by Kathy at Mister Politics
From Yahoo:
The White House on Sunday fired back at former President Jimmy Carter, calling him “increasingly irrelevant” a day after Carter described George W. Bush’s presidency as the worst in history in international relations.
Carter, a Democrat, said on Saturday in an interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that “as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history.”
White House spokesman Tony Fratto had declined to react on Saturday but on Sunday fired back.
“I think it’s sad that President Carter’s reckless personal criticism is out there,” Fratto told reporters. “I think it’s unfortunate. And I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments.”
Carter has been an outspoken critic of Bush, but the White House has largely refrained from attacking him in return. Sunday’s sharp response marks a departure from the deference that sitting presidents traditionally have shown their predecessors. In the newspaper interview, Carter said Bush had taken a “radical departure from all previous administration policies” with 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,” Carter said.
In a separate BBC interview, Carter also denounced the close relationship between Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
“Abominable. Loyal, blind, apparently subservient,” Carter said when asked how he would characterize Blair’s relationship with Bush.
“I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world,” Carter said.Carter, who was president from 1977-1981 and won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his charitable work, was an outspoken opponent of the invasion of Iraq before it was launched in 2003.
These comments come from a president who was the most ineffective President and leader this nation has ever known. This is the President who can boast of 21% interest rates which effectively shutdown my hometown Detroit when he was President. There were so many layoff notices they were actually listed on the TV news like snow days for our public schools.
Of course we can not forget the American hostages held in Iran for 444 days because of his insistence to gain their release by peaceful means. His methods neither gained their release nor garnered respect from their Iranian kidnappers who never took him seriously while he was President. Unfortunately they take him seriously now; now that he is spewing his anti-American tripe all over the world.
Former President Bush Sr. once responded to a reporter’s question concerning President Clinton’s political problems with “it was not appropriate for a past president to criticize a sitting president.” This is what a class act sounds like!
Former President Carter could use a lesson in ‘class’. A lesson that will be too late however to undo the damage he has done to his own country.
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I was absolutely shocked to hear Jimmy Carter’s comments. When I think back over past President’s I come up with something either positive or negative about their terms in office. Nixon………Watergate………Kennedy…..The Cuban Missle Crisis………Bush Senior……….The Gulf War…….Truman……..Bombings In Japan ect.
What is the first thing that comes to mind with Carter is …….. Peanuts lol! He did more for this country out of office then in it with Habitat For Humanity. I wonder if he is getting Alzheimers. He sure doesn’t act like a Christain either. Instead of promoting his new book he decides to verbally attack our President!
Comment by April Patrick — 5/21/2007 @ 1:44 am
I think Jimmy Carter should refrain from critizing a sitting president period. He does not have the background of being a good president, at best he could only be considered a medioctor one, that was proven when he was not re-elected to a second term. However he is a good carpenter and he should limit his critisims to a hammer and a pocket full of nails.
Comment by Rose — 5/21/2007 @ 7:52 am
I think Jimmy Carter should refrain from critizing a sitting president period. He does not have the background of being a good president, at best he could only be considered a medioctor one, that was proven when he was not re-elected to a second term. However he is a good carpenter and he should limit his critisims to a hammer and a pocket full of nails.
Comment by Rose — 5/21/2007 @ 7:53 am
All this from a President who gave away the Panama Canal. Does the canal still belong to panama? No, the Chinese own both entrance and exit points to the canal. Check it out for yourself. President Carter was an ineffective president and should keep his mouth shut when critizing others. The Book of James speaks about control your tongue. Maybe Jimmy Carter should read those verses. From a Georgia native.
Comment by Wade C. — 5/21/2007 @ 8:50 am
All this from a President who gave away the Panama Canal. Does the canal still belong to panama? No, the Chinese own both entrance and exit points to the canal. Check it out for yourself. President Carter was an ineffective president and should keep his mouth shut when critizing others. The Book of James speaks about control your tongue. Maybe Jimmy Carter should read those verses. From a Georgia native.
Comment by Wade C. — 5/21/2007 @ 8:50 am
Regardless of how Jimmy Carter feels about President Bush and his policies, he shows his stupidity by giving vent to these feelings at such a time as this. Our enemies must gloat over such rhetoric.
To add to all this he is supposed to be a professing Christian. His remarks are in absolute contrast to
Philippians 4:8, Finally,brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever thingsare just, what ever things are pure. whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virture and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.”
Jimmy Carter’s thoughts are his judgments. He best leave these things to God and pray for the one God has placed in authority. Read your Bible, Jimmy!
Comment by Gene Beezer — 5/21/2007 @ 9:39 am