Thread: Jimmy Carter: Wilson comments 'based on racism'

Jimmy Carter: Wilson comments 'based on racism'

ATLANTA – Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst to President Barack Obama during a speech to Congress last week was an act "based on racism" and rooted in fears of a black president.

"I think it's based on racism," Carter said at a town hall held at his presidential center in Atlanta. "There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president."

The Georgia Democrat said the outburst was a part of a disturbing trend directed at the president that has included demonstrators equating Obama to Nazi leaders.

"Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care," he said. "It's deeper than that."

Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, was formally rebuked Tuesday in a House vote for shouting "You lie!" during Obama's speech to Congress last Wednesday.

The shout came after the president commented that illegal aliens would be ineligible for federal subsidies to buy health insurance. Republicans expressed their disbelief with sounds of disapproval, punctuated by Wilson's outburst.

Tuesday's rebuke was a rare resolution of disapproval pushed through by Democrats who insisted that Wilson had violated basic rules of decorum and civility. Republicans characterized the measure as a witch hunt and Wilson, who had already apologized to Obama, insisted he owed the House no apology.

Wilson's spokesman was not immediately available for comment, but his eldest son defended his father.

"There is not a racist bone in my dad's body," said Alan Wilson, an Iraq veteran who is running for state attorney general. "He doesn't even laugh at distasteful jokes. I won't comment on former President Carter, because I don't know President Carter. But I know my dad, and it's just not in him."

"It's unfortunate people make that jump. People can disagree — and appropriately disagree — on issues of substance, but when they make the jump to race it's absolutely ludicrous. My brothers and I were raised by our parents to respect everyone regardless of background or race."

South Carolina's former Democratic Party chairman said that he doesn't believe Wilson was motivated by racism, but said the outburst encouraged racist views.

"I think Joe's conduct was asinine, but I think it would be asinine no matter what the color of the president," said Dick Harpootlian, who has known Wilson for decades. "I don't think Joe's outburst was caused by President Obama being African-American. I think it was caused by no filter being between his brain and his mouth."

Harpootlian said he received scores of racial e-mails from outside South Carolina after he talked about the vote on Fox News.

"You have a bunch of folks out there looking for some comfort in their racial issues. They have a problem with an African-American president," he said. "But was he motivated by that? I don't think so. I respectfully disagree with President Carter, though it gives validity to racism."

Carter called Wilson's comment "dastardly" and an aftershock of racist views that have permeated American politics for decades.

"The president is not only the head of government, he is the head of state," he said. "And no matter who he is or how much we disagree with his policies, the president should be treated with respect."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090916/ap_ ... ing_carter

Jimmy Carter is one of the worst presidents of our generation. Who cares what he says?

Also, the race issue is so old and tired. The race game was a successful manipulative tool before Obama got into office now the American people aren't buying it.

People that don't like Obama's policies don't like them because they are unconstitutional.

you beat me to the punch"ELE"

I used to have Respect for Carter but calling Joe Wilson a racist or just saying its race motivated is just foul. Shove your stupid liberal attitudes and tactics already...They are in themselves racism.

ANYONE who says disagreeing or opposing Obamas agenda is racism ISTHEMSELVES A RACIST....There

Oh baloney! Race race race. Never heard so much race talk in all my life.

This country voted Obama president...so how could that be with so much racism in this country?

With all the progress this country has made re racism, the powers that be want to set us back....conquer and divide I guess.

Originally Posted by jean

Oh baloney! Race race race. Never heard so much race talk in all my life.

This country voted Obama president...so how could that be with so much racism in this country?

With all the progress this country has made re racism, the powers that be want to set us back....conquer and divide I guess.

I agree Jean. This whole race thing is nuts! I guess we were all trators to our race when we disagreed with Bush and Clinton.

hahahaha .. as if anything Jimmy Carter has to say about anything means anything

what a broke piece of junk this nut (selling Nut's) was. Go drink some more Billy Beer goof ball

Peanut farming or hanging around the Presidential Library must be too boring.... Keep doing this sort of thing and the people will get totally fed up with it.

Until this Democratic administration there had not been so much talk of racisim for many years. The Democrats and Liberal media bring it up every time they want the public distracted. The Health Care Bill....A whole lot of hoopala about racism. Is it working for them?
It is not about race...it is opposition to this administrations policies!!!
Since when did "You Lie" become a racist comment?

What the hell does what Wilson said have ANYTHING to do with racism? He said that Obama was a liar when confronting the health care issue. Yes, Obama, we know that the bill denies illegals, but until that bill condones enforcement and GUARANTEES NO illegals will be covered, you can go *uck yourself. NO LOOPHOLES!!!