Washington (CNN) – A leading House Democrat told reporters Monday that Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, owes the entire House of Representatives an apology for his outburst during Sunday night's health care reform debate.
Related: I made 'baby killer' comment, Neugebauer says
House Democratic Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina said Neugebauer's apology to Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan, was inadequate. "He needs to go the well. He disrupted the decorum of the House of Representatives…It was wrong," Clyburn said after the health care reform bill's signing ceremony in the Capitol.
But Clyburn's colleague, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland was content to move past the controversy over Neugebauer's comment. "He's apologized. He shouldn't have done it. It was inappropriate. He's apologized. I don't think further action is needed."
Clyburn also slammed Republicans for cheering on a protester who yelled out in the House chamber earlier in the day. The individual was removed from the chamber for disrupting the floor debate by yelling out opposition to the health care reform bill. Republicans on the floor could be heard cheering as the U.S. Capitol Police took the person out.
"Next thing you know, it's going to be 15, 20, 30 people," Clyburn said of the protester.
Clyburn also said the level of rhetoric has gotten worse since South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson's, outburst during President Obama's joint address to Congress last fall.
"These guys make up their own rules," Clyburn said, suggesting that the GOP is ignoring regular order in the House.
Referring to House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, Clyburn said "he needs to take control of his conference."
Updated 4:47 p.m.: The spokesman for Minority Leader Boehner has responded to Rep. Clyburn's comments. "My impression is that Rep. Boehner was satisfied with the tone of the debate, which focused on the serious factual arguments against the Democrats’ job-killing government takeover bill," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel told CNN.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
This clown needs to be run out of office. An apology is not enough. His apology will not be sincere.
Republicans are becoming a threat to national security. I say kill them now, and sort them out later.
Their they go again..... their "holier than thou" arrogance. TRUTH is that anyone who supports abortion is, plain and simple, contributing to the killing of innocent unborn lives. Baby Killers.
The Dems pass a law that is unconstitutional and they say GOP makes their own rules. Wait until November, you guys are headed home.
Mr. Clyburn,
maybe this is an indication of how ridiculous your proposal is – enacting sweeping legislation that forces drastic changes down the throats of people who clearly want to make their own decisions.
Talk about making up your own rules...
It's socially & politically acceptable for Repubs. to publicly fly off the handle because their views are based on infallible PRINCIPLES !!
Rep. James Clyburn is correct and the House should admonish Rep. Neugebauer and others for their outbursts in the House Chamber.
Decorum and Respect need to be followed.
While I agree with Rep. Clyburn, I wouldn't encourage him holding his breath.
The Republicans are completely out of control. They've become a bunch of loser rabble who can't handle the fact that they lost.
So terribly pathetic – so shameful!
James Clyburn needs to get a grip. Would he prefer to go to the devil with his indefensible "Pro Choice" cadre and keep "decorum" or does he need to wake up. "Pro Choice" means you want to be able to kill any baby that is inconvenient. It isn't a medical choice in all but the rarest of instances. It is the peak of self delusion that you can have as many abortions as you want and allow others to do so as well, and not have to pay for it.
STILL waiting for the republicans to come out an denounce all of the hateful language by the protesters AND by one congressman from their party....still waiting.......
barney frank and many ofther democrats started his long before this out burst...they said acted like rude spoil children to president bush...term limits is the answer ,,,,
If it isn't crystal clear by now, it never will be....The republicans LOVE all the hateful comments, the racial and homophobic epithets, and the fear mongering. That's called "rallying the base" to them. This is the kind of America they want. A place where it is appropriate to spit on someone and call them the N word just because you disagree with them. Sorry, but the majority of Americans are better than that.
War is a baby killer.
Republicans don't even pay lip service to bipartisanship. They are a joke and will remain a joke until they start becoming more centrist. The GOP does not speak for ME!
One day some nut is going to bring a "bear arms" gun into all the House or Senate and shoot somebody to make his point. This stuff is, as Clyburn says. "out of control."
In their Democrat tradition of being liars and supportive of hypocrasy and double standards, what they really believe is that one must apologize for telling the truth as Rep. Randy Neugebauer did. It is a hate crime to tell the truth, that is what every Democrat believes.
It's funny to see someone scold someone else who has a billion times more morals, values, integrity and decency than they do, libs never disappoint with their humor, thanks for posting this CNN!
I think the whole government needs to apologize for trying to disolve our country and trying to make the business world ,including the people who feed us, the scapegoat. Go try to find a job with a company that has less than you and if you suceed tell your neighbor on you ipod or cellphone that big business built.
Whether or not Neugebauer owes any further apology is up for debate (though I think he does), but one thing Clyburn said here that cannot be denied is that the GOP has gotten out of control. Have Democrats said foolish things in the past? Yes. Has it ever been in violation of decorum like this? No.
Clyburn, you ought to apologize to the American people for the way you and your party have conducted affairs in the House.
You jive turkey, you.
The thing that baffles me here is the concept that an apology makes it all okay. There is no punitive remark made upon any legislator for disruption or behavior unbecoming of an elected official (at least in the US – in the UK, they get all kooky).
A loss of decorum amongst our ruling body is an embarrassment, not a political stub in the eye. I don't care if you're bluestate or redstate, if you do not treat your fellow legislators with respect – even cold, brittle respect – you should be ejected from your seat pending a spanking.
This isn't freedom of speech. It's crass behavior. We have been better than this. We SHOULD be better than this.
As soon as Obama apologizes to the Supreme Court for his 'decor' at the State of the Union.
The truth hurts...
Unfortunately our politics is catering to the lowest common denominator. And the GOP is leading the charge to our demise.
This group of republicans have no class what so ever. Their true feelings are out and they are wearing it on their shoulders.
Neugebauer need not make any further apologies.
But every member of Congress who voted for Obamacare should go to the well and apologize to the American people for craming this terrible down their throats.
Heck, he needs to apologize to the entire country! I'm sick of this type of behavior from so-called adults. Didn't their parents teach them how to behave in public?