Flak flies after Wilson's outburst apology

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Joe Wilson's apology did not prevent his startling outburst during President Obama's prime time address to Congress from becoming the talk of the nation's capital Thursday.

Midway through the speech, as the president was defending his plan to a chamber packed with members of Congress, Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, shouted, "You lie!"

Senior Republicans, including Obama's opponent in last year's election, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., quickly called for him to apologize. About 90 minutes after Obama finished, Wilson issued a statement saying he had "let my emotions get the best of me."

"My comments were inappropriate and regrettable," the statement said. "I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility."

Before lunchtime in Washington, Wilson's office website crashed due to unusually high traffic, his staff said.

The incident garned attention on the morning talk shows as well. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., called on his Twitter account for Wilson to be reprimanded, tweeting, "There ought to be a reprimand or censure of Rep. Joe Wilson to discourage that kind of conduct in the future."

Wilson's office said the congressman called the White House Wednesday night to apologize personally to Obama. He was connected to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, a former House colleague. In a statement, Wilson said he conveyed his apologies to Emanuel but neither the White House nor the congressman's office provided details of the conversation.

Wilson's outburst came as Obama was decrying claims that his plan would cover illegal immigrants as false. The remark was clearly audible on the floor and the galleries above. "Heads snapped," said House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y. "I've been here a long time," added the New York Democrat, a 23-year House veteran. "I've never heard anyone accost a president like that."

Rep. David Dreier, of California, the top-ranking Republican on the House Rules Committee, had a similar reaction. "I cringed," he said. "I think it's just unfortunate."