Jimmy Carter: Racism fuels hatred of Barack Obama

http://timesofearth.com/Interview/?NT=1&nid=11749 - The former US president Jimmy Carter has condemned as "dastardly" and "based on racism" a southern Republican's outburst during Barack Obama 's big healthcare speech to Congress last week.

ATLANTA -- Former US President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday "intensely demonstrated animosity" toward President Barack Obama is fueled by racism.

"That racism inclination still exists. And I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of the belief among many white people, not just in the South but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country," Carter said in an interview with NBC's Brian Williams. "It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply."

Carter, the first president from the Deep South since the Civil War, made the remarks in Atlanta.
"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man," Carter said.

In an apparent reference to the outburst by U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., during Obama's speech to Congress on healthcare, Carter predicted the president will "triumph over the racist attitude that is the basis for the negative environment that we see so vividly demonstrated in public affairs in recent days."

Carter, a Democrat who was president from 1977 to 1981, intervened in the row during a town hall meeting at his presidential centre in Atlanta, Georgia, suggesting Wilson's comment was an aftershock of racist views that had permeated US politics for decades.

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

In the aftermath of Wilson's outburst, which came after Obama said illegal immigrants would not be eligible for federal subsidies to buy healthcare , Democrats have insisted he broke basic rules of decorum and civility. Republicans see the vote to rebuke him as a witch-hunt.

Alan Wilson, an Iraq veteran who is running to be attorney general of South Carolina, said: "People can disagree and inappropriately 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."

Dick Harpootlian, a former Democrat party chairman in South Carolina, said he did not believe Wilson was motivated by racism but added that his actions encouraged racist views. "I think Joe's conduct was asinine, but I think it would be asinine no matter what the colour of the president." Harpootlian, who has known Wilson for decades, said: "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 had received scores of racist emails from outside the state 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. But was he motivated by that? I don't think so. I respectfully disagree with President Carter, though it [Wilson's interjection] gives validity to racism."


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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• President
• Obama
• rejects
• racism
• fuelling
• protests

[TravisConway1]

Typical race baiting liberal tactic. Play the race card instead of allowing someone to disagree. Same tactic they use on illegal immigration, if you're against illegal immigration you must be a racist. If you're against osama you must be a racist. Typical.

[Padarack1]

Age old Democrat trick, also always tried by the Keith Olbermanns and the Janine Gerafelos out there ... try to paint something so unfavorable on people saying your idea is a bad idea ~ like 'racist' .. With the idea they'll just shut-up, and quit speaking ... Goal is to try and make you the issue (you, the dissenter), not the issue. Carter, at his age ought to be flat-out ashamed of himself, engaging in this behavior / And the congressman wasn't exactly rebuked, that part of story is inaccurate

[Padarack1]

@beewz You're just a moron if you really buy what Carter says ... and there's no help for you

[INTIMEFILMPRODUCTION]

RACISM IS SAD. WE ARE ALL GOD's CHILDREN. WE WOULD ALL BE SO MUCH HAPPIER IF WE TRIED TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT & TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO DO THE SAME. The Devil wants hatred but GOD wants love & peace---which one makes you feel better???---from a white person in Canada.

[ighforever]

I challenge Carter and President Obama on the accusations of Racism they have made. Lets see the proof, and while they are at it, ask them if they have now or ever have had "feelings' before. Against anyone of another color, race, gender etc. Any feelings at all..

As far as a 'great country' only a Country that worships the Lord Jesus is Blessed by him only God is Great. Amen

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Jesus Lord

[SpringChatty]

that is prejudices not racism.

The dictionary does NOT define the two but they are different .  You can be racist without hating a different race, ie. proud of your race and its accomplishments...

or you can be prejudiced and just hate those that are different all the time.

[beewz]

true true true racism against the weak in general exist and will live for century to come !!!!!!! everywhere is racism.... Carter, thank you for having the courage to say it clearly for the rest of us... TRU TRUE TRUE TRUE racism white against black tall against short thin against fat smart against stupid beautiful against ugly native against immigrant strong against weak etc etc etc etc but carter you are RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT

[kimmer6]

Americantear, I was kinda thinking "Tea Party". It would have meaning today but in 20 years? Like Whig...easy to say "he Whigged out!" How about Centrist Party? Unfortunately the squeakiest wheel gets the grease first no matter if it is on the left or the right side of the wagon.

OK, I say again my circle of friends and I DON'T CARE what race, creed, sexual orientation the President may be, Jimmy. We expect the President to be QUALIFIED for the job as expected of any good executive.

[americantear]

Kimmer6, your comments are dead on!!!!! You have sent a spear into the hearts of many left wing supporters. The left does not like being confronted with facts. Truth and facts pisses them off. They resort to name calling and character assassination as their defense.

We, as a nation, need to elect more centrist individuals. This country does not need right wing nor left wing extremists in our elected positions.

We need a third party...how about the historic Whig party???????

[septicbrainfluid]

Good point. However would it be fair to call America a socialist nation because of a government run program such as the federal post? I made those sarcastic posts because I'm Canadian and we get called socialist all the time due to our government run heath care system. We're far from socialist. We've always been a mixed economy. were actually moving toward more privatization, particularly in my province. Our hydro electric and natural gas industry is now privately run as is our public transit.