In Defense of Wilson, GOP Calls Out Charlie Rangel and Jack Murtha

2 years ago

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Patricia Murphy

Capitol Hill Bureau Chief

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GOP Chairman Michael Steele ratcheted up the rhetoric this afternoon as a potential House vote rebuking Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) loomed over the chamber.

Looking to deflect attention from Wilson's "You lie!" outburst, Steele accused Democrats of "stunning hypocrisy" in trying to discipline the congressman for breaking House rules. He added that if Wilson is going to apologize to his colleagues for his offense, he should do so only after other House members have done likewise -- including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, "who attacked the intelligence community who protects us," Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), "who cheated on his taxes," and Rep. Jack Murtha (D-Pa.), whom Steele called "a walking scandal."

The chairman's full statement is below:

"In another stunning example of hypocrisy, congressional Democrats are wasting taxpayers' time and resources on a legislative measure to censure Congressman Joe Wilson so they don't have to talk about their exceedingly unpopular health care plan. Without question, Joe Wilson made a terrible error in judgment and has wasted no time in extending a personal apology to the president. The president has accepted his apology.

"If we are going to march Members down to the well of the House to apologize, Joe Wilson is going to have to get in line behind Nancy Pelosi, who attacked the intelligence community who protects us, Charlie Rangel who cheated on his taxes, Jack Murtha – a walking scandal, and we all know how the Democratic leadership tried to protect William Jefferson.

"Democrats don't want an apology. They want a side show -- something to shift the focus away from their government-run experiment on health care."

Filed Under: House, Democrats, Republicans, The Capitolist

Tagged: charlie rangel, CharlieRangel, daily guidance, DailyGuidance, jack murtha, JackMurtha, joe wilson, JoeWilson

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