Wilson Censure Considered By Dem Leadership

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) has refused to apologize to the House of Representatives for his conduct Wednesday night, prompting Democratic leadership to consider censuring the heckling lawmaker.

Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) approached Wilson on the floor of the House and asked him to give his regrets from the well. Wilson balked.

"If he had just said he was sorry, nobody would be considering any of this," a senior Democratic aide told Politico.

"Wilson brought dishonor to the House," a leadership aide told Greg Sargent. "He needs to apologize to the House on the floor for his behavior and if he does not, action will be taken when we return to session next week."

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee has put out a petition asking Congress to censure Rep. Wilson. Thousands of people have already signed.

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Should Joe Wilson Be Censured?

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Comments

[balmora]

His apology has already been accepted by the President. This matter only distracts our focus from the bigger issues.

[roch20]

I say censure the a-hole, period!

[fauxmccoy]

a funny "jude judy vs. joe wilson'

http://jezebel.com/5357787/comic-confrontations-judge-judy-vs-joe-wilson/gallery/

from jezebel

[mmgbizgirl]

If he's big and bold enough to disrespect the President in that forum, he should be bad enough to deal with the repercussions.

[lorca]

the Democrats should let it go. Wilson's made a fool of himself all on his own, and the Republicans who have come to his defense (if obliquely) are further showing the public just what a bunch of childish wingnuts they are. Democrats should stand on the sideline and let this thing play out to their advantage, and not risk being seen as petty or as though they're piling on when there are clearly more important issues to tackle.

[gypsysailor]

It's about time the people I voted for last November grew a pair and fought back. Letting people like Wilson get away with their outragous behavior have made the Democrats look weak all across the board.

[PaulaQ]

$803,306 for Rob Miller now! Way to go!

[Matt7]

JS: “have you read the health bill? do you know if your represenative has read it? do you know if wilson is actually right? why do you keep attacking wilson for what he has apologized for? why not address the issue of WHY he felt he had to yell that out? WHY he thinks obama was not being honest?

. Yes, I've read the bill. (YOU can too, if you cared enough to be constructive).

. Yes, my representative(s) have read it.

. Wilson LIED. (You'd KNOW that had YOU read the bill).

. Wilson apologized for the outburst; not for the inaccuracy of what he said.

. He probably "felt he had to yell out" because a) he was commissioned to do so; b) he lacked self-control and a sense of decorum REQUIRED of elected officials; c) Thugs keep themselves under a self-imposed daily pressure cooker of hatred, bile and vengeance that’s bound to periodically erupt; d) all of the above.

. He thinks Obama was being dishonest because Thugs think all liberals and “those people” lie.

Any more rapid fire distractions?

[townzl]

e) Because he is one of our good ole upper crust rednecks from down here in SC. Where we rank at the bottom of all the stats everyone else is trying to climb out of or not sink down to.

[Faxus]

He looks like an boozer, those bloodshot eyes, that degenerated skin... A boozer fro sure, probably a whoremonger too.

[wolfmason]

Hahaha. Is it safe to go ahead assume he probably has a meth lab in his garage, too?

[jsking2110]

just like bill clinton

[Blufftonian]

LOL

[Aztecwrior805]

Lol..that's pretty hilarious.

[jsking2110]

maybe the dems need to spend less time attacking wilson, and more time reading the bills the vote on.

[cobaltbluedog]

The Fox Pa-tro// is all over this one. Glen and the boys must be working overtime.

[Matt7]

They'd better be. I knew they were going to make a hero out of this guy, and said so the other night. But they're not going to spin THIS one into getting their way.

[Aztecwrior805]

This whole thing has been taken waaay out of proportion. So one of our elected officials speaks out against a lie the President included in his speech. Isn't that the reason why we have the Bill of Rights? It's saddening that only one person in that audience said something. How is he anti-American, or disgraceful? This is America isn't it? I think a lot of people have forgetten that..

On a side note, this whole thing just seems a little fishy anyways. If this was supposedly a 'random outburst'.. how is there a photo focused on Mr. Wilson mid-yell?

