No. Don’t. Spell it out.
The issue is what the heckler did. The fact that Obama could handle it with a mere pause and withering look in no way informs as to the inappropriateness of the action and the appropriate response of the body to the misbehavior.
I do not think formal censure is required and politically no Dem should suggest it. Now a GOP leader may choose to as part of internal posturing within the party, but that is another subject.
There is no precedent to set. Disruptive outbursts on the floor are already against the rules of Congress. What is needed now is enforcement of those rules via censure of a violator thereof.
Even given your follow up, this is an extraordinary non sequitur. I agree with yojimbo that your response to the opposite situation, a favoured President of yours, would be a photo negative of this bizarre dismissal. Nor do I think an objective reading of this board suggests that a large number of the American Leftists here would be hooting in approval. A few perhaps, but largely I would read that they would follow the jtgain example. To their credit.
Have we heard anything from the Beck/Limbaugh Axis of Anal?
Generally I am with this.
However, political decorum across the board seems to be hitting all time lows (at least in my lifetime) and that is saying something.
I would like to think that at least the decorum that is expected while in session, at the very least, needs to be strongly defended. If Congress itself is allowed to devolve into a Town Hall(esque) style of forum akin to what we saw last month it would signal the utter debasement of our political system.
As such I think it would be appropriate for Congress to send an official (and bi-partisan) message in this case that such behavior absolutely will not be tolerated. They need to act like adults and the next person who may think such an outburst won’t get off as lightly.
I am not asking for his head on a plate or anything. As noted above just the equivalent of a slap on the wrist. Make him stand and give formal apology on the floor not only to the president but also to Congress itself (or something).
I love the guy! Medal of Free Dumb! Thanks, Joe! You did more to advance our cause in two words than The One did in a thousand !
Wilson is just following the pattern the repubs have set. Say no, reject everything. Vote in mass against everything they offer. Scream loudly, and don’t let the dems be heard.
This was not the format for it. Wilson embarrassed himself and the party. It is what Rush or Beck would have done if they were there.
I am intrigued by this part the most. Will we see an even bigger divide between the intelligent, not hate filled conseratives and the frothing at the mouth, “librul’s is ruining our country” drooling idiots? Should be interesting to see it play out.
I bet even those two would not have done such an outburst.
I could see them pushing the line by making faces or snickering derisively and maybe pantomiming jerking off but I doubt they’d have vocally heckled the president in that forum.
Perhaps Wilson thought he was at a Town Hall meeting.
I’ve heard Rove was amused. I thought that took dead kittens.
Censure him, but hold him up as a shining example of Republican conservative tactics. Milk this guy’s outburst for all we can get out of it until we get universal health care. Then send him a “Thank You” package for doing so much to advance the cause of health care
Six people have been censured in the history of the House for unparliamentary language, but Holbrook’s case is maybe appropriate here. As the New York Times at the time put it:
If you’re curious as to some other things that Congress has decided was “unparliamentary language”, here are some. These all led to censure motions, or withdrawal of the statements to avoid censure:
Did his response really look like that to you? Really? :dubious:
BTW, each House is responsible for addressing the conduct of its own members. The President has nothing to do with it. Since you seem not to know, that is.
Nice try with the timeworn “Well, your guys would have been just as bad!” crap. Not only a tu quoque, something you deplore when others use it, but an imaginary one at that. But I’m sure you’re proud of it anyway, right?
Censure? No, the bottom line this is simply a Congressman without any tact. To yell this was inappropriate and he already looks a fool in front of everyone for doing it.
Should we waste all this time on a procedure that does nothing to punish someone?
No, even in a court the judge would not usually give you a contempt violation without a warning.
I’m not saying what he did was right, it was wrong and inappropriate, but he already looks stupid for saying it and I’m sure whoever runs against him at election time is already planning to use it for his/her advantage.
He already looks like an idiot that’s enough
Not the first time, won’t be the last…
Bush booed by democrats during 2005 State of The Union Address
It most certainly is unprecedented (within the last 140 years at least), but I think the jerk should be punished at the polls, and within his own party. Calling for censure would make the Dems look petty.
But I think the worst thing Wilson did was not heckling, but to stand up in the halls of Congress and call the President a liar to his face. (And on something that is factually verifiable, to boot.) That is beyond the pale…in less enlightened times, that would’ve been a challenge to his honor; gloves would be slapped, seconds would meet. I would’ve directed the Sergeant at Arms to drag the jerk from the chamber by his collar.
There’s no doubt that Wilson was a flaming asshole. But, if he had yelled out during a non-presidential, ordinary House session, he would’ve been gaveled down by the chair, verbally admonished, mumbled an apology and that would be the end of it. It wouldn’t even have been mentioned by a Congressional newspaper like Roll Call.
He did a dumb thing, he got called out by his own party, he apologized. It’s time to move on.
Awww, the poor baby! And just because he was lying through his teeth, and led us into a futile and ruinously expensive war, causing the deaths of untold thousands of innocent victims?
It is SHODANIZING. When I was a kid and my dad got on me, I found if I said" what about what my brother did", I was told ,we are not talking about your brother. SHODAN has a right to start a thread about what some un-named dems may ,or may not have done long ago , if he chooses. But the response he relies on over and over again is very immature and dishonest regarding the discussion. It does not deal with the subject. It is a childish attempt to change it.