WASHINGTON — President Obama yesterday accepted an apology from the South Carolina congressman who yelled, “You lie!” in the middle of the chief executive’s health-care speech — while Democrats quickly cashed in on the outrage by raising $1 million.
“I’m a believer that we all make mistakes,” Obama said, before calling for a debate “without vitriol, without name-calling, without the assumption of the worst in other people’s nature.”
The furor over Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst on Wednesday night — which violated congressional protocol — threw Republicans into full damage-control mode yesterday, as lawmakers in both parties condemned him.
“I was embarrassed for a chamber and a Congress that I love,” Vice President Joe Biden said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Wilson hurled the “liar” barb at Obama as the president said it wasn’t true that his health plan would provide insurance coverage for illegal immigrants.
The interruption caused Obama to halt his remarks and respond, “That’s not true.”
Addressing a crowd of reporters in his Capitol office yesterday, Wilson said his shout was a “spontaneous” gesture.
“I last night heard from the leadership that they wanted me to contact the White House and state that my statements were inappropriate. I did,” he said.
Wilson called White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel after the speech to apologize.
“I let my emotions get the best of me,” he said, calling his comments “inappropriate and regrettable.”
The Democratic National Committee announced yesterday that it had raised $1million on line in the hours after Obama’s speech and that 380,000 people signed a letter calling for healthcare reform.
Wilson’s likely Democratic opponent in 2010, Rob Miller, who ran a surprisingly tough race against the incumbent in 2008, raised a stunning $500,000 from 14,000 people by last night, House Democrats said.
Some Democrats are considering using House rules to try to punish Wilson for his conduct, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “It’s time for us to talk about health care, not Mr. Wilson.”
Wilson’s official House Web site crashed as word of the incident spread.
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) told ABC on Wednesday, “Obviously, the president of the United States is always welcome on Capitol Hill. He deserves respect and decorum.”
A line in the health bill specifically prohibits funds from providing health coverage to illegals, but Wilson stood by the substance of his claim, saying Democrats had voted against amendments on the matter in committee.