Jimmy Carter's Cutting Words

The Nation: Former President Has The White House Feeling Defensive

(The Nation)  This column was written by John Nichols.

---

How touchy is the Bush administration about criticism?

Very touchy, indeed, especially if the source of that criticism is a certain former president.

When Jimmy Carter, whose approval ratings dwarf those of George Bush these days, gets to talking about what's wrong with the current president, the White House spin machine goes into overdrive.

And Carter has been talking.

He told the conservative Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper Saturday that, "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history."

Suggesting that the president has presided over an "overt reversal of America's basic values," Carter drew a clear line of distinction between the current Bush policies and those of another Bush who has occupied the Oval Office, former President George Herbert Walker Bush.

With his misguided approach to the war in Iraq, Carter said, Bush made a "radical departure from all previous administration policies," including those of the president's father.

"We now have endorsed the concept of pre-emptive war where we go to war with another nation militarily, even though our own security is not directly threatened, if we want to change the regime there or if we fear that some time in the future our security might be endangered," explained Carter, who has long been a critic of the Bush administration but whose comments in recent days have been particularly pointed.

In another interview late last week, with the BBC, Carter effectively referred to outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair as Bush's poodle.

Carter criticized Blair's "blind" support of Bush's war in Iraq, suggesting that the British prime minister had been "subservient" to the American president. Noting that Blair's "almost undeviating" allegiance to Bush's Middle East dogmas had done much to legitimize them at precisely the time when they should have been challenged, Carter argued that the prime minister's promotion of "the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq had been a major tragedy for the world."

Lest there be any doubt about his assessment of Blair's contribution to global stability, the Nobel Peace Prize winner termed the prime minister's failure to counter Bush's messianic march to war "abominable."

It is difficult to argue with Carter, not just on the basis of his stature but on the basis of his astute read of the current circumstance. And that's what scares the Bush White House. When a well-regarded former president gets specific about the current president's dramatic failures — and about the damage that is done when foreign leaders align with Bush — this embattled White House gets tense.

So the president's aides are hitting back, with all the muscle they can muster, at Carter.

"I think it's sad that President Carter's reckless personal criticism is out there," griped White House spokesman Tony Fratto, as part of an unusually bitter and specific response issued Sunday from Bush's compound in Crawford, Texas.

In what The Associated Press correctly referred to as "a biting rebuke," Fratto said of Carter's observations: "I think it's unfortunate. And I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments."

The irony is that there is nothing unfortunate about Carter's remarks for the United States. By making it perfectly clear that Americans are unsettled by their president's reckless disregard for the rule of law and common sense at home and abroad, Carter helps to separate Bush from America in the eyes of the world, which is a very, very good thing for the American people.

Of course, then, the Bush White House is not attacking Carter's comments on their merit. Rather, the attack boils down to a suggestion that, even though they represent a rare example of a former president bluntly criticizing a sitting president, Carter's remarks of a little or no consequence.

What is fascinating is that the White House is claiming that Carter is "increasingly irrelevant" by going out of its way to attack him on one of the current president's many days of rest.

It seems that, if Carter really was as "irrelevant" as the Bush White House would have us believe, the president's aides would not be attacking the former president in such immediate and aggressive terms.

The truth is that Carter is relevant, perhaps more so now than ever. Even as Bush's fortunes decline, the need of dissenting voices is great. And Carter's dissents go to the very heart of the darkness that this administration has brought down upon the United States. For a body politic sorely in need of the tonic of truth, Jimmy Carter's comments are not just relevant, they are an essential to the renewal of a country and a planet badly battered by the madness of a 21st-century King George.

[tbweb]

Pres. Carters best contribution to the U.S. was the approval and development of the U.S. Cruise Missile. There were many doubters but the Cruise Missile was the right decision! The new version of the U.S. Cruise Missile is even more accurate, sophisticated and deadlier! One for Jimmy!

