We need to clean up our act.

Seems that I share a point of view with former president Jimmy Carter. Or is it that Carter shares my opinion? Carter said Tuesday that racial politics played a role in South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress last week and in some of the opposition the president has faced since taking office.

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosiy toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American," Carter told NBC News.

"I live in the South," Carter added, "and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shares the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans. That racism inclination still exists, and I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of belief among many white people -- not just in the South but around the country -- that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply."

Yes, Jimmy Carter, you are right on. It's time we Americans faced up to it. We've had a racist society. Right from the beginning. And terrible vestiges of it still remain. Deeply rooted in our fabric. And it's time to get it right. By doing some soul searching and by acknowledging that we Americans need to clean up our act. --Jim Broede