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Carter 'Snubs' Clinton?
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ShareJanuary 20, 2009 11:54 AM
ABC News' David Wright reports: Today may be a day when the nation briefly sets aside partisan enmity for the peaceful transition of power, but personal enmity? That’s another matter.
One small example: as the ex-Presidents gathered in the crypt of the Capitol preparing to head out to the platform, a chilly day got a bit chillier as the Carters and the Clintons were forced to occupy the same cramped space.
Former Democratic President Jimmy Carter appeared to greet former Republican President George H.W. Bush and his wife warmly, kissing Barbara Bush on the cheek. But as Carter passed fellow Democrats Bill and Hillary Clinton, the two men did not appear to acknowledge each others presence at all.
President Carter disputes there was any snub and says any suggestion there was is “erroneous.” Through a spokesperson at the Carter Center in Atlanta, the former President told ABC News that he had earlier spent a half hour talking to the Clintons and therefore wanted to use the opportunity to say hello to the Bushes while he could. According to the spokesperson, cameras only caught the later encounter.
Relations between the Carters and the Clintons have reportedly been frosty for years, dating back to 1980, when Carter’s landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan may have cost Clinton the Arkansas governor’s mansion. At least that’s what Clinton reportedly believed.
In the 90s Clinton was said to resent some of Carter’s freelance diplomacy. Carter, for his part, spared no criticism of Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Recently, during a photo opportunity at the Oval Office, following a lunch with Barack Obama and the ex-Presidents, Clinton and Carter stood next to one another, but miles apart. Obama stood between the two Presidents Bush.
January 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (600)
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Can we leave the petty politics - and reporting - aside for the moment?
Posted by: Rbyanes | Jan 20, 2009 12:09:11 PM
Can't say I blame them. I wouldn't talk to a Carter or a clinton either.
Posted by: Randal | Jan 20, 2009 12:09:21 PM
Did Carter snub Clinton? Clinton snub Carter? Or both?
In any case, this demonstrates what pathetic ex-Presidents Democrats can be.
When two ex-Presidents of the same party behave this way, it tells you plenty about the lack of class Democrats have.
Posted by: ynot4tony2 | Jan 20, 2009 12:11:15 PM
who cares about carter anyway?
he's a old loon and still carries
the moniker of "worst president ever".
perhaps he's ticked off that he still carries that mantle, while clinton carries the moniker of, not, 'commander in chief', but, "pervert in chief".
Posted by: p.a. | Jan 20, 2009 12:13:15 PM
I can't argue with either Clinton or carter. Both men are disappointing. Each in his own way.
Posted by: bob chi town | Jan 20, 2009 12:14:07 PM
don't worry, neither one of them would acknowledge you either Randal.
Posted by: adam | Jan 20, 2009 12:14:08 PM
Proof that EVERYBODY believes that Carter was one of the worst presidents in modern history!
Posted by: Mike | Jan 20, 2009 12:15:08 PM
Both men perpetually juvenile and self-absorbed; Both venomously vengeful;
Both life-long finger-pointers of blame at others for the problems they themselves created.
And for squandering so many pro-American opportunities throughout their pain-inducing terms, both men will be sneered at ubiquitously by historians in perpetuity.
Posted by: JB Morris | Jan 20, 2009 12:15:44 PM
Carter is a douchebag. I was not a big Clinton fan, but he seems like a guy you could have a fun conversation with or go out for a beer. On this day when Bush and Obama share a good time, it tells you much about the heart and lack of class of Jimmy Carter.
Posted by: Peter | Jan 20, 2009 12:16:00 PM
Who cares, Carter was the worse president ever, followed by Clinton. Two dorks.
Posted by: Darrell | Jan 20, 2009 12:16:01 PM
Funny, theres been way more sniping, and political Daggers in the back between the bushes and clintons concerning both campaigning and policy, yet they are all buddy buddy, but one man we know is a Majorly Quality human being and thats Carter, and a great president howsoever a failure as a husband and example in Clinton cant get along when they espouse most of the same policies from the same party.
isnt that interesting.
I still hold Clinton in higher regard for his capabilities as a president. I still hold Carter in much higher regard than the rest of them for his UnWavering integrity and decency.
Posted by: FormerRepub | Jan 20, 2009 12:16:02 PM
Who cares. We're all saved now that Obama is in charge. Everything is going to be perfect tomorrow.
Posted by: For the O | Jan 20, 2009 12:18:07 PM
Who cares about Jimmy Carter, the doddering fool who started the mess we are in now with his de-regulation, faulty economics (although Obama just hired Carter's former advisor) and Jimmy's messy middle east tactics. He is a meddler and not very bright guy from a peanut farm in Georgia....in fact he is an insult to most peanut farmers who have always exhibited wit, charm and intelligence.
Posted by: yeeeech | Jan 20, 2009 12:18:26 PM
It appeared as though Barbara Bush consoled Bill Clinton after the snub.. Did you see the hips on michelle obama..Whew! She is huge in da trunk,,,Just sayin...And it looks like the doctor who delivered her squished her face with the forceps, either that or a rubber mallet...Anyways, change is a comin!!!
Posted by: gl rockwell | Jan 20, 2009 12:18:41 PM
LOL at the Dems..... typical.
Posted by: Scrabcake | Jan 20, 2009 12:18:47 PM
Ha HA HA hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah Ha LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL!
Posted by: my turn | Jan 20, 2009 12:19:41 PM
Carter and Clinton are horse's patoots in that order.
Posted by: Wally | Jan 20, 2009 12:19:43 PM
Clinton is right. Carter's complete incompetence cost democrats offices all over the country in 1980. Carter is a depens wearing moron.
Posted by: JoeSixPack | Jan 20, 2009 12:20:19 PM
After hearing him turn Coretta Scott King's funeral into a partisan rally, I can't say I'm ever surprised when Jimmy Carter shows pathetic judgment. Of course, after watching his administration in action, I don't guess we really even needed the funeral. The guy is pathetic, deluded, and needs to go live in Micronesia, or someplace else where we don't have to hear about his latest idiocy.
Posted by: The Beekeeper | Jan 20, 2009 12:20:33 PM
LOL, wow, who cares? The guy isn't even done with flubbing his speech yet and you hyenas are scrabbling for some sort of scandal. The press is the problem with this country, not partisan politics, though frankly if you ask me the Clintons and the Carters deserve to be trapped in an elevator somewhere together.
Posted by: Squonkamatic | Jan 20, 2009 12:20:35 PM
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