring illegal immigrants. "You lie!" Wilson shouted from his seat on the Republican side of the chamber. Republicans froze, with several looking in Wilson's direction. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi directed a fierce frown at him; first lady Michelle Obama pursed her lips and shook her head from side to side. Vice President Joe Biden looked down and shook his head, too. Obama, meanwhile, looked toward the outburst and replied, "That's not true," and went on with his speech. Right away, Wilson seemed to sense that he had fouled up. Wilson appeared to consult his Blackberry for much of the rest of Obama's speech. He shook his head defiantly after several of the president's statements. When Obama finished, Wilson bolted from the chamber. Wilson's wasn't the only interruption during Obama's speech, but it was the most notable. Obama's Republican rival from last year's presidential race for the White House defended the president. Wilson's behavior was "totally disrespectful," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said on CNN. "There is no place for it in that setting, or any other, and he should apologize for it immediately." House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said "I have never in my 29 years heard an outburst of that nature with reference to a president of the United States speaking as a guest of the House and Senate." "It was a shameful act," he told WTOP radio. Hoyer said he'll work with GOP lawmakers to decide whether to punish Wilson. ___ Associated Press writer Ben Evans contributed to this report.
Opiniontoshare- Your posts on "rights" shows the same black and white thinking shown by the far right media. Why would equality in one area - like health care - mean that it has to include things like "equal" income? Or cars? People are so afraid that someone might actually get some kind of "help" they don't deserve. And the fact that this generally comes from the Christian right is astounding to me. There is a thing called moral right.
have to note that Joe Wilson's opponent, Rob MIller, has seen an influx of over $200K in private donations since Joe stuck his foot in his yap.
influencing politicians: Joe Wilson. He's the knucklehead who couldn't keep his pie hole shut, and defended his dear friends in the health industry by the slur against Obama. He'sa received over $240K from the health industry in his career (IIRC, that goes back to about 2000). We knew WHAT he was, now we know his price.
Once again, I can tell right off who and where you get your
talking points from. You should not be a sheep. Separate
the facts from fear-driven lying people with their own
agenda's, and you'll be able to make more rational
opinions. The people making money here is the talking
heads of the GOP. Have you checked and found the
insurance companies PAC's are donating to them? I bet
not.
If something is truly a "right," that means it is shared by all - it cannot be given to some and withheld from others. A white man cannot be allowed to voice an opinion at city hall while an Asian-American is denied that opportunity. And neither can there be any income-based discrimination when it comes to rights - a person making $50,000 a year is entitled to the same rights as those making half that amount - no more, no less.
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