'Liar' outburst: It's economy, not race

Washington: Congressman Joe Wilson might still be feeling the heat of a censure over his outburst during US President Barack Obama's speech last week but the White House has distanced itself from former President Jimmy Carter's charge that Wilson's outburst was racist.

"As I said Sunday, the President does not believe this is based on the colour of his skin," said Robert Gibbs, White House Spokesperson.

The White House Spokesperson further said: "Obviously the President has and has always had great concerns about race relations in this country. He has talked about them in speeches. He has talked about them throughout his career in politics, believes we have made great strides and obviously we have got work to do, but I don't, I'm not sure I see this as this large national conversation going on right now."

In a speech Jimmy Carter said Wilson's attack was unprecedented and influenced by a belief that Obama should not be President because he happens to be African-American.

"That kind of personal attack against Obama has been influenced to a major degree by a belief that he should not be President because he happens to be African-American," said Jimmy Carter, former President, US.

Last week, Wilson had stood up and called Barack Obama a liar because he told Congress illegal immigrants would not have the right to federal subsidies or buy health insurance in America.

But in a rare resolution the Congressman was formally rebuked yesterday for violating what it called basic rules of decorum and civility.

Wilson who has already apologised to President Obama for the outburst, and has said he does not owe the Congress an apology.