Did Wilson deserve House rebuke for ‘You Lie’ outburst?
The Associated Press has reported:
The House formally rebuked Republican Rep. Joe Wilson Tuesday for shouting “You lie” at President Barack Obama during last week’s nationally televised speech to Congress.
The rare resolution of disapproval was pushed through by Democrats insisting that Wilson, a South Carolina lawmaker, had violated basic rules of decorum and civility in his outburst. Republicans dismissed the vote as a political “witch hunt” and a waste of precious time and taxpayers’ money.
Wilson had called the White House to apologize shortly after the incident, and he said at the time that the president “graciously accepted my apology and the issue is over.” Republicans agreed, but several Democrats pressed the issue.
The final tally late Tuesday was 240-179, generally but not entirely along party lines. It was 233 Democrats and seven Republicans voting to chastise Wilson, 167 Republicans and 12 Democrats opposing the measure and five Democrats merely voting “present.”
The Missouri delegation’s vote mostly broke along party lines:
Democrats: Carnahan, Y; Clay, Y; Cleaver, Y; Skelton, Present.
Republicans: Akin, N; Blunt, N; Emerson, Y; Graves, N; Luetkemeyer, N.
The Illinois delegation’s did break along political lines:
Democrats: Bean, Y; Costello, Y; Davis, Y; Foster, Present; Gutierrez, Y; Halvorson, Y; Hare, Y; Jackson, Y; Lipinski, Y; Quigley, Y; Rush, Y; Schakowsky, Y.
Republicans: Biggert, N; Johnson, N; Kirk, N; Manzullo, N; Roskam, N; Schock, N; Shimkus, N.
Did Wilson deserve the rebuke? Do you agree with how your representative voted?
What does a formal rebuke actually entail? Is Rep. Wilson being fined? Has he been kicked off of any committees? Does he have to sit in the corner?
Not saying that he should or should not have been formally rebuked. Just wondering what the penalty is for that.
The real question is, if in fact it didn’t mean anything, then what was the point? Apart from political posturing and drawing attention away from things like ACORN corruption, marches on Washington, socialization of health insurance, and other piddly stuff like that.
Or is that the real point, that the only thing our elected officials seem capable of anymore is political posturing and distracting attention away from issues? Congress’s approval ratings would seem to indicate that the public ain’t buying their shenanigans. But it does make for entertaining television.
A resolution has limited impact. The story explains:
A resolution of disapproval is less severe than other disciplinary action available to the House, including censure or expulsion.
You can read the full story at:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_HECKLING?SITE=MOSTP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Dave,
–What you said…
I think it means no tv for a week and possiby straight to bed without dinner.
What a joke.
Did anyone “rebuke” the Democrat minority when they grumbled during one of President Bush’s speeches? No! Why? possible waste of time and tazpayer money. Rep. Wilson called and apologized after the fact, almost immediately. That should’ve been the end of thestory. But again Democrats have to make a theatrical event out of it.
NO! The House rebuked Wilson because they could. I don’t think they even know what it entails. It is just their way of getting in the last word on a topic that means nothing. Will the President be rebuked for calling Kenya West a jackass? Will the President be rebuked for saying the Cambridge police acted stupidly?
But Barry did lie!
I have waited all day to see this on the blogs.
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/09/democrats-ban-words-liar-hypocrite.html
Welcome to Venezuela folks. Thanks Democrats, hope you are happy now!
Mr. Wilson is supposed to be a leader not a verbal thug our system a “Republic” is based upon our leaders being pragmatic not some silly fool with a sign saying “what bill” or standing waving copies of something, or yelling at the most powerful man in the world, so the world could see! Mostly Mr. Wilson needs to make room for the leaders.
For all the ditto heads pragmatic means knowing the ideal but compromising to gain approval in other words being statesmen and woman and leading. Any village idiot can say NO but it takes courage to compromise and actually accomplish something for the American people. Anyone and I mean ANYONE who is dumb enough to think our current system of providing and paying for health care is working, needs to be on the outside looking in just once to truly understand.
What a waste of time. Originally, when the Prez. would come to speak, both Houses(and parties) were required to sit quietly during the speech. Being that it is permitted to to stand , clap and cheer, than they should also be able to boo, moan , and groan,and say ”You lie”, etc. They should probably go back to sitting quietly, than an individual saying ”you lie” to a lie would seem out of line.