Wilson's Outburst May Have Violated House Rules

When Representative Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouted "You lie!" at President Barack Obama during last night's address, it may have been more than a dick move. The Washington Post's Mary Ann Akers reports today that it may have actually been a violation of House of Representatives "rules of decorum." In other news: the House of Representatives apparently has "rules of decorum!"

Akers cites section 370 of the House Rules Manual and discovers that there are a number of things that members are not allowed to say about the president in the chamber. Members are not permitted to:

* call the President a "liar."
* call the President a "hypocrite."
* describe the President's veto of a bill as "cowardly."
* charge that the President has been "intellectually dishonest."
* refer to the President as "giving aid and comfort to the enemy."
* refer to alleged "sexual misconduct on the President's part."

Obviously, some of these rules take a lot of the fun out of governing! Here's another fun fact:

Sec. 47.1 In discussing the President of the United States in debate a Member may not refer to him contemptuously or by surname.

On Jan. 23, 1933,⁽⁶⁾ Mr. James M. Beck, of Pennsylvania, arose to a point of order and stated as follows:

The gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McFadden] who is now addressing the House has on more than one occasion in the course of his address referred to the President of the United States as "Hoover." My point of order is that it does not accord with the dignity of this House that the President of the United States should be contemptuously referred to by his last name.

Speaker Pro Tempore Thomas L. Blanton, of Texas, sustained the point of order.

But all is not lost! According to the rules, the following insults are still in bounds:

* You can call the government "hated" or "oppressive."
* A Presidential message can be called a "disgrace to the country."
* Members are allowed to refer to "a federal agency as a socialist and communist experiment"
* Anyone can be referred to as "half-baked nitwits handling foreign affairs," so long as they are not identified by name

Obviously, none of these rules should be confused with the Cider House Rules, which are far more onerous, but rarely followed.

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Comments

[CJWebber]

'may have'?

Why the doubt?

[jlm713]

Another argument by republicans against healthcare reform is that Medicare is run by the government and is going bankrupt. But that's partly because of the fact that people on Medicare are elderly. If young healthy people are on a public option it should make profits on the premiums of the young healthy people. Just like the private insurance companies do. Also out of control healthcare costs are causing Medicare to lose money. We need more regulation, not less. Some people seem to want no government at all. What's so wrong with government involvement? That's what I pay taxes for, for the government to involve itself in my and the countries welfare. Look what happened to wall street without government involvement. Some things need regulation. All the greedy people want less government involvement so that they can get away with murder.

[chomedey]

House rules and the army,,, what a shame

[foofoobunny]

Here are the actual House rules

http://rules.house.gov/archives/house_comm_dec.htm

[HLL]

Rob Miller is the Democrat running against Wilson next year. He is an Iraq war veteran and has some great ideas. Over $700,00 has been raised for Miller since Wilson called President Obama a liar.

Here's the link to donate to Miller: http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/19079

Here's a link to read more about him: http://blog.reidreport.com/2009/09/get-to-know-rob-miller-the-adult-candidate-in-south-carolinas-second-district-race/

After Sanford and Wilson, South Carolina needs a break. So does the congress and so do the American people. Enough already with Wilson, Sanford, Ensign, Pickering, Vitter, Craig, Coleman, etc.

Whether or not the congress enforces its rules, the American people are putting their money where their hearts are - into Rob Miller's campaign. I'm not even from South Carolina!

[mlaiuppa]

Unless you enforce the rules there is no point in having them.

[sushi27]

I fully agree.

[plunk]

tell that to Palin...

[Lookouts]

He committed a terrible act in halls of congress and doesn't need to go unpunished. He needs to be taught a lesson about respect since embarrassing President around the world!

[islandchris]

Relax - he didn't embarrass the President. No - what the world saw very clearly was how embarrassingly juvenile, racist and hateful the Republican Party has become. The look of their sour faces during the speech was priceless. Joe Wilson losing it was just icing on the cake. The mask these buffoons have been wearing since last years campaign was collapsing in August as we all witnessed the orchestrated thuggery of the "town halls". Seeing that same behavior spilling over into the House just reinforces the futility of dealing the current Republicans on any issue at all. We need a viable conservative party, but it may take at least a couple of election cycles to purge the system of these clowns and rebuild a responsible Conservative movement.

[Gidster]

Wilson is a proud member of the Son's of Confederate veterans..­.

A radical white supremacist group.....­'Nuff said?

[joycehelene]

Wilson disgraced himself for acting like such a jerk for the whole world to witness, the Speaker of the House wisely didn't gavel him or call him out as well she could have, she has class and took the high road and now he can stew in his boorish behavior and for not acting like a gentleman as members of Congress should.

