Jimmy Carter: Convention A "Turning Point"

Former President Jimmy Carter says the ongoing Democratic convention is a history-maker. Period.

And, Mr. Carter told Early Show correspondent Harry Smith, it's the nature of the unfolding events that made it particularly important to him to attend this get-together.

"As a son of the South," Smith asked the 39th United States president, "the history that is being made here this week, would you have, in most of your lifetime, every thought it possible?"

"No," Mr. Carter replied. "It was really surprising and gratifying to me when (Barack) Obama carried Georgia (in the Democratic primary) against two very attractive white candidates, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. ... The speech he (Obama) made in Philadelphia earlier about race -- that brought tears to my eyes, and it was the most eloquent and pertinent expression of the basic problems and their potential solution that I have ever seen.

"I think this is such a historic convention. ... I think this is kind of a turning point in what has been one of the most troubling, I'd say embarrassments and burdens on my heart, and that is the racial discrimination that still exists in a nation that's supposed to be treating all men and women are created equal. I think that's why I wanted to be here."

Mr. Carter says the most important issue come November "will probably be the economy again, as it was when Bill Clinton was elected the first time. Between now and November, I predict the oil companies will hold down oil prices a little bit to try to help the Republican ticket. But I'm afraid that, by the time January comes along, the economy will be the most serious problem in America."

Smith wondered, "Why is it that, so often, the Democrats are so rancorous (at their conventions)?"

Mr. Carter laughed heartily and responded, "Maybe that's the nature of Democrats. I remember most Republican conventions, it's just all orchestrated ahead of time -- which doesn't make very good news coverage. But, I think one reason is that Democrats have a much wider diversity of interests ... and it's hard for them to come together under a single umbrella. And that means the Democratic umbrella has to be about three times as large as the republican umbrella does."

Mr. Carter, who's 83, shows no signs of slowing down, Smith observes.