White House press secretary Robert Gibbs today said that he doesn't believe President Obama agrees with former President Carter's charge that Congressman Joe Wilson's outburst last week was racially based.
(NEWSCOM)Photos (1 of 1)
Jimmy Carter racism charge: Obama doesn’t agree says Gibbs
By Jimmy Orr | 09.16.09
Does President Obama agree with Jimmy Carter’s charge that Congressman Joe Wilson’s outburst last week was racially based?
Nope. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was continually asked that question today during his press briefing. And he continually said that the White House doesn’t buy it.
“It adds to our dialogue,” Gibbs said. “I’m just simply saying that I don’t think the president agrees with him.”
Responding to a question at a town hall meeting in Atlanta Tuesday, Carter said that Wilson’s outburst was rooted in fears of a black president. “I think it’s based on racism,” Carter said. “There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president.”
As we told you here, Carter’s racism charge resurrected the Wilson controversy, resulting in a flurry of polarized opinions in the blogosphere and the mainstream media.
Gibbs casual demeanor toward the repeated questioning this afternoon seemed to telegraph that it’s not an issue with the White House.
“As I said Sunday, the president does not believe that it is based on the color of his skin,” Gibbs said when first asked about Carter’s comments.
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, Gibbs said, “I don’t think the president believes that people are upset because of the color of his skin. I think people are upset because on Monday we celebrate the anniversary of the Lehman Brothers collapse that caused a financial catastrophe unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”
———-
Follow us on Twitter!
<< Jimmy Carter: Racism behind Joe Wilson outburst | MainComments
2. Humphster | 09.16.09
I don’t agree with Obama on most issues but on this one I not only congratulate the President, but extend my thanks.
As an American I think Mr. Obama served himself, his presidency and our presidency in a laudatory manner.
Thank you, Mr. President
3. Norman | 09.16.09
Mr. Carter speaks the truth. Mr. Wilson’s demeanor, appearance, and actions seems to indicate he might be a “leader” of the fringe militia groups (formerly ***)!!! Congress needs to appoint a panel of professionals to investigate Mr. Wilson’s background. If he is a leader of the militia or a John Bircher, he must be kicked out from his position to make laws. He is worthy of being tarred and feathered and paraded as a living dinosaur.
4. JPUSC72 | 09.16.09
President Carter is basically a good man at heart, but to say such things does this country a disservice. He was a poor President and a poor leader. President Obama is an eloquent speaker but is delivering a poor message. This has nothing to do about race. I am for health care (insurance reform) but not for changing our whole system. We do not have the money to do this change. Raising taxes to pay for those less fortunate will give consumers less to spend and invest at a time when we need money in consumers pockets. If the President was white I would be just as against the kind of drastic change to our health care system. If Republicans and Democrats had not run such high deficits for many years then maybe we could seek more drastic change but not at this time. Racism is not in the equation and it is just another attempt to another subject.
5. James | 09.16.09
I do not think that “people are upset because on Monday we celebrate the anniversary of the Lehman Brothers collapse that caused a financial catastrophe unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”
I think that the people who are upset including the Joe Wilson (or whatever his name is) supporters, are upset because now they are down and out when they previously were fat and happy (in an ignorant way that is)!
In all circumstances, the strong survive and the weak perish! The universal law of nature!
6. americanme | 09.16.09
Jimmy Carter needs to go about his business and quit trying to stir up the race card. I do not support much of what Obama is doing either…especially his trillion dollar health reform and even less, the cap and trade fiasco. NOt one bit of it is racial. Just because he is black doesnt mean people will or should bow down to his every whim. get a life Carter..far away from politics.
8. JohnScott | 09.16.09
How is it possible that so many defend the President against racism that he himself does not see?
9. B | 09.16.09
Maybe it’s not racism. It’s just a big coincidence that all the issues that ‘tea-bag’ protest against (expansion of federal gov’t, deficit spending, restriction of freedom, ’socialized’ medicine) all occurred under Bush and none of them made a peep. (Patriot Act, 1-3 Trillion in Iraq, suspension of habeus corpus, illegal wiretapping, the bureaucratic mess known as Homeland Security, increased Medicare benefits).
No one complained until we elected a black man and then a few weeks later…..RAH RAH RAH RAH!!!!!
10. bubba | 09.16.09
Rush called this months ago. its a no brainer. Criticize obamma and get branded as racist. The politics in this country have reached a new low. obamma called for change and guess what we have changed from worse to worser!
