House Democrats to Reprimand Wilson

[tekisui]

Source: boston.com

WASHINGTON - House Democrats plan to formally reprimand Representative Joe Wilson, Republican of South Carolina, today for his outburst last week in which he accused President Obama of lying about proposed health care legislation.

The vote will resolve the issue in the House, but behind the incident some see a broader question: Is racism a factor in the way the president is being judged?

With two simple words - “You lie!’’ - shouted during Obama’s speech to Congress, Wilson helped escalate an issue that has been on a slow burn for weeks, especially among African Americans. Many suspect that some of the rancor at last month’s town hall meetings was fueled by the fact that a black man sits in the Oval Office.

Led by their most senior black lawmakers, House Democrats decided yesterday to hold the vote. A vote would reverse the initial sentiment voiced by the president and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, that it was time to “move on’’ to the policy debate on health-care. But the White House and Pelosi yielded to senior black Democrats, who argued that Wilson’s remark was a breach of conduct that must not be tolerated.

Wilson has refused to offer any apology beyond the private phone call he made Wednesday night to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. In a show of defiance yesterday, the legislator was the first Republican to speak when the chamber opened for a round of brief speeches. Rather than apologizing, Wilson hailed the “patriots’’ who attended his August town halls and who opposed a “government takeover’’ of health care.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/09/15/house_democrats_to_reprimand_lawmaker/

[ShortnFiery]

1. They have to follow-through with this lest the next Presidential Address to

both houses of Congress will be a GOP heckling, back-bencher, Free-For-All. :(

[habitual]

2. can someone tell me, if i were Wilson, why I would care if

they take this vote?? does it actually mean anything? other than a group of people saying 'we don't like what you did and we publicly state it'?

i mean, there's a real deterrence! maybe i'm missing something here.

[Kaleva]

3. A better way would be to raise money for Rob Miller

[peace13]

9. Aaaaa...I think that is already being done! n/t

[Kaleva]

11. true but I'd concentrate on that instead of reprimanding Wilson

[peace13]

15. When the other buffoons realize that there are no rules on the floor anymore...

watch out . And you know that Dems will be held to another standard! Remember when Cindy Sheehan was arrested on the floor of the chambers for wearing a T shirt with words? ARRESTED! That is what we lived with for eight years in this country. Why do you think it is fine for a repuke to break the rules. His rudeness was disgusting and it lowers the bar for all behavior in the chamber. I am surprised that the fellow with the sign around his neck is not in hot water as well. Maybe next time Obama speaks they can hold up signs requesting his birth certificate or question where Obama was born. Sounds like a real hoot.

[Kaleva]

17. The difference with Cindy is that she had already become marginilized.

Even by members of the Liberal/Progressive community.

[peace13]

19. Yes she was just a wacky woman.

I think your comment is awful and it is sad that you think that your rationale..if true , would be a reason to arrest the woman. Very sad line of reasoning.

[Kaleva]

20. There is a difference between what Cindy did and what Wilson.

Cindy wasn't arrested just because she wore a t-shirt and I don't recall anyone asking Wilson to shut up or leave and he refused to do so.

[peace13]

21. Wrong, Cindy was not speaking or disturbing the peace.

And you are correct, no one told Wilson to shut up. Isn't that weird? His buddies in crime did not even look at him as he broke the rules of the chamber floor. Something that has not been done since the 1800's. I will save my breath.

[Curtland1015]

4. We already knew they weren't happy about it. But now it will be official!

and that's a big deal because... er...

:yoiks:

[mopinko]

6. what would you like to see?

a beheading?

[michreject]

7. I was wondering the same thing

Wilson is probably saying, "Big deal."

[tekisui]

8. It will be bad for him. He will officially and publicly

admonished. The language of the statement will be interesting.

And, it will help to prevent this type of idiocy in the future.

[ThomWV]

5. It will be interesting to hear who says what on the House floor to bring this to a vote

[AlinPA]

10. I doubt that it will happen. It's been a week already and the house Democrats are acting like mice.

[tekisui]

13. Being introduced today:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8654424

[peace13]

12. There are rules on the floor...they were broken by Mr. Wilson.

He chose to break the rule now he can pay the price. People in DC, including Obama, think that if laws are broken politicians should not be held to the rules and laws of this country. The fact that Cheney and * are still walking free is evidence of this. It is time to show that the rule of law in this country is for every person to follow. Anything less makes the folks who follow the laws look like fools. Oh... I have to rush off now to renew my drivers license, pay my taxes, report for jury duty and trim my noxious weeds!

[bluethruandthru]

16. Well said!

Too much rule breaking has been allowed lately by both parties. It doesn't matter that Wilson apologized or that the President accepted it. Wilson's actions violated a House rule and their should be consequences...no matter how minor.

[Kaleva]

14. The end result would be that Wison would still be considered a hero to the RW.

[Gin]

18. their bad behavior is escalating....something needs to be done...

bullies keep pushing until they get pushed back.