Jimmy Carter: Wilson comments 'based on racism'

[alienlovechild 75]

Not a whole lot of racists will be that blunt.

Guess you haven't met many racists in your life. They may not say things in mixed company but it won't stop them if you happen to be the of same race as the racist you're talking to.

[HAL 9000 96]

You know when a ball on a string is swung in one direction and then is jerked back? When that ball passes the initial point of origin, it never stops- it overshoots to then swing back and forth until it reaches rest.

That's were we're at as a society. Not quite post-racial, but on our way there.

We elected a black President, still not enough to convince you? Im convinced.

That's what happens when you think in terms of one society, one thought. Last I checked... that was clearly not the case.

[Peikko 1,575]

Pointlessness at its finest. Will racists admit publicly to being so? You decide!

As for Carter's comment - unless he knows something about the views of the Senator that are so far not public knowledge that is a spurious argument. Either agree that it was rude and not acceptable (no matter who does it) or drop the hullabaloo.

[HAL 9000 96]

Not a whole lot of racists will be that blunt.

Guess you haven't met many racists in your life. They may not say things in mixed company but it won't stop them if you happen to be the of same race as the racist you're talking to.

Perhaps you are correct in your judgement of some the racists. Why generalize?

And yes, I have seen racism first hand.

[*Robert* 2]

I haven't heard anyone say in person that they don't like Obama because he's black. The idea Obama's policies are generally judged differently because of the color of his skin is ridiculous.

The trend now is to now label opponents of Obama as racist because they desperate need something, anything to save the Democrats. I expect we'll have more of these racist charges as Obama's poll numbers and the economy continues to tank.

Though I have certainly heard people say they don't like Obama because he is black, I understand your point that a racist will have no problem telling you, but the rest of the majority don't care what color he is.

I think the trend will continue as well, and that's what worries me.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Let's put Carter's comments in context here. Carter did NOT directly called Wilson a racist.

The founder of the Tea Bag Party calls Obama, "the Racist in Chief" and when questioned about it, he defended it on Anderson360.

Glen Beck has also called the President a racist.

So lets really look at just who is pulling the racist card here.

Edited September 16, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[*Robert* 2]

Pointlessness at its finest. Will racists admit publicly to being so? You decide!

As for Carter's comment - unless he knows something about the views of the Senator that are so far not public knowledge that is a spurious argument. Either agree that it was rude and not acceptable (no matter who does it) or drop the hullabaloo.

Should it be unacceptable? Rude maybe, but when you look at other countries and how their politicians act... our House and Senate are pretty well behaved.

[HAL 9000 96]

I haven't heard anyone say in person that they don't like Obama because he's black. The idea Obama's policies are generally judged differently because of the color of his skin is ridiculous.

The trend now is to now label opponents of Obama as racist because they desperate need something, anything to save the Democrats. I expect we'll have more of these racist charges as Obama's poll numbers and the economy continues to tank.

Though I have certainly heard people say they don't like Obama because he is black, I understand your point that a racist will have no problem telling you, but the rest of the majority don't care what color he is.

I think the trend will continue as well, and that's what worries me.

I think the trend is improving. For the betterment of society. Seeing things the other way is reminiscent of (sic) a black and white world common to the Cold War Era. Things are not that simple in reality.

Let's put Carter's comments in context here. Carter did NOT directly called Wilson a racist.

The founder of the Tea Bag Party calls Obama, "the Racist in Chief" and when questioned about it, he defended it on Anderson360.

Glen Beck has also called the President a racist.

So lets really look at just who is pulling the racist card here.

Very true.

[Peikko 1,575]

Pointlessness at its finest. Will racists admit publicly to being so? You decide!

As for Carter's comment - unless he knows something about the views of the Senator that are so far not public knowledge that is a spurious argument. Either agree that it was rude and not acceptable (no matter who does it) or drop the hullabaloo.

Should it be unacceptable? Rude maybe, but when you look at other countries and how their politicians act... our House and Senate are pretty well behaved.

I think that is where the terms of the debate should lie, what is acceptable in terms of heckling and what is not. The motivation of the heckler, which 'side' of the aisle he resides, all that is irrelevant. The fact is that there is this fuss because people want to pin the tail on the dem/rep donkey and this is trivia.

[Peikko 1,575]

I happen to like listening to the UK debating chambers despite the public school nature of the styles of some of the members, so what I personally would deem as acceptable is probably different to others. However, the point is I would accept a concensus opinion. It's either ok, and everyone should be allowed to do it, or it's not and everyone should join in its condemnation.