These leftists have crossed the line and get a free pass from the media. Before his term is up you will a devisiveness like never before since the Civil War. This man and his sheep will tear this country apart.
11. Ed Weirdness | 09.16.09
To paraphrase Forest Gump, ’stupid is as stupid does’, race has nothing to do with this dust-up. Our President has poor decision making skills, and refuses to accept that citizens perceptions of his veracity might be based on demonstrable evidence rather thna Mr. Obama’s assurances that he isn’t telling a lie. On the particular comment that precipitated this who embroglio, House and Senate Democrats refused to allow amendments that would have implemented policies to determine the legal status and eligibility of those enrolling in the healthcare plan. These practices would have been no more inconvenient or time consuming then what consumers experience with ‘pre-certification’ practices at private insurers, and both consumers and taxpayers would have benefitted from insuring that only legal residents recieved benefits. Instead, House Democrats prevented inclusion of any policy or practice that might be used to identify the legal status and eleigibility of a patient. Subsequently, President Obama seems to have been made aware that citizens and their elected representatives might consider ’saying one thing’, while ‘actively promoting something entirely different’ to be a false representation, ergo, a lie.
12. Dominic Ebacher | 09.16.09
I disagree, I think it likely was racially based - as are most of the rally and objection to obama-backed policy. But people know that its wrong to be racist. They object to policies that their former playboy George Bush flaunted. Where was their constitutional concern when bush pushed through the patriot act? Where was their concern over government spending when we were dumping so much into the war in iraq and defense budgets we couldn’t even count it all? No, these people are frustrated, but they can’t say why: because if they admitted that it was because he was black, they’d be accountable for that and that’s something they just can’t take.
Its that black and white.
13. Common Sense | 09.16.09
Any polarization that occurred was between those with common sense and those playing the race card.
Polarization implies two extremes, which is not the case here. You have normal, reasonable people who disagree with the president that are being called “racist” by certain people in Congress and our wonderful peanut farmer, Jimmy Carter.
That’s not polarization. It’s an absurdity.
14. Theodore | 09.16.09
I voted for Obama.
I don’t agree with his health care plan.
Have I become a racist since the election?
Carter isn’t operating at full capacity anymore.
15. JohnB | 09.16.09
Does anyone know what specific evidence Carter is citing for this claim? I haven’t seen it anywhere. I agree the outburst was unprofessional but where is the element of racism?
16. James Cater | 09.16.09
Good ole boy republicans. OF course they’re racists, it’s the heart of the republican philosophy. But that’s ok, we’re going to keep those good ole boy racists out of government for many years to come!
17. Truth About America | 09.16.09
What would you expect the “official” stance to be? Obama is a straight shooter but if he says he beleives it is rooted in racism, then that would create more tension. As a leader, he has to diffuse the situation despite the truth stated by Jimmy Carter. Its 2009, there is racism in America. I remember my first day on Wall Street in trading at a large investment bank and white guys making wise cracks about African-Americans when there was not one in sight except in the cafeteria. White men have a problem when they have to take a back seat, even when the leader is chosen by the majority and more than qualified. Not much as changed.
19. MTF | 09.16.09
If Carter is so worried about race, when why is he an anti-Semite? What a hypocrite.
21. csrainey | 09.16.09
Racism is a word in 2009 used to sell newspapers or to gain attention in the news. Enough said, let’s try education.
22. Hanna Zee | 09.16.09
Of course Joe Wilson’s outburst was racially motivated. If Obama was a white man, Joe Wilson would not have have heckled him. If you don’t believe that to be true, you have not been paying attention to the history of this country in general, and the culture, attitudes, and history of the American South in particular.
23. Ellison Horne | 09.16.09
Mr. Carter is right. Sadly, many people do not recognize racism. Saying it is not racism will not make it go away. People who lash out, like Mr. Wilson, must be made to account for their actions. He was forced to apologize, even though he did not want to. If that is what it takes, we must be ever vigilant to call out racism and hold people accountable.
24. Tracy | 09.16.09
Jimmy Carter is out there. I do not beleive that the comment was racially based. It’s not about black or white. People love to play the race card these days and I for one are so tired of hearing its a race issue. Folks lets focus on the real problems. Whether black, white, purple or green…. The citizens of America are tired of their hard earned money (what is left of it) being used for bail outs and bad businees decisions. It’s not been a give and take thing… its take take take from the people. God Bless us all!