[flreason]

It's too bad that President Carter back-pedalled on his comments. I understand the deference to protocol, but the dismal record of this administration on protecting the Constitution, as well as its fiscal and diplomatic mismanagement, warrants the rebuke. Bush's low approval ratings suggest President Carter's candid comments would be seconded by the majority of Americans.

[pleiku1]

I like the following comment from John Nichol.
"Carter helps to separate Bush from America in the eyes of the world, which is a very, very good thing for the American people." I doubt average American understands the mistrust and hate felt by non Americans toward us especially amongst the Muslim world. How do you fight a protracted war of attrition against Muslim fanatics who feel a good meal is a piece of flat unleavened bread with olive oil. Go figure. Bring back the Draft and cut the entitlements.

[entelechy3]

Regardless of one's opinion of Carter--whether he is seen as a forgetable president whose leadership was questionable or a noble statesman in his formitive years and a Nobel laureate--his words were true.

Even if he is backing down from them, nevertheless they hold true. Why do so many in public positions insist on holding back from legitimate criticism of this administration?

[jenersea]

Why would anyone take any stock in what carter says. Remember he is the one who started this whole Middle East mess when he did nothing in the Iran situation during his administration. If he had we would not be having these problems now. Go back to peanuts, and just shut up.

[pepperp1]

That%u2019s all this White House can do attack the messenger call names that is the depth of their ability to debate or respond to any issue that is not praise for their boy George, Carter was right. President Bush cheerleader for the Republican Party Donors, Big Oil, Neo Conservative the Bush Doctrine and their Iraq war to transplant democracy to the Muslim world has instead empowered Islamic radicalism in Iraq, Iran, Palestinian and Lebanon and has been rightly judged to be one of the biggest policy blunders in our countries history. And the President continues to stay the course, hoping upon hope that when someone else ends this fiasco the Republican sound bite can be; see they did it those Democrats they are the cowards. President Bush and his Bush Doctrine may not be viewed in history as irrelevant but quite the opposite as he will certainly be seen as a President who individually, arrogantly, incompetently oversaw and began the waning of America power in the world and gave the 911 terrorist the victory they wanted all along, to remove our countries influence on the middle east world and the oil within those countries. If President Bush has any honor then he should hope to be as irrelevant as his attack dogs claim President Carter to be, then more Americans would have loss less life and limb, our treasury fuller our world power stronger, our respect for our neighbor less severe. He should resign for the good of this country.

[jbuchle]

Theodore Roosevelt said it all in 1918 when he said:
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
Our current President has segregated himself from the avarage American. He cares nothing about what we think. He places himself above everyone the does not specificaly agree 100% with him.
President Bush is asking us to belive that to critize his actions is to dishonor our young men in the military. Nothing can be further from the truth. But then what does the current President know about truth.

[Razzl]

Once again we have another example of why politicians in this election season, even retired ones, must not apologize for what they say. The media will focus relentlessly on the appearance of incompetence rather than analyze the content of the thought, which gets obliterated and disappears. Carter's criticisms were perfect bullseyes, speaking nothing but truth and containing not a single word of error, and need to be unrelentingly spoken until this evil Bush regime is driven from power. Carter owed it to us not to retreat from speaking truth about corruption...

[talkingham]

Yeah right, Carter did nothing about Iran- a mess he did not create to begin with. He relied on commanders who said they could rescue the hostages- they failed and completely bungled even the simple part of the mission-- Carter took the blame he didn't do like Bush and act like he has never made a mistake.

Carter did nothing - he said he would not deal with terrorists and he didn't. But in the background even before Reagan took office - rigth after the election CIA Casey and Reagan's team made the deal to trade weapons for hostages - weapons straight to the terrorists paid for by the sale of drugs and weapons in Central America by the CIA. Carter did stick to his principles which is far more than you can say about the Republican liars in the White House then and now- in fact many of the same liars have been running Bush policy. If you want some real news try ConsotiumNews.com, where real reporters report real news in depth instead of the how many drugs can we sell your prostate newscast every night by the "main" network liars.

Carter speaks better at his advanced age than Bush ever has or ever will.

