Video: Carter – Racism Plays Major Role in Opposition to Obama

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carter-obama[Video below.] Former President Jimmy Carter said yesterday 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. Former President Carter tells “NBC Nightly News” that racism has surfaced in opposition to President Obama.

“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 Nightly 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.

Michael Steele, who is the first African-American to chair the Republican National Committee, denied today that race is fueling protests.

“President Carter is flat-out wrong,” Steele said in a statement. “This isn’t about race. It is about policy.”

Carter made similar remarks at an event at his presidential center in Atlanta, Georgia, The Associated Press reported yesterday, 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.” Watch Carter link animosity toward Obama to racism »

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.

Steele said Democrats are just trying to divert attention from what he called the president’s “wildly unpopular government-run health care plan.”

“Injecting race into the debate over critical issues facing American families doesn’t create jobs, reform our health care system or reduce the growing deficit. It only divides Americans rather than uniting us to find solutions to challenges facing our nation,” he said.

Click below for a video clip of Carter’s remarks:

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{CNN Ticker/NBC Nightly News/Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}


5 COMMENTS

  1. In this one case Jimmy Carter is right on the mark. The proof is the racist comments one finds on this news website. Anyone who is clear headed sees that many of you and many other people have a personal hatred of the President. It is much more than disagreement with his policies, it is a feeling that his election is a danger and that he is not a legitimate President. While many ridiculed George W. Bush, nobody asscribed evil intentions to him, he was just above his capacity in that job. He is a good human being, a quality many of your bloggers will not acknowledge in B. Hussein, the one you love to hate.

  2. I have to disagree with Oberstein;
    If anything the President has taken advantage of his color to push his agenda, knowing that any opposition would be viewed as racial.
    Furthermore, if Jimmy Carter says anything, it is either Anti-American, Anti- Israel, or Anti-semitic. He has used his status as a former President to expound on a myriad of issues as though he is some sort of sage. He should be taken for what he really is – a Southern, Liberal Anti-semite

  3. Kehn zein that Carter is worthy of opprobrium. He is a meddling,self righteous baal gaava who was a flop as President but loves to go around the world helping spread democracy. I have no desire to defend Jimmy. He won’t be invited to speak at a shul in the near future.
    Whatever one says about President Obama, he has declined to use his race as an issue. Even now, he says that the opposition is not racially motivated. He is very intelligent, but then so is Carter. If he is a great President will not be known for a long time. But, give him a chance. If you destroy the presidency and teach your children to revile the person holding that office, you risk harming a lot more than one man.

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