During live PBS coverage in the 8 pm EDT hour, anchorman Jim Lehrer asked former president Jimmy Carter if Obama's election, or just his nomination, "will send positive ripple effects throught the country on the race issue." Carter gave a dramatic answer: he said Obama's election would provide "the transforming grace for the end of racism and prejudice and hatred in our country."
The discussion over race began when pundit David Brooks wondered out loud if Obama's trouble pulling ahead of John McCain is due to race. Carter said it's a factor, but not as large a factor as the fervor of Hillary partisans. Carter declared that when Obama spoke about race in Philadelphia (ahem, to try and defuse the storm over his pastor Jeremiah Wright's vicious sermons),
I wept. I sat in front of the television and cried, because I saw that as the most enlightening and transforming analysis of racism and the potential end of it that I ever saw in my life.
LEHRER: If it happens that he is elected, or even his just being nominated, will send positive ripple effects throughout the country on the race issue.
CARTER: Around the world, around the world. And I think it already has sent a wave of approbation and admiration in many countries around the world just knowing that this black boy who grew with just a loving mother and grandparents and that was about all he had to start with, has now had a chance to become the nominee of the Democratic Party for President....I don't think there's any doubt that there's a spirit and a bright new hope for America within this country and around the world, and if Obama is elected, which I think he is going to be, then I think that will be the transforming grace for the end of racism and prejudice and hatred between races in this country.
LEHRER: That's quite a statement.
CARTER: I believe it's true.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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"The transforming grace for the end of racism...
August 25, 2008 - 22:30 ET by Thalpy"The transforming grace for the end of racism and prejudice and hatred in this country?" I don't think so; it's more like a steaming shovel full.
Wasn't it
August 25, 2008 - 22:42 ET by 10ksnookerWasn't it Biden who said Carter's plan to depose the Shah, and install the mullahs, was a good one.
Carter
August 25, 2008 - 22:53 ET by doug1950Jimmy Carter has always been a "Pollyanna". If he thinks that this one single event is just going to transform everyone and everything and make all the planets just line up and all will be right and well, than he is even more stupid than I thought humanly possible. When he gave the names of all the CIA operatives we had around the globe to the Soviets, he thought then that they would just fall all over themselves and become our friends and allies overnight. Well, it didn't happen then and those people were rounded up and never seen again. This is just one of the reasons why we can't get anyone to cooperate with our intelligence services today. Jimmy is a buffoon and will most likely always be one.
What hogwash. Obama has
August 25, 2008 - 23:09 ET by mostlymoderateWhat hogwash. Obama has only made things worse because he supports treating African Americans like dumb, untalented, unmotivated "victims" that can only survive with the guidance and free-handouts of BIG government. I despise Jesse Jackson but I think he had a point when he said Obama was speaking down to the African Americans.
Ripple effect
August 25, 2008 - 23:10 ET by CobraManIf the Ripple doesn't have any effect, they can always try MD 20/20.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
Good one! lol
August 25, 2008 - 23:19 ET by jdhawkGood one! lol
Jimmah, Plains called, they want their idiot back
August 25, 2008 - 23:19 ET by jefflebowskiCarter has been smoking peanut hulls again if he thinks Obama being elected will end racism. The left has shown themselves to be the most racist beings on the planet. Obama's election will do nothing but embolden them.
Carter is not only the worst President, he is also the worst American ever born.
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.c...
LEHRER: That's quite a
August 26, 2008 - 05:54 ET by Rush FanLEHRER: That's quite a statement.
Why are you surprised Mr. Lehrer, when you ask such a soft liberal rhetorical question. I rarely watch left-leaning PBS, although I probably should since my tax dollars (and yours) are keeping it afloat. Somehow I was under the impression that at least News Hour tried to be somewhat fair and balanced. Doesn’t sound like it is.
As for Jimmy Carter, as time marches on his anti-Israel and anti-Jew beliefs continue to come to the forefront. Not very nice for a “devout religious man”.
As for racism, prejudice and hatred in our country, haven't we reached the point where very little of those ugly traits exist? Just as I hope that there is little black racism against whites, irrespective of what is taught in Rev. Jeremy Wright’s church that Barry Obama attended for more than twenty years.
It's the Democrats that foment the belief that racism permeates throughout this great country, and it's they, the Democrats, that will right this wrong. Where do the Democrats believe racism exists? Why in the Republican Party, of course.
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"...whatever our moral failures are, they are dwarfed by our moral triumphs." ~ Rush Limbaugh
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Cynical race strategy
August 26, 2008 - 10:04 ET by nkviking75The reality is that Obama is counting on his race to shield him from criticism and shame guilty whites into supporting him. This is as cynical a strategy as the Dems have.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Not to be crude, but Carter
August 26, 2008 - 10:55 ET by UtherpendNot to be crude, but Carter makes me want to vomit whenever I hear his mealy mouthed rhetoric.