Despite the fact that Democrats and the White House are distancing themselves from him, Jimmy Carter refuses to budge on his assertion that many of Barack Obama's opponents are racists.

The former President was speaking at a town hall meeting at Emory University, and again insisted much of the anti-Obama sentiment comes from "a racist attitude" and went on to hope, perhaps foolishly, that both political parties will lead the way in fighting the trend. The crowd then offered a stalled, somewhat uncomfortable applause.