25. RayA | 09.16.09
I guess the theory is that I really support Obama’s health care proposal, but I am speaking against it because he is black. Maybe the Dems should have Joe Biden run with the health care issue. Then, presumably, all of us racists wouldn’t have a problem backing a plan that we supported all along.
26. El | 09.16.09
To paraphrase Hanlon’s razor, “Never attribute to racism that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.” I have a daughter that looks very African. When people mistreat her, it is very easy to assume that they are being racist. But sometimes it has nothing to do with race; sometimes people just act like rednecks. So until proven otherwise, I think we should just assume Joe Wilson is just a partisan redneck, not a racist. That being said, there does appear to be a knee-jerk reaction on the part of republicans to automatically and vehemently attack anything that Obama supports, without any thought to the real issues involved. While I’d expect that behavior from an 8-year old, it seems incredibly inappropriate coming from a “mature” adult. Joe Wilson IS an ignorant immature partisan redneck; he may or may not be a racist as well. It is more appropriate to focus on condemning the behavior itself, rather than jumping to conclusions about the motivation behind the behavior.
27. RP | 09.16.09
“I think people are upset because on Monday we celebrate the anniversary of the Lehman Brothers collapse that caused a financial catastrophe unlike anything we’ve ever seen”
Really? Celebrate? Weird.
Oh.Carter is right.
28. vesser | 09.16.09
Jimmy Carter is right! Obama is compared with the nazis, with the communist, people say he is not American and now at the congress someone yells him that he is a liar.
What other signs do you need to see that this is clear racism toward him?
29. Ed M | 09.16.09
Jimmy Carter is entitled to his opinion, and given his long history, wisdom and credibility his opinion carries a lot of weight in my opinion. I tend to agree with him, although I don’t give it a lot of importance. I think race is factor for everyone not just president Obama. Even Bush had to face the stereotypes of his race, background and people’s reaction to it. What matters is not how critics react to Obama, but how Obama reacts to his critics. So far I see him showing a lot of class.
30. Dan Hernandez | 09.16.09
You liberals are the ones obsessed with race and racism. A person can’t say Boo in the dark without it being racially motivated. Oops, i used the word “dark”, I guess I must be a racist!! This is the most obvious ploy you people have in your tactics book. Someone says something truthful, effective or you simply don’t like- answer: accuse them of racism.
What is despicable is that so many of you liberals are eager to call half your fellow citizens racists out of hand. You know it in your hearts, all you liberals think anyone that isn’t also liberal is a racist. Anyone who isn’t an Obama zombie like you are must be a racist. I thought liberals were supposed to be deep thinkers? Nope, they are drones.
31. Charles Manning (manning120) | 09.16.09
Carter nailed it. I personally know people like the ones he described. It’s not possible to calculate the percentage who are that way without a poll, but maybe someone will do that. Just ask “Do you think the country is ready for a Black president?” and see what you get. I’ll bet on at least 10% saying “no.”
32. DaMayor | 09.16.09
Wow. I finally agree with Obama on something… Wilson’s remark was NOT racist.
Jimmy, go help build a house… it’s where your few remaining skills are best utilized.
33. confused | 09.16.09
So Serena and Kanye, were they being racists? I think all 3 of these recent outbursts were by people who did not have things going the way they wanted it to go and did not exercise enough restraint to control their emotions when they should have.
34. Brenda | 09.16.09
Jimmy Carter is not crazy hes just saying what other people know and are afraid to say. The Republicans and the people that are so use to being in power and having everything is afraid of having a black President. I bet in their wildest dreams they thought this would never happen they are use to seeing old wrinkled up white men on the paper money.
35. Robert Garrison | 09.16.09
I agree with Jimmy Carter, however proving it will be as illusive as racism has always been. Mentally unbalanced people have confessed to all sorts of crimes, but no one ever confesses to be being racially prejudice, unless they have a secret desire to commit politcal or physical suicide.
During periods of budget cuts, D.C. politicans have threatened to close the Washington Mounument to get their way. It never closed.
When President Obama ran for office, people who opposed him used all sorts of reasons like the old standbys of high taxes, base closings and threats of our social security disappearing.
When Obama was elected, opponents could no longer use these worn out reasons. Instead they decided to kill every proposed change by “damning it with faint praise”. Every specious reason under the sun has been suggested, regardless of how silly because many people, especially in one of the country, hated the idea of the U.S. ever having a black president.
