The Political Landscape:

U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher was one of seven House Republicans who voted this week to formally rebuke Rep. Joe Wilson for shouting “you lie” during President Barack Obama’s Sept. 9 address on health care to a joint session of Congress.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Rohrabacher said that although he agreed with Wilson’s opinion, he didn’t like how the South Carolina Republican chose to express it.

“Rep. Wilson made a mistake and should have apologized not only to the president but to his colleagues in the House,” Rohrabacher said. “I agree wholeheartedly with Rep. Wilson’s sentiment — just not the venue.”

The House voted 240 to 179 on Tuesday in favor of a formal disapproval of Wilson’s outburst. On the vote the House mostly was divided along party lines.

Only 12 Democrats voted against the reprimand.

“The president was in fact misrepresenting the facts about the inclusion of illegal aliens in his health-care proposal, but that’s no excuse for being disruptive or being rude,” Rohrabacher continued.

“I expect no less from Joe than what I would have expected if a Democrat had interrupted Ronald Reagan during a joint session speech in the House chamber.”

Rep. John Campbell, who said he was surprised by Wilson’s outburst but not the sentiment behind it, voted against the rebuke.

“It’s not unusual for people on the floor of the House to say things they shouldn’t say — it happens about four or five times a year,” Campbell said in a phone interview Wednesday from Washington D.C.

Noting that Wilson had apologized to the president for the incident, Campbell said he didn’t feel a formal rebuke was necessary.

“Maybe his emotions got the better of him,” Campbell said.

The congressman went on to say that he and other House Republicans felt that Obama “belittled and scolded” them during his speech.

“Only one person shouted, but a lot of people were muttering,” Campbell said.

LEECE LAUDS COSTA MESA-MADE DOGGIE BAGS

Waving a small blue plastic bag meant for cleaning up dog droppings at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Councilwoman Wendy Leece lauded a new community program that will raise money to stock local parks with the bags.

“These are very popular,” Leece said, waving one of the bags familiar to most dog owners.

The program has replaced an out-of-town vendor with a Costa Mesa-based manufacturer that will sell the city the bags, Leece said.

“It’s not only good for the people who are walking; it’s good for environment and good for the dogs,” she said.

Sponsored by the Costa Mesa Community Foundation, the canine cleanup program has already received donations from Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor and City Manager Allan Roeder, as well as Leece.

For more information about the program, contact the Costa Mesa Community Foundation at (714) 754-4950 or visit www.cm-fund.org.