Reply #30: I assure you that I would have treated, "[generic heckle]" the same way.

[Barack_America]

I don't understand your point about interrupting the President with actions or words expressing support. Clapping and standing ovations interrupt the President and have long been the norm in joint sessions of Congress. You could argue the first person to do this should have been reprimanded, but they were not and now these actions are the norm (which highlights why Wilson's actions needed to rebuked). Affirmative verbal exclamations are also supported by precedent.

So, Wilson's words, IMO, matter only insomuch as they were a heckle. For me, it was the fact he decided to heckle (or could not contain himself from doing so) the black President standing before him that is the problem. And yes, the fact that he is a black President makes a difference. The GOP, as much as they despised Clinton, were able to contain themselves when he spoke before them.