Jimmy Carter Racism

Jimmy Carter Racism

Jimmy Carter drew widespread criticism Wednesday for claiming that Rep. Joe Wilson's infamous outburst last week was "based on racism" and that an "overwhelming portion" of similar demonstrations against President Obama are rooted in bigotry. Obama's supporters have attributed racist motives to opponents of his health care plan for weeks, but Carter is the highest-profile person so far to push that claim.While anti-Obama demonstrators have been seen carrying over-the-top or racially insensitive signs, administration critics say Carter is flat wrong to claim that those fringes make up the bulk of Obama's detractors. "I think it's very destructive for America to suggest that we can't criticize a president without it being a racial act," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told FOX News.

The suggestion that race is behind Obama criticism has been made by New York Gov. David Paterson and Reps. Charlie Rangel of New York, Diane Watson of California and Hank Johnson of Georgia, among others. But a poll released Wednesday by Rasmussen Reports showed that just 12 percent of voters believe that most opponents of Obama's health care reform plan are racist. The survey, taken Monday and Tuesday of 1,000 likely voters, found 67 percent disagree with that contention, while 21 percent are not sure. The survey had a margin of error of 3 percent. "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 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 ... and I think it's bubbled up to the surface, because of a 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."

At a town hall at his presidential center in Atlanta Tuesday, Carter also said Wilson -- who shouted "You lie," at Obama during his health care address to Congress -- was racially motivated. "I think it's based on racism," Carter said in response to an audience question. "There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president." "There is not a racist bone in my dad's body," said Alan Wilson, an Iraq veteran who is running for state attorney general. "He doesn't even laugh at distasteful jokes. I won't comment on former President Carter, because I don't know President Carter. But I know my dad, and it's just not in him. ... It's unfortunate people make that jump." South Carolina's former Democratic Party chairman said that he doesn't believe Wilson was motivated by racism, but said the outburst encouraged racist views. "I think Joe's conduct was asinine, but I think it would be asinine no matter what the color of the president," said Dick Harpootlian, who has known Wilson for decades. "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."