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US House rebukes heckler lawmaker Carter says Obama row is 'racist'
(about 2 hours later)
The US House of Representatives has voted to rebuke Joe Wilson, the Republican lawmaker who heckled President Barack Obama during a speech. Former US President Jimmy Carter says much of the vitriol against President Barack Obama's health reforms and spending plans is "based on racism".
Mr Wilson shouted out "You lie" while Mr Obama was delivering an address on healthcare to a joint session of both houses of Congress last week. Mr Carter told a town-hall meeting there was "an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president".
Republican lawmaker Joe Wilson was rebuked on Tuesday in a House vote.
He shouted "You lie!" while Mr Obama was delivering an address on healthcare to Congress last Wednesday.
The House resolution of disapproval described it as "a breach of decorum".The House resolution of disapproval described it as "a breach of decorum".
Former President Jimmy Carter said the heckle was "based on racism", but Mr Wilson's son denied this was a factor. But Mr Wilson's eldest son, Alan, has denied racism was a factor in his father's outburst.
Mr Carter told a meeting at his presidential centre in Atlanta that there was "an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president". Some conservatives have accused the president's supporters of playing the race card.
But Mr Wilson's eldest son, Alan, said: "There is not a racist bone in my dad's body." 'Abominable'
Alan Wilson is an Iraq veteran who is running for state attorney general in Georgia. Angry town hall meetings and a recent taxpayers' demonstration in Washington have been vitriolic towards the president, reports the BBC's Americas editor Mark Mardell.
'Civility' Many have not just protested against the president's policies but have accused him of tyranny, and have promised to "reclaim America".
Lawmakers voted 240-179 in favour of the resolution. "Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national programme on health care," Mr Carter said at a town hall held prior to the Congress vote at his Carter Center in Atlanta on Tuesday.
"It's deeper than that."
Responding to a question specifically on Mr Wilson's outburst, he said Mr Obama was the head of state as well as the head of government and - like heads of state elsewhere, such as the Queen of England - he should be "treated with respect".
It was a "dastardly thing to do", he said.
His comments were rejected by Joe Wilson's son, Alan, an Iraq veteran who is running for state attorney general in Georgia.
"There is not a racist bone in my dad's body," he said.
Apology
In Tuesday's vote, lawmakers voted 240-179 in favour of the resolution to censure Mr Wilson.
Mr Wilson personally apologised to President Obama for his outburst
The move was backed by most Democrats, but dismissed by many Republicans as a distraction from more serious issues.The move was backed by most Democrats, but dismissed by many Republicans as a distraction from more serious issues.
"My goodness, we could be doing this every day of the week," said Republican Minority Leader John Boehner."My goodness, we could be doing this every day of the week," said Republican Minority Leader John Boehner.
MARDELL'S AMERICA Weeks of mutterings are now out there, in the open, on the front page of the Washington Post - the allegation is that the fury towards the president that has been seen at town-hall meetings and tea party protests is in part motivated by racism Mark MardellBBC North America Editor Mark Mardell's America
But Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer insisted that Mr Wilson's outburst could not be ignored.But Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer insisted that Mr Wilson's outburst could not be ignored.
"At issue is whether we are able to proceed with a degree of civility and decorum that our rules and our democracy contemplate and require," he said."At issue is whether we are able to proceed with a degree of civility and decorum that our rules and our democracy contemplate and require," he said.
Mr Wilson himself maintained that his personal apology to Mr Obama should have been enough to resolve the matter.Mr Wilson himself maintained that his personal apology to Mr Obama should have been enough to resolve the matter.
Mr Obama "graciously accepted my apology and the issue is over," he said. Mr Obama "graciously accepted my apology and the issue is over", he said.
Mr Wilson's remark came in response to a passage of Mr Obama's speech in which he asserted that illegal immigrants would not be eligible for federal subsidies to buy health coverage.Mr Wilson's remark came in response to a passage of Mr Obama's speech in which he asserted that illegal immigrants would not be eligible for federal subsidies to buy health coverage.
Experts concur that under the terms of Mr Obama's reform package undocumented immigrants would not be able to claim healthcare subsidies.Experts concur that under the terms of Mr Obama's reform package undocumented immigrants would not be able to claim healthcare subsidies.