This long arm of bias has been with us for 150 years and been the source of many crimes. It is just not polite to discuss openly.
36. Dave Farson | 09.16.09
Of course his official statement is that he doesn’t agree. If he did fox news and the republican media machine would have a field day attacking the him like a tank of piranhas. Its a double standard that is appalling. When they claim black racism against whites they are lauded as heroes among their constituents, but if anyone says anything about white racism against blacks its pounced on and denounced as a farce and a distraction from the important issues. I have to ask, how far does the race baiting by conservative pundits have to go before it becomes an important issue?
37. REGINA FULTON | 09.16.09
I totally agree with Mr. Carter, I live and work in Atlanta and have seen first hand during the election process and after President Obama won the racial divides. African Americans could not celebrate the election results becasue caucasion supervisors were watching and clearly upset.
I hear the remarks and see the problem aired on the daily news. Racism exists and people who deny it have their heads in the sand. President Obama refuses to let racial tensions dominate his term, but he is very aware of its presence in America.
38. SteveF | 09.16.09
Jimmy Carter grew up in the deep south. If anyone can smell a racist it’s a guy like Carter. If he says Joe Wilson is a racist then I believe him. Joe amply demonstrated it in Congress. I’m just surprised he didn’t inadvertently yell out shut up boy.
39. Joe Johnson | 09.16.09
How many of the previous presidents have addressed a joint Congressional session on contentious issues? How many episode of irrational outburst have occurred in those joint sessions? None. Why? Because, presidents are accorded the due respect befitting the office. The open hostile disrespectful outburst by Rep Joe Wilson is deeply rooted in his demeanor towards African-Americans.
40. JB | 09.16.09
Guys really..If you think it’s racist to oppose him or have a differing opinion of the president just cause he is black you are completely ridiculous. Obama is the president, questioning his opinion and actions is a very healthy thing for this country to do. Thats what we were founded upon it’s called checks and balances people. It’s not going to stop just cause he is in office and nor should it. I voted for him as well but I don’t agree with everything and that DOES NOT make me racist. The way in which the differing opinion was delivered, however was horrible and should have been done more tactfully. Course we get the opposite a few days later with Kanye doing what he did to Taylor Sift at the VMA’s. Very much the same thing and yet nobody throughout the race card. People voiced their opinions about what he did but nobody though of him as a racist for what he did and they shouldn’t..He is just a jerk with no home training. Just like Congressman Wilson is a jerk for what he did. Obama’s position deserves respect just like Swift should have been given respect enough to give her speech. It doesn’t mean you can’t disagree nor does it mean you can’t voice that opinion, but you do it at a time, place and in a manner so as to be respectful and create a healthy debate over those differences in opinion. I wish we would stop looking at ourselves as a color and look at ourselves as man and woman. Then and only then will opinions be heard for what they are….OPINIONS.
To say he was possibly a former leader of a rouge group ( and we know which one you are talking about) is ignorant and really not funny. There is nothing funny about jokingly saying someone is affiliated with something that horrific. If you want to be seen and heard as someone with any amount of intelligence use facts and state your opinion as just opinion don’t throw mud when none is needed. Which it is rarely needed because those who are corrupt normally end up falling in the mud anyways.
41. nic | 09.16.09
What’s really sad about all this is that one comment is going to overshadow all the great work Carter is currently doing towards global development. I’m a fan of Carter, but I think the comment was out of line. You can’t distill all the bitterness and hatred coming out of the fringe into one single issue. And I think it’s also think the common assumption on the left that the fringe now represents the views of the Republican majority is dead wrong. One of my closest friends is a libertarian and the other a conservative republican — neither is racist, and neither espouses the fanatical, deluded views of the “tea party/birthers” set. We need to stop painting in broad strokes, people.
42. Doc Holliday | 09.16.09
President Carter did not say Joe Wilson’s outburst was racially motivated. He said an overwhelming portion of the animosity we are seeing from right-wing protestors is because President Obama is a black man. He was merely stating the obvious. Nobody of sound mind can honestly say that racial prejudice has been eliminated from society or that racial bigots don’t hate Obama because he is black. Bigots know that they can’t overtly express racial hatred, so they rant about his birthplace, his religion, and his secret socialist agenda instead. But make no mistake about it, a very large number of these right-wing protestors are racists and their anger stems from the fact that we have a black president. Carter should be commended for shedding light on the truth.
