Obama accepts apology for outburst

President Barack Obama accepted an apology from Republican Representative Joe Wilson on Thursday for shouting "You lie!"during his speech to Congress on health care.

Wilson apologized "quickly and without equivocation,"said Obama after both Democrats and Republicans in Washington denounced Wilson for the breach of etiquette.

Senator John McCain, who was Obama's rival in the 2008 presidential election, called Wilson's outburst "totally disrespectful."

Vice-President Joe Biden said it "demeaned" Congress, while House majority leader Steny Hoyer called it "unacceptable," and House minority whip Eric Cantor, said the president "deserves respect and decorum."

The furor stemmed from Obama saying Wednesday night that extending health care to all Americans who seek it would not mean insuring illegal immigrants.

"You lie!" Wilson shouted.Obama, looked toward the outburst and replied, "That's not true" before going on with his speech. Wilson bolted from the chamber immediately after Obama's speech.

He later released a statement saying his comment was "inappropriate and regrettable," and extended his "sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility."

He then tried to call Obama to apologize personally, but ended up talking with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel instead.

In accepting the apology, Obama saidhe's abig believer that "we all make mistakes."