In the middle of former President Obama’s joint address to Congress about the Affordable Care Act, Wilson shouted “you lie!” when Obama refuted claims that the Affordable Care Act provided coverage to undocumented immigrants. Wilson issued an apology after the fact, but doubled down on his criticism of Obama even though his own claim had been proven false. He then refused to give a second apology on the House floor, and was publicly rebuked for his behavior.
9/9/09: Wilson Shouted “You Lie!” After Obama Said The Affordable Care Act Would Not Provide Health Care Coverage To Undocumented Immigrants. According to Politico, “One of the most persistent conservative concerns about health care legislation is that it will provide health care to illegal immigrants -- and the heated claim spilled onto the floor of President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress this evening, where one Republican member called the president a liar for denying it. ‘There are also those who claim that our reform effort will insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false - the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally,’ President Obama said. A loud voice from the Republican side of the hall answered, ‘You lie!’ -- my colleague Glenn Thrush reports it was Rep. Joe Wilson (R - S.C.) -- drawing a second ‘It's not true,’ from Obama and a shake of Nancy Pelosi's head.” [Politico, 9/9/09]
9/9/09: Wilson Apologized For His Outburst But Said He Still Disagreed With Obama’s Remarks “Regarding The Coverage Of Illegal Immigrants In The Health Care Bill.” According to the CNN, “GOP Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina issued a statement Wednesday night apologizing for his outburst during President Obama’s speech to Congress: ‘This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the President’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility.’” [CNN via Wayback Machine, 9/13/09]
9/13/09: Wilson Said He Was “Not Apologizing Again” After House Democrats Called For A Second Apology On The House Floor Following His Outburst During Obama’s Joint Address To Congress. According to Reuters, “South Carolina Republican Representative Joe Wilson, who faces possible censure in the U.S. House of Representatives for shouting ‘You lie!’ during President Barack Obama's speech to Congress on healthcare reform, said on Sunday he would not apologize again. Calling his outburst on Wednesday evening ‘a town hall moment,’ Wilson told ‘Fox News Sunday’ that since his apology to the president had already been accepted, he did not plan to apologize on the House floor as Democrats have demanded. ‘I've apologized one time. The apology was accepted by the president, the vice president. ... I am not apologizing again,’ he said.” [Reuters, 9/13/09]
9/15/09: The House Of Representatives Voted To Publicly Rebuke Wilson For His Outburst During Obama’s Joint Address To Congress. According to the New York Times, “The House voted, 240-179 and largely along party lines, to publicly rebuke Representative Joe Wilson, Republican of South Carolina, for his brief outburst of ‘You Lie!’ against President Obama during the address before a joint session of Congress. The Democratic leadership pushed for the formal resolution expressing disapproval of his conduct, while Republicans — within and outside the House –denounced the vote as a partisan action.” [New York Times, 9/15/09]