[_Simpson_ 250]

You know when a ball on a string is swung in one direction and then is jerked back? When that ball passes the initial point of origin, it never stops- it overshoots to then swing back and forth until it reaches rest.

That's were we're at as a society. Not quite post-racial, but on our way there.

We elected a black President, still not enough to convince you? Im convinced.

That's what happens when you think in terms of one society, one thought. Last I checked... that was clearly not the case.

Smoke and mirrors Hal, do your believe that most of the people who didnt vote for him are raciest.

Curious to know what it will take for you to believe otherwise.

Gotta go, bye

Edited September 16, 2009 by _Simpson_

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You know when a ball on a string is swung in one direction and then is jerked back? When that ball passes the initial point of origin, it never stops- it overshoots to then swing back and forth until it reaches rest.

That's were we're at as a society. Not quite post-racial, but on our way there.

We elected a black President, still not enough to convince you? Im convinced.

That's what happens when you think in terms of one society, one thought. Last I checked... that was clearly not the case.

Smoke and mirrors Hal, do your believe that most of the people who didnt vote for him are raciest.

Curious to know what it will take for you to believe otherwise.

Gotta go, bye

Good grief. People throw around the term 'racism' like a ragdoll.

If a black person voted for Barack Obama simply because he was black, that doesn't automatically mean they are racist. Superficial, but not racist.

And you've got to be kidding yourself if there weren't plenty of people who didn't vote for Obama, simply because he is black. Racism? Some of it, sure.

Given the fact that 150 years ago, slavery was legal, and it took a Civil War to end it....and given the fact that many states have seriously talked of seceded from the U.S. after Obama was elected, you cannot simply dimiss the racism of the past as if it were not a factor in all of this nonsense from some of the extreme Right.

Edited September 16, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[HAL 9000 96]

You know when a ball on a string is swung in one direction and then is jerked back? When that ball passes the initial point of origin, it never stops- it overshoots to then swing back and forth until it reaches rest.

That's were we're at as a society. Not quite post-racial, but on our way there.

We elected a black President, still not enough to convince you? Im convinced.

That's what happens when you think in terms of one society, one thought. Last I checked... that was clearly not the case.

Smoke and mirrors Hal, do your believe that most of the people who didnt vote for him are raciest.

Curious to know what it will take for you to believe otherwise.

Gotta go, bye

I believe some people that didn't vote for him are racist, on a varying scale of what racism is- be it heavy dogmatic racism or be it that strange discomfort some white people get when all alone in an elevator with a black guy...

But not the majority, no.

[trailmix 77]

Should it be unacceptable? Rude maybe, but when you look at other countries and how their politicians act... our House and Senate are pretty well behaved.

Maybe that's the problem - at least in Canada you know where they stand

[Pooky 3,781]

Tuesday's rebuke was a rare resolution of disapproval pushed through by Democrats who insisted that Wilson had violated basic rules of decorum and civility. Republicans characterized the measure as a witch hunt and Wilson, who had already apologized to Obama, insisted he owed the House no apology.

I don't think it was racism at all BUT this is really over the top. If they were to let this slide what's next in the House?? Swearing at the top of their lungs? The whole world is able to watch this stuff and I for one am embarassed by his outburst and then on top to say it's a witch hunt and for him to say he owes no apology? What is this country coming to? A witch hunt? Didn't really have to hunt him down, he kinda sorta made himself VERY accessible and public and yes, he does or did (not sure if has up till now) owe not only the House an apology but his constituents whom he embarassed. There were many other polically correct ways to get his point across.

Wilson's point here is that he apologised to the President himself, the person at whom his accusation was levelled. President Obama accepted that apology.

Then Congress decides to have a do-over. There is no hard and fast rule about these things and I believe the prompt apology would have sufficed if the Democrats hadn't seen an opening for another distraction (not being partisan here - it's just politicians being politicians). As MC has pointed out, this sort of heckling/name-calling/accusation is common in the UK and is missing the kind of full-contact disagreements that some other European parliaments have.

Was Joe Wilson making his accusation on the basis of race? I rather doubt it.

Are the vast majority of dissenters to Obama's administration racist? Again, I doubt it. Some are, inevitably, but the vast majority, especially in this health care/insurance reform debate, oppose the President's policies, not the man himself.

Should President Carter have chosen his words more carefully? From what I have seen and heard of him recently, he should have kept his own counsel, as the Republican'ts were always going to jump all over anything he said and use it against the current administration.