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Biden and Pelosi: Death stare for Rep. Joe Wilson

Even if you’re not much of a political junkie, odds are you heard about Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouting, “You lie!” during President Obama’s speech in an absolutely unprecedented outburst for a joint session of Congress. Vice President Joe Biden condemned the outburst, saying “I was embarrassed for the chamber and a Congress I love.” Politicos on both sides of the aisle have decried Rep. Wilson’s actions as disrespectful and out of line.

This should be a teachable moment. A lot of internships turn into jobs. Interns usually have a lot to prove — they’re looking to boost their experience and show what they can do. But there’s a fine line between being ambitious and being overzealous or even pushy. As Rep. Wilson shows, even if you have strong feelings about an issue, you must, must, MUST remain professional.

Check out this article from BusinessWeek, “10 Top Goofs Interns Make.” Kerry Miller suggests you think of an internship as a semester or summer-long interview. If it’s an unpaid internship, maybe you’re thinking “Hey, they’re not paying me so I can be late; do errands on my lunch break; get away with x, y or z.” Wrong.

An internship is a privileged opportunity to get your foot in the door. Be courteous and professional. Listen, and then show them what you can do!