[sharncedar]

"Why do so many in public positions insist on holding back from legitimate criticism of this administration? "

Because if Bush was wrong, then that may mean the equtiy bubbles of the last few years were wrong. That could mean the trade deficit with China, rather than being somehow good in some twisted logically, was actually what it appears which is a big and stupid mistake. That could mean the housing bubble, where so many Americans moved away from cities into energy inefficent homes was also a colossal mistake. That could mean the war in Iraq was a mistake, and further the whole modern doctrine that military force is more relevant than an exporting economy. If bush is wrong, then the huge wealth build-up for the elites over the last 8 years might be wrong, it might be nothing but a very costly ephemeral orgy that leaves the nation weakened and poorer in fact. It might even mean offshoring was wrong, that cutting Social Security is wrong and stupid in the face of globalization where fewer workers produce more, it might mean deregulating energy and transportation and banking, in fact the whole concept of "deregulation" leading to wealth, might be dead wrong and really just lead to chaotic energy markets and corruption in banking and unsafe skies.

So how can the elites admit Bush is wrong? How? There is a very big house of cards built on the quicksand of his and his friends' shoddy thinking.

[pepperp1]

..........and I owuld add the equity of many 401K's.

[joenc-2009]

Carter was right ... and I challange anyone posting here to defend Bush's record as a President. GW will be remembered as an awful President, certainly at or near the bottom, and on almost every dimension.

And who wants to argue that GW's been a GREAT president (maybe a member of the 28% club might).

Carter might have broken an unspoken rule about former Presidents speaking ill of the current President, but he was right none the less.

But if you think Carter was WRONG, don't just attack Carter, defend GW with some evidence of his greatness. Convience us.

[tejasdemo]

I agree 100%. Bush is an *** who needs to be impeached and thrown out of office with Cheney asap

[doctor--o]

The Bush administration is unquestionably the worst ever by any parameter except marketing their nonsense. Fortunately, the truth of what they believe is now self evident to anyone who chooses to see.

[tbweb]

Dear President Bush:

It's not too late to save your place in history and your legacy, but the hour is late! All you have to do is get in touch with the American pulse, the American people. Our tired and weary troops in Iraq need a break, even if you don't withdraw from Iraq itself, redeploy our troops to the outskirts, out of harms way. Start getting our financial house in order as best you can and concentrate on the U.S. budget deficit. Leave immigration reform for the next administration, yes its broken but another year at this point won't matter. Let the American people know you hear us, reverse course so we can embrace you and support you for the remainder of your time in office. Say fairwell to your AG and have a cold one with him after you leave office. Get back in touch with us without delay, the hour is late. Be flexible for a change and if you recall you work for us and not the other way around, it won't be as difficult as you think!

[klifton2-2009]

What's the big deal about Carter's comments? They just happen to be the truth. Stop excusing Bush for all the destruction, mayhem, and deaths he has caused because of Iraq, the war of choice. The man is a walking disaster impersonating as President. For all of you out there who might feel improper or unpatriotic to criticize the Commander-in-Chief, let us remind ourselves that "we the people" are the government, not some temporary resident of the white House who is full of himself. Carter just said it as it is and, as usual, the truth hurts. As for irrelevancy, Bush and gang had been irrelevant for the last 6 years. The tragedy is that many Americans and particularly Bush supporters just could not bring themselves to admit it.

[flreason]

jenersea - The Middle East problem didn't start with Carter. Ignoring the historical ethnic animosties and the mess created by British colonialism, the problem started when the western nations, under the aegis of the UN, created the state of Israel in 1948, largely because they didn't want to absorb large numbers of Jewish immigrants after WWII. (Anti-semitism) It was aggravated when the CIA engineered an overthrow of the democratically elected government of Iran in 1953, installing as dictator a puppet "shah" who was not even Iranian. Our current mess is just the latest chapter.

[comfortmd1]

lest we forget bush senior's role in manipulating the iran hostage crisis so that carter would lose the election seemingly because of it.

