Alan Wilson, South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson’s oldest son, spoke out about Former President Carter’s comments on the “you lie” outburst, saying it was “based on racism.”
In his presidential center in Atlanta Tuesday (Sep.15), Carter said he believes Wilson’s outburst was racially motivated and made out of fears of an African-American president.
“I think it’s based on racism,” Carter said. “There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president.”
Wilson’s son, however, feels differently.
“There is not a racist bone in my dad’s body,” Alan, who is running for state attorney general of South Carolina, said. “He doesn’t even laugh at distasteful jokes. I won’t comment on former President Carter, because I don’t know President Carter. But I know my dad, and it’s just not in him.”
“It’s unfortunate people make that jump. People can disagree — and appropriately disagree — on issues of substance, but when they make the jump to race it’s absolutely ludicrous. My brothers and I were raised by our parents to respect everyone regardless of background or race.”
The former president said Joe Wilson’s outburst is a part of a trend aimed towards the President in which people are likening him to terrorists, socialist and Nazi leaders.
“Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care,” he said. “It’s deeper than that.”
Wilson, was officially reprimanded in a House vote on Tuesday for shouting at President Obama during his speech on health care reform.
Former Democratic chairman of South Carolina does not believe Wilson’s outburst was racially motivated. However, he believes that it does propel racist sentiment.
“I think Joe’s conduct was asinine, but I think it would be asinine no matter what the color of the president,” said package Harpootlian, who has known Wilson for decades. “I don’t think Joe’s outburst was caused by President Obama being African-American. I think it was caused by no filter being between his brain and his mouth.”
Harpootlian pointed out that he did, in fact, receive a number of racial e-mails after he spoke about the House vote Fox News.
“You have a bunch of folks out there looking for some comfort in their racial issues. They have a problem with an African-American president,” he said. “But was he motivated by that? I don’t think so. I respectfully disagree with President Carter, though it gives validity to racism.”
Hm, seems like this about the only issue with some level of bipartisanship agreement. But if only we could get the White House to admit racism still exists and that since the election, folks who are uncomfortable with the President are using health care as a platform to spat their racial hatred.