43. Robert Hudson | 09.16.09
I served in the US Navy for over seven years. I ultimately executed the orders of the Commander-in-Chief. I served under President Clinton and President Bush. They were extended the respect they deserved as the leader of this great nation. I find it appalling the comments posted don’t admonish Rep. Wilson for his outburst. Rep. Wilson should have made the comment to President Obama face-to-face. A LOT of people don’t like the word “racism” appearing or commenting on. It makes us angry. We deny the existence of it. It’s painful for some of us. But, the truth is the truth.
44. Tman | 09.16.09
Carter must be speaking from his own heart, not from the countries. Liberals are often the worst racist since they think people of color need special treatment. Smart thinking people see greatness rising in our country from all colors. Those same people see wrong thinking people in all colors. We are Americans, capitolists, the most productive, generous (public and private), the most compassionate.
Mr. Wilson is right what he said… just the wrong venue. By the way, the tea party (no baggers) think Bush did it to us too with the $700K bailout (McCain and Obama voted for. I do not care your color stop the spending!!!
47. Joseph Duvernay | 09.16.09
One looks at the mass of a person’s work to fasten on whom they are.
Mr. President James (Jimmy) Carter is not only in full capacity as a thinking
mind and feeling heart, but is a tremendous Patriot, unlike so many mouthers
on the right (which is wrong, has been wrong - in their support of a status quo that even leaves the most of them out).
What Mr. President Carter said no Minority person could say. As you see even
an upstanding White man, still and again as has been, will be lynched by the good townsfolk along with the ‘offending’ Black.
You folks at your “now we really have something to march about!” fool no one.
We know your face and tactics and your truly minority status among us, and what’s more - you can not win, because you come from a place of exclusion
and rub and erase. Watch out! You extinct yourselves by playing loose with truth.
48. nocs | 09.16.09
Anyone who thinks this is all about racism needs to get passed there own ignorent agendas. Out of whites Oboma garnered 46-47% of the vote and being since whites are still the majority, yes the majority! He would not be Presedent w/out these votes. So keep the race-card going it only devides us farther and bogs down debate! Peace!
49. Joshua from Scottsdale | 09.16.09
Why does everything in protest of the President have to be racially based.
It reminds me of a day when I was working at a previous job; a gentleman approached me asking for some items for free(these items were give away items for people participating in an event at our store). I informed the gentleman that the items were for people that had preordered the item the event was about. He then started yelling at me, calling me racist, and threatening me. I called a manager, and then I informed him I would call the police if he did not leave, at which point(I was only a supervisor) the manager I called stepped in and tried to appease the gentleman.
The worst part about this is that he said all of this while my girlfriend, now wife(Chinese), her friend(Peuerto Rican), my cousin(Mexican-Native American), and my friend(African American) where standing inline behind him. It wasn’t until he called me racist that I even connected that he was African American to the situation, and called the African American manager to come deal with him. The only way to deal with his racism was by bringing in another African American to talk to him.
It’s the same mentality being used in regards to the President. If you are white and Republican, you must be racist.
I for one am glad that the President is saying this is not racially motivated, especially after his botched job with that campus police officer and professor earlier this year. For some reason the ones that think that everyone else is racist are the ones pushing the non-existent racial issue in attempts to provoke racially driven tension.
While I am not supportive of the Presidents plans for the United States, I am still and United States Citizen, and support the President as the leader of our nation. With that I am very proud of the fact that the people of the United States seemed to get over racial problems of the past to finally elect a long over due minority into the White House. Our next step as a nation will to finally elect either a female President or Vice President. (Condoleezza Rice for president 2012)
I think people are having a hard time getting over their non racial prejudices right now. Like many of the above posters that say that republicans must be evil and racist because we wont give them any free money(if you cant see the irony in this sentence you are the problem with America).
50. Mary | 09.16.09
The outburst was inexcusable. However, many Americans are waiting for the White House and Congress to specifically address the issue of healthcare for illegal aliens with a clear reply that can’t be disputed. And then, our lawmakers MUST stand behind their word with legislation that is enforceable.
51. Cassy | 09.16.09
of course he doesn’t agree. He wants a second term. I’m not sure how he’ll get it by paying respect to those who would DIE before they voted for him, however.
I spent half of my life in and around Plains, GA. President Carter, I totally agree with you.
