[McGruff]

Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, and Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the Republican whip, summoned Mr. Barton and he “was told to apologize, immediately, or he would lose his spot, immediately,” a senior aide said. “We’ll see what happens going forward.”

When Mr. Barton soon did issue a statement of contrition, Mr. Boehner’s office also distributed it, for added effect. Then Mr. Boehner, Mr. Cantor and another party leader, Representative Mike Pence of Indiana, together publicly rebuked their colleague.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/us/politics/18barton.html?ref=politics

These are the people who should be apologizing or forced to step down.

[GailA]

I got told Barton retracted on his own. I believe that as much as I believe in the tooth fairy.