The Tweeting senator says, “Rep. Wilson apologized immediately afterward but I don’t think that’s adequate.”
Specter: Reprimand Joe Wilson
September 10th, 2009 12:03 pm · 3 comments
3 comments
Tags: Arlen Specter · Obama · Health Care
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| runutz 9/10/09 12:11 PM | Isn't our legislature modeled on Parliament? They yell at each other all the time! If there was the promise of a good shouting match and maybe an occasional scrap on the floor, maybe C-SPAN could draw a decent audience. edit: sp |
| knowntome 9/10/09 12:40 PM | say bye bye Arlen |
| notveryhow 9/10/09 9:51 PM | QUOTE Isn't our legislature modeled on Parliament? They yell at each other all the time! If there was the promise of a good shouting match and maybe an occasional scrap on the floor, maybe C-SPAN could draw a decent audience. Language and expressions used in the Chamber must conform to a number of rules. Erskine May states "good temper and moderation are the characteristics of parliamentary language". Objection has been taken both to individual words and to sentences and constructions ‐ in the case of the former, to insulting, coarse, or abusive language (particularly as applied to other Members); and of the latter, to charges of lying or being drunk and misrepresentation of the words of another. Among the words to which Speakers have objected over the years have been blackguard, coward, git, guttersnipe, hooligan, rat, swine, stoolpigeon and traitor. The context in which a word is used is, of course, very important. The Speaker will direct a Member who has used an unparliamentary word or phrase to withdraw it. Members sometimes use considerable ingenuity to circumvent these rules (as when, for instance, Winston Churchill substituted the phrase "terminological inexactitude" for "lie") but they must be careful to obey the Speaker's directions, as a Member who refuses to retract an offending expression may be named (see below) or required to withdraw from the Chamber. Naming of a Member If a Member has disregarded the authority of the Chair, or has persistently and wilfully obstructed the House by abusing its rules, he or she (after generally being given every opportunity to set matters to rights) may be named. That is, the Speaker says "I name Mr George White" (or whoever). In such instances, the Leader of the House, the Government Chief Whip, or the senior Minister present, moves "that Mr George White be suspended from the service of the House". A division may follow: if the motion is agreed to, the Member is directed to withdraw, and suspension (for five sitting days for a first offence), follows. A second offence in the same session will lead to suspension for 20 sitting days, and a third, to suspension for a period that the House has to decide. Any Member so named loses their parliamentary salary for the period of their suspension. Should a Member refuse to withdraw and then resist removal, suspension for the remainder of the session ensues. Some Traditions and Customs of the House House of Commons Information Office Factsheet G7 pp 4 - 5 - http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/G07.pdf |
