Barack Obama and prominent Democrats have moved to distance themselves from ex-president Jimmy Carter’s insistence that racism was fueling opposition to the Obama administration.
“Are there people out there who don’t like me because of race? I’m sure there are,” Obama told CNN. “That’s not the overriding issue here.”
Other prominent Democrats echoed Obama’s statement.
“Listen, he’s the former president, and he’s entitled to his point of view,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “I personally believe President Obama and his administration are focused on the issues, and I agree with that.”
“I don’t see this as a racial issue,” added Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.). “There are a lot of people upset about how we on the Democratic side can engage like we have been, and there’s a lot of anger out there. So, I don’t see it as a racial issue.”
“I didn’t agree with it,” Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) said of Carter’s remarks.
Jimmy Carter
Carter said Tuesday that there’s “an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president,” and that that feeling drives some of the anti-Obama dissent, such as Congressman Joe Wilson’s “you lie” outburst during Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress on health care reform.
Carter, interviewed by NBC to mark his 85th birthday, said: “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 shared the south’s attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African Americans.
“And 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. It’s an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply.”
Several Democrats have agreed with Carter’s assessment, including congressman Hank Johnson, who evoked images of the Klu Klux Klan, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said a “climate of fear” was being created that reminded her of the atmosphere in 1970′s San Francisco that led to the assassination of Harvey Milk.
The Southern Poverty Law Centre, one of the main groups in the US tracking hate groups, expressed support for Carter. Mark Potok, the director of the team investigating hate groups, said: “I think what President Carter said is precisely what is going on. I am not saying that everyone involved in opposing healthcare reform is a Klansman in disguise, but it is the elephant in the room.”
More from TRP
- Obama In Another Gay Sex And Drug Scandal
- Now Carter Says Obama Critics Not Racist
- US Debt “Unsustainable”: Obama
TRP Recommends
- Faultline USA: The Failed Presidency of B. H. Obama (faultlineusa)
- Faultline USA: Republicans for Obama??? Sure . . . (faultlineusa)
- Obama Plays the Race Card (WesternFront America)
Related posts:
Jimmy Carter has been associating with too many terrorist and eating too many peanuts!
Or maybe there's still some of that Billy beer on tap.
I saw Obama when he with his Cheshire cat smile, gave this "illuminating" statement. Bit late don'tcha think?
Carter's age is showing,and allowing his own attitudes toward other races to show! He is after all an older, wealthy southerner. I'm from Georgia and most people my age (62) and younger just don't give a flip. Older people have a problem getting past the past so to speak.
Jane Scroggins is correct. It’s absolutely ridiculous, everyone knows this is a bi-racial president, there is nothing black or white about Obama, he is a blend of the best of both. It is the decisions he’s making since becoming president that is the problem, and Carter should just shut up already.
I don’t know why Carter is even getting into the picture.He’s off the wall sometimes and he just doesn’t make sense.Obama is smart to distance himself from this ex president and the so wrong statement he made.I don’t know why race has to come into everything.I just don’t understand it.I will praise Obama for steering clear of this issue,show’s how smart he is about this.Like this person said,he has the best of both,black and white.Why can’t we all just try to live in peace.There’s enough hate and war’s already.GOD help us all,we sure need it.
It is laughable how the Dems trotted out that old fool and worst president in our history to beat the race drum for Acornbama. Well it didn't work any better than Nancy Peloser's tears. No one but the Acornbama worshipers bought it and they have a perception defect. American's that oppose Acornbama's Commiecare are not Nazis or racists, they are ordinary Americans, the salt of the earth. Jimmy Carter's heir apparent to the worst president's crown namely Acornbama had no choice but to distance himself from these moronic statements. Jimmy Carter is a racist himself. Carter hates Jews and he and Acornbama are very unpopular in Israel because of their extreme hostility to the Jewish nation. Both of these radicals side with the wolves of Islam against our nation friend Israel. Only 2.65% of Israelis now believe that Acornbama is a friend of Israel. Here's your proof of what I say straight from The Jerusalem Post. http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/rosner/entry/the_isra…
One more point. I despise Poloser, Kerry, Dodd, Reid & Frank who are WHITE just as much as I despise Acornbama who is BLACK. Race has nothing to do with it. Ideology has everything to do with it. Vote out Acornbama's allies in 2010 and pass this site below on please.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/impeach-obama
Jimmy Carter is old and getting senile and lets his mouth run before he gets his brain in gear. His remarks are stupid and unnecessary, and he just needs to disappear from the public scene, lest he does more damage to the racial relations in this country.