53. Cassy | 09.16.09
Also, no one is saying that ALL of the opposition to the current President is racially based. Anyone, particularly a sitting Congressman, can have a legitimate disagreement with the current Administration.
However, when you deliberately spread stories that he’s not a ‘real American’, and you show absolutely no respect for the office of Presidency by shouting ‘You Lie’ in the middle of a speech, and you openly refer to his wife as a ‘Sasquatch’, and feel comfortable getting on NATIONAL TV calling him an ‘Indonesian Muslim taking over the country’ inspite of all the contrary evidence, and you label him the equivalent of ‘Hitler’ - one can only wonder why your hatred is so intense.
Those who harbor such intense hatred cause outsiders to wonder why?
54. florida | 09.16.09
I have read several comments and what some of these people are missing is the fact that President Jimmy Carter isn’t call all “white” Americans racist. He simply spoke the truth when he said racism exists in America. Now if you say it doesn’t, you are in denial. President Obama did not receive votes just from blacks but from “people” who wanted change. I commend the president for the way he handled the “outburst” from Wilson who beforehand I didn’t even know. I have never seen such “strong” opposition to policies introduced by our current leader, and with such “hatred”. I see and hear negativity “everyday” about him and the “democrats” at work. It’s unbelievable. But if we truly care about America, we’d come together and try to work things out because guess what, the “world” is watching us. May God Bless and May God Bless America (we really need it)
55. bobo | 09.16.09
Cassy: Do you get your information from CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC or The Huffington Post???
Better check your source for proof of comments prior to repeating them.
Have a nice day
56. braeun6 | 09.16.09
To judge whether or not congressmen Wilson is a racist, without knowing more of the man’s character, words, and deeds would be rash and presumptous. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he is not a racist. And let’s extend the same benefit of the doubt to others who disagree with Obama that they are neither racist, nor backward, nor misguided simply by virtue of their dissent.
But let’s also face the fact that a fair cross section of TEA Party go’ers and others who are screaming things like “give me my country back!” are, in significant numbers, expressing deep seeded fears based on ignorance (i.e. Obama is a socialist/communist/nazi/un-American/terrorist sleeper cell).
Furthermore, one is hard pressed to find politicians on the right who are doing anything to dissuade these fears. The same could be said of certain media outlets that thrive off the frenzy. And to this extent, they are co-enabling the deep divisiveness that blots out and undermines any meaningful discourse. Yelling out “you lie” is not in itself a racist act. Wilson and anyone else is entitled to their assesment of the president’s veracity. It is in poor form and does nothing to further the debate toward a constructive end, but it is not racist.
However, in the context of the sheer nonesense and downright vitriol (much of which has xenophobic undertones) that comes in torrents with every single word and deed of the president, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Congressman Wilson’s outburst draws a wary eye.
57. sarah | 09.16.09
I will repeat what most of the people have said. When Obama was bashing Bush and still doing it has any one cried RACIT. Why is it that Obama seems to want to hide behing the recism card all the time. He cannot admit when he is wrong and that is the TRUTH. The people that voted for him are now regretting this act as it usually is everytime a democrat or republican get in to office. This is called politics. I truly believe that we as a country chould be able to vote for every decision that is made. It would be very expensive but it sure beats givng it to the auto makers and the banks. You can not convince me that this health care reform will not come back on the poor and the elderly. HIs programs are not working and he knows it and so do you!
58. DT Griffin | 09.16.09
Okay, everyone let’s be real here. Everyone that has examined and fully reviewed the documents clearly see that Obama did not and is not ‘lying’ about the illegal alien issue. All media sources have reviewed the plan and publicized that Obama did not lie. Mr. Wilson’s vehement protest has no element of logic. He is clearly reacting from a personal perspective and the cause is very likely racism. While I believe Carter is right and well intended, Obama is smart enough to know that he must not play into the comment and suggest racism, given that there is not concrete proof, it would only serve to his detriment. But let’s be honest, when someone has such a strong reaction that is not based on facts in that forum, there is clearly a personal reaction rooted in some type of fear.
59. Mitch Cumstein | 09.16.09
If you don’t believe that racism is a major motivator for some people opposing Obama, you either haven’t been paying attention or you’ve never been to South Carolina. Racism is so clearly motivating a lot of these people against Obama, and Wilson damn well knows that. It’s not even latent racism, it’s overt. http://bit.ly/3nj0Pq
Come of folks, let’s not get too high and mighty in thinking that racism doesn’t exist in America. It sure as **** does and we’re fools to just ignore it.
