Some are downright odd: You can't call the president “a little bugger” or refer to any alleged sexual misconduct, for example. Others are more predictable: Don't call the president a liar or accuse him of lying.
Democrats initially cited the latter precedent in saying that Wilson's outburst was a violation.
But Congress was meeting in a special joint session for Obama’s speech on Wednesday, not under the House's normal rules of debate.
“It doesn't violate House rules because the House wasn't in (normal) session,” said Donald Wolfensberger, director of the Congress Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington.
Wolfensberger noted that under regular rules, House lawmakers wouldn't be allowed to stand and cheer as they frequently do at presidential speeches before Congress.
House Parliamentarian John Sullivan agreed that the House's rules on debate probably don't apply to the incident. But he and others said the House has wide latitude in interpreting its general code of conduct that says “a lawmaker shall conduct himself at all times in a manner which shall reflect creditably on the House of Representatives.”
A lawmaker doesn't have to violate a specific rule to get scolded.
from msnbc.com
President Obama STAGED his "joint session" in peace time as a campaign speech with applaud cues for the Democrat base.
If he didn't want them making noise, he would've addressed AMERICA from the Oval Office.
But no, Obama WANTED the noise and to see like he had support.
ONE MAN expressed dissent from this dog and pony show and the nation of Democrats has turned against him.
It was a fair and justified act. There cannot be two standards at play.
The president was already engaging in divisive partisan politics smearing the opposition party. This is not the purpose of a joint session of congress.
R O F L O L!!!
They should all go the hell home then!!! NONE of them do that ESPECIALLY that Botox spectacle called Nancy Pelosi!