Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that racial politics played a role in South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst during President Obama’s speech to Congress last week and in some of the opposition the president has faced since taking office.
“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, that he’s African-American,” Carter told NBC News. “I live in the South, and I’ve seen the South come a long way, and I’ve seen the rest of the country that shares the South’s attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans.”
“That racism inclination still exists, and I think it’s bubbled up to the surface because of 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. It’s an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply,” Carter said.
Carter made similar remarks at an event at his presidential center in Atlanta, Georgia, The Associated Press reported Tuesday, pointing to some protesters who have compared Obama to a Nazi. “Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care,” the former president said at the Carter Center, according to AP. “It’s deeper than that.”
He grouped Wilson’s shout of “You lie!” during Obama’s speech in that category, according to AP. “I think it’s based on racism. There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president,” he said.
“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.”
The House voted Tuesday to formally disapprove of Wilson’s behavior during the joint session of Congress. The resolution was approved largely along party lines, with Republicans calling the measure unnecessary partisan politics.
Wilson apologized to the White House last week, but congressional Democrats said he owed the chamber a similar statement of regret.
NOTE: Former President George W. Bush was called a Nazi and a fascist, was booed by Democrats during a State of the Union speech, and labeled a liar on the floor of Congress… Did anyone hear the ‘Peanut-Man’ then?
(Source: CNN)
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11 Responses
Thanks for printing my comment at the end 😉
Question: How can you tell if Carter is about to say something REALLY stupid?
Answer: His lips start moving.
Am I stupid or did Obama win by a landslide (365 to 173 electoral votes)?! I don’t believe that happened just from Black votes. I assume Jimmy knows better! After all, wasn’t he the BEST President America’s ever had? Just look at his accomplishments in his term: The Gas Crisis of 70’s, gave up the Panama Canal, the Iranian crisis, and the Afghanistan crisis.
Astonishingly his approval rates were very low by the time he left office. I wonder why?!
It’s not for not that Reagan had probably the highest landslide ever in American Presidential Elections against Carter(489 to 49 electoral votes). I think that states something about public opinion of who Carter was and is.
Unfortunately, the younger generation doesn’t understand who he truly is and was and are fooled by his words. Hopefully, someone prominent will get up and call a spade a spade.
Yes…Obama brought us “change we can believe in”…a replay of the Carter years. Mr. Carter thinks that his failures were long ago enough that he can be regarded as a “respected elder statesman”. No he can’t… because Obama’s retread of his foolishness will remind everyone how Carter paved the way for the Ayatollah to take over Iran (this is factual!!!). By the way, watch for the next reminder of the Carter years coming soon – STAGFLATION.
AinOhdMilvado – VERY FUNNY!!! THANKS!!!!!!!
“NOTE: Former President George W. Bush was called a Nazi and a fascist, was booed by Democrats during a State of the Union speech, and labeled a liar on the floor of Congress… Did anyone hear the ‘Peanut-Man’ then?”
thank you avi from nj, that line made my day. as did comment #2.. from AinOhdMilvado! love the screen name too 🙂
“They used to chase guys like him around with butterfly nets, now they use television cameras.” ~ Spiro Agnew (in reference to American patriot/philosopher/comic Abbie Hoffman
MAY ALL JEWS have a gut gebentch yor, with health, torah, money and not ever ever here another word from this idiot of an anti-semite
Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that racial politics played a role in South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst during President Obama’s speech to Congress last week and in some of the opposition the president has faced since taking office.
“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, that he’s African-American,” Carter told NBC News. “I live in the South, and I’ve seen the South come a long way, and I’ve seen the rest of the country that shares the South’s attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans.”
“That racism inclination still exists, and I think it’s bubbled up to the surface because of 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. It’s an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply,”
Dear Mr.Carter,
I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward Israelis is based on the fact that they are Jewish. I believe that racial politics play a major role in your incessant anti- Israel animus and pro- Palestinian policy’s. I am a Jew and I’ve seen racist leaders come a long way, and I’ve seen the rest of the world that shares anti- Semitic attitudes toward Jews at the time, particularly Israelis.
“That racism inclination still exists, and I think it’s bubbled up to the surface because of belief among many Arab supporters — not just in the Middle East but around the world— that Jews are not qualified to lead a life of peace and tranquility free of terror and prejudice. It’s an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply.
To #6, you must understand that Pres. Bush is a white cowboy, so it’s open season. But Pres. Obama is African Amer. so anything even remotely negative said about him is “racist.” Former Pres. Carter is one of the biggest failures of my lifetime (I was born during his presidency). That plus his racist anti-American anti-Semitic “junk” leads me to take everything he says or does with a can of salt.
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Pretty good pic.
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