Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA), via Twitter - "Rep. Wilson apologized immediately afterward but I don't think that's adequate. There ought to be a reprimand or censure of Rep. Joe Wilson to discourage that kind of conduct in the future."
Senator John McCain (R-AZ), on Larry King Live - "Totally disrespectful. He should apologize immediately."
Vice President Joe Biden (D) on The Today Show - "Joe, you embarrassed the institution I love. And you realized it, you apologized, and we accepted the apology...I saw unity in the Congress, in terms of the response to Joe Wilson's demeaning comment not only to the President, but to the institution I love."
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) to ABC News - "Obviously, the President of the United States is always welcome on Capitol Hill. He deserves respect and decorum."
Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) - "It was a complete breach of protocol on the House floor,” Braley says. “It is the type of action that members can be sanctioned for and I was quite pleased that Congressman Wilson promptly apologized for remarks which were completely inappropriate and quite frankly a symbol of what’s been wrong about the national debate on health care.”
Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) - "I don't advise that. ... I think it's important to listen as respectfully as possible."
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) - "I was always taught that the first sign of a good education is good manners. I think that what we saw tonight was really bad manners. And having a spirited debate is one thing, exercising bad manners is another. That was beyond the pale -- and I would hope that he would publicly apologize on that same floor to the president of the United States for that insult."
Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) - "Certainly, I respect the office of the president, and I think that's not the kind of thing that is appropriate in that kind of setting especially,"
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) - "I've never seen anything like it. I talked to a number of my Republican friends on the way out who were mortified and angry that someone would do that."
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) - "The president's combative tone did not justify a member of Congress shouting out, 'You lie,' Our nation's president deserves to be treated with respect. It was an inappropriate remark, and I am glad an apology has been made."
