Pence: Wilson outburst served 'the broader national interest'

House Republican Conference chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) said on Wednesday that Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-S.C.) outburst during the president's speech last week "did serve the broader national interest."

Though Pence said the way in which Wilson called out President Barack Obama was "regrettable," he claimed that Wilson was correct in saying the House bill would insure illegal immigrants.

"When I was working that line [at the tea party protest in Washington on Saturday], I heard a lot of people expressing appreciation for the fact that Joe Wilson had raised the issue, however indelicately," he said at a breakfast at Americans for Tax Reform this morning.

"With regard to H.R. 3200, what the president said at the podium that night was not true," Pence added.

The fifth-term Republican said the White House "tacitly acknowledged" that illegal aliens would be covered by calling for an "explicit prohibition" against insuring them. Pence also called Obama's speech "harshly partisan."

After speaking in opposition resolution reprimanding Wilson yesterday, Pence said the measure was "a disappointment to millions of Americans."

The Indiana lawmaker expressed happiness with how Republicans defended Wilson during the debate over the resolution.

"House Republican leadership...thought that it was important that we stand with Joe. I'm proud we did," he said.