House Votes to Admonish Congressman Joe Wilson for Obama Attack

The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to formally rebuke South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson for shouting “You lie!” at President Barack Obama during a speech to a joint session of Congress last week. Video of the incident rapidly went viral and launched a nationwide debate on civility versus free speech.

Wilson lost his temper during a speech by President Barack Obama on health care reform last week, shouting “You lie!” loudly after the president said the new plan would not cover illegal immigrants – all captured on video, of course. No action was taken against Wilson during or after the speech and the Republican representative quickly apologized for his behavior.

“This evening I let my emotions get the best of me,” Joe Wilson said in a press statement after the president’s speech. “While I disagree with the president’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility.”

Many members of Congress, however, thought the apology was not enough. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted 240 to 179 to ratify a “resolution of disapproval” against Wilson for his interruption of President Obama’s speech. The vote went largely along party lines, with Democrats making up the majority of supporters. House Democrats claim Wilson violated congressional rules against accusing the president of lying when the House is in session.

Speaking to CBS News Producer Jill Jackson about the resolution in the video below, Wilson said he had already apologized to the president and he is disappointed because “the President said to stop playing politics, this is politics… I want to join with the president and have a civil discussion on health care issues.”

The House resolution against Representative Joe Wilson for speaking out of turn during President Obama’s speech is truly little more than a slap on the wrist. One Wilson could have avoided had he been willing to apologize openly on the House floor, which he refused to do.