[wolfmason]

American law/legislature has these pesky concepts like a "speaker" having the "floor", and "due process", and "procedure". Crazy, I know, but better than unregulated shouting matches.

[jsking2110]

yes, what he did was rude. but censure? c'mon. funny that you're attacking wilson and not addressing the issue of why he said it. usual liberal behavior. if you disagree, then you must be a racist. if you speak out, you're unamerican.

[exclintonsupporter]

The point is that the President DID NOT Lie...it specifically says that undocumented persons will not be afforded assistance in the bill...in addition, Joe Wilson was disrespectful to the POTUS...like it or not...Obama is the President...and like it or not, Obama is the Commander-in-Chief...and like it or not...our President deserves RESPECT. Joe Wilson was WRONG...no matter which way you slice it.

[wolfmason]

Well, perhaps the man doesn't deserve "RESPECT", but anyone holding the office at least deserves the floor when it's his turn to speak. I certainly didn't respect the last president, but I don't think I would have shouted him down mid speech either, out of simple respect for the fact that he holds the nation's highest office.

[jennysez]

They're not punishing him for what he said but for his behavior. But you're right that no one should say that he was un-American for his outburst, just that his actions were beneath the dignity of his office, that's what's so disgraceful. He can call the President of the United States a liar all he wants, but not on the floor of Congress in the middle of a speech before the Joint Sessions, no matter who the speaker. Representative Wilson did not have the floor, it was not his turn to speak, it was the President's. If he wanted to say something then he should've asked the Speaker of the House for the floor. The Rules of Parliamentary Procedure govern the behavior of both Houses and when a member of either House breaks those Rules it is up to their peers, in this case the House of Representatives, to censure the offending member to ensure that everyone has the chance to speak in our representative democracy. If not then they're saying that the rules don't matter, and if the rules don't matter then we're just a short step away from having fist fights instead of debates to resolve our issues.

[jsking2110]

i agree he was wrong. he apologized, obama accepted his apology. why is this still an issue?

[fauxmccoy]

parliamentary procedure, my friend. . . this is not a 'free speach' issue. wilson violated the rules of his own house in which he convenes and there are consequences. that consequence is censure.

as far as the picture goes, are you unaware of the press corps at these events? when someone starts making a ruckus, it would be unnatural for a photojournalist to *not* get a photo.

you think this is some kind of conspiracy? sheesh!

[Blufftonian]

When will they censure Charlie "Pimp My Taxes" Rangel?

[jsking2110]

a very good question!
where were the calls for censure when the dem's booed and hissed bush during his state of the union? what a bunch of babies!!!!

[american2008]

Booing is NOT a censurable act, that's why!

[SimianNation]

These southern white "Americans", who want their America of Two Water Fountains back, are nothing more than a scourge on the America of the future. These are the ignorant malcontents who are set on Obama's destruction one way or the other.

They will be the downfall of America, for they are far worse than terrorists.

[jsking2110]

so everyone that doesn't agree with the president is a racist? i am so sick of hearing this! instead of actually addressing peoples issues with his decisions and policies, you just brand us all as racists. what a shortcut to thinking that is.

[ReservoirDog]

No. Disagreeing with the President does NOT make you a "racist".

But if you do not believe that most of the criticism of Obama carries "racist" overtones, then you need to get out of your mother's basement !

The town hall meeting screamers, the "birthers" with their Kenyan birth certificates, the "Tea Party" wingnuts, and the "death panel" exploiters are ALL part of the Republican party that question Obama's legitmancy to be POTUS.

"Racist"? You Betcha !

[postman66]

Wilson, Member of the Sons of the Confederacy, a good bet.

[mimspoot]

Totally! I just sat there and watched and said to myself, "oh my god they are all white guys" and I am white. Doesn't look good for the GOP. But that is the Southern Conversative movement. It is what it is. I wonder if they hang confederate flags in their offices.

[Blaster]

We the people of the United States Eight years after 9/11 Lost a lot we were shaken down by the Bush Admin and now are country once united and now harmfully divided. God bless the Americans who died on 9/11 and our troops who died for a worthless Iraq war they must be crying in heaven today.

[SimianNation]

Like a dog gone bad, beat it down, over and over and over...