Jimmy Carter: The Medias Been Harder on Trump Than Any Other President

[Trumpocalypse]

Last edited Mon Oct 23, 2017, 06:50 AM - Edit history (1)

Former President Jimmy Carter spoke out on the current President in an interview out last night with The New York Times‘ Maureen Dowd.

As Dowd writes, Carter sounded “eager” to work with Donald Trump on North Korea. He said he would even be willing to go there himself:

He said he has talked to Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, Trump’s national security adviser, who is a good friend, including at Zbigniew Brzezinski’s funeral when McMaster asked to sit next to Carter, but has so far gotten a negative response.

“I told him that I was available if they ever need me,” he said.

https://www.mediaite.com/online/jimmy-carter-the-medias-been-harder-on-trump-than-any-other-president/

Don't think I'll trust Carter ever again. Sounds like he is sucking up to Trump for a trip to North Korea.

Amending to add this additional link: https://www.mediaite.com/print/jimmy-carter-no-evidence-russians-changed-any-votes-in-2016-election/

Carter has really gone off the rails here. If he had said one word to defend Obama from the birtherism or unfair attacks, he would have some credibility. At this point he is just sucking up to Trump. Disgusting!

[Iliyah]

1. LOL

Ya think t-rump will believe him.

[rzemanfl]

3. Because he deserves it Jimmy. n/t

[eShirl]

6. He didn't say they were unfair.

[Demsrule86]

58. When you use the term 'media bias' ...yes you did say unfair. I can't imagine what is wrong Pres.

Carter to say such a thing...and he totally Screwed Pres. Clinton over by meddling with the North Koreans. He should serioiusly not make such comments. Does he watch the news...does he understand who Trump is? ....a fascist monster.

[Hortensis]

21. And because right-wing agents in the media also have an agenda,

and that's to keep him from hurting the party further by convincing Republicans he's not one of them. And also to weaken the support of his base so they can threaten him into compliance with impeachment or just replace him with Pence, or Ryan if Pence goes down with him.

We're not the only ones with a problem with Rump, of course. His nomination was a clueless voter rebellion against the big powers who've taken over their party, a failed rebellion but it is nevertheless keeping them from progressing smoothly.

[CentralMass]

4. I disagree.

[Irish_Dem]

12. I agree with your disagreement. nt

[coolsandy]

52. Wait for the Tweets about this.

Carter really hurt the country with that statement.

[Trumpocalypse]

55. So do you agree with this?

https://www.mediaite.com/print/jimmy-carter-no-evidence-russians-changed-any-votes-in-2016-election/

[OregonBlue]

5. I'm sorry but anyone who questions the integrity of Jimmy Carter is out of their

mind as far as I am concerned. There has never been a more dedicated and honest president. Please don't even say such trash about him even if it is meant as sarcasm.

[Trumpocalypse]

9. I'll question anyone's intergrity when they make

a statement like that.

[Irish_Dem]

11. I agree with you. Carter's statement is ridiculous. nt

[OregonBlue]

13. And you'd be wrong. Carter may in fact want to try to prevent war between the two countries

and therefore find a way to insert himself between the two mad men but he is not an attention seeker or a narcissistic. Are you young?

[Trumpocalypse]

48. All politicians are narcissists on some level.

It's in their nature.

[LanternWaste]

79. A popular allegation.

A popular allegation. Like many bumper stickers.

[snooper2]

80. most bumper stickers are true! Ever see this one?

[Demit]

20. I wonder at what your understanding of integrity is.

Jimmy Carter has high moral and ethical principles and he has lived them all his life. Your idea of integrity seems to be "condemn the people I hate using the same strong language I would use." Which is not at all what integrity is.

[Trumpocalypse]

49. Yet he is sucking up to Trump.

Parroting Trump talking points. That is not integrity.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. I don't question his character. I question his judgment.

Either Trump is right about America and we are wrong or we are right about America and his wrong.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

60. What if I started a thread

What if I started a thread where I opined:

-the media has been too harsh on Donald Trump

- the NFL players who are taking a knee are wrong

- Russia's meddling in our election wasn't determinative

- Donald Trump hasn't inflamed racial tension

[Hortensis]

68. Only if you're an ex-prez and don't mind standing alone on a stage.

Even W preferred being hid from the cameras behind his dad to standing near Carter. Obama kissed Rosanne but moved smoothly right past Carter without eye contact, and who can blame him when Carter'd just gratuitously badmouthed him again?

Otoh, too much badmouthing of Democratic leaders, and people might start to recognize many of his striking similarities to Bernie Sanders. And then he spent most of his presidency quarreling with the mainstream Democrats who controlled congress. It became their job to find a way to get along with him to get things done. But not always successfully. Carter shot down Ted Kennedy's comprehensive birth-to-death healthcare proposal because he was angry that Ted didn't support his far more limited plan. I do admire much of his private contributions, but when it comes to politics he's still spiteful toward other Democrats to this day.

