“I feel that my role as a former president is probably superior to that of other presidents. Primarily because of the activism… of working of the Carter Center into international affairs and to some degree domestic affairs. …” – former Pres. Carter speaking to Brian Williams
No single Democrat turned more people towards Republicans than Jimmy Carter. He created the Reagan Democrat class through his incompetent presidency, with no politician rivaling the disaffection of his own, though right now Barack Obama is working on a close second.
The quote at the top was in response to a question from Brian Williams about the now famous former presidents shot in the Oval Office where Carter is seen standing off to the side, alone, unregarded by the others.
The disdain I’ve always felt towards Mr. Carter’s presidency, though in no way personal about a man who is obviously well meaning, is founded in many things, but mostly in his hypocrisy, which is revealed through his hubris today. As a self-proclaimed Christian, pride comes before the fall, though Carter’s fall is three decades old history. Carter’s foreign policy on the Iran hostage crisis, but especially the Desert One debacle, making many feel we had become a lumbering giant that couldn’t shoot straight, our very reputation at risk, ultimately ushering in the Reagan era.
The Carter Administration’s impotence was underscored by the Iranian hostage crisis, which Mondale recalled as “four hundred and forty-four days of hell.” – Jane Mayer
This latest episode of Carter pimping his own post presidency reminding me again of an anecdote Mika Brzezinski told on “Morning Joe” not too long ago about a day when she was swimming in a heated Camp David pool with Pres. Carter, dressed in a Speedo no less, during the energy crisis, with snow on the ground. This from a man who wearing a sweater told us all to sacrifice.
Pres. Carter recently also floated yet again that the late Sen. Ted Kennedy was responsible for killing his health care bill out of spite, when anyone who knows history is aware that Carter’s health care bill didn’t have a chance in 1980, regardless of Kennedy’s alleged ill will towards his nemesis. But Carter’s humongous ego must be sated.
That Mr. Carter’s embarrassing self-infatuated arrogance about his own post presidency importance comes as former Pres. Bill Clinton convenes the Clinton Global Initiative is a fitting backdrop for a man who remains as clueless today about his own part in destroying the Democratic brand and putting the Left in exile for twelve of the longest, bleakest years we’ve seen. Carter ignoring Pres. Clinton’s monumental feat that has some wondering if the Clinton Global Initiative has replaced the U.N.
That many Democrats who voted against Pres. Carter, becoming Reagan Democrats as I did, still do not regret that vote is once again justified today through Carter simply being Carter. But as I’ve said before, Carter made me a Reagan Democrat, and Reagan made me a liberal for life.
Politicians are all arrogant egotists who love reading their own press clippings, usually believing only what’s good and railing against all that’s bad. However, because the press and much of the public who were alive and participating in politics in 1980 remember what a presidential debacle he was, Mr. Carter feels the need to toot his own horn about what came after his humiliating defeat. He’s now an embarrassment to himself, but also the many people who work diligently endeavoring to make the Carter Center a proud monument to a man who just can’t get no respect, but has only himself to blame for that fate.
This post has been edited.
Comments are closed.