September 16, 2009 3:08 PM

White House: Obama Disagrees With Carter on Race

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
In The News
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs reiterated at his press briefing this afternoon that President Obama disagrees with former President Carter's assertion that Joe Wilson's "you lie" outburst and other animosity directed at the president is grounded in racism.

"The president does not believe that -- that the criticism comes based on the color of his skin," Gibbs said. "We understand that people have disagreements with some of the decisions that we've made and some of the extraordinary actions that had to be undertaken by this administration and previous administrations to stabilize our financial system, to ensure viability of our domestic auto industry."

"I don't -- I don't think that, you know, the president does not believe that it's based on the color of his skin," he continued.

Gibbs later added that the president "does not believe that the majority of this" is grounded in racism.

Gibbs was asked by reporters why this is not a "teachable moment" on race similar to the one that Mr. Obama identified following the Cambridge police flap.

"Obviously, the president has, and has always had, great concerns about race relations in this country," he replied. "He's talked about them in speeches. He's talked about them throughout his career in politics; believes we've made great strides, and obviously we've got work to do. But I -- I don't -- I'm not sure I see this -- this large national conversation going on right now."

Carter said Tuesday that "there is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president," arguing that Wilson's outburst was "based on racism."

Alan Wilson, Joe Wilson's son, countered that "there is not a racist bone in my dad's body."

The South Carolina Republican's outburst came after Mr. Obama said that under his health care plan illegal immigrants would not be eligible for health insurance subsidies.

Add a Comment See all 154 Comments
by bigmo47 September 17, 2009 10:59 AM EDT
by Aldymac September 17, 2009 9:17 AM EDT
yeswecan, did you vote for Obama because he was black? or did you vote for him because you think he is African American? He is black, at least half, but he isn't African American. His ancestors were NOT American slaves, so he isn't African American, his ancestors were kenyan, muslim, and possibly were slave owners, possibly they were slaves, but they weren't American slaves. By the definition of African American, he isn't so what did you vote for Obama for? he is half black? isn't that racist?

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Where did you get that definition of "African American" from? It actually means an American of African, especially black African decent (Webster's Dictionary), it has absolutely nothing to do with ancestors being an American slave. It is the same as an Italian American (American from Italian decent).

Oh and by the way Kenya is a COUNTRY in AFRICA. (Sarah Palin Syndrome)
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by Aldymac September 17, 2009 4:30 PM EDT
bigmo47, for your information, I have a friend who had five children in Africa. They were raised in Africa, and when they came to America they got green cards untill they were naturalised citizens. When I asked her why her kids weren't allowed the term African American, she told me; "they weren't born from parents whose ancestors were slaves in early America until the civil war," that, from what I was given to understand, is the definition of African American. She was told that by the official who swore her kids in as citizens, she was wanting to get some grants offered to African Americans for schooling, the other definition she was given was that her kids were to be black, they were white. Even though they were born in Africa and were in fact African citizens who became naturilized Americans, they couldn't be recognised as African because they were white. Was there racism involved there?
by Aldymac September 17, 2009 10:44 AM EDT
Those who keep using the race card are doing nothing but fostering more racism and division among the American people, it's time that card was destroyed and work on reuniting the country before it is destroyed by those who keep using the card.
BTW, I don't even know what beck looks like, do you?
Reply to this comment
by graftongirl61 September 17, 2009 9:43 AM EDT
Jimmy Carter proves the old adage, "There's no fool like an old fool." He was a buffoon when he was President (the worst in recent memory), and he continues to make comments that make absolutely no sense. The Libs should really just ask him to disappear as he's an embarassment. Now every white person who disagrees with BO is a racist? If I disagree with Barney Frank (another idiot), does that make me a homophobe? Maybe someone well versed in political correctness could get back to me on that. Am I or am I not permitted to disagree with people who are a different color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or political party?
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by savingfreedom September 17, 2009 9:23 AM EDT
Well, well. Looks like the CBS propaganda machine has suddenly changed their stand on the racism ploy! Why the change? Because their Leader, Obama, said so. YOU MEDIA GUYS ARE SOOOOOO OBVIOUS! Keep it up and you will destroy yourself along with the Democratic party!
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by stuart-johns September 17, 2009 9:27 AM EDT
How has CBS changed?? I just love how the right and its love for the outlandish, make all kinds of assertions and provide no proof to support them.
by RepubsSuck September 17, 2009 9:08 AM EDT
Carter is right, and unfortunately, Obama won't/can't see his undoing coming and is very naive but he'll finally get it in 2012 when he doesn't get re-elected. This is what happens to a supposedly black man's brain and his thought patterns when you grow up in Hawaii and graduate from Harvard...and he may be 1/2 black but one has to live the "black experience" not read about it in newspapers and on the news but he'll get his real wake-up call in 2012 and it won't be from being educated at Harvard, but in the real world we call the United States.
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by stuart-johns September 17, 2009 8:53 AM EDT
And while were all in the honest mood, there are some who say that Obama is doing the very same things, supporting the very same policies that got us into this situation. And to a significant degree, I have to agree with those critics.

This, to me, has been one of the most confusing things about this presidency. The right sees him as the ultra-liberal socialist and yet Obama has actually aligned himself with many of the previous administrations policies.
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by stuart-johns September 17, 2009 8:47 AM EDT
Now the argumaent is that all those saying racism exists in America are liberal extremists. That is a mere attempt at distraction. Racism has always been a stain on our country and still remains a problem. Ignoring the issue or denying it exists at all will not stop racism.
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by yeswecanstupidneocons September 17, 2009 8:34 AM EDT
i just can't understand why in america there is so much racism after all there years. america is suppose be the leader of the free world. a country that is understanding. a country that upholds the rights of the free world. a country that pursues the rights of everyone regardless of color or religion. a country that fights for human rights throughout the world. a country that is so f...ed up that it still can't get past it's own faults. grow up america. as you know white america will soon be the minority, so i suggest white america,you had better start doing what you preach. don't judge the color of one's skin, judge yourself. if you were able to do that then maybe it could be the start of a new america, and then may be the world could look at america as a real leader. remember as a leader your actions dictate how others follow. as i said before. grow up america!!
Reply to this comment
by Aldymac September 17, 2009 9:17 AM EDT
yeswecan, did you vote for Obama because he was black? or did you vote for him because you think he is African American? He is black, at least half, but he isn't African American. His ancestors were NOT American slaves, so he isn't African American, his ancestors were kenyan, muslim, and possibly were slave owners, possibly they were slaves, but they weren't American slaves. By the definition of African American, he isn't so what did you vote for Obama for? he is half black? isn't that racist?
by lobo62740 September 17, 2009 7:52 AM EDT
Poor Jimmy--Now he is senile and he still sounds like he did when he was President. He is pathetic.
Reply to this comment
by hagar39 September 17, 2009 7:35 AM EDT
The White House was just being nice.
I live in Joe wilson's home county. The GOP meetings here is like the old KKK meetings.
The county is 84% white. So what do you think? I've known Wilson for about 35 years.
I know what Joe realy wanted to say. Joe was just being nice.
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