Why Didn't You Stand Your Ground, Mr. Carter?

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/7726

Why Didn't You Stand Your Ground, Mr. Carter?
by Andrew Bard Schmookler | May 26 2007


I don’t get it. First you speak an important truth to the American people. Then you take it back. Why didn’t you stand your ground?

I’m sure I’m only one of millions who felt heartened to hear the news that the former president, Jimmy Carter, had declared that, the Bush administration was the worst in American history in terms of international relations. But then, Mr. Carter, just a couple of days later there was the news that you’d backed down. Why?

Is it because you decided you should have obeyed that unwritten code according to which former presidents are supposed to go easy on their successors? I’d have thought that this “code,” such as it is, would not be the most important consideration. For one thing, you’re not the first former president to condemn a successor in strong terms (Hoover’s attack on FDR is one such instance). But even more important, does that unwritten “code” warrant being given more weight than helping the American people see clearly how extraordinarily disastrous this Bush presidency has been?

But even if you were going to back down for that reason, I would think you’d have said so. I’d have thought that you’d have protected the integrity of your previous truthful statement by saying something like, “I regret my comment, because it’s not my place as a former president to make such judgments publicly.”

But that’s not what you said. You indicated that your remark was perhaps “careless,” and you tried to pretend that your statement was a less powerful indictment –that Bush’s policies were not the worst in American history, just worse than Nixon’s—than it clearly was.

What was “careless” about your remark? If we look at how the Bush administration has given us this huge and unnecessary disaster in Iraq, how it has besmirched America’s standing in the world, and how it has systematically betrayed so many of America’s basic values and principles, can there be any doubt that your original declaration was correct? What administration since George Washington can possibly compete for being the worst in its conduct of American policy in the world?

So why did you back down?

more...

[liberalnurse]

1. Because he is a kindred soul.

He is in his 80's, a man of peace who lives on a higher spiritual plane than most living souls. It is not hard for him to make amends, even if he did not offend.

[Robbien]

2. I really believe others in the Democratic party

didn't back up President Carter. In fact I wouldn't put it past the DC Dems to have pushed Carter into making this retraction.

[givemebackmycountry]

3. I love what Bill Maher said about this last night...What Carter should have said was...

"You don't like what I said about Bush?"

"Well, as one of the first citizens of Habitat for Humanity, let me build you a house...you can meet me there and YOU CAN BLOW ME!!"

[pinto]

4. Eh.

[ChazII]

5. Isn't his title President?

Rhetorical question

[EST]

6. I have always admired Jimmy Carter.

He is probably the smartest man ever to have occupied the presidency-at least in living memory, however, he has always been too tentative, in my opinion.
I think that was a major part of what doomed his term in office. The loudmouths of the winger establishment are always ready and willing to jump onto any perceived weakness and his lack of decisiveness was certainly an area that looked weak.

Not a bad man, even brilliant at times, but he seems to portray an image of not being really sure he was on the right track or was committed to a particular course. Of course, second guessing one's conclusions is an asset, inside one's own thinking. Not so good when people depend on you for direction and unflinching leadership.

[Peregrine Took]

7. Bad week for we Democrats.

[LibertyorDeath]

8. Maybe they threatened Rosaline

Do you think they're not capable of it?

His turn around on his statement was very strange.

He is a man of conviction.