Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), the Congressman who was rocketed to fame last year when he shouted “You lie!” during a presidential address, says he’s not planning a repeat performance at tonight’s State of the Union. He is, however, planning his own live response to the speech.
“That was a one-time incident,” Wilson told McClatchy Newspapers. “I will continue, through my agreement with the White House, to discuss issues civilly.”
But he does plan to give his own response to Obama, and will stream it live on his Facebook page tonight at 10:30 ET.
Wilson is not the GOP’s official SOTU responder — that honor falls this year to Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.
House Minority Leader John Boehner’s office said such responses from rank-and-file members are typical.
Wilson’s outburst came during President Obama’s health care address to a joint session of Congress last September. Obama had just said health care reform would not benefit illegal immigrants when Wilson made his now-infamous outburst.
Soon after the speech, Wilson apologized over the phone to White House Chief Of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and President Obama said he accepted the apology.
The House then passed a disapproval motion against Wilson after he refused to apologize on the House floor.
