Editor's Note: Former President Jimmy Carter’s remarks on racism towards President Obama dominated Wednesday’s American Morning viewer response. The majority were in agreement with Mr. Carter, stating “you have to be blind not to see it.” Those opposed to Mr. Carter's assessment noted that every time something “is not going how the Democrats would like…they [make] racism a big issue.”
Agree
- Lee: To argue that disrespectful behavior shown to the president, like that of Joe Wilson or the "tea baggers" comparing Obama to Hitler and Stalin, isn't racist is to be an ostrich with its head in the sand! Racism is deeply entrenched in our society and people's willingness to undermine Obama's administration at every turn is symptomatic of this racism.
- Gabe: Jimmy Carter is certainly right about racism figuring in the Washington demonstration. You have to be blind not to see it. (Look at those awful signs deriding Obama.) Certain white people have suddenly discovered that there's a black man in the White House and it scares them. Wilson, too, was being racist, if only unconsciously, in his outburst in Congress. Alas, all is not well with the nation.
- Sandy: Today race still plays a subtle and underlying influence in the lives of most black people. It is my belief that people who would never consider themselves racist are doing so unconsciously because its interwoven into our present society in such a quiet and sometimes no so quiet way. I have observed this trait in many of my white friends who would never consider themselves racist. I've had them apologize to me after they spoke to me in a demeaning way.
Disagree
- Rosemary: In response to former Pres. Carter's remarks about the discord toward Pres. Obama being about race, this is not true. Pres. Carter is from another generation where racism was a much larger problem. This is not true today. Racism does still exist in small pockets, but the larger problem with Pres. Obama is not the color of skin; it is his infringement on the Constitution of the United States. [...]
- Anthony: Jimmy Carter says that race is the issue. Good grief. I am sick of this liberal crap. The Democrats put an African American up as their candidate so they could use the race card anytime someone disagrees or opposes their agenda. Are you all blind to this? Try doing some journalistic work for a change. Jimmy Carter is the worse president ever to occupy the White House and you feature his words. Democrats have made one mistake. The American people are wise to this tactic and unfortunately for a future American of African descent who deserves to be president, he or she won't make it to the white house for fear of having this race crap used against them again.
- Ginspelts: Here we go again. The healthcare reform is not going how the democrats would like so they are now making racism a big issue. They do this every time something is not going their way.
What do you think about Carter’s remarks? Is he stating a truth that Americans are afraid to acknowledge, or is this a way for the Democrats to change the subject, as some viewers feel?