House reprimands Rep. Joe Wilson for yelling 'You lie' at Obama

The vote came after a congressional clash over civility that showcased the deep partisan divisions in the House.

In a mainly party line vote of 240-179, the House held that by shouting "You lie" during the president's speech, the South Carolina Republican committed a "breach of decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session, to the discredit of the House."

The resolution was the latest -- and many lawmakers hoped final -- development in an episode that generated significant public attention after Wilson's surprising act. It attracted millions of dollars in political contributions to both parties and made Wilson a hero to some and an embarrassment and symbol of Republican disrespect to the president to others.

Seven Republicans joined 233 Democrats in approving the resolution; 12 Democrats joined Wilson and 166 other Republicans in opposing it. The only Ohioan not voting along party lines was Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a Cleveland Democrat, who voted against the resolution.

Kucinich said that Wilson's outburst was inappropriate but that sanctioning him after Obama accepted his apology only aggravated partisan polarization. Time spent debating sanctions against Wilson would have been better spent discussing ways to provide affordable health care to all Americans, said Kucinich.

"He apologized publicly to the president," Kucinich said. "The president accepted his apology. That should have been the end of it."

Leading Democrats said the resolution was needed to protect the integrity of the House and deter such acts in the future.

"This is about the rules of this House and reprehensible conduct," said Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the No. 3 Democrat in the House and a home-state colleague of Wilson's who led the Democratic argument for the resolution.