Jimmy Carter racism charge: Obama doesn't agree says Gibbs

Does President Obama agree with Jimmy Carter's charge that Congressman Joe Wilson's outburst last week was racially based?

Nope. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was continually asked that question today during his press briefing. And he continually said that the White House doesn't buy it.

"It adds to our dialogue," Gibbs said. "I'm just simply saying that I don't think the president agrees with him."

Responding to a question at a town hall meeting in Atlanta Tuesday, Carter said that Wilson's outburst was rooted in fears of a black president. "I think it's based on racism," Carter said. "There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president."

As we told you here, Carter's racism charge resurrected the Wilson controversy, resulting in a flurry of polarized opinions in the blogosphere and the mainstream media.

Gibbs casual demeanor toward the repeated questioning this afternoon seemed to telegraph that it's not an issue with the White House.

"As I said Sunday, the president does not believe that it is based on the color of his skin," Gibbs said when first asked about Carter's comments.

Appearing on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, Gibbs said, "I don't think the president believes that people are upset because of the color of his skin. I think people are upset because on Monday we celebrate the anniversary of the Lehman Brothers collapse that caused a financial catastrophe unlike anything we've ever seen."

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