Former President Jimmy Carter (pictured at left) says Congressman Joe Wilson's outburst to President Barack Obama last week was an act "based on racism." Carter called Wilson's comment "dastardly" and part of an "inherent feeling" held by some in this country who feel that a black man should not be president.

AP reports:
The South Carolina Republican lawmaker was formally rebuked Tuesday in a House vote divided by party lines. Wilson shouted "You lie!" during Obama's speech to Congress last Wednesday. Carter spoke Tuesday night at a town hall held at his presidential center in Atlanta. A spokesman for Wilson was not immediately available for comment. But a former leader of the South Carolina Democratic party disagreed with Carter. Dick Harpootlian says Wilson's comment was asinine, but not racist.

Republican Rep. Joe Wilson's 'You lie' outburst draws rare U.S. House rebuke

Bitterly divided along party lines, the House formally rebuked Republican Rep. Joe Wilson (pictured at left) Tuesday for shouting "You lie" at President Barack Obama during last week's nationally televised speech to Congress. The Office of the House Historian said the resolution marked the first time in the 220-year history of the House that a member had been admonished for speaking out while the president was giving an address. A resolution of disapproval is less severe than other disciplinary action available to the House, including censure or expulsion.

AP reports:
The rare resolution of disapproval was pushed through by Democrats insisting that Wilson, a South Carolina lawmaker, had violated basic rules of decorum and civility in his outburst. Republicans dismissed the vote as a political "witch hunt" and a waste of precious time and taxpayers' money. Wilson's "You lie" outburst came as Obama said that illegal immigrants would not be eligible for federal subsidies to purchase health insurance under his overhaul plan. Democrats have insisted that their proposals prohibit undocumented immigrants from getting assistance. Republicans say the legislation needs stronger verification requirements. Tuesday's short resolution said Wilson's conduct was a "breach of decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session, to the discredit of the House."

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