Wexler: Dems should accept Wilson’s “You lie” apology and move on
by George Bennett | September 14th, 2009
Wexler
“I abhor Joe Wilson’s behavior at the presidential address. But the man has apologized….I think we should heed President Obama’s advice and end the bickering, and maybe we Democrats can play our part by moving on,” said Wexler, known as one of his party’s fiercest partisans.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., has led the push for a resolution reprimanding Wilson.
Wilson apologized to President Obama through White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. But some Democrats have said he should apologize on the floor of the House as well because his outburst occurred there.
Hastings
“He should by now go on the floor and say that he’s sorry for the breach of protocol,” Hastings said. “I’m hopeful that he will apologize and there won’t be any need for a vote on disapproval.”
Hastings said a floor apology is important to letting the House get on with its business. He cited his own experience apologizing on the floor a few years ago after accusing U.S. Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., of being “disingenuous” in a debate.
Wexler said he, too, would like to see a Wilson apology on the House floor.
“But his failure to do so to me does not necessitate that Democrats come forward….with a disapproval resolution,” Wexler said.
Klein
“No matter what political party we are from, breaches of basic respect and decency are inappropriate and wrong, but it is also time to get back to work on the real issues that face our country,” Klein said in a statement released by his office. “It is time to put these distractions behind us and get down to business crafting health care reform that brings down costs, improves the quality of care and ensures that Americans cannot be denied coverage because they get sick.”
Rooney
In discussing the Wilson incident, some Republicans have pointed to the audible expressions of disapproval from Democrats when former President George W. Bush discussed Social Security reform during his 2005 State of the Union address.
“There are times in our political history where members of both parties could have acted in a more appropriate way,” Wexler said.
“I have no doubt that I myself could fall into that category, so I hesitate to throw stones in a glass house,” said seven-term incumbent Wexler. “However, the behavior that Mr. Wilson exhibited clearly went beyond that which has occurred in the House of Representative in my tenure there.”
Tags: "You lie!", civility, Joe Wilson
Where's the money? Use The Post's interactive database of who wants and who's getting federal dollars.
Use these interactive graphics to find and contact Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legislators.
September 14th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Oh yea and let’s bring out all the name calling the Demos did to Bush. You frecking hypocritical Democrats!
September 14th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Dick you are a fool and a disgrace to this country.you are nothing more than a hypocrit your self.In the history of this country you never heard anyone while the whole country was watching see some one call the president of this country a lier.They should hang you and that idiot congressman by the balls for the lack of respect for what this man is trying to get done for this country.so DICK watch who you call a hypocrit.HYPOCRIT!
September 14th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I was shocked. In all my years I have never seen such total lack of respect, if not for the President but for the office itself. How outrageous. Decorum demands certain self control and dignity. I’m afraid to suggest what would have happened if a black man had yelled out during one of President Bush’s speeches that he were a liar. I shiver at the thought. Black or white he is the President of these United States and has earned a certain respect with that title. Like him or hate him, he deserves that. And liar? They’ve all lied. Lets start with the lie already fed us that 9/11 was Osama Bin Laden’s doing and not the doing of your own government. Hard pill to swallow but its the truth.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Oh, the hypocrisy is so glaring, I need my sunglasses.
GWB was booed at the 2004 State of the Union address. He was also booed at the 2005 address too.
That aside….
In the US Congress is one Charlie Rangel.
He’s recently been accused of not paying his taxes on rental property he owns, using a false address to obtain rent-stabilization subsidies and a whole host of other improprieties.
While his crimes – not just words – go unpunished – it’s time to RICO the whole place – this is what the Dems worry about.
Ay, Dios Mio.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Obama is trying to bankrupt this country into African living standards. However please don’t call him a liar.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I am very sorry for bringing race into this argument. It shows my true ignorance and lack of respect for that issue, i guess my text was hypocritical.
September 14th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
WEXLER………this is coming from a man who was trying to hide his true residence for tax fraud and got caught on camera lying about it. Wexler You Lie……we have not forgotten you
September 14th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Wilson is a buffoon who knew exactly what he was doing. The republican party is made up of like kind buffoons. Why bother feeding their buffoonery. Lets get on with the business of the people and get health care reform done, keep an eye on the economy and watch over the problems abroad….unlike the group of morons that preceded this administration.
September 14th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Now the shoe is on the other foot,Dick and Louie your right.When Bush had his 2005 address the nation speech several Dems were booing his speech and heckling,now since the dems are in office you can’t even disagree with this guy.Mel Cook your an Ignoramous Moron.Kudo,s to Joe Wilson.I will be donating to his campain.Obama is a liar.
September 14th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Are those twins sitting beside him or are they just all starting to look alike…..like clones?
September 14th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Ron Klein will vote as told to by Pelosi. Vote against Ron Klein. I’ll be volunteering for his opponent in 2010.
If Klein is so gullible so as to believe that you can cut 500 Billion from medicare and keep the same service he doesn’t deserve to be a Congressman. Go ahead…why don’t you get the fraud and waste out now and come back next year with a plan to spend the savings. I, for one, don’t trust your promisies to find savings once you get your program
September 14th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
What was said is a lie. The Demos are hypocrites.
Let’s start showing Bush’s speeches in Congress and the outride rudeness from the Demos over and over.
Come on you two faced mean spirited yellow dogs. BRING IT AND WE’LL MAKE A MOCKERY OUT OF YOUR CARPING ON TV..
September 14th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
C’mon; let him have a beer (Wilson) with the President-work it out. It seems to be the flavor of the president, that stuck his own foot in his mouth “how many times now”?
September 14th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
The stupidity of all these comments makes me lament that such technology even exists.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
HE DIDNT APOLOGIZE–HIS FELLOW REPUBLICANS MADE HIM.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:54 am
The issue is he probably did not lie … yet
This is like trying to eat the elephant – you cannot do it in one bite – get an initial health care bill approved then modify it into what you want it to be later
It would be interesting in 5 – 10 years to look back and see if he lied
September 16th, 2009 at 8:57 am
AMBYDEXTEROUS LANGUAGE BY WEXLER, ET AL. TALKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF THEIR MOUTHS. LET’S MOVE ON, HE SHOULD APOLOGIZE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE. THEN MAUREEN DOWD AND JIMMY CARTER TOSS IN THE RACE CARD, WITHOUT EVIDENCE AND NO APOLOGIES FROM THEM.