60. Cancha | 09.16.09
Hello Americans.
good conversation you have going. Have you notice the smile on Wilson’s friends when the cameras focused on him?
Sure, I agree completely with all the commentaries I have red, there is something you have forgotten though.
Where are you guys in all of this? Have you notice how much time you have spend thinking about this one thing? Have you think about 9/11 while writing your words, how about Lihman Brs? How about all the thousands of precious young lifes that have been lost in the towers in N.Y and in the Middle east?
Have I asked about lost money? I kind of forgotten about money. Do you all know how much it costs to take all of our kids over to the war site?
Forget the profits from building bombs, just the transportation to and from the war site, do you know how much it costs?
“Ignorance is a beauty”
If you think you are paying to many taxes, think how much we are paying for the war, plus how many American kids have died on those wars.
Come on Americans, we have a president to support, or a bill to read, don’t get distracted.
Upon close attention, you all are doing exactly what Wilson and the whole of the Rs. wanted you to do, waste your time on something else.
If you have red the bill entirely and you oppose it, I admire you. I know if you read it you will support it and so do Wilson, that is why he wants you focused on something else, he wants to be your hero.
I love you all.
61. BrentW | 09.17.09
I guess Mr. Carter can say anything he wants since he doesn’t have to worry about getting re-elected.
Here’s a clue about the elephant in the room: Just compare the amount (and tone) of press coverage for Carter’s way-off conclusions about tea parties to the amount (and tone) of press coverage for the tea parties themselves.
62. bryanlee1354 | 09.17.09
Mr. Obama, what did it take to get Mr. Carter to say that, so that you could deny it? Probably not much, however this was not the time to even play that card. Besides how could you even, you’re half caucasian. What would be the advantage of a race riot in this county? Oh, yes the magicians (deceivers) distraction once again. My question is, isn’t that a little too big just for the Health Care Bill? Perhaps there are other tricks up you sleeve, you know, like Bush’s “War on Terror” (cough, cough …oil).
63. doug | 09.17.09
i deal with people every day and most of them do not like obama because he is black and they say this out loud and rare not ashamed of it , even the people at work who are stupid and uninformed say things like this all the time ,its sad very sad
64. Michael B | 09.17.09
Sarah,
“His [Obama’s] programs aren’t working”? If you’re referring to health care reform, there is no program yet so how do we know if it’s working or not? If you are reffering to TARP, the banks are paying it all back with with interest. The auto bailout? They’ve leveled off, Ford is reporting positive growth, GM has has successfully restructured, and is back from the brink. So this adminstration’s major successes so far (a whopping 200 days in office)are pretty damn impressive. Is it all puppy dogs and rainbows? No. Full recovery will likely be slow.
But again, considering where we were barely a year ago and where we could have ended up- this administration has pulled off the near miraculous.
So no Sarah, those of us who voted for Obama have not been duped. And no, Obama is not hiding his failed progams behind the race card. For god sake, neither Obama, nor his administration ever brought up race to begin with, so what on earth are you talking about?!?
People are talking alot about race, true. People are also talking alot about the Kenyan born usurper who stole the Whitehouse, and socialism, and tyranny, and brainwashing of the children and all sorts of insane apocolyptic babble. Everytime this president opens his mouth or makes a move, it is stunning and baffeling the amount of fear and vitriole that is unleashed.
Yes, Bush caught harsh and sometimes unfair criticism, but nothing on this scale. Why is that? If its not racism, it must be some other form of deep fear and threat to identity. You couldn’t possibly read the picket signs or listen to the rants of the marchers on Capitol Hill this past weekend without noticing they’re all a little out of their marbles (unless you were one of them).
I don’t get it. People swallowed down the Patriot Act like it was warm apple pie and accepted federal wiretapping like it was a side of vanilla ice cream. Presenting trumped up evidence to Congress to go to war? Well that’s just fine and dandy. But wowe to the president who steps in to pull the country back from financial disaster! Wowe to he who tries to reform health care! For he is a socialist tyrant and subject to armed revolution by the people!
There is something terribly wrong with the American psyche right now. If it were only race, that might even be simpler to understand and deal with.
66. RHarrisonScott | 09.18.09
Mr Wilson disrespects a black/white president while speaking to congress and the American people about undocumented Mexicans not being included in the health care reform bill. hmmmmmm, sounds a bit suspect to me.
