Forget Wilson: Obama should publicly apologize to Congress

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Chad Groening - OneNewsNow

Obama asked to apologize for 'lies to entire country'
An immigration enforcement organization is calling on President Barack Obama to publicly apologize to Congress, the media, and the entire nation for lying about illegal immigrants not having access to healthcare reform benefits. The grassroots group is standing behind Congressman Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina), who shouted "You lie!" during the president's healthcare speech last week.

Even though Wilson apologized to the president, House Democrats are demanding that he apologize again -- this time on the House floor. And if he refuses, they are planning to introduce a resolution of disapproval. Wilson has said he has no plans to apologize further, and last week rejected requests from GOP leaders that he take to the House floor and apologize.

"I believe one apology is sufficent," Wilson told The Associated Press over the weekend. "As the White House indicated, we need to go ahead with a civil discussion of the issues -- and I appreciate [that] the president accepted my apology [and] the vice president accepted the apology."

William Gheen, president of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, says it is President Obama who needs to apologize for lying.

"More important than whether Congressman Wilson was rude or not is the fact that when the president of the United States lies to the entire country -- as Obama did when he made the incorrect claim that his reform legislation would not benefit illegal aliens -- then that's a much more serious thing," he contends. "And that is why ALIPAC is calling on the president to apologize to the nation."

Gheen says he finds it quite interesting that the U.S. Senate is moving to close the very loopholes that Obama said do not exist for illegal aliens. And he says Wilson's "You lie!" comment may also have stymied Senator Chuck Schumer's (D-New York) plan to introduce amnesty legislation this past week.

Rep. Joe Wilson: "You LIE" Obama!

Watch Nurse Ratchet's -- I mean Pelosi's reaction. It's hilarious. Proof positive that behind that phony eternal smile is a woman with contempt for anyone or anything she can't control.

Rep. Joe Wilson shouted "You lie" during Obama's health care speech to Congress on Wednesday.

Wilson issued this apology: "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," the statement said. "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."

According to CNN, Wilson also called the White House to apologize and spoke with Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who accepted the apology on the president's behalf, according to a senior administration official.

"We can disagree without being disagreeable," Emanuel said to Wilson, according to the official. "That was the point of the president's speech."