Jimmy Carter On Race, Obama & Joe Wilson

Video: Jimmy Carter: Wilson Comments 'Based on Racism' - The Associated Press

Former U.S. President, Jimmy Carter, stated the animosity Republican member of Congress, Joe Wilson, displayed towards current President, Barack Obama, was due to racism. Possibly.

He attributes the unprecedented outburst and disrespect shown to Obama, in the House of Representatives, to racism on Wilson's part.

Additional Comments:

While, I'm not amused with either political party, due to massive failures and moral lapses that created the current recession turned depression, as a black person, I expect, Obama, the nation's first black President, will be treated exactly the same as former Commanders-in-Chief, all of whom have been white.

Once again, as a person of color, I do not expect him to be treated any differently and when he is and negatively so, it is not something I find particularly kind or tasteful.

Jimmy Carter

Updated 11:01 a.m. 9/16/09 - In remarks decried by Republicans, former president Jimmy Carter told NBC's Brian Williams in an interview Tuesday that he believes race is at the core of much of the opposition to President Obama.

"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, particularly African Americans"

Continued Carter, who is famously from Georgia: "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."...

"I think it's based on racism," Carter said of the tone of the opposition, in response to an audience question. "There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president."...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com

Joe Wilson Censured For Obama Outburst

Video: House Floor Debate: Resolution on Rep. Joe Wilson C-SPAN

Republican congressman, Joe Wilson, was officially censured by the House of Representatives, for an outburst last week, which saw him call President Obama a liar.

Rep. Joe Wilson

Since the incident, Wilson has received a significant cash infusion for his campaign, via donations from conservatives that have rallied around him.

President Obama

However, due to his refusal to apologize to the House of Representatives, only stating sorry to President Obama, he was censured in a formal motion.

Serena Williams Goes Compton On Lineswoman

Serena Was Not Serene After Shoddy Call

Serena Williams' book is titled "On The Line" which is ironic, as she faced trouble for her foot allegedly being on the line at the U.S. Open

Tennis player, Serena Williams, had a Joe Wilson "You Lie" moment at the U.S. Open on Saturday, September 12, 2009, when a lineswoman called a foot-fault at a crucial moment, the Compton, California native believed to be inaccurate.

Serena blew a gasket and went Joe Wilson on the lineswoman, believing she cheated her out of a vital point. Words were exchanged and things went downhill from there, costing Williams another point for "unsportsmanlike conduct."

Radar Online accused Serena Williams of telling a lineswoman, "If I could I would shove this f****** ball down your f****** throat and kill you."

Said penalty just happened to be match point. Kim Clijsters, who was in the lead and playing quite well, won the match as a result. She went out onto the court looking troubled, clearly with something on her mind, which the calls exacerbated.

Williams has since apologized, but no official clarification has been furnished by the USTA for the debated foot fault that triggered the incident. That needs to be addressed. Serena was fined $10,000. She face a possible suspension and an additional $250,000 fine.

Serena Williams fined, faces possible suspension for tirade

September 13, 2009 - Serena Williams' tirade against a lineswoman who called her for a foot fault Saturday night in her semifinal match against Kim Clijsters may have gotten her into deep trouble beyond the penalty point assessed that cost her the match.

Early last evening the USTA announced that it had fined Williams the maximum $10,000 for a profane tirade. But that wasn't the end of it.

According to a news release, the USTA said: "The Grand Slam Rule Book also allows for an investigation to be conducted by the Grand Slam Committee Investigator if the behavior of Ms. Williams warrants consideration as a Major Offense for which additional penalties can be imposed. This investigation has now begun."

This opens the way for a possible suspension after the Open and a potential fine of $250,000 by the Grand Slam Committee.

The women's tour also issued a statement condemning Williams' actions. "Serena Williams' conduct last night was inappropriate and unprofessional,'' WTA chairman Stacy Allaster said. "No matter what the circumstances, no player should be allowed to engage in such behavior without suffering consequences. I have spoken to the USTA about this matter and I agree with the action they have taken."

Williams also issued a statement that said in part: "Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have for my job. Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don't agree with the unfair line call, in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly. I would like to thank my fans and supporters for understanding that I am human..." ...

http://www.newsday.com

Rep. Joe Wilson Gets Windfall Of Cash

...After Obama Incident

Rep. Joe Wilson

Congressional representative, Joe Wilson, whose outburst during U.S. President Barack Obama's speech this week, caused a massive amount of controversy, when he exclaimed the words, "You lie" has seen a significant increase in campaign donations. $750,000 to be exact.

S.C.'s Wilson Rakes In $750,000 in Less Than 48 Hours; Opponent Tops $1 Million

With a political arms race in full force, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) has raised almost $750,000 in less than 48 hours since his shout of "You lie!" to President Obama during the Wednesday address to Congress, almost matching the Internet-fueled haul of his likely Democratic opponent.

A senior GOP official said Wilson, who apologized to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel after the health-care speech but has since refused a more public apology, has turned his own previous sleepy campaign machine into an Web-friendly effort.

Just as liberals have poured cash into the campaign of Rob Miller, who lost to Wilson by almost eight percentage points in 2008, conservatives are pouring contributions into Wilson's campaign at an astonishing rate...

To put this fund-raising haul in perspective, Wilson, by early next week, could equal the total amount of money he raised in the entire two-year-election cycle of 2008, when he raised a little more than $1.1 million.

Miller, by contrast, raised just $390,000 in donations for the entire 2008 cycle and lent himself another $235,000 of his own money, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission. So he's already doubled, in just two days, his total donations over a two-year period...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com

Obama, Interrupted

Obama's Shout Out!

U.S. President Barack Obama was interrupted during a televised speech yesterday, after stating his health care initiatives would not cover illegal immigrants. Republican congressional representative, Joe Wilson, shouted at Obama, "You lie."

Okay, then (raised brows). Dude just couldn't hold it anymore and heckled Obama like it was a stand up comedy show. Wilson has since apologized. However, Democrats are calling for Wilson to be censured in what is being labeled very disrespectful conduct.

Side Bar: some people are not taking Obama's Presidency well. Some people are cracking up, not able to hold it in.

Rep. Wilson shouts to Obama during speech: 'You lie'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Republican House member shouted "You lie" during President Obama's health care speech to Congress on Wednesday, and members of both parties condemned the heckling.

Rep. Joe Wilson shouted "You lie" after President Obama denied health reform would cover illegal immigrants. After the speech, South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson issued a statement apologizing for his outburst.

"This evening, I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill," the statement said. "While I disagree with the president's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility."

Wilson also called the White House to apologize and spoke with Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who accepted the apology on the president's behalf, according to a senior administration official.

"We can disagree without being disagreeable," Emanuel said to Wilson, according to the official. "That was the point of the president's speech."

The outburst came when Obama denied that proposed health care legislation would provide free health coverage for illegal immigrants. Immediately, Wilson shouted, "You lie!"

The outburst caused Obama to stop and look toward the heckler. "That's not true," the president responded...

http://www.cnn.com