This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8258011.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Carter says Obama row is 'racist' | Carter says Obama row is 'racist' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Former US President Jimmy Carter says much of the vitriol against President Barack Obama's health reforms and spending plans is "based on racism". | 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 Carter told a public 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. | 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. | 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". |
| But Mr Wilson's eldest son, Alan, has denied racism was a factor in his father's outburst. | But Mr Wilson's eldest son, Alan, has denied racism was a factor in his father's outburst. |
| Some conservatives have accused the president's supporters of playing the race card. | Some conservatives have accused the president's supporters of playing the race card. |
| 'Abominable' | 'Abominable' |
| Angry town hall meetings and a recent taxpayers' demonstration in Washington have been vitriolic towards the president, reports the BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell. | |
| Many have not just protested against the president's policies but have accused him of tyranny, and have promised to "reclaim America". | Many have not just protested against the president's policies but have accused him of tyranny, and have promised to "reclaim America". |
| "Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national programme on healthcare," Mr Carter said at a public meeting at his Carter Center in Atlanta held prior to the Congress vote on Tuesday. | |
| "It's deeper than that." | "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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | "There is not a racist bone in my dad's body," he said. |
| Apology | Apology |
| In Tuesday's vote, lawmakers voted 240-179 in favour of the resolution to censure Mr Wilson. | 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 | 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. |
| 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. |