Carter snubbed in disaster relief?

So says MSNBC's Chris Matthews

from JoeUser Forums
The Washington Times, Inside Politics notes:

"You knew someone in the media would do it: Complain that President George W. Bush illogically overlooked Jimmy Carter in picking former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush to spearhead private fund raising efforts for tsunami relief." the Media Research Center's Brent Baker writes at www.mediaresearch.org
"MSNBC's Chris Matthews (Hardball) fulfilled the expectation on Tuesday's 'Hardball' when he pressed Wesley Clark about whether he found it 'odd' that 'the former president who's had the most role to play in the last 20 years in terms of helping poor nations with disease and problems of, like this, smaller versions of it. Jimmy Carter, was not asked to participate? Though Clinton is a Democrat, Matthews nonetheless, asked: 'Do you think it was partisan knocking Carter off the list?' "
Mr. Clark, a retired Army general and former Democratic presidential candidate, said it was "a terrible thing" that Mr. Carter was overlooked, adding: "I don't know if it was partisan or not, but I'll tell you what, Jimmy Carter's held in very, very high esteem around the world."


Yup, you knew it was bound to happen, and actually I'm not surprised that it came outta the mouth of Chris Matthews.

Matthews, who seemed far less partisan back in the 2000 election cycle, has seemingly had an axe to grind about the Bush administration ever since.

Perhaps the real problem is that Mr. Matthews himself wasn't personally asked to be the emissary that would ask former Pres. Carter to do the job?
politics
7,685 views 19 replies
Reply #1 from PolMach Forums Top
Bill Clinton is still recovering from heart surgery and may not be up to full strength yet. Not sure what his father brings to the table. Of all the former president's Jimmy Carter would be the most logical. This may be payback for past actions by the ex-President.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Oops! Dubya forgot to use the best ex-prez for the job.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

I did question Carter's exclusion at the outset. BUT, what I saw instead was that by choosing Clinton and Bush 1.0, our current president made a BIPARTISAN decision. And I thought that was a nice show.

Carter has his role to play, and he will. But I don't see Bush's exclusion as a snub, but rather a goodwill gesture to the 2 presidents who preceded him. It is also entirely possible that Carter was contacted, but simply had too much on his plate. Anyone consider THAT?

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
here we go again........ Carter issa coward that let americans be held hostage for 400 something day... he is universally DISRESPECTED by the islamic countries... if carter were still president the hostages would still be held.... if not for the election of reagan who the nuts KNEW would retaliate fast,,, they wouyld be speaking iranian now and converted to islam.

Carter issa maroon...
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

Moderate,


Your assessment of Carter's presidential legacy is accurate. But Carter has since redeemed himself, becoming a diplomat and elder statesman that has well represented his country in many efforts. BUT, you make the larger point of him being disrespected among the Islamic countries, and we must remember that among those hardest hit is at least one Islamic country (Indonesia). Perhaps his posture among the Islamic people does negatively affect his abilities here.

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply By: Gideon MacLeishPosted: Friday, January 07, 2005Moderate,Your assessment of Carter's presidential legacy is accurate. But Carter has since redeemed himself, becoming a diplomat and elder statesman that has well represented his country in many efforts. BUT, you make the larger point of him being disrespected among the Islamic countries, and we must remember that among those hardest hit is at least one Islamic country (Indonesia). Perhaps his posture among the Islamic people does negatively affect his abilities here


thanx gid for the more consise and eloquent way of putting this..
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Carter issa coward that let americans be held hostage for 400 something day... he is universally DISRESPECTED by the islamic countries...


Jimmy Carter is at the moment in Palestine. He is leading a delegation of overseers for the Palestinian elections set for this Sunday. His role was approved by the Palestinian authority.
He is one of the few world diplomats that is both trusted and respected by the islamic and Israeli governnents.
Where do you get your info Mod?????
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Jimmy Carter is at the moment in Palestine. He is leading a delegation of overseers for the Palestinian elections set for this Sunday. His role was approved by the Palestinian authority.He is one of the few world diplomats that is both trusted and respected by the islamic and Israeli governnents.Where do you get your info Mod?????


I agree. Jimmy Carter has been a much greater Former President than he was ever a president. My guess is that since Jimmy Carter was up to his elbows in other matters. Chris Matthews seems so offended by Carter being snubbed. I wonder if Carter even noticed that he was snubbed, or even if Mr. Matthews was offended by it? ;~D
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply By: ManopeacePosted: Friday, January 07, 2005Carter issa coward that let americans be held hostage for 400 something day... he is universally DISRESPECTED by the islamic countries...Jimmy Carter is at the moment in Palestine. He is leading a delegation of overseers for the Palestinian elections set for this Sunday. His role was approved by the Palestinian authority.He is one of the few world diplomats that is both trusted and respected by the islamic and Israeli governnents.Where do you get your info Mod?????


I channel it thru the hostages that were there.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree. Jimmy Carter has been a much greater Former President than he was ever a president. My guess is that since Jimmy Carter was up to his elbows in other matters. Chris Matthews seems so offended by Carter being snubbed. I wonder if Carter even noticed that he was snubbed, or even if Mr. Matthews was offended by it? ;~D


yer right he is better as a RETIRED pres with no real power than he was as pres.....
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
I channel it thru the hostages that were there.


