Leading with Emotional Intelligence: Hands-On ... - always yours

90 LEADING WITH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
ever I wanted. I felt entitled thanks to money and fame. I don’t get to
play by different rules. How could I be so selfish and self-centered?
Failure has helped me look at myself in a way I never have before.”
JOE WILSON’S “YOU LIE!” OUTBURST
Representative Joe Wilson, the GOP congressman from South
Carolina, shocked many observers when he shouted, “You lie!” after
the president denied that health care legislation would provide free
coverage for illegal immigrants in a 2009 speech. Wilson said he was
referring to two amendments on one version of the proposed health
care legislation that he said would have provided for verification of
citizenship, but were defeated.
Wilson’s outburst was criticized by members of both parties.
After the speech, Senator John McCain of Arizona, the Republican
presidential candidate in 2008, called Wilson’s outburst “totally
disrespectful” and told CNN’s “Larry King Live” that there was “no
place for it in that setting or any other.” 14
Other Republicans also criticized Wilson, along with the expected
Democratic condemnation. “It was crude and disrespectful,” said
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Illinois. “I think the person
who said it will pay a price.”
CNN reported that shortly after Obama’s speech, Wilson called
the White House and issued a statement apologizing for his “inappropriate
and regrettable” comments. According to Wilson, administration
officials said they appreciated his call and emphasized the
need for “a civil discussion.” “I certainly agree with that,” Wilson
said. Wilson said his outburst wasn’t planned—in other words, it
was a hijack that he wasn’t able to manage.
“It was spontaneous. It was when he stated, as he did, about not
covering illegal aliens, when I knew we had those two amendments,
and I say that respectfully,” Wilson said.
Wilson is expected to have tough time against his Democratic
challenger in his next election as result of his outburst. Those few