Rep. Joe Wilson: 'I Will Not Back Down'

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) is coming out swinging after his campaign opponent raised more than $600,000 off of the congressman's "You lie" outburst in the House chamber Wednesday night. On Thursday, the embattled Wilson launched his own fundraising appeal, telling supporters, "I need your help."

"I should not have disrespected the President during his speech," Wilson wrote to supporters. "But I am not sorry for fighting back against the dangerous policies of liberal Democrats. I will not back down." Wilson added that the attacks on him are politically motivated paybacks "by liberals" for his vocal opposition to big-government initiatives.

In a video that accompanies the appeal, Wilson says, "I let my emotions get the best of me on the critical issue. . . . It was wrong, I apologized to the president shortly afterward, and he has acknowledged my sincerity." But, Wilson says, he was only voicing the concerns of his constituents who fear a government take-over of health care and efforts to give health care "to illegals."

"On these issues," Wilson says, "I will not be muzzled."

Video below.