Thats history Bro...today is today.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply By: ManopeacePosted: Friday, January 07, 2005I channel it thru the hostages that were there.Thats history Bro...today is today.


agreed but being co-signed by the palistians is not the best pedagree a person can get.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top

Bill Clinton is still recovering from heart surgery and may not be up to full strength yet. Not sure what his father brings to the table. Of all the former president's Jimmy Carter would be the most logical. This may be payback for past actions by the ex-President.

What did Carter ever do to Bush Sr. or Bush Jr. that'd warrant payback?

Carter has his role to play, and he will. But I don't see Bush's exclusion as a snub, but rather a goodwill gesture to the 2 presidents who preceded him. It is also entirely possible that Carter was contacted, but simply had too much on his plate. Anyone consider THAT?

I think it's either one of those or perhaps Bush simply forgot. It wouldn't be the first time he forgot somebody important (i.e. Poland in the debates).

I just don't see Bush having any animosity toward Carter.

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
It could also be that JC is in Palestine, or even the fact that he just turned 80 years old. I realize he is healthy but Bill Clinton looked fairly healthy the last time I paid attention and thus was better suited for the travel. You notice they didn't send the Veep? Funerals and disasters are usually the province of the V.P.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Nah, Cheney only shows up if the reconstruction is contracted out to Haliburton (joking)
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
What did Carter ever do to Bush Sr. or Bush Jr. that'd warrant payback?


Start here: Bush exploits suffering of 9/11, says Carter
Attacking Mr Bush and Tony Blair over Iraq, Mr Carter calls the war "a completely unjust adventure based on misleading statements".


Try a detour through here: Miami Herald: PERSPECTIVES ON CARTER'S CRITIQUE OF FLORIDA ELECTIONS

Back on track here: Former President Carter Takes President to Task

Some comments about Carter's speechifying at the Dems convention in Boston: Brent Bozell: More NBC Love For Jimmy Carter

Carter saying "War was based on lies": Carter savages Blair and Bush: 'Their war was based on lies'

Carter slams Zell Miller for disloyalty: Carter Calls Miller's GOP Speech Disloyal

Carter speech at Dem's convention in Boston: Carter: 'At stake is nothing less than our nation's soul'
Today, our dominant international challenge is to restore the greatness of America, based on telling the truth, a commitment to peace, and respect for civil liberties at home and basic human rights around the world.
Truth is the foundation of our global leadership, but our credibility has been shattered and we are left increasingly isolated and vulnerable in a hostile world.
Without truth, without trust, America cannot flourish. Trust is at the very heart of our democracy, the sacred covenant between a president and the people.
When that trust is violated, the bonds that hold our republic together begin to weaken.
After 9/11, America stood proud -- wounded, but determined and united. A cowardly attack on innocent civilians brought us an unprecedented level of cooperation and understanding around the world. But in just 34 months, we have watched with deep concern as all this good will has been squandered by a virtually unbroken series of mistakes and miscalculations.
Unilateral acts and demands have isolated the United States from the very nations we need to join us in combating terrorism.
Let us not forget that the Soviets lost the Cold War because the American people combined the exercise of power with adherence to basic principles, based on sustained bipartisan support.
We understood the positive link between the defense of our own freedom and the promotion of human rights.
But recent policies have cost our nation its reputation as the world's most admired champion of freedom and justice.
What a difference these few months of extremism have made.
The United States has alienated its allies, dismayed its friends, and inadvertently gratified its enemies by proclaiming a confused and disturbing strategy of preemptive war.



There've been a few other slams along the way, but I'll leave it to you to google to find them.
Reply #17 from PolMach Forums Top
or even the fact that he just turned 80 years old.


Didn't Bush Sr. turn 80 not too long ago?
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
You know if there is one section of the community I loath it is News Media, why?, because of the fact that to them disasters are nothing more than fodda, an excuse to go into frenzy, and look for as many ways as possible to attack just about everything except themselves, Since the earthquake on boxing day I have found the entire coverage of the media to be its usual goulish santmonious self, so it comes as no surprise to me that they have gone on a witch hunt on their Favourie whipping boys, GW Bush Jnr and the US, while I am no fan of GW, from the first media report I saw, I just knew it was only matter of time before the media found an angle, and it took them a few days but now their up and away, first Bush's response, then the amount the US pledged, then the attacked the bigger amount he pledged, then for trying to hijack the running of the relief effort, and now how many x presidents he used. I find it nauseating the way the media starts the whole theme and then spends the following weeks justifying their arguments all the while fueling the fire, the one they in most cases created, then lit then fanned. If any one is to blame for the attitude we have towards authority especially our leaders, it is every bit the medias fault as it is the politicans themselves. There are so many wonderful things going on where people are coming together to help these people ( the victims I mean), and yet the media seems hell bent on finding fault, and taking a negative attitude towards the whole event, thank God most intelligent people have learnt to take our media with a grain of salt.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sorry I forgot to say if there is one X President who shuold be doing the job I agree that Mr Carter is the one obvious choice, maybe he didn't want the job maybe he didn't get asked, I don't know, but what I do know now is probaly not the time for analysis, and I believe it is a great opportunity for western countries to show that we are good caring people who want to help because we can instead of arguing over small issues such as who goes who stays, and how much we give and in one form. It would be a shame that the real aid effort was lost in the pedantic discussions that seem to be absorbing so many.