[im4honesty]

Carter is an intelligent and honorable man.

Bush is a thief.

[elz523]

Great point about the irony of Bush's people immediately denouncing President Carter as irrelevant. If that were truly so they wouldn't bother to mention it.

Keep it up President Carter. Remember all that evil needs to grow is for good people to do nothing.

[katg21]

How touchy is the Bush administration about criticism?

Please... he's been putting up with harsh criticizm since day one of his presidency; I think he's got a pretty thick skin. I just think that this wouldn't have been such a big deal if any other president had said it. Jimmy Carter just wants to pass off the title of worst president ever and I'm not sure that's possible. He's lucky our media outlets weren't as they now back when he was in charge of the white house. Carter, smart respectable man, sure; bad president...ABSOLUTELY! He's one to talk.

[kcstan11]

Who do you believe ???

An ex-president with a Nobel Prize and an impecable humanitarian record or

The lying incompetent MORON SOB in the White House ...

It's a no-brainer folks!!!

[mike71067]

"Former President Has The White House Feeling Defensive"... What?! Nice liberal headline, although completely rooted in fantasy. Jimmy Carter, the miserable failure from 1980, doesn't have the credibility to put anyone on the defensive. The White House thought it was silly for a man with Carter's reputation to criticize anyone, and they made the point that Carter is irrelevent - which he is. Even more so now, since he backtracked.

[navyretired2]

Irrelevent? I guess that's the official GW Admin word for "the truth."

Whether you like Carter or not, his words reflect the TRUE feelings of a vast majority of Americans. He's just the messenger. Further, whether the vast majority is right or wrong, doesn't matter...its STILL the majority.

Just really disappointed me that he backed down...is there anybody left with enough public influence and trust that can speak for the minor majority?

[oxmyx-2009]

No former Nobel Prize winner is irrelevant. The truth hurts. Deal with it.

[mike71067]

"Who do you believe ??? An ex-president with a Nobel Prize and an impecable humanitarian record..."
-Posted by kcstan11 at 08:29 AM : May 22, 2007

Didn't Yassir Arafat win that same prize?

[grumpas]

According to the CNN poll I just took 65% don't think that Carter is irrelevant! The truth is the truth whether Bush likes it or not. Bush is the worst president ever. In fact, I think I can safely say Nixon was a Prince compared to this thug we have! I can well imagine that Bush is touchy these days. The country is starting to wake up to his games and the news gets worse every day. His party is over as far as most of us are concerned. It's just a matter of time before he is irrelevant if he isn't already!

[harp1963]

Read what a life long Republican who served several Republican Administrations and has always had a reputation for honest and integrity had to say about George Bush:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml

Not very far off from what Carter had to say.

[harp1963]

Sorry, here is the link

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml

[hungry1968]

The problem for the administration is they think that the office of the Presidency is far more superior to anyone. They don't think they have to answer to anyone - the people, Congress, the Senate - none of them. He considers the office of the president as the next best thing to god supreme ruler and leader of everyone and everything. If someone from Congress said the same thing, he wouldn't even respond because they are so below him. When the people told him in the last election, he didn't care then either - he just shifted the blame to Rumsfeld and made him resign.

BUT when another President says it - OUCH!! That stings!!!

[aaabee-2009]

There is no rebuttal the White house can give because:

1) Carter is right

2) Michael Savage and Rush Limbaugh and Hannity and Coulter can use national forums to spew their caustic retoric over national airways.

Jimmy Carter can say what he wishes in an equally national forum.

3) America isn't an dictatorial oligarchy yet. We are still allowed to have more than one opinion. So far.

4) Jimmy Carter has sat in the same seat as Bush and is far more qualified to speak on the merits of the position than any of Jimmy's detractors.

5) Last reason: CARTER is RIGHT!!!

[csmith1948]

"Irrelevant". Isn't that what the Bush Admin said about the UN before the Iraq invasion? Seems that anyone that criticises these robber barons is pegged as "Irrelevant". It also seems that the deaths of 3000+ and counting in Iraq is also "Irrelevant" to this administration. I just wish Carter had stuck to his comments. As far as being a good President, Carters biggest problem was honesty.

