The Repudiation of Rep. Joe Wilson

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has introduced a resolution disapproving of Rep. Wilson's outburst during the President's speech to a joint Congressional session last week. The text of the Wilson Resolution reads:

Whereas the conduct of the Representative from South Carolina was a breach of
decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session, to the discredit of
the House:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives disapproves of the behavior of the Representative from South Carolina, Mr. Wilson, during the joint session of Congress held on September 9, 2009.

In anticipation of the Wilson Resolution, RNC Chairman Michael Steele released this statement:

[C]ongressional Democrats are wasting taxpayers’ time and resources . . . so they don’t have to talk about their exceedingly unpopular health care plan . . . .

If we are going to march members down to the well of the House to apologize, Joe Wilson is going to have to get in line behind Nancy Pelosi, who attacked the intelligence community who protects us, Charlie Rangel who cheated on his taxes, Jack Murtha – a walking scandal, and we all know how the Democratic leadership tried to protect William Jefferson.

Steele's statement is of course nonsense. Not only is the healthcare reform not unpopular - it is, as Nate Silver pointed out yesterday, at best a matter of confusion for the American people - none of the individuals he mentioned embarrassed the House of Representatives - and in doing so, violated House rules - with such a grave breech of decorum as Rep. Wilson did last Wednesday. If any of those individuals have violated House rules it is up to the House to punish them, as it is doing with Rep. Wilson, and as it has done in the past.

Meet Joe Wilson

Representative Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) hails from the 2nd District of South Carolina. Wilson has served the good people of the 2nd District since winning a special election in 2001 following the death of Congressman Floyd Spence.

Rep. Wilson is also the gentleman who interrupted Pres. Obama during his address to a joint session of Congress on September 9, 2009. Mr. Obama, while attempting to dispell the myriad lies - yes, lies - propogated by the likes of Chuck Hagel, Sarah Palin, and the Wall Street Journal, noted that his plan would not provide health insurance to illegal immigrants. Rep. Wilson responded by shouting through the gallery, interrupting the President, "You lie!"

Rep. Wilson's outburst is indefensible. Wilson breached protocol by interrupting the President, shouting in the gallery, and labeling the President a liar. Sen. McCain has already called for Rep. Wilson to apologize. But apology is not sufficient. Even the Republican party, which continues to coddle partisans who adhere to such absurdities as denying President Obama's citizenship, must recognize there is no place for such behavior. The President and the Presidency are deserving of respect, at least as much respect as is shown for their colleagues in the House and the Senate, and in those august chambers.

Rep. Wilson should apologize. He should be shunned by his colleagues. He should be censured by the House.

UPDATE: Bret notes in comments that Wilson's outburst has been described as unprecedented -- I certainly have no living memory of anything like this happening. Former Congressman, now Chief of Staff, Emanuel claims it is unprecedented. Sen. Leahy notes that nothing like Wilson's shouts has occurred in his 35 years in the Senate.

Wilson has released a rather weak and, in my view, insufficient apology. As Scherer says, Rep. Wilson has apologized for the tone rather than the substance, and not at all for the incredible disrespect he showed the Presidency.

Rep. Wilson's website has crashed.

Wilson's Democratic opponent for 2010's website has crashed: RobMillerforCongress.com