[SmallChange]

Corn fed con-fed, what else could we expect from an homunculus like Wilson?

[ChicagoSuz]

He may be in more trouble than this. Apparently, as a member of the National Guard, he was also insolent towards his Commander-in-Chief! A definite no-no! I would love to see him court-martialed next time he shows up in the House...

[Gidster]

Theoretically he could loose his commission­......Most likely an article 15 reprimand is all he'll receive.

But a General Courts Martial would set a nice example!

[CR46]

He is supposibly retired. But he was an officer and thus his retirement and benefits are still tied to his conduct. He could be court martialed and stripped of his benefits..­.charge conduct unbecoming of an officer...­showing disrespect to the commander in Chief. Even as a retired officer he is held to the same standards as a non retired officer.

[Gidster]

Ahh. I did not know he was retired...­Then a Conduct Unbecoming would still strip his benefits..­...

[towny]

"intellectually dishonest", hmmm that must have been added when BUSHIE came along!

[ThinkCreeps]

I disagree - I'm sure shrub honestly thought he was intellectual

[Gidster]

Because Rove told him he was.....

[Yeah-Me]

I wonder if the Rules for Debate would be in effect during a Presidential speach...

Dress Code and Electronic Devices (Clause 7 of Rule XIV)

Members should dress appropriately, which has traditionally been considered to include a coat and tie for male Members and appropriate attire for female Members; Members should not wear overcoats or hats on the floor while the House is in session. No eating, drinking, or smoking is permitted. The use of personal electronic equipment, including cellular phones and laptop computers, is banned on the floor of the House.

(Note the last line... No blackberries)

[1SpecialLady]

President Obama gets no respect because of who he is. They still cannot accept it and I have a feeling it will be this way his entire term.

I pray he can take the heat, this kind of stuff would take a toll on the best of us!

[Ceregene]

Oh no, not if you know who you are and what you are made of. We could all take a lesson from this President. If any man can take the heat he can and will.

Beside he has the support of his loving wife Michelle. The President will endure....­..........­.. and pave the way for others of his race to come, for they will.

[FGDinVA]

And he has our support too!

[SmallChange]

You are absolutely accurate, our POTUS can and will overcome this abject ignorant isolance to the presidency of our country. Wilson be d@m ned.

[butterfly218]

THEY , have always been here and now THEY will be heard . African Americans now feel like Americans .

[Kevins]

You really are 1 special lady. Good post.

I said the same thing, I was serving tea to my grandkids and the subject came up about the uproar over President Obama telling school kids to stay in school.
And I said 'it's just because some people will never respect him because he's black. And I think that's just NASTY.'

My grandson--in high school--looked at me, and he said 'you're really mad about that.' Then he said, 'that's what I thought too. But I wasn't going to say anything'.

Well, darn it. It's clear to anybody. It's sheer nastiness. Big high horse these people are on and the blinders to go with it. And while I don't expect the President to call people out on that, I think it's highly appropriate if regular people do.

[sole]

2010, let's see how much respect these blowhard get then.

Sure a few will win, but hopefully some like Joe Wilson go the way of the dodo bird (sorry for the analogy, sad for the bird I mean, not Joe...)

[joycehelene]

The only one who has lost the respect of the people is the ill-mannered boorish Joe Wilson.

[moveyourimage]

Stick and apple in his big mouth and roast him. He's swine.

[mikerobjohn]

Amazing, as an African American I find it very sad that the first President heckled in Congress was done
to the FIRST African American by a Southern angry jealous White Politician who associates with
White Supremacist groups!!

Wilson is a PUNK A$$ .....

[Ceregene]

Don't be sad, that's their aim. Be strong like your ancestors - if they survived the 'middle passage' you can survive this.

Do NOT ever allow yourself to be sadden by what someone else said, ( especially a racist) ...... that means you allow them to have power over your feelings.

Hugs

Ceregene

[Yeah-Me]

Beautifuly stated... fanned

[angelsiou1]

Thank you, Ceregene

You are absolutely correct. I will not give them power over me to upset me, because they don't matter enough. I am strong like my ancestors.

Thanks for reminding me of this.

[SmallChange]

Yes amazing, as a humanist-being and non-African American I also find it very sad. Keep the faith as Ceregene so melliflously stated in her comment to you.

Wilson is a rac a$$t though!

[Kevins]

And probably the greatest modern president--at least up there with FDR--
gets heckled by--what's his name?

The times have truly, surely, really changed.
Quote me that this guy is a 'heckler-a­gainst-his­tory', and he is the gone past.

US President Barak Obama is the future.
Quote him that "We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it."