67. YankeeLiberty | 09.19.09
No one listened to Carter even when he was President.
However, it’s worth a poll:
Are you angry with the President because:
(a) He is black
(b) He is a pointy-headed Ivy League intellectual
(c) He is an advocate of an unprecedented level of spending on exactly the sort of programs that are responsible for almost all of the deficit we have accumulated since WWII
(d) He is destroying our competitive edge in the global economy
(e) He is not black enough
(f) He defers too much to Congress
(g) I’m getting weary of seeing him everywhere, all the time, bumping my favorite shows
I’m guessing (a) would get <1%. They are deplorable and ridiculous, but not worth sidetracking the discussion.
[All my fellow Ivy League alumni will probably flame me over (b) but I know whereof I speak. Went to Harvard, worked on Capitol Hill, but managed to kick the habit.]
68. November Lady | 09.19.09
Thank you, Mr Carter!!!!
Obama became our President. Yeah! Because an overwhelming number of people in this country wanted change and saw his strength. That doesn’t erase the image of people on national tv that admitted they couldn’t and wouldn’t vote for a black man. Nor the conversations I had with white people who admitted knowing white people that wouldn’t vote for a black man.
Was Wilson’s comment rooted in racism, I think so. Racism that is deep down residing in his baby toe. So many whites in this country don’t acknowledge their behavior and ideologies as being racist but they are.
Racism isn’t just putting a white sheet over your head and burning a cross. It’s as simple as not considering a group of people, to the extent that your institutions and businesses don’t bother marketing to “other” groups nor finding “others” valuable enough to drink your coffee (company name withheld).
Obama doesn’t have to SEE the racism or acknowledge it publicly, but I guarantee you when he lays his head on his pillow at night next to his beautiful black wife, they talk about it!!!!! For sure!!!!!
69. David Hearne | 09.24.09
Any reference or idea that can be construed as critical or negative toward Obama is fast becoming immediate fodder for claims of racist attack against the President. My book, “Hulagu’s Web the Presidential Pursuit of Senator Katherine Laforge” written in “2003″ but not published till November of 2008 has been attacked by some as racist because of references to a junior senator, who is groomed and promoted by a group of politicians and corporate elites to become the next president. Because the novel speaks of this as a nefarious attempt by members of congress and groups of businessmen working together to insure this junior Senator becomes President, it is assumed by some that the book is referring to President Obama. Below are 2 excerpts, which some question or find offensive:
“I know she said that this secret group is enlisting other Senators and in particular junior Senators, with one chosen to become President, but that logically couldn’t happen. They would have to convince the public to vote for an inexperienced junior Senator without a power base and no amount of perception management could accomplish that. Senior statesmen would never support the election of a junior Senator. And where would they raise the money? Wall Street would not gamble on a powerless junior Senator. It is inconceivable. But then I also doubt that major contributors like Big Oil or Wall Street would embrace their nemesis, Katherine.”
She took in deep breaths and said, ‘He is a young junior Senator, and they want him to win. And they will make sure he does.’
These minuscule references to a junior Senator are just part of a sub plot about a junior Senator used to help create a plutocracy and has nothing to do with Obama. This character in my book is never racially described, he is simply spoken of as a junior Senator. How readers can construe this as an attack on Obama is hard for me to understand and I hope this explanation will help defuse this issue. I also hope that the public in general wakes up and realizes that it is necessary to be able to verbally disagree with the policies of this President in the same fashion as we have done with former Presidents without being labeled a racist for exercising this right. Prior Presidents have had their character and names attacked constantly, Lyndon Johnson decided not to run because of the hatred he felt from his attackers, George W. Bush was lampooned and ridiculed constantly, Reagan was often portrayed by the media as to old and senile to lead, and Carter was always a constant joke to the media with his dysfunctional family, the oil embargo, Billy beer, the Iran hostage crisis and more. So let’s face reality all Presidents have been the target of ridicule, armchair quarterbacking, and prejudices - that extends from being called a ******* (Johnson & Bush), Kennedy had to contend with anti-Catholic prejudice, and many spoke of Franklin Roosevelt contemptuously as a “cripple.” “Res ipsa Loquitur”
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Amelio Blastoma | 09.16.09
I have been a Jimmy Carter fan for years, but this one is over the top. The topic creates anger in a lot of people. Clouding the real issue with unfounded cries of racism does nothing to solve the problem.