Joe Wilson Gets Choked Up Over Floor Speech
On their way to taping "Washington Unplugged" on the balcony of the Senate Russell building Capitol Hill Correspondent Nancy Cordes and producer Jill Jackson ran into Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., who told them he feels the Democratic leadership, who will issue a resolution of reprimand against him this afternoon, is using his comments has a "distraction" from "real' issues. He also confirmed to CBS News that he will defend himself on the House floor this afternoon.
Cordes also asked the congressman about the speculation by some that this would not have happened to a president who was not black. "That's um a distraction," Wilson said. "The key point is the president has accepted my apology and I am very very grateful."
"He says he is still planning what he is going to say on the floor," Cordes said minutes later on the Webcast, but he told the CBS reporters that he does not plan on apologizing again for his comments.
Asked for a preview of his floor remarks, Wilson got choked up and said he would say he appreciates the American people and his family.
Wilson told Cordes and Jackson that it should suffice that he apologized to the highest office in the land, calling the White House after calling out "you lie!" during the president's address to a joint session of Congress last Wednesday.
"[T]he apology I made that should be it," he said, "that should be the end."
"I agreed with the White House we should be discussing the elements of health care. That's what we should be doing. Not playing politics," he told Cordes.
"It's been a very troubled start leading up to this," Jackson said during the show. "The resolution just punishes his conduct. They say it is not about his speech...they want to keep it in the decorum realm rather than anything political."
For more, check out today's "Washington Unplugged"
More Joe Wilson Coverage on CBSNews.com:
Republicans on Attack Over Joe Wilson Resolution
Joe Wilson Gets Choked Up Over Floor Speech
Joe Wilson's Wife: I Couldn't Believe He Said It
Race Issue Simmers in Joe Wilson Flap
Will House Democrats Censure Joe Wilson?
The Joe Wilson Chronicles
Andrew Cohen: Joe Wilson's War
Watch the outburst.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Cordes also asked the congressman about the speculation by some that this would not have happened to a president who was not black. "That's um a distraction," Wilson said. "The key point is the president has accepted my apology and I am very very grateful."
"He says he is still planning what he is going to say on the floor," Cordes said minutes later on the Webcast, but he told the CBS reporters that he does not plan on apologizing again for his comments.
Asked for a preview of his floor remarks, Wilson got choked up and said he would say he appreciates the American people and his family.
Wilson told Cordes and Jackson that it should suffice that he apologized to the highest office in the land, calling the White House after calling out "you lie!" during the president's address to a joint session of Congress last Wednesday.
"[T]he apology I made that should be it," he said, "that should be the end."
"I agreed with the White House we should be discussing the elements of health care. That's what we should be doing. Not playing politics," he told Cordes.
"It's been a very troubled start leading up to this," Jackson said during the show. "The resolution just punishes his conduct. They say it is not about his speech...they want to keep it in the decorum realm rather than anything political."
For more, check out today's "Washington Unplugged"
More Joe Wilson Coverage on CBSNews.com:
Republicans on Attack Over Joe Wilson Resolution
Joe Wilson Gets Choked Up Over Floor Speech
Joe Wilson's Wife: I Couldn't Believe He Said It
Race Issue Simmers in Joe Wilson Flap
Will House Democrats Censure Joe Wilson?
The Joe Wilson Chronicles
Andrew Cohen: Joe Wilson's War
Watch the outburst.
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The game is the same in Washington, only the players are different and the sides are switched.
(Hopefully the Dems will not waste $50 million on a failed inquiry like the Republicans did on the Clinton "lie")
"Wilson! Don't float away!"
The only party that benefits from the race card is the republicans. Let not give it away.
Jonny
The big boys take all the money and give the little guy moral issues to argue over. And this is the sad truth about all politicians.
Jonny
r9119111, you know little of or are pretending to know little of these people. They care about NOTHING except the fact that a Black Man is President. THEY will hate no matter what and THAT consumes them. ANYONE who forwards that goal, anyone who they view as an ally to "taking THEIR country back" they will give everything. Thinking like normal people when looking at these creatures is a serious mistake.
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Thank you. I'm think I'm being extremely Civil whan I call them America's Axis of Evil.
r9119111, you know little of or are pretending to know little of these people. They care about NOTHING except the fact that a Black Man is President. THEY will hate no matter what and THAT consumes them. ANYONE who forwards that goal, anyone who they view as an ally to "taking THEIR country back" they will give everything. Thinking like normal people when looking at these creatures is a serious mistake.
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Thank you. I'm think I'm being extremely Civil whan I call them AAmerica's Axis of Evil.
Truth-n-Honor, how could you know what Patton would or would not say. How about you stick to what the Klan Rally said about this nation and the Fringe Right. That hate fest had very little to do with the debate on health care but more about the FEAR of having a President, not just narrowly elected by the People, in office. How many times did these brain dead losers say they wanted "Their Country Back". Now as I see it when a RECORD NUMBER of people turn out to vote FOR someone to be the President that is about as good as it gets.
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Imagine that, Wilson is bein rewarded for poor behavior by his supporters to the tune of $2,000,000.00. I guess I'm in the wrong business. These Rowdies are setting such a horrible example for all of us and being well paid for it. Why should they stop now? Americans need to stop supporting such poor behavior or we have not seen the end of it. Beware this Axis of Evil.