Tuesday, May 22, 2007
The Jimmy Carter Flipflop - He Was Right on Saturday
On May 20th The Washington Post published a report filed by Associated Press datelined Little Rock, AR, Saturday, May 19, about remarks made by former President Carter.
- "Former President Carter says President Bush's administration is "the worst in history" in international relations, taking aim at the White House's policy of pre-emptive war and its Middle East diplomacy."
- "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."
- Carter also offered a harsh assessment for the White House's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which helps religious charities receive billions in federal grants.
- "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," he said.
Jimmy Carter's remarks caused a mini firestorm because he broke a precedent. Former presidents are not supposed to criticize the sitting president. Two days later,on May 21st, President Carter offered a lame explanation --- that his remarks were "careless or misinterpreted".
Too bad that President Carter decided to retreat. He was right on Saturday when he spoke out about Bush 43.
