Carter says Obama row is \'racist\'

Former US President Jimmy Carter says much of the bitterness against President Barack Obama\'s health reforms and spending plans is based on racism.



Mr Carter told a public meeting that there’s a feeling among many people in the US that an African-American should not be president.



He says an overwhelming proportion of what he calls the intensely demonstrated animosity towards President Obama is based on the fact he\'s a black man.



His comments follow the recent public outburst of Republican lawmaker Joe Wilson who accused the president of lying while making a speech.



However, Mr Wilson\'s eldest son, Alan, has denied racism was a factor in his father\'s outburst.