Former President Jimmy Carter is throwing his two cents in on Congressman Joe Wilson’s (R-S.C.) outburst on the House floor last week. Mr. Carter is calling Mr. Wilson’s “you lie” accusation towards President Obama during the President’s address to Congress last week an act of racism. While these racism charges are debated, it should be noted that Mr. Carter referred to Mr. Obama as “this black boy” in August of 2008 during the last presidential elections. I uploaded this video at Media Research Center’s Eyeblast.tv at the time. Transcript is below:
JIM LEHRER: And do you think that — if it happens that he is elected, or even just being nominated, is — will send positive ripple effects throughout the country on the race issue?
JIMMY CARTER: Around the world. Around the world. And I think it already has sent a wave of approbation and admiration in many countries around the world, just knowing that this black boy who grew up with just a loving mother and grandparents — and that was about all he had to start with — does now have a chance to become the nominee of the Democratic Party for president.
And Rose and I have visited a few more than 125 nations since I left the White House. And we’ve seen a disillusionment about our country in the last eight years, with a lot of things happening, like torturing of prisoners and that sort of thing. I won’t go into detail about that.
But I don’t think there’s any doubt that there’s a spirit and a bright, new hope for America within this country and around the world. And if Obama is elected, which I think he is going to be, then I think that will be the transforming race for the end of racism, and prejudice, and hatred between races in this country.
JIM LEHRER: That’s quite a statement.
JIMMY CARTER: I believe it’s true.
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