A Guest Post From Rep. Donna Edwards On The Joe Wilson Problem

An Argument for Consequences for Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) – It’s not personal, It’s public

-by Donna Edwards

In the intervening days since President Obama’s speech before a joint session of Congress and the nation about the critical importance of delivering quality, affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, I have been troubled.  I’m not concerned about the policy challenges and differences with which we will struggle over these next days and weeks on health care.  I’m convinced that we will take President Obama’s guidance and the yardstick for measuring reform, the moral imperative he outlined to meet the test of our character, and do the right thing by the American people.

My concern is with Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and the message that we send going forward when a representative of the people of the United States of America is allowed to shout “You lie” on the floor of the United States House of Representatives  to the President of the United States of America.  This must not stand.  Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) must face consequences for his actions.

Shortly after the incident, Rep. Wilson (R-SC) called White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel  to apologize for his indecorous remarks.  Mr. Emanuel accepted the apology on behalf of President Obama.  It was right for Rep. Wilson (R-SC) to offer a personal apology to President Obama, which he accepted. But, Rep. Wilson would have us believe that this is the end of the story and that he can with arrogance and defiance turn his offense into a fundraiser.

The problem is that a personal apology cannot substitute for a public offense. 
 
The offense was against the office of the President of the United States, against the people of the United States, in the United States House of Representatives sitting in joint session with the United States Senate.  Rep. Joe Wilson’s (R-SC) offense was an affront to our republic in which rules, order and respect for the Constitution of the United States and its officers have meaning.  For Rep. Wilson’s (R-SC) actions to go without consequence is a breakdown in the very governing fabric that distinguishes us as a republic-- more profound than any one debate on any one issue, even one as important as health care reform.  I know that we will get to health care reform, and I share the concern of the President and our leadership that Rep. Wilson’s (R-SC) offense is a distraction.  But this is not about personalities or political parties or policies; it’s bigger and speaks to our maturity as a republic, our character, and our history. 
 
I’ve attended every presidential inaugural since before I could vote even when I’ve voted for the loser-- not as a Democrat, but as an American.  As a young child, I toured the halls of Congress and sat in the galleries with my parents, teachers and classmates.  We live in an amazing system, in which we transition peacefully, and engage in vigorous debate in between.  My love of this country and respect for our Constitution and for those who serve compels me to call on my colleagues to make us whole again.  For people like my father who wore the uniform of the United States of America, the young men and women serving at home and abroad in defense of our nation, the children in our nation’s classrooms learning the simple but everlasting message of our Constitution, and the struggling democracies around the world, Rep. Wilson’s (R-SC) actions cannot go without consequence-- not for today’s debates, but for tomorrow’s. 

It is clear that Rep. Wilson (R-SC) violated the rules of the United States House of Representatives governing decorum in the House-- speaking without being recognized, uttering disorderly words, engaging in disruption, shouting interjections, etc.  It is clear that it is within the power of the House of Representatives to entertain a range of actions to express the will of the House to enforce its rules-- apology, disapproval, sanction, investigation, censure, etc.  The only questions that remain are whether, when, and how Rep. Wilson (R-SC) will face the consequences for his actions for his public offense to the republic.  And, it is our responsibility as representatives of the people of the United States to establish those consequences.




UPDATE: A Component Rep. Edwards Didn't Delve Into

Maureen Dowd addressed the ugly, unspoken impetus for the teabagger rage expressed so ineloquently by Wilson in today's NY Times.

Surrounded by middle-aged white guys-- a sepia snapshot of the days when such pols ran Washington like their own men’s club-- Joe Wilson yelled “You lie!” at a president who didn’t.

But, fair or not, what I heard was an unspoken word in the air: You lie, boy!

The outburst was unexpected from a milquetoast Republican backbencher from South Carolina who had attracted little media attention. Now it has made him an overnight right-wing hero, inspiring “You lie!” bumper stickers and T-shirts.

The congressman, we learned, belonged to the Sons of Confederate Veterans, led a 2000 campaign to keep the Confederate flag waving above South Carolina’s state Capitol and denounced as a “smear” the true claim of a black woman that she was the daughter of Strom Thurmond, the ’48 segregationist candidate for president. Wilson clearly did not like being lectured and even rebuked by the brainy black president presiding over the majestic chamber.

I’ve been loath to admit that the shrieking lunacy of the summer-- the frantic efforts to paint our first black president as the Other, a foreigner, socialist, fascist, Marxist, racist, Commie, Nazi; a cad who would snuff old people; a snake who would indoctrinate kids-- had much to do with race... Wilson’s shocking disrespect for the office of the president — no Democrat ever shouted “liar” at W. when he was hawking a fake case for war in Iraq-- convinced me: Some people just can’t believe a black man is president and will never accept it.

She just figured that out? Oh, and by the way, Wilson was on Fox today saying he has no intention of apologizing to his colleagues for his outburst. And he almost says Maureen Dowd is wrong and that he's not a racist. Watch the video on the link and you'll see a very confused and conflicted political hack.