Carter: Wilson's Remarks "Based on Racism"

(AP)  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 in response to an audience question 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."

[truth-b-toll]

Thank you President Carter for speaking the TRUTH.
The focus should be on the fact that no matter what proposals are put forth by this congress the republicans will say NO!
The only platform they have is OBSTRUCTION!
NO PLANS FOR OUR FUTURE.
They are not going to pitch in and dig but they will sure tell you how you are doing it wrong...

[Ferrell-2]

Ex president Jimmy Carter still remains the Democratic party's nemesis. He averages about 2 boo-boos a year and every time he blurts out those spur-of-the-moment spiels publicly he puts his party on the defense. I'm sure the DNC wishes he not speak openly about anything or, at least, think twice before saying what he feels. Republicans have a heyday with that stumblebum.

[KMFELDER40]

Carter is correct. Our nation as a whole has not accepted the fact that we have a Qualifed African American President. Clearly racism is not dead it is alive and kicking. First, President Bush lied to our country and create FEAR so that we could go to war. When Congress women Cynthia McKinney spoke out that he knew about the attack on America in New York..She was wiped out completely. Second, South Carolina is know for it's racist practices. The Senator was out of line. If this is the best South Carolina has for a Senator. Someone who can not clearly control his emotions I completely understand. However, why did he not Scream at Bush when he completely lied to Congress...Where are the weapons of mass destruction. Finally, in Georgia a women and her young daughter witness her mother being kicked, punched, and beaten because of the color of her skin. If anyone could say racism is dead or does not exist....it is only because they choose to overlook the ELEPHANT in the room!

[wyoming24]

So Mr Carter any person criticizing the President's policies or associations is a racist attack. Then I must be a huge racists because I have criticised every President in my lifetime and you Mr Carter brought out the racist in me the most because almost everything you did as President needed criticisim. Obama is in the big leagues now should he not be alble to take criticism like all Presidents before him or should we caudle him because of his race? Is he not strong enough to take it because of his race? PLEASE GIVE HIM SOME CREDIT!!!! This is doing the President and his race (and remember he is half white) nothing but a disservice. This is a tactic of someone who can't defend their view so attack the persons character. This tactic is gonna backfire on the left and deminishes real racism and those of us White & Black who have fought against discrimination our whole lives. The one thing I can say for a President who ran on bringing this country together that could not be farther from the truth. We are more divided than ever.

[velma179]

"President who ran on bringing the country together..."

That was part of his hope for the country, certainly -- but to say that is the entirety of Mr. Obama's campaign rhetoric just isn't true.

And, actually we aren't any more divided than we were before the election (remember the popular vote went 53% to 46% .. not a huge gap...).
The division is just being stoked and highlighted these days.... and that is NOT being done by President Obama.

Please see this FACT clearly.

PS -- The President certainly CAN take criticism and his response is generally far more civil than either his detractors OR his supporters.

[actornaught]

by bcpats September 16, 2009 5:01 PM EDT
...You racists keep forgetting......... he is HALF WHITE, HALF BLACK.
...

Of course, you're talking to yourself with that half-baked limbaughism.

[opinions09]

This is getting so old. Former President Carter is saying that people don't think that Obama should be President because he is African American. But there are two sides to that coin. There are also people out there that think that he should be President JUST BECAUSE he is African American. Are we EVER going to get past this and look at people for who they are and what they stand for? I am sick of the excuse for being racist being "that was how I was raised". You have a choice to make to change the way you are going to BE. You don't just continue to follow that path or you, your children, and all of your future generations will never change!! I personally am sickened by my own racist family members' views, and I let them know it. I don't allow them to push their agenda on me. I'm not going to be led around like an ignorant sheep. Come on people, wake up and break the cycle!!

[unklfester]

At what point do we drop the race issue? At what point do we put away the race card, rather than applying it to every thing that happens? Using the same logic that has been applied to this situation, We could say, that the congressman is a victim of reverse racisim. Since nothing would have been said if the congressman had been black. Seems silly when you say it that way does it not? Then why is it ok to say that it would not have happened, had Obama not been black. Using this logic, I am a victim myself. As an unemployed college student, the only way I can pay tuition is to take out loans, while the guy who sits beside me works full time and lives at home with his parents receives pell grant/scholarship/ and the hope scholarship. The only difference? while he is a black male, I am not. Does that mean that I am a victim?

[gboyd41]

Former President Carter, thank you for those wonderful years we had under your guiding hand!

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money]

by TickedOff1 September 16, 2009 6:11 AM EDT

Actually, most of us have college degrees,
==========================================================

After that nonsensical diatribe, I'd have to say if you did get a college degree, you should ask for your money back. Or at least put that sheepskin to good use in order not to potentially infect the rest of us with your pro-creational rotten fruit.

[alanrobisch]

I doubt this will be read or any of you will change your mind on this matter but the prez doesn't agree with Mr. carter.