[Razzl]

Still, it's disturbing that Carter, like Obama or Giuliani, felt compelled by pressure from the nattering mainstream media types to back off from speaking tough truths at this moment when the sleeping joe average voter needs to be slapped in the face with them over and over in order to wake up from the selfish dream world of racism, paranoia, nationalism, sexism, and capitalism that too many of them live in. Daily doses of truth innoculate the public against propaganda and prepare them to exercise the genuine responsibilities of citizenship rather than hand them over to the charlatans pushing the right-wing fantasies...

[clestes-2009]

For Jimmy Carter to come out and criticize Bush the way he has, he must be really worried about the direction Bush has taken America. And not only Carter, but Al Gore has the same concerns. They both feel that the Bush administration has taken the founding principals of democracy and trashed them.

It is going to take a lot of work to get back to what the founding fathers laid out as principals of democracy.

None of which included making unnecessary way agaisnt countries that were not threats for the sole purpose of robbing them of their natural resources and protecting Israel, which we have no business doing.

[aaabee-2009]

Go Razzi!

But the problem with slapping the public with truth is the media has lost its credibility. It prints opinions like they mean something, prints all the lame excuses and spin these politicans come up with which disorientates the issues, and gossip gets bigger headlines than facts.

No one can tell what is authentic truth anymore and what is that inauthentic stuff that is given to the public as truth.

The media, TV, Internet, radio....they don't seem to have to verify or authenticate what they feed the public and folks are hard pressed to make a rational decision based on this new air-filled marshmallow reporting.

Our media is the biggest contributor to the dumbing down of America that has played into the maneuverability of Bush Administrations power grab. Our media has helped them grab it.

[mike71067]

""Irrelevant". Isn't that what the Bush Admin said about the UN before the Iraq invasion?"
-Posted by csmith1948 at 10:08 AM : May 22, 2007

The United Nations certainly IS irrelevant. It's a corrupt joke of an organization. Incidentally, I don't believe Carter's biggest problem was honesty. I thought he was a lousy leader, but I believe he was honest.

[mike71067]

"There is no rebuttal the White house can give because..."
Posted by AaaBee at 09:58 AM : May 22, 2007

Actually, the White House gave a perfect rebuttal. Carter IS irrelevent, and chooses (for whatever reason) to keep reminding us of that fact. It's sad. If he would just keep quiet, people would eventually forget his presidential term. But he keeps trying to pass off the "Worst President Ever" award from himself to Bush - and in the process, underscoring his irrelevence.

[w90c3uw]

President Carter's international prominence makes him one of the few Americans able to distance this country from Bush. As a country we will need to reestablish personal relationships with billions of people around the world. The United States peoples' core values are not so much different than pre-9/11. But, our current administration world view is a radical departure from our values.
Like President Carter I want everybody to know I believe Bush made up his worldview of US domination. Multinational corporations licensed in the USA must be stopped from feeding the military-industrial complex's voracious hunger of profit at any cost to human life.
Where is Bush taking this country's people? this country's reputation? this country's capitalism? Democracy and capitalism are two different things.
Democracy is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Capitalism is "corporations acting 'with the same unalienable rights' as people" squeezing every last penny from the world's people.
Thank you President Carter for publicly showing the world's people our separation from Bush's idea of how we behave in the world. Bush's world view is intertwined with US corporate behavior. Who can distance the american people from ravenous money making, people killing US licensed corporations? The Bush administration kills people with military and economic weapons. President Carter's words are the beginning of the hard work we all must do to become the people we think we are.

[klifton2-2009]

If Carter is irrelevant what does it make Bush? The Carter Administration was not a success story by any means but at least he tried to be honest and upfront with the American public, and most of all did not wantonly cause mayhem, destructions, and deaths to thousands. Look at Bush. Everything he has done is a monumental failure. The entire administration suffers from hubris and incompetence. His gang, one by one, is falling in humiliation. Talk about irrelevancy, who is irrelevant? Lucky for Bush that the media, Congress, and the American people are impotent otherwise he would be kicked out of office or trial as a war criminal. Irrelevant? The man is a waling disaster and an embarrassment.

