House votes to censure Rep. Joe Wilson

Rep. Joe Wilson got a largely partisan rebuke from the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday after he shouted “You lie!” during President Obama’s address to Congress last week. Minnesota’s Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann, John Kline and Erik Paulsen voted against a resolution chastising Wilson, while DFL Reps. Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison, Tim Walz, James Oberstar and Collin Peterson voted to censure the South Carolina congressman.

The measure passed the House by a vote of 240 to 179.

McCollum’s office passed along comments she had entered into the Congressional Record.

To insult the President of the United States – an invited guest in this House – in such a manner brings shame on this body and all its members.

Disrespect, incivility, and personal attacks have no place in the People’s House if we are to get the people’s business done.

As a matter of honor, respect, and common decency the representative of the people of South Carolina’s 2nd District should stand in the well of the House and apologize to his colleagues for his words and his conduct.

Since the representative from South Carolina has refused to apologize I urge all Members, Democrats and Republicans, to vote in favor of H. Res. 744 and support restoring respect and dignity to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Here’s the full text of the resolution:

Whereas on September 9, 2009, during the joint session of Congress convened pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution 179, the President of the United States, speaking at the invitation of the House and Senate, had his remarks interrupted by the Representative from South Carolina, Mr. Wilson; and

Whereas the conduct of the Representative from South Carolina was a breach of decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session, to the discredit of the House: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives disapproves of the behavior of the Representative from South Carolina, Mr. Wilson, during the joint session of Congress held on September 9, 2009.