American Morning
House votes to admonish Wilson for 'you lie' remark
WASHINGTON (CNN) - The House of Representatives on Tuesday formally admonished Republican Rep. Joe Wilson for shouting "you lie" during President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress last week.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/09/15/wilson.resolution/art.wilson2.gi.jpg caption="Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina, shouts "You lie!" during President Obama's speech Wednesday night."]
The House passed a resolution of disapproval on a 240-179 vote that was mostly along party lines, reflecting the Democratic majority in the chamber. Twelve Democrats voted "no," while seven Republicans voted for the measure. Five representatives, all Democrats, voted "present."
According to the Office of the House Historian, it was the first time in its 220-year history that the House has disciplined a member for speaking out during a presidential speech in the chamber to a joint session of Congress.
During debate on the resolution, Wilson called the measure a waste of time and failed to apologize to the chamber, as demanded by House Democrats.
"When we are done here today, we will not have taken any further steps toward helping" the nation deal with urgent challenges, said Wilson, of South Carolina. "It is time that we move forward and get back to work for the American people." Watch House members debate the resolution 
We Listen – Your comments 9/15/2009
Editor's Note: The recent behavior of some public figures had the majority of American Morning's Tuesday audience lamenting the loss of manners, yet questioning the “double standards” that seemed to be imposed against different races. Many suggested that Kanye West and Serena Williams were treated more harshly for their inappropriate behavior than Rep. Joe Wilson or tennis player Roger Federer.
- Dorothy: Where was your rage about civility when Cheney cussed out on the floor of the senate?
- Sandra: How come you weren't talking about manners when those students stormed the stage for a Tancredo speech? How come you didn't blast the Dems when they BOOED Pres. Bush during a State of the Union speech? What is so different?
- Carl: Nice to talk about Serena again and not talk about Federer's outburst during his finals. The blatant racism in the level of coverage is once again embarrassing for America. People have forgotten about McEnroe and ignore Feder...they simply say he is "competitive" and it is understood...
- Freeman: Kanye West is a child who needs to grow up. His fans are angry at him and that will hit him in the pocket. Serena Williams had a bad day. Was she wrong, yes. She'll recover eventually. Why don't you have the same disdain for Wilson. Everyone seems to want to move on from this white man's tirade. Hold him up to the same standards you are putting these two people. The difference between them and him is Wilson did it in an important meeting to the President of U.S. in front of the world. All you've done is dismiss it and certainly emphasized the other two. Double standard.
- Rose: I just watched your segment about Serena and her apology. According to John Roberts, Serena exhibited "bad behavior" and it's becoming an "epidemic". Then lo and behold who shows up talking to John, Elliot Spitzer. Does John criticize Elliot's bad behavior before he interviews him. Very hypocritical to criticize Serena, and have praise for Elliot who was breaking the laws that he was sending other people to jail for. It's not acceptable for a woman to lose her temper, but acceptable for a man to have sex with hookers, and humiliate his family in front of the nation. Am I missing something? Double standards?
I've noticed that our society all disapproves of Kanye West’s behavior and so do I. I feel that there's a double standard. Kanye was wrong; what he did was distasteful, disrespectful – nothing good should be said about his outburst, but congressman Joe Wilson disrespected our president, yet the media show and emphasize the support he has. It was just as bad, don’t care how you put it!!!
Has “freedom of speech” become “freedom FROM civil conversation”? Is there a way to express disagreement (freedom of speech) without disrespectful behavior? What do you think about the “double standard” suggested by the viewers above?
Banks Gone Bust: Lehman Brothers one year later
It's been a year since Lehman Brothers went bust. It was the economic shot heard round the world.
Today we're asking – what really went wrong at Lehman? Have we learned anything from it and the financial collapse that followed?
CNN's Carol Costello has the report in the latest in our "Banks Gone Bust" series.
Serena Williams joins us Wednesday on 'American Morning'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/16/williams.serena.gi.art.jpg caption="Serena Williams during day nine of the 2009 U.S. Open in New York."]
Program Note: Tennis superstar Serena Williams joins us live Wednesday on "American Morning."
Williams put her controversial U.S. Open singles exit behind her on Monday as she and sister Venus claimed the women's doubles title at Flushing Meadows.
The Williams sisters, seeded fourth, defeated the defending champions and top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6-2 6-2 in 89 minutes.
The match came 40 hours after Serena had been knocked out of the singles by Kim Clijsters, the Belgian having won match point when the American was punished with a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, her second code violation of the match.
Before the doubles final got under way, Serena issued an apology to the line judge she verbally abused during her semi-final defeat, amending a previous statement in which she had pointedly not made any such gesture.
'Guiding Light' going dark after 72 years
That's it. No more tears, no more lies, no more drama. This week, "Guiding light" – the longest-running drama show in broadcast history – will be signing off after 72 years.
Our Alina Cho has the report fresh from a visit to the "Guiding Light" set.
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
On Twitter
