Carter's interview to AP

[Mass]

I understand what Carter is trying to say and he may be right or wrong, but when I read the description of what he wants a Democratic nominee to say, is it not for the most part what Kerry said during the campaign and what he was blasted on DU for saying?

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/breaking_news/13085957.htm

"I really believe that our nominees were uncomfortable in dealing with the deeply religious people in our country. I don't mean the right-wing Christians. I think there was a sense among many devout people in my own church, my fellow church members, that John Kerry didn't quite relate to us," he said of last year's Democratic presidential candidate.

"The next successful candidate has got to have some means to say, OK, we believe and we worship the prince of peace, not pre-emptive war, or we're moderate on the abortion issue, or we believe marriage by definition in our church ought to be between a man and a woman, but we believe in full civil rights for gays who want to be partners," he said.

[MH1]

1. I heard that on NPR, and as much as I respect Carter,

I want to write to him and tell him (nicely) that the "devout" people of whom he speaks need to get their heads out of their asses, because if they couldn't see in 2004 who was the real, decent Christian - just beacause Kerry didn't speak to them in a way that reassured them he was "one of them" - then they bear some collective guilt for a lot of death, suffering, and other decidedly non-Christian things that are happening in this country because Bush got another term in office. The weight is on their heads and the blood is on their hands, just as much as it is on anyone.

[Mass]

2. I heard him tonight on NOW and it made me sad because I have a lot

of respect for him.

I may not agree with him on some subjects, but he is one of the very rare presidents who had the courage to speak the truth and he has been punished for that.

[MH1]

5. Well, it's not exactly that I disagree with what he said, and

I think he said it in a respectful way. It is what he believes to be true. Also, on NPR he resisted criticizing leading Dems, saying he didn't think that was appropriate. This statement you posted is the closest he came to criticism.

I just think that it's appropriate to call on him, as a respected leader of the group of people we're talking about, to understand the irresponsibility of the attitude he reported. He needs to lead, to speak out to these people to judge politicians more carefully on substantive questions, so that they aren't bamboozled by the appearance of piety, or tempted to stay home from the polls because neither candidate is "good enough." They had a clear choice in 2004. And from what Carter said, they blew it.

He also seems to imply that the politicians have to change in the way they talk to people, so that his group of evangelical Christians will feel more comfortable voting for them. I just think that's wrong. Sure, if someone like Kerry can also have Clinton's miraculous ability to make everyone think he's right there with them on their issues (even when he isn't) that would be great; but it's not likely, and the voters just need to be smarter than that, and still pick the right candidate.

[Mass]

9. What I dont really get is that Kerry was right where Carter wants a

nominee to be on these issues. So this is not what it is about.

I think it is more about some preachers telling people that Kerry was not like that, and also partly about the South vs North aspect. I wish we could bypass the second part once and for all.

[MH1]

12. I totally agree. n/t

[JI7]

3. i'm not sure about that

Clinton madeit clear it would take coming out in support of anti gay laws to get their votes. that's what Clinton did with DOMA. it wasn't always about some connection. if it was then Clinton should have been able to oppose such things while keeping their vote.

[politicasista]

4. I remember he endorsed Dean during the primaries

Don't know if it matters. I heard Tavis Smiley say the same thing the day after the election, saying that he hopes the Dems will choose a nominee who will not write off the South, and motivate his base, but not be afraid of mentioning the word GOD. (He thought Obama maybe.)

[Mass]

6. No, in fact he did not - Dean came to visit him, so he had to receive him

But Carter did not endorse him, in fact.

[JI7]

7. yeah, Carter made clear at the time also

[politicasista]

8. Oh, I though he endorsed/supported him.

I think Gore did.

[Mass]

10. Yes, Gore did -

[fedupinBushcountry]

11. Well

I'm tired of having to bend over backwards to the South and the bigots in it, this is the United States of America, North, South, East and West.

[Mass]

13. I still prefer Carter's statement to Biden's

Do we really need to go there? Talk about what is important to the middle class. Dont blast the Democratic Party.

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051102/NEWS0201/111020035/-1/CITIZEN

"We've become disconnected from where we grew up. We used to get those middle-class votes," he said, but he also blamed Republicans because "they've convinced the American people, enough of them, that we are out of touch, that we don't believe in God, that we only care about gays and we don't have any connection with ordinary folks." And to cheers, he added, "And I want to tell you I'm sick and tired of it"

[sandnsea]

14. In straight-up language

This is what Jimmy Carter meant, from Dick Harpootlian, a former SC Party chair:

"Point is, I'm sick and tired of what-ifs. He lost because he couldn't connect with NASCAR-watching, gun-toting, churchgoing moderates and conservatives. We don't want a windsurfing Massachusetts liberal next time. We need somebody who connects white Southerners, like Carter and Clinton did. That's how a Democrat wins the presidency."

Problem is, I don't want a NASCAR-watching, gun-toting, churchgoing whateverthell, so me and Dickie boy have a problem.

As do me and this guy, WTF??

Kenneth Baer, former senior speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore, said, "A lot of us bit our tongues during the campaign last year. We didn't want to be critical. But he blew it. He ran a horrible campaign. And he shouldn't think that the people at his rallies were fervently for him. They just hated Bush...

