In an interview with NBC's Brian Williams, former Democratic President Jimmy Carter attributed much of the conservative opposition that President Obama is receiving to the issue of race.
"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," 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 share the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African Americans."
Carter continued, "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."
You know, if Carter's head was any further up his ass he'd have a fool in his throat.
UPDATING:
I liked this take from Hot Air:
Deep thoughts from the guy whose book on Israel was most recently plugged by, um, Osama Bin Laden. I’m tempted to tout Jesse Walker’s Reason piece for the third time today on HA as an explanation for Jimmeh’s cynicism here, but I can’t quite do it. The difference between Carter and most of the left, I think, is that he really believes this crap. And, to boot, he really believes he’s doing good by mentioning it rather than poisoning race relations by equating opposition to government expansion with white supremacism.
4 comments:
I am very upset by former President Jimmy Carter's comments on racism because a great number of American's disagree with some of President Obama's policies. As a Georgian Democrat who supported President Carter when he was in office and actually was a volunteer during his campaign, I am strongly offended by his comments. There are many Democratic Americans out there who oppose President Obama, not because he is a biracial man, but because we simply do not agree with some of his policies. I believe Mr. Carter has set race relations back for many years in this country simply because of his comments. Those of us from the South who had fought every step of the way to promote race relations are now seeing much of the good done in the South, as well as all parts of the country, undone because of these comments and comments from other people, are just heart sick and heart broken by the tact he has taken. I say shame on you President Carter because I truly do not believe you have thought through your comments and the harm it has done and will do to race relations in this country. I hope you will rethink your comments and will apologize to the many hundreds of thousands of Americans and Georgians who have supported you, the Democratic party and President Obama for your untimely comments. We need to pull together now and set aside racist comments from all parties whether or not we agree with President Obama's policies on health care and otherwise. We need to work together, not set up barriers of race. I feel in my heart of hearts that President Obama does not believe race is the reason for the discontent in America. At least I pray that he does not.
"I feel in my heart of hearts that President Obama does not believe race is the reason for the discontent in America. At least I pray that he does not."
You know...I'm torn here. Part of me agrees with you, but... if that is true then isn't it more damning to Obama himself? I mean, if he KNOWS the objections are not racially inspired yet he sits backs and says nothing while his allies poison the country, isn't that more despicable then if he himself actually believed racism was the key?
Its a lose-lose proposition, only its the country as a whole that loses most.
It seems like no matter what happens, there will always be an issue of racism to some degree.
I agree Amy. Race as an issue will never go away entirely. I dont think anyone really denies that in a general sense (although they may deny it in a given circumstance.)
Where things go off the rail is when that truism is used to discount and demonize one's political opponents. It is a cheap and easy way out. Lots of people can do better then that. (Sadly, I'm not sure President Carter is one of those people.)
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