LEXINGTON, S.C. -- While members of both parties lashed Republican Rep. Joe Wilson for shouting "You lie!" during President Barack Obama's Wednesday night address to Congress, many friends and allies of the South Carolina congressman back home rallied behind him.

"I'm proud of him. I'm tired of politicians sitting back and keeping their mouth shut and not calling it when it's wrong," said Jake Knotts, a 64-year-old Republican state senator whose district overlaps with Mr. Wilson's. "Washington has been getting away with lies...