Iowa Congressman Steve King, a Republican from Kiron took to the floor of the U.S. House Monday to defend fellow Republican congressman Joe Wilson.
Wilson is the South Carolina congressman who interrupted President Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress last week shouting out “You lie” when Obama said the health care plan would not cover illegal aliens.
Democrat leaders want Wilson to apologize to the House — but King says that’s not necessary. King says Wilson immediately called the White House, and the White House immediately accepted Wilson’s apology. “And that must be the end of it,” King says.
He says Wilson conducted himself as a gentleman immediately in the aftermath of what happened and “without putting his finger to the political winds, he did the right thing.” King says the issue should now be closed.
“No one has a claim to any further redress if the President of the United States accepts an apology, and he did. So, I stand with Joe Wilson. Let’s get on with the business of this house, let’s start running this country instead of doing cheap political points,” King says.
Democratic leaders say if Wilson doesn’t apologize, they plan to propose a resolution of disapproval against him. Wilson says he does not plan to apologize to the House.