Jimmy Carter To Bush: Never Mind

Former President Calls Remarks Against Bush Administration "Careless"

(CBS/AP)  Former President Jimmy Carter said Monday his remarks were "careless or misinterpreted" when he said the Bush administration has been the "worst in history" for its impact around the world.

Speaking on NBC's "Today," Mr. Carter appeared to retreat from a statement he made to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in which he said: "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history." The comment was in a story published in the newspaper Saturday.

Mr. Carter said Monday that when he made the comment, he was responding to a question comparing the Bush administration's foreign policy to that of Richard Nixon.

"I think this administration's foreign policy compared to president Nixon's was much worse," Mr. Carter said. But he said he did not mean to call it the worst in history.

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

Deputy White House press secretary Tony Fratto, with Mr. Bush at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas, said Monday: "I think it just highlights the importance of being careful in choosing your words. I'll just leave it at that."

The White House on Sunday dismissed Mr. Carter as "increasingly irrelevant" after his harsh criticism. In response, Carter said: "Well, I don't claim to have any relevancy. I have a completely unofficial capacity. The only thing I lead is the Carter Center."

After the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette story appeared, Carter spokeswoman Deanna Congileo had confirmed his comments to The Associated Press.

"The overt reversal of America's basic values as expressed by previous administrations, including those of George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon and others, has been the most disturbing to me," the newspaper quoted Carter as saying.

During a speech in March at George Washington University, Carter made similarly strong statements against the Bush administration's foreign policy record, CBSNews.com's Jennifer Hoar reported.

"Since (Bill) Clinton left office, over the last six years, not one single day [has been devoted to] overtures to peace agreements," Carter said. "The current policy is leading to an immoral outcome."

In his comments Monday, Mr. Carter said he has not been timid about sharing his opinions directly with the president and other world leaders, but said he has been careful not to level personal criticism against Mr. Bush.

In the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette interview Mr. Carter came down hard on the Iraq war.

"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," he said. "But that's been a radical departure from all previous administration policies."

Mr. Carter, who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, criticized Mr. Bush for having "zero peace talks" in Israel. Mr. Carter also said the administration "abandoned or directly refuted" every negotiated nuclear arms agreement, as well as environmental efforts by other presidents.

Mr. Carter also offered a harsh assessment for the White House's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which helped religious charities receive $2.15 billion in federal grants in fiscal year 2005 alone.

"The policy from the White House has been to allocate funds to religious institutions, even those that channel those funds exclusively to their own particular group of believers in a particular religion," Mr. Carter said. "As a traditional Baptist, I've always believed in separation of church and state and honored that premise when I was president, and so have all other presidents, I might say, except this one."

[grazinggoat]

Did Jews and Arabs learn to co-exist? Did terrorism abate? Did suicide bombings stop? Did Carter get the Nobel Peace Prize?

Only one of those questions that can be answered 'Yes', and it's the last one. Carter only cares about his fabrication of a legacy for himself. HE is the worst president in history, make no doubts about it.
Posted by SlipSter01

-SlapSteer01:
It did decrease a lot, before this idiot gripped the presidency and started his extreme-rightwing inspired policy. Since he started the invasion of Iraq based fake and lied premises, and intends to invade other medium size politically stable entities in the Middle-East (referring to Iran)... Walking-LiarBUSH is the worst president ever and the whole world can tell, even Israelis or pro-israelis would too. Carter was well balanced when he stated this reality and he should have never retracted.

[slipster01]

How many times did Carter hold his infamous Camp David Peace Accords meetings?

Where did it get us, world peace? Did the fighting in the Middle East stop? Did Jews and Arabs learn to co-exist? Did terrorism abate? Did suicide bombings stop? Did Carter get the Nobel Peace Prize?

Only one of those questions that can be answered 'Yes', and it's the last one. Carter only cares about his fabrication of a legacy for himself. HE is the worst president in history, make no doubts about it.

[ajmarine1]

johntarkenso,

"had Iran not had a future president in their pocket."

Call me stupid, but I don't know what you mean.

[johntarkenso]

AJMarine 1

Perhaps Carter would have had a better shot at putting a boot up Iran's butt, had Iran not had a future President in their pocket.

Collusion is helpful, especially when you need it to secure an electoral victory. Take a look at the 9/11 effect on the 2004 election for another great example.

[mikealford3]

He probably thinks we're going to lynch him. I just want to perform a brain transplant between him and one of our world renowned Carolina hogs. Who am I kidding, I couldn't do that to a defenseless hog.
Posted by realpatriot1 at 04:32 PM : May 22, 2007


Poor hog would be left with lots of empty space in his head. One of Purdue's chickens would be a better match. As for the lynching, no lynching but he would find something good does come from the South. That being a "GOOD" ole country a$$ whippen.

[realpatriot1]

mikealford3,

It's surprizing that 7 Pesos won't take us up on our gracious offer of southern hospitality since he's always inviting people to come see him in smoggy, I mean sunny California. I just think that's so rude.

He probably thinks we're going to lynch him. I just want to perform a brain transplant between him and one of our world renowned Carolina hogs. Who am I kidding, I couldn't do that to a defenseless hog.

[ajmarine1]

dgwooster,

"I do agree he could have been more effective while in office, however he seems to be making up for it now."

Carter, of all people, has no place telling someone who had the worst Presidency.

The failed president, remade himself as Carter the humanitarian and freelance foreign policy critic of America; also, a Nobel official inadvertently revealed that Carter's Nobel Prize was actually meant as a slap at America.

If he had put a boot up Irans butt when they took our hostages, we might not be having all the trouble we are having with them now.

[dgwooster]

I'm getting a little tired reading "Carter was a bad president" over and over by some. I seem to remember Carter being the only one saying we needed to get of foreign oil back in the 70s. He was a voice in the wilderness.

Also, he never gets credit for the fact that the hostages held by Iran eventually returned alive (albeit belatedly).

I do agree that he could have been more effective while in office, however he seems to be making up for that now.

[xenafan01]

I forgot to add Lets plant a Bush back in Texas!!!!! Get him out of the Whitehouse in D.C.
He can live in a white house as long as it's got a very tall picked fence around it.( so no one can see him)
As long as there is NEVER another Bush in the Whitehouse.

[mikealford3]

Realpatriot, I have invited 7-pesos and bm to come to N.C. without any luck. They seem to know alot about southerners not to have ever been here.