The behavior of Joe Wilson in not only inexcusable, it is outrageous and I do not believe I have ever witnessed such outburst during the Presidential speech to Congress my entire life like this.
It is my understanding that there are rules specifically for either Censuring or even better, Expelling Rep. Joe Wilson for his behavior.
He wasn't 'just saying' the word: lies, he was essentially calling the President a liar, and screaming it for the entire world to hear loud and clear. This cannot be ignored. This is where we draw a line in the sand: No more outrageous behavior will be tolerated, especially in out nation's Capitol. Disgusting, just over the top and now its time to put an end to this mendacity and hateful outbursts!!!!
This is exactly what the rules and regulations are regarding Congressional problems of this sort:
SOURCES OF AUTHORITY AND POWER OF SELF-DISCIPLINE
Each House of Congress has been given in the United States Constitution express authority and responsibility for decisions about the qualifications, elections, and the conduct of its own Members. The Constitution expressly instructs that each House of Congress ``shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns, and Qualifications of its own Members;''4 and further provides that each House of Congress may determine its own rules of proceedings, may ``punish its Members for disorderly Behavior,'' and may, ``with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.''5
The direction to discipline or ``punish'' its own Members, and the authority to expel, relate directly to and inform the right ``recognized by common parliamentary law'' of self-preservation of the institutional integrity of the legislature and its proceedings.6 Even if not granted expressly within a constitution or similar document, authorities have contended that the right to expel and to discipline members of a legislative body is an inherent right of that institution. This disciplinary authority has been described as one ``naturally and even necessarily incidental to . . . legislative bodies; which, without such power, could not exist honorably, and fulfill the object of their creation.''7
The power and practice of congressional self-discipline for legislative misconduct is one which is, to some extent, compelled by the structure of our Federal government. In formulating the new Federal government, the Framers of the Constitution were determined, for reasons of the balance of powers and of ``checks and balances'' within the governmental system, to have three independent and co-equal branches of government.8 As part of the assurance of an independent legislature, one not fettered nor intimidated by a powerful law-enforcing executive, the Constitution expressly granted a limited immunity to Members of Congress from prosecution when the conduct involved official legislative activities.9 The so-called ``speech or debate'' clause immunity provides that a Member ``shall not be questioned in any other place'' concerning official legislative conduct.10 Since a Member may not be questioned ``in any other place'' regarding certain conduct in the legislative process, this speech or debate immunity provides a cogent and practical reason for the countervailing authority and responsibility within the Constitution for congressional self-discipline and the necessity for internal enforcement of legislative standards of conduct.
As to the history of these rules:
In punishing Members by means other than expulsion, the constitutional provision originally drafted in the Committee on Detail provided simply the authority for each House to ``punish,'' but as finally reported added the modifier phrase that each House may punish for ``disorderly behavior.'' There had in the past been questions raised about whether the power to punish for ``disorderly behavior'' was restricted only to conduct in Congress, that is, behavior which directly disrupted the proceedings and functions of the institution itself. But early precedents and discussions indicated clearly that of Congress the power to discipline was not narrowly focused on merely internal conduct within the institution, nor was congressional authority limited merely to addressing misconduct or disorderly behavior which was not otherwise considered as a criminal or civil offense.15 In his historic work on the Constitution, Justice Joseph Story noted in 1833 that congressional disciplinary authority under this clause of the Constitution is apparently unqualified as to ``the time, place or nature of the offense'' for which one is to be punished, similar to the British parliamentary practice.
The House of Representatives has a bifurcated ethics process, in which the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct divides into two subcommittees to handle the preliminary inquiry and adjudicative functions, and the whole committee reassembles to recommend punishment. The first step in this process is determining whether the complaint merits further inquiry. The following step is a preliminary inquiry to see if there is reason to believe a violation has occurred. If this violation was determined to have occurred, then the next step is proving these charges, and the final step is recommending punishment. This system is supposed to promote fairness to the accused by not having the same group act as grand jury, jury, and judge. A case has not yet been brought under the new House system.
http://www.rules.house.gov/...
Mr. Wilson's unprecedented actions goes far beyond simple 'disorderly behavior.' He disrupted the President of the United States, the United States Commander in Chief, during a national speech that was being broadcast all over our nation, and internationally.
He dishonored the very position that he holds as a Member of the House of Representative of Congress, and he dishonored our country by showing a lack of decorum and respect towards all members of Congress and the people of the United States.
Nancy Pelosi has the duty to ensure that this kind of behavior will not ever be tolerated again in the halls of Congress again and that Mr. Wilson has disgraced his position by his utter lack of professionalism and respect for his colleagues and disrespect of the Office of the Presidency.
This must not be allowed to stand, because if it is, then other's like Mr. Wilson will continue this sort of unacceptable and irrational behavior that will send a message to others of his ilk, that even the Halls of Congress can be turned into just another place where 'chaos' and unmitigated malice are allowed to reign without repercussions or responsibility.
I urge each of you to call or write to Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi and demand that she take immediate action to Censure and Expel Representative Joe Wilson.
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100
Thank you.