Carter Plays The Race Card

By Greg Hunter On September 17, 2009 In Political Analysis No Comments

By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com

Barack Obama, the first black President, has been in office just nine months. People like left wing comedian Janeane Garofalo have wasted no time in accusing anyone in opposition of the administration as being a racist. It is one thing for a regular citizen to make that claim, but it is quite another for a former president. Jimmy Carter doubled down on the race card when he said on NBC Nightly news,”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…”

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Michael Steele, the first African American RNC Chairman says, “President Carter is flat out wrong. This isn’t about race. It is about policy…Characterizing Americans’ disapproval of President Obama’s policies as being based on race is an outrage and a troubling sign about the lengths Democrats will go to disparage all who disagree with them. ”

There is no doubt that the Democrats are frustrated. They have to compromise on health care reform even though they have an overwhelming majority in Congress. Some Democrats felt they had to give up the “public option” because of a very intense opposition to government run health care. Carter and others cannot grasp there is a genuine opposition to what some say is a costly and bad idea. There is not a shred of evidence to back up the former President’s assertion of racism. I also find it odd that NBC let that comment go on the air unchecked. I thought the interviewer, Brian Williams, should have pressed Carter on what is an absurd and unprovable comment.

The health care debate is really all about money. The President says it will cost 990 billion dollars over the next ten years but will be deficit neutral. The Congressional Budget Office thinks health care will add 239 billion dollars to the deficit in the next 10 years. Michael Tanner of the Cato Institute says, “If the new health care entitlement were subject to the same 75-year actuarial standards as Social Security…” the bill will add an additional 9.2 trillion bucks to the deficit over the next decade. No matter where you stand on the cost, real money is going to be spent to get this done. I have always said health care reform is all about who pays and how much?

Even a big Democratic Senator like Jay Rockefeller ripped into the health care bill because he sees “a big, big tax” on his West Virginia coal mining constituents. Is that racist? No, that’s also absurd! Being opposed to health care reform is as racially motivated as what Kanye West said to Taylor Swift at the Video Music Awards.

What West said was stupid and insensitive but not racial. What Representative Joe Wilson said when he yelled out “You Lie” during a Joint Session of Congress was stupid and insensitive but not racial. Remember, to the Presidents credit, he accepted Wilson’s apology and moved on. Bravo Mr. President for being, well, Presidential. I’ll bet you Barack Obama wishes Carter kept his remarks to himself! To risk blow back and distraction on a phony race issue is foolish, especially considering the financial crisis and geopolitical problems the country is facing. I look at Barack Obama as the President of the United States, period.

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About the Author

Greg Hunter

Greg is the producer and creator of USAWatchdog.com. The site’s slogan is “analyzing the news to give you a clear picture of what’s really going on.” The site will keep an eye on the government, your financial interests and cut through the media spin. USAWatchdog.com is neither Democrat nor Republican, Liberal or Conservative. Before creating and producing the site, Greg spent nearly 9 years as a network and investigative correspondent. He worked for ABC News and Good Morning America for nearly 6 years. Most recently, Greg worked for CNN for shows such as Paula Zahn Now, American Morning and various CNN business shows.