American Morning
Carter: Racism plays major role in opposition to Obama
(CNN) - Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that racial politics played a role in South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress last week and in some of the opposition the president has faced since taking office.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/09/15/carter.obama/art.carter.nbc.jpg caption="Former President Carter tells NBC Nightly News that racism has surfaced in 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 told NBC News. "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 shares the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans."
"That racism inclination still exists, and I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of 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," Carter said.
What’s on Tap – Wednesday September 16th, 2009
Here are the big stories on the agenda today:
- There's new information this morning on the man in custody in the case of the murdered Yale grad student, found hidden in a wall on her wedding day. We're awaiting DNA tests from the person of interest, Raymond Clark. We'll go live to New Haven for the latest.
- And former President Jimmy Carter is saying race played a role in the "you lie" outburst during President Obama's speech last week. Carter said he thinks "an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man." Today, we're giving you a chance to weigh in on that explosive charge.
- And the swine flu vaccine gets the green light. The Food and Drug Administration just approved two versions that should be available next month, one a shot, one a nasal spray. Is it safe for expecting moms? They’re on top of the priority list for a number of reasons. Our Elizabeth Cohen is with one of the first pregnant women to get the vaccine, this morning.
- And forget that Roger Federer lost in an upset in the U.S. Open men's final. The dominating headline from the grand-slam tournament was, and is still the profanity-laced outburst by Serena Williams. But Williams says she was in the moment and doesn't even remember what happened. And now that's she's apologized, she just wants to move on. Serena Williams will join us live to talk all about this, her new book and a whole lot more!
House votes to admonish Wilson for 'you lie' remark
WASHINGTON (CNN) - The House of Representatives on Tuesday formally admonished Republican Rep. Joe Wilson for shouting "you lie" during President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress last week.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/09/15/wilson.resolution/art.wilson2.gi.jpg caption="Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina, shouts "You lie!" during President Obama's speech Wednesday night."]
The House passed a resolution of disapproval on a 240-179 vote that was mostly along party lines, reflecting the Democratic majority in the chamber. Twelve Democrats voted "no," while seven Republicans voted for the measure. Five representatives, all Democrats, voted "present."
According to the Office of the House Historian, it was the first time in its 220-year history that the House has disciplined a member for speaking out during a presidential speech in the chamber to a joint session of Congress.
During debate on the resolution, Wilson called the measure a waste of time and failed to apologize to the chamber, as demanded by House Democrats.
"When we are done here today, we will not have taken any further steps toward helping" the nation deal with urgent challenges, said Wilson, of South Carolina. "It is time that we move forward and get back to work for the American people." Watch House members debate the resolution 
We Listen – Your comments 9/15/2009
Editor's Note: The recent behavior of some public figures had the majority of American Morning's Tuesday audience lamenting the loss of manners, yet questioning the “double standards” that seemed to be imposed against different races. Many suggested that Kanye West and Serena Williams were treated more harshly for their inappropriate behavior than Rep. Joe Wilson or tennis player Roger Federer.
- Dorothy: Where was your rage about civility when Cheney cussed out on the floor of the senate?
- Sandra: How come you weren't talking about manners when those students stormed the stage for a Tancredo speech? How come you didn't blast the Dems when they BOOED Pres. Bush during a State of the Union speech? What is so different?
- Carl: Nice to talk about Serena again and not talk about Federer's outburst during his finals. The blatant racism in the level of coverage is once again embarrassing for America. People have forgotten about McEnroe and ignore Feder...they simply say he is "competitive" and it is understood...
- Freeman: Kanye West is a child who needs to grow up. His fans are angry at him and that will hit him in the pocket. Serena Williams had a bad day. Was she wrong, yes. She'll recover eventually. Why don't you have the same disdain for Wilson. Everyone seems to want to move on from this white man's tirade. Hold him up to the same standards you are putting these two people. The difference between them and him is Wilson did it in an important meeting to the President of U.S. in front of the world. All you've done is dismiss it and certainly emphasized the other two. Double standard.
- Rose: I just watched your segment about Serena and her apology. According to John Roberts, Serena exhibited "bad behavior" and it's becoming an "epidemic". Then lo and behold who shows up talking to John, Elliot Spitzer. Does John criticize Elliot's bad behavior before he interviews him. Very hypocritical to criticize Serena, and have praise for Elliot who was breaking the laws that he was sending other people to jail for. It's not acceptable for a woman to lose her temper, but acceptable for a man to have sex with hookers, and humiliate his family in front of the nation. Am I missing something? Double standards?
I've noticed that our society all disapproves of Kanye West’s behavior and so do I. I feel that there's a double standard. Kanye was wrong; what he did was distasteful, disrespectful – nothing good should be said about his outburst, but congressman Joe Wilson disrespected our president, yet the media show and emphasize the support he has. It was just as bad, don’t care how you put it!!!
Has “freedom of speech” become “freedom FROM civil conversation”? Is there a way to express disagreement (freedom of speech) without disrespectful behavior? What do you think about the “double standard” suggested by the viewers above?
Banks Gone Bust: Lehman Brothers one year later
It's been a year since Lehman Brothers went bust. It was the economic shot heard round the world.
Today we're asking – what really went wrong at Lehman? Have we learned anything from it and the financial collapse that followed?
CNN's Carol Costello has the report in the latest in our "Banks Gone Bust" series.
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