Jimmy Carter backtracks on Obama critics' racist claim

Former US president Jimmy Carter has backtracked on a claim in which he said that an "overwhelming portion" of criticism towards President Obama is based on race.

Carter told CNN in an interview that he was only talking about a "fringe element" when he made the controversial remarks two weeks ago. He stood by his original remarks, but argued that they were misinterpreted.

"I said those that had a personal attack on President Obama as a person, that was tinged with racism. But I recognize that people that disagree with him on health care or the environment, that the vast majority of those are not tinged with racism," Carter said in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
He added: "I meant exactly what I said. What I actually said, if you look at the transcript, is just what I just repeated to you."

Carter's original remarks came at the height of controversy over Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during Obama's address to Congress last month.

Wilson shouted "You lie!" at the president, an act Carter said was "based on racism."

In an interview with NBC, he offered an even broader assessment.

"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 is African-American," Carter said at the time.

Obama later said he doesn't think race is the "overriding issue" among his critics.