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Jimmy Carter's revisionism

May 21, 2007 1:38 PM

Often when a public figure says his remarks are being misinterpreted, they are actually being interpreted all too well. The public figure seems actually concerned that the remarks were noticed -- not misconstrued.

Which brings us to former President Jimmy Carter, who may be trying to re-write an interview in which he judged the Bush administration's foreign policy "the worst in history."

On Saturday, teeing off an interview Carter did with Arkansas Democrat-Gazette religion editor Frank Lockwood, the Associated Press reported (CLICK HERE), that "Carter says President Bush's administration is 'the worst in history' in international relations, taking aim at the White House's policy of pre-emptive war and its Middle East diplomacy."

On Sunday, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said, “I think it’s sad that President Carter’s reckless personal criticism is out there. I think it’s unfortunate. And I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments.”

Interviewed by NBC News Monday, Carter said his comments were being misconstrued. 

“What I was actually doing was responding to a question comparing this administration's foreign policy with that of Richard Nixon," Carter said. "And I think Richard Nixon had a very good and productive foreign policy. And my remarks were maybe careless or misinterpreted. But I wasn't comparing the overall administration and I was certainly not talking personally about any president…”

His comments "were interpreted as saying, comparing this whole administration to all other administrations and what I was actually doing was responding to a question about foreign policy between Richard Nixon and this administration. And I think that this administration's foreign policy compared to President Nixon’s was much worse."

Carter was asked for clarification: “But not the worst in U.S. history?"

“No, that’s not what I wanted to say," Carter said. "I wasn't comparing this administration with other administrations back through history. But just with President Nixon."

But the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette provides the audio of the interview. (You can listen to it HERE)

And while Carter was indeed responding to a question about "which president was worse -- George W. Bush or Richard Nixon?" his answer went far beyond that.

"I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world this administration has been the worst in his-, worst in history," Carter said. "And the overt reversal of America's basic values as expressed by previous administrations -- including George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon and others -- has been the most disturbing to me."

Carter then explained all the ways he felt the Bush administration had radically departed from HISTORY -- not from Nixon, but from HISTORY. And not just on foreign policy.

"We have endorsed a concept of pre-emptive war," Carter said, "where we go to war with another nation militarily even though our own security is not directly threatened… That's been a radical departure from all previous administration policies."

He went through a list of other "radical departure(s) from the past" -- no White House-initiated peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, separation of church and state policies, the fact that the Bush administration has "abandoned or directly refuted every nuclear arms control agreement ever negotiated down through history," and the "abandonment of almost every previous administration's policy on environmental quality."

The more important matter may be the substance of Carter's accusations. But he was certainly making them. Nothing was misinterpreted at all.

What sayeth vox pop?

-- jpt

May 21, 2007 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (29)

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RON PAUL scored 100% by pointing out that it is our foriegn policy that has caused much ill will towards the United States, and may very well be the reason for an act against us like the 9/11 attack. And until we face that fact and change our foriegn policy, we can fire all the shots and drop all the bombs we can continue going in debt for and never change a thing, except to maybe build more ill will against the USA. Bush is not showing peacefull leadership qualities that such a global super-power SHOULD be representing. TIME FOR A CHANGE!!!

Posted by: Tumbleweedin | May 26, 2007 9:26:17 AM

Ok first sbmanager, that was me that said that. Now for all those that say about other countries dislike us because of Pres. Bush, which country please name? I can narrow it down for you, lets say you pick the Islamic Countries, well according to Libs bible from the 9/11 commission they were at war with us during Clinton no action presidency. France, well thats a joke, they were making money from Iraq during Clinton. I just realized it, they don't like us because they can't Extort us anymore like they did under Clinton.

I love hypocrisy, Clinton gets us involved in a Civil War which was defined as one, thats ok with Libs, Pres. Bush removes a Dictator that seemed a threat to U.S. Security and after 9/11 we can't take chances anymore. You Condemn him.

What else is Pres. Bush bad at, a booming economy, more minorities owning homes and personal business, higher salaries. No terrorist attack on U.S. soil or properties. Yes Yes he's bad. We the libs need cigars in the White House and lying under oath and the Ashalon project. (probably spelled wrong)

Posted by: spock | May 22, 2007 10:03:24 AM

Carter was right the first time and he should not apologize or backtrack. Many, many millions agree.

Posted by: two-cats | May 21, 2007 7:31:49 PM

Yay for Carter's remarks. I increasingly despair that the US will ever again be respected in the world.

Posted by: bookwoman2003 | May 21, 2007 6:04:25 PM

From Dorothea was this: "Never before in History has a previous President spoke out against another President until now. The Democrats love breaking tradition and respect."

This is right up there with Bush Philosophy. Perhaps Mr. Carter should have searched for a "free speech zone" first?

Posted by: sbmanager | May 21, 2007 5:57:44 PM

Jimmy Carter is absolutely right on. His comments are accurate and I am so glad he said them. I wish he would not back off from his comments. But I think he was getting too much preassure. Jimmy Carter is the most honest president we ever had, maybe he was not the best and I think that is because he was not political enough and corrupt enough for Washnigton.

Posted by: jamie | May 21, 2007 5:49:39 PM

George Bush is a huge looser and although I am not a fan of Carter, I am even less of a fan of Bush. I don't know why he is backtracking but I don’t really care. Bush is terrifying and everyone thinks so except people who hate gay people and want to take away a woman's right to choose and have birth control.

