Brody's Notes... Republican Congressman's True Colours Exposed

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Sept 10 | Take a good look at the photo to the right by Pablo Martinez-Monsivals of the Associated Press. This is the face of the opposition to darn near anything and everything that most people, be they liberal or moderate from either party, believe in. His name is Joe Wilson and he is a very conservative Republican from South Carolina. Now why is he important? Because for those of us sitting in the House chamber last night and for those of you watching on television to President Barack Obama's address to a rare joint session of Congress, on health care reform, this is the person that heckled him by shouting "you lie" at the top of his lungs interrupting the President. Not only was it a breach of protocol, it was extremely distasteful as well.

Unfortunately, this lapse of reason and civility is endemic to more than a few persons in the far right of the Republican party who would also ensure that LGBT civil rights such as marriage would either be quashed or rescinded. If this man could not keep the decorum of the institution of Congress during a presidential address, I can only imagine his behavior during discussions on concerns that affect LGBT citizens, especially in his home district. His lack of respect is astonishing given that during the course of the President's speech, the rest of his congressional colleagues that disapproved of something the President said merely stayed seated and did not applaud.

Reactions from members of Congress were swift and condemned Wison's behavior. After the speech, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said, "There'll be time enough to consider whether or not we ought to make it clear that that action is unacceptable in the House of Representatives."

Wilson's behavior was "totally disrespectful," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz said on CNN, "There is no place for it in that setting, or any other, and he should apologize for it immediately."

Rep. Wilson did try to communicate an apology to the President afterward. He was rebuffed and instead was referred to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel who took the call. He also released this statement,
"This evening I let my emotions get the best of me," he said. "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."