Jimmy Carter: An American Disgrace
By Vincent Fiore (02/13/06)
It isn’t too often that one who pens opinion articles will fully allow himself to “let it all out,” and quite possibly say more than ever intended.
Here then, is one of those rare times--a time when I cannot contain myself, consequences be damned. For today, I will speak in no uncertain terms about one of America’s greatest elective mistakes, James Earl Carter, Jr.
That is the last time I will use Carter’s full Christian name in this space, so cherish the reference if you must. But even that simple courtesy should be denied, in my mind.
If one were to pick a single word to describe Carter, what would it be? Could one stop at a single word? Would one want to? Some answers in a moment.
America’s 39th President of the United States, former President Carter is anything but presidential in retirement. Behaving as an embittered embarrassment to the country at large--and overseas--it is hard to believe that this man was ever entrusted with the well-being of the nation, much less a simple speech at a funeral.
The funeral would be that of the first lady of civil rights, Coretta Scott King, the wife of slain civil rights icon, Martin Luther King, Jr. In the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in suburban Atlanta, thousands gathered to pay their last respects. The list would include poets, performers, and four U.S. presidents.
When it became Carter’s turn to speak to the assembled, he wasted little time in turning what should have been a somber and reflective speech regarding Mrs. King into a political cudgel to beat George W. Bush over the head with.
In reference to the current hyperventilating over the so-called “domestic spying program” that Democrats and the mainstream media are trying to hammer Bush with, Carter thought it an opportune moment wield that political cudgel:
“It was difficult for them [the Kings] then personally with the civil liberties of both husband and wife violated as they became the target of secret government wiretaps.”
What this boorish former president forgot to mention was that a couple of Democratic “Gods” in the way of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy--whose brother just happened to be the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy--wiretapped the King family. But to Carter, the facts would only get in the way of a good smear.
Carter wasn’t finished. He decided that the only thing better than a church full of black people from the civil rights era would be a church full of angry black people. What better way than to do that then to once again remind blacks that President Bush controls the very weather that produces racist hurricanes?
“This commemorative ceremony this morning, this afternoon, is not only to acknowledge the great contributions of Coretta and Martin, but to remind us that the struggle for equal rights is not over. We only have to recall the color of the faces of those in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi…Those who were most devastated by Hurricane Katrina know that there are not yet equal opportunities for all Americans. It is our responsibility to continue their crusade.” (www.drudgereport.com/flash8.htm)
Held out as a “celebration” of her life, the King funeral had its fair share of Paul Wellstone moments. Few can forget the out and out carrying-on by Democrats--and the hateful treatment of Republicans--at the memorial for Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone, who, along with his wife and daughter, perished in a plane crash in October, 2002.
Because of the raucous and incredibly distasteful behavior of the Democrats, it is thought by many to have cost them the elections of 2002.
To be fair and honest (two attributes lost to Carter), there were others who were just as inappropriate in their remarks. The Reverend Joseph Lowery, co-founder of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was positively aglow in Bush-bashing fever:
“We know now that there were no weapons of mass destruction over there…But Coretta knew, and we know, that there are weapons of misdirection right down here. For war, billions more, but no more for the poor!”
How the crowd cheered both Carter and Rev. Lowery! From my point of view, I expect this from civil rights fossils like Lowery, Jesse Jackson, and even Al Sharpton. Never one to pass up a good bash at Bush, all three men and those affiliated with them only have one directional speed: Backwards.
But from a former president, I expect more, and so should everyone. It defies explanation how this humane but embittered man from Georgia can say just about anything and not be condemned by a press that certainly knows better.
But really, why should anyone be surprised? Carter has been doing this to Republican Presidents since he was--with extreme prejudice--voted out of office in 1980. Some of Carter’s verbal exploits include:
*Regarding President Ronald Reagan’s talks with Mikhail Gorbachev at Reykjavik : “I have always thought ‘Star Wars’ was a big mistake. My judgment is President Reagan missed a wonderful opportunity”
*Regarding President George H.W. Bush’s preparations during the Gulf War: "We are not planning now a defensive deployment of U.S. forces. We are now planning an offensive operation.” Days later at a conference at New York's Hofstra University, Carter states that if Bush attacks Iraq, the U.S. would “reap great and very serious deleterious consequences politically.”
*Regarding Bush’s “Axis of Evil” comment in the 2002 State of the Union address: “I think it will take years before we can repair the damage done by that statement…it was overly simplistic and counterproductive.”
It was once upon a time that U.S. presidents displayed the daily prestige and cognizance of the office of president not only when in it, but also out of it. Principally, criticism of current occupants of the White House was most often relayed privately, and was rarely seen on the op-ed pages of any major news organs. Sadly, former President Carter has deferred to pageantry instead of principle, an apt conclusion for a man whose presidency was more caricature than commanding.
There are numerous examples of former president Carter’s innate resentfulness regarding the successes of others, but these will suffice to show how history is likely to view this man.
If you remember, I asked if a single word could describe just who Jimmy Carter truly is. If I had to choose, the word would be “ineffectual,” for that is how Carter governed when president, and that is how his words today must be viewed.
Instead of continually hitting a war-time president between the eyes with that humanitarian hammer that he carries, Jimmy Carter ought to go south, and build a few homes in New Orleans instead. Heaven knows--as well as the average American--that is all he is good for.
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