Posted by: Vanessa | May 21, 2007 5:42:12 PM

loning for the "good old days"of Jimmy
Carter,20% inflation,11%unemployment,gas lines,u.s.citizens taken hostage&held for 444 days.how this man can critize any other president
is beyond me.i guess this is whathappens
when you become irrelevant

Posted by: tom k | May 21, 2007 5:34:37 PM

TO THIS DAY, I THANK THE LORD FOR SENDING US THE WONDERFUL RONALD REAGAN AND SAVING US FROM JIMMY CARTER WHO WAS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN MY LIFETIME! HIS ADMINISTRATION, WITH A BUNCH OF KOOKS IN IT WAS AWFUL AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW, THE GREAT CLINTON WENT AND APPOINTED SEVERAL TO HIS ADMINISTRATION FROM THE "KOOK BUNCH". WHERE OH! WHERE IS THERE ANOTHER RONALD REAGAN TO LEAD OUR GREAT NATION??

Posted by: MARIE | May 21, 2007 5:01:43 PM

I have little respect for any American who criticizes our President during war time. Criticize in private if you must but never in public - I would expect a former president to understand the importance of that - you are aiding and abetting the cause of the enemy. As I have said previously, quoting MacArthur, "a nation divided is a nation fallen." It must be very disheartening to our troops to see/hear the lack of patriotism shown by some fellow Americans. Many Americans are very complacent and take for granted our freedom, thinking it can never happen here. Well, guess what, it can and will happen here if we don't control it before it happens. War is never easy, and this one much more difficult because we are fighting an enemy of cowards. Former President Carter is a religious man and should know there is none among us who could possibly throw the "first stone."

Posted by: DollyMar70 | May 21, 2007 4:57:58 PM

Read the Wall Street Journal book on rating the presidents. I seem to recall that Jimmy Carter was rated in the bottom 10 percent of presidents. The people who did the ratings were evenly split for political ideaology, Enough said.

Posted by: Tom | May 21, 2007 4:49:05 PM

I'm sorry he is back tracking. The present President has made terrible decisions. Mr. Carter certainly made mistakes himself and was held accountable in 1980. Mr. Bush made worse mistakes and was re-elected. We got what we collectively voted for. Soon we get to vote again. I await to see what we come up with next. It's our country after all.

Posted by: Chris Engle | May 21, 2007 4:48:28 PM

Bush isn't a bad president...he just never learned to listen to the American people. He is a very self-rightous man and NO ONE will change what he thinks is right in his little, Texas mind. I am ashamed to say I was once a republican. Now I trust NO politician.

Posted by: Johnnyd | May 21, 2007 4:37:28 PM

I'm disappointed to see President Carter discount his opinion as being misinterpreted. Don't misinterpret this - the Bush administration has led us into a new era of emininent domain. No longer do we seek to conquer lands for a physical empire, but rather to establish a financial and political empire where we reap the gains. We do this to our detriment. Imposing one's "righteousness" on another does nothing but breed hate.

Posted by: Paul | May 21, 2007 4:29:49 PM

We are all "up in arms" about President Carter's statements because he has made some very wise choices in the past 10 years or so. All of our past Presidents have made us proud -- save a few. But I am very concerned about some of the decisions of the current administration. At the risk of a being pessimistic, the next administration will have an exponential mess to clean up. Don't take a nap -- we have a lot of hard work ahead.

Posted by: Dorothea | May 21, 2007 4:28:10 PM

Carter is ruining his legacy, He was the worst President, any one remember the Hostages, the inflation highest ever, and don't forget the gas lines for odd and even, oh the days of Carter. Comparing to Nixon, interesting there since Nixon is the one that open talks with China, though that has not gone very good since.

Up until Carter started talking again, I always thought he was a lousy President, but I thought he was the most Honest. Now he even loss that!!

Never before in History has a previous President spoke out against another President until now. The Democrats love breaking tradition and respect.

Posted by: spock | May 21, 2007 4:25:52 PM

While I admire President Carter’s effective altruistic endeavors - I truly believe he is a righteous man and more effective now than he ever was as president. This being said, it does neither him nor the Democratic Party any positive good to lambaste the current administration. Lets be real here - Carter made very poor decisions himself as president, there is a reason he lost in a landslide to Reagan in 1980. His criticizing the current administration (whether it deserves it or not) makes him look cheap and hurts the Democratic Party. How would Carter have felt if Eisenhower had blasted his administration?

Posted by: David | May 21, 2007 3:48:54 PM

What was said is simply a true statement and needs no clarification. It is apparent to the entire world that Bush has failed the American people. Mr. Carter is the only president that ever won after I voted. Some things in his own Presidency did not go right but the motive and attitude was straight up. I'm praying that the God of Heaven and Earth will raise up someone who can put us back on track nationally, economically and reestablish our intestinal fortitude!

Posted by: Clay | May 21, 2007 3:47:29 PM

Tell it like it is, Jimmy! Bush is the worst I've ever seen in action. He's a disgrace to this country.

Posted by: Kim | May 21, 2007 3:46:29 PM

This is the worst blog entry ever. And by "ever", I mean yesterday. :p

Posted by: cordelia525 | May 21, 2007 3:45:57 PM

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