ATLANTA, May 21, 2007
Jimmy Carter To Bush: Never Mind
Former President Calls Remarks Against Bush Administration "Careless"
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Play CBS Video Video Carter Bashes Bush Presidential Historian Douglas Brinkley talks to Jeff Glor about President Carter calling the Bush administration "the worst in history."
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Video The Latest In Iraq Prime Minister Tony Blair, on his last visit to Baghdad, came under mortar fire in the Green Zone and verbal assault from former President Jimmy Carter. Mark Strassmann has the latest from Iraq.
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President George W. Bush, left, and former President Jimmy Carter. (AP)
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Photo Essay The Life Of Jimmy Carter Here's an overview of Jimmy Carter's tenure at the White House, 1977-81, and the years before and since.
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Interactive Bush Presidency The president's agenda, plus facts, figures, major events and key personalities.
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."
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 454 CommentsOnly 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.
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.
"had Iran not had a future president in their pocket."
Call me stupid, but I don't know what you mean.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
Bush should have been impeached along time ago.
Put Bill Clinton back in, or better his wife Hilary.
Every time men screw up it's left for the woman to fix it.
That doesn't just go for politics it goes for everyday life also.
Talk about Christians and in God you trust well where is he now.
I am a PROUD WICCAN and NO ONE has EVER fought in the name of our gods.
We don't believe in fighting.
We are peaceful, loving, we are not evil.
War comes from evil and anyone suporting (funding)it is also in my opinion.
We need our boys back home there have been more Americans killed by this stupid war than any other war, also more American Soldiers have been killed than the ones we are fighting.
I'm also originally from the north and we'll be waiting for you. Why don't you take care of McCain and Tancredo and Hunter and Kyl and Allard and all the rest of the western vermin on your way. Clean up your own filthy house first. Maybe Charlie Manson & Richard Ramirez & the Bloods can help you.
Come to North Carolina, we have lots of ex-Californians who were smart enough to get out.
But, just like an aging movie star who wants to be remembered to grab some spotlight,once more. And will say or do anything to be noticed, again,
JIMMY is a modern day NORMA DESMOND!
"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!
Delusional! Jimmy your peanuts are over run with the weeds. Grab your hoe and get out and go to work! You haven't got enough time left to be playing at president. That was a very, very long time ago and you weren't very good at it. I do remember. It's a painful memory.
"President" BUSH HAS DESTROYED The American Dream - He Screwed us all when he KILLED the housing market by raising the Prime Rate.
Oh Yeah and there was that TOTAL LIE about Iraq that has killed 3,000+ American's and 600,000 Iraqis.
IMPEACH BUSH CHENEY HALLIBURTON NOW!!!
Has OSAMA BIN LADEN been caught??? You'd think after paying Pakistan a BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR they'd at least be grateful enough to not provide BIN LADEN Room and Board.
Of course Shrub HAS STATED OSAMA BIN LADEN is "not important" otherwise known as irrelevant ALSO.
How's that Katrina insurance payout going and reconstruction with the funds from it???
Who got the Sole Source bid for so much of IRAQ the Katrina aid?? How much are our troops being charged for FOOD AND WATER?
HAVE THOSE MESSED UP COMPUTER VOTING MACHINES BEEN FIXED YET?? Wasn't there a "Promise" to "fix" them???
Did they EVER find those pallet loads of American Money that were lost in Iraq?
How's that IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION GOING?
Can we guess how the latest IMMIGRATION PROPOSAL is going?
Speaking of going wasn't there something about Gonzales & CO shaking down their appointees if they didn't play the "right" political games?
The Iraq war - Is it "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED", a "slam dunk", "met with flowers", "BRING EM ON"
"WMD" OR SIMPLY oil and one of the greatest scam CON JOBS in history?
Remember the KYOTO TREATY??
Global Warming "a hoax"? How's those FORCE 5 TORNADOES and Hurricanes working out? They seem pretty REAL to me.
You've been reported, buddy.
After all, we so-called Right Wing types don't practice censorship - but you Lefties can never face the truth. That is why you're a bunch of fascist babies.
Oh, by the way, the name is Lieberman, Adolf.
Posted by whoopeedoo at 12:37 AM : May 22, 2007
Oooooo....hey aintaken man I'd be scared now! It seems this ignorant hillbilly done reported you! I wonder who he reported you to though? His shrink or dem dere reben-nuers who broke up his daddy/uncle's still?! Oh oh! I'se a best ta be'in careful my self or dis hear tough man will reports me to uncle Bush and Di*cky boy Cheney! I'se Gitmo bound fur shore now man! I'se soooooo scared!
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