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/11180569.htm

[Island Blue]

15. I think we folks in the South need to grow the hell up.

Period. This is one thing I argue with my dad with from time to time. He voted for Kerry, but thinks the Democrats should have a candidate who can relate better to southern folks. I on the other hand, think we should have a presidential candidate who as president, will do what's best for the ENTIRE country.

I don't really give a shit if he (or she) can talk NASCAR with my uncle (which by the way, John Kerry could probably do with a lot more ease than * could). I don't really give a shit if he EVER goes to church as long as he respects people of ALL religions including those who follow no formal creed. With all due respect to President Carter, not everyone worships the "Prince of Peace".

The southern states consistently rank at the bottom of the barrel in education, poverty rates, etc., etc., etc. Please remind me again why we want someone from one of those states as president instead of someone from a state that ranks in the top one or two in every positive category like education, but at the bottom in every negative category like divorce rates. Oh yeah, that's right - because he knows who Dale Earnhart, Jr. is. Give me an 'effin break.

I got news for all southerners who voted for George W. Bush. HE AIN'T ONE OF US EITHER! He's a fake, a phony and a carpetbagger and a whole lot of people were dumb enough to fall for his act. I'm really sick and tired of this shit. And so early on a Saturday morning too.

[sandnsea]

16. Uhm, yeah, well

When campaigning for locals last year, my line to voters here in Oregon was "If you want to live in a state like Alabama, go there." I even told them that when they called ME. Well the one time they called me, I think they took me off whatever list I had gotten on. :rofl:

(No offense)

OTOH, I'm thinking of writing a blog post, "What's The Matter With NYC?" They're voting in a Republican too, for the 4th time in a row. Why? From what I can gather; law and order, and taxes that appeal to business. Hmmmm...

[fedupinBushcountry]

17. NYC

I asked my son that question, who lives in NYC. I said why Bloomberg, he said because he has done a good job and people are not complaining, I guess he puts on his Democrat suit, he use to be one.

My son liked the other Democrat who dropped out, can't remember his name. My son said he could of stayed in, but took the gentlemanly bow out instead of causing riff in the party. Also he said people like that they don't have to pay Bloomberg, just one little thing like that gets him a vote.

[Island Blue]

18. In regard to that last quote of President Carter's

Isn't that EXACTLY what John Kerry was saying last year, almost to a word? I know for sure he said the part about marriage being between a man and a woman, but with full civil rights for gays who want to be with partners. Does it mean something different if you don't say it with a drawl?

[fedupinBushcountry]

19. Yes, he did

Over on the Huffington Post, the speechwriter for John Edwards wrote a post about being a woman speechwriter and one of the few.

Of course she gave kudos to Edwards, but also to Kerry, she said that John Kerry would of made sure I had a seat at the table.

Thats what I like so much about him, everyone would of been able to have a seat at the table, not just a few but many.

[karynnj]

20. All of the positions he listed were very close

I think there may be politics going on here. It is likely that Carter does prefer a more conservative Southern Democrat Governor - because that's what he was and that's who he is comforable with. I hope this is just political postering - because it is disgraceful if he, as a party elder, took no time to listen to Kerry's positions. If this is what he thought, he likely did not help Kerry much among the people he could influence. That he now implicitly saying Clinton is closer to him on these moral issues is troubling and I would have expected better from Carter. Having Jimmy Carter vouch for a Democrat candidate would have helped in some cirles.

The problem I have with him promoting these positions and saying they're not Kerry's is that it means he is either lying or ill informed about his party's nominee. It might behoove him to recognise that Kerry was the first nominee who let him speak at the convention since 1980. I wonder if the politics behind it might be anger Carter may still feel against Kennedy, who is Kerry's number 1 supporter. Also, Carter is from the right most part of the party.

Neither of Carter's campaigns were well run. Ford was an awful candidate and his pardoning Nixon linked him with a part of history people wanted to forget. In 1980, he locked himself in the white house because of the hostage crisis - small when compared to Bush or Nixon campaigning with the war raging.

It is clear that there are few party leaders who are behind Kerry at this point. Carter is part of the most conservative part of the party, he would never be a likely Kerry ally. I assume he will back someone like Warner. B. Clinton will back H. Clinton. Both claiming that theirs is the only candidate who can win. If we are out of Iraq, that may be it. Although I think the left half of the party may still want a candidate.

If we are still in Iraq, unless Warner is for some type of withdrawal, it's hard to picture 2 conservatives vying in the primaries and beating out a more anti-war candidate. A very good case could be made for Kerry as the most viable anti-war candidate (again). Dashle might be a threat. Worshipping the prince of peace is not enough. (I find it offensive beyond words that Carter said you must worship Christ to be president. Even then, Carter should be asked about Catholics, because he seems to ignore that Kerry has consistently gone to mass since childhood and took rosary beads to Vietnam. I also wish all these people talking about the prince of peace and consider whether he would have backed Nixon, O'Neil and Colson or the brave young Kerry. Instead of just wearing the bracelets they should ask "what would Jesus do?)