Congressman Dave Obey has been unable to meet with the mother of a United States Marine a week after the Democratic congressman was videotaped shouting and arguing with the woman and others who were protesting the war in Iraq.

The videotape of Obey was featured on the website Youtube.com and generated headlines. It shows the congressman complaining about "idiot liberals" who he says don't understand his legislation. Obey's bill would have U.S. troops out of Iraq by August of next year.

The Wausau democrat issued a written apology Friday.

An Obey staffer instead met with Tina Richards of Salem, Missouri yesterday. Obey's press secretary, Ellis Brachman, says the congressman has a packed schedule and doesn't plan to "cancel scheduled meetings to take an unscheduled one."

Richard's son is facing a third Iraq deployment.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)