[drinuk]

From a British perspective it is sad to see America hanging it's dirty washing out to dry. Like Britian you are suffering from employing people who are not up to the job and who are exsisting soley on Spin, Threats and BS. Our Muppet is running before the *** hits the fan, his replacement, being heralded as the new dawn has been in on every decision made over the last ten years including Iraq and will be no better.
Unless you impeach your Two Dickheads you are stuck with them for another two years, time you can ill afford. Time I feel for the redundancy notices to be sent.

[sjc_1]

I think Jimmy just got tired of candy coating his words. He just said what most people think, but will not say.
Thank you Jimmy for saying what other people will not. Bush is not sane, and the sooner people realize this the sooner we can get back to sanity.

[aaabee-2009]

If he would just keep quiet..." Posted by mike71067 at 11:07 AM : May 22, 2007

Problem is, Mike, this is a free country and Jimmy Carter is just as entitled to say what he thinks as Limbaugh, O'Reilly, and the rest of that ilk. And in a public forum just like they get to.

We don't give only one side a microphone to the American ear and tell everyone else with dissenting opinions they are irrelivant.

Arnold called Limbaugh irrelevant, but that didn't shut Rush up.

Call Jimmy irrelevant, but he is still more qualified as a past president to speak on this subject.

[katg21]

We don't give only one side a microphone to the American ear and tell everyone else with dissenting opinions they are irrelivant.
Posted by AaaBee at 11:39 AM : May 22, 2007

Oh really? Now that's a laugh!

[aaabee-2009]

How so?

[one_american]

Only dyed-in-the-wool extreme liberal leftist moonbats believe anything that the senile peanut farmer says about anything.

[aaabee-2009]

Only dyed-in-the-wool extreme liberal leftist moonbats believe anything that the senile peanut farmer says about anything." Posted by One_American at 11:55 AM : May 22, 2007

I fail to see how your argument can be classified as intelligent when it is flipped inside out with such ease:

Only dyed-in-the-wool extreme conservative GOP moonbats believe anything that a dry drunk oil heir says about anything.

[mcvet]

Only dyed-in-the-wool extreme liberal leftist moonbats believe anything that the senile peanut farmer says about anything.
Posted by One_American at 11:55 AM : May 22, 2007


So YOU believe that George Bush has NOT done the things Carter pointed out? Explain Swastika Breath because I have listed EVERY objection raised by Carter and there is FIRM HARD evidence that he is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. You can't just trash a messenger anymore nazi's... doesn't work. Sieg Heil Y'all.

[tejasdemo]

Jimmy Carter is one helluva lot better role model and much more in tune with reality than any nazi republican living or dead.

He spoke the truth. The truth, something Nazi Republicans just dont get----that's you One_Stupid American

[jegibbons]

Judging by the hornet's nest of controversy exampled by this and other blogs, and as much as THE MEDIA is anxious to make him relevant
this former president and 'Peanut Farmer' is far from: IRRELEVENT.

But, like that aging movie star who wants to be remembered, to grab the spotlight one more time and is willing to say or do anything to get noticed, one morte time; JIMMY CARTER is the modern day NORMA DESMOND! Remember
"I'm still big it's the pictures that got small." - "SUNSET BLVD" - 1950

Only JIMMY: says I'm still BIG, It's the PRESIDENCY that got small!

Jimmy's peanuts have become overrun with weeds. He hasn't got enough time left on the planet to be playing at being president, again. His single term as president was a very long time ago and he wasn't very good at it. I remember; it's a painful memory.

[aaabee-2009]

Yes, who would listen to degreed peanut farmer who graduated the Naval Acadamy and has a Nobel Peace price sittin' on his mantle.

When does Bush get his peace price?

When he requisitions one from the Supply Department.