[louis c]

95. Jimmy Carter has lost my respect

I always defended his failed presidency, because, after all, we don't eat our own.

but fuck him from now on.

He's a dope that led to Reagan on I have no sympathy for a dope.

A dope with integrity is still a dope. And Carter is a DOPE.

[brush]

109. Come on, Carter made a mistake. He is not infallible. trump deserves even more criticism.

Last edited Tue Oct 24, 2017, 10:59 AM - Edit history (2)

I just don't get why Carter would take the side of this disaster we have in the WH.

Not smart, especially after Bush and O blasted trump in their press conferences — Bush, I repeat, Bush.

And Carter takes his side?

[underthematrix]

7. He's not sucking up. He's behaving the way all former presidents act.

His public persona should be supportive no matter what he thinks and knows privately.

[Bleacher Creature]

16. BINGO. nt

[Downtown Hound]

23. What we need are people to fight this administration and resist it

Not waste time stoking Trump's ego and feeding into his victimization fantasies in a misguided attempt to appear "presidential."

[underthematrix]

75. Former presidents can't do that

We the people, the citizens are supposed to do that with our votes. Why anyone would have voted for a sexual predator, a criminal, a Russian agent is puzzling to me.

Maybe we're the ones without the moral compass.

[Downtown Hound]

77. Bullshit they can't.

And don't ever forget that a majority of the people chose somebody else.

[underthematrix]

90. Yes I agree with you the REAL president is HRC

But a former president is just not going to do that. They see themselves as president of everybody.

[GeorgeGist]

27. Rubbish . Eom

[rockfordfile]

44. No way in hell. We have a traitor in the WH. To be "supportive" of a racist and fascist.

It's the opposite. Speak up against right-wing extremism.

[triron]

56. Spot on!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

63. Then why did President Bush and President Obama criticize Chump so harshly ?

Could it be that they correctly realize Donald Trump is such an aberrant figure that he justifies abandoning protocol ?

[Demsrule86]

66. Nonsense...No past president should support Trump who is violating the constitution and trying

to enact fascist policy. He is way more dangerous the North Korea to us...Trump is a monster and all responsible politicians should have nothing to do with him.

[Orsino]

76. If he wants a foot in the door, he'll also have to suck up.

I think some of that's going on, but I am inclined to forgive it...if there's even a tiny chance that Carter can be a moderating force.

[Adrahil]

94. WHAT!? NORMALIZE TRUMP?

No fucking way.

The republic is at an existential pivot point. Now is NOT the time for such things.

[loyalsister]

98. I think pres. Carter is the only one positioned to play good cop

Trump already has a grudge against the Bush, Clinton, and Obama. The situation is truly desperate and these former presidents are in a position where they can try to use their influence, or just watch and hope he doesn't start a war. They have a stronger sense of patriotism than to do that and we need their help.

[dalton99a]

8. Eh Jimmy, the asshole declared war on journalists - he declared war on the American people.

[tableturner]

10. Sounds smart to temporarily stroke Trump for Carter to have a chance to

save us from a war with North Korea. Makes a lot of sense.

[NoSheep]

24. agreed. Damage control

...anything you say crazy man...now let's fix this mess!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

67. Kim is no more going to give up his nukes

Kim is no more going to give up his nukes than a man living in the woods, one hundred miles from the nearest constable, is going to give up his rifle after his neighbor says he's going to kill him.

The suggestion Kim is voluntarily going to give up his nukes is preposterous.

[Kentonio]

72. Exactly this.

Mueller can deal with Trumps ego later.

[KG]

14. I LOL'd

[Bleacher Creature]

15. This doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

Jimmy Carter is as honorable and decent as anyone on the planet. He's also a former President.

Objectively, Trump is the most criticized President in recent memory - even more than Bush. That's 100% accurate. The next logical thing to say is that he's evil and disgusting, and worthy of all that criticism and more. Carter would never say such a thing, even if he believed it. That's all what's going on here.

[treestar]

17. If I remember right, the media was

pretty unfair to Jimmy Carter.

The Orange One, though, has earned it fair and square.

[LostOne4Ever]

18. Trump brings the criticism on himself. Nt

[newblewtoo]

19. I caught a bit of this

on Meet The Press this morning. Chuck Todd was going on about how Clinton still bears a grudge against Carter or some such thing, I wasn't listening closely. I have no idea why he said this, did anyone else hear this and know? (I can certainly accept that Chuck Todd is a bit of a smarmy a_hole but other than that I don't recall any Carter / Clinton animosity.)

[lpbk2713]

22. A nonagenarian is more presidential ...

than asshole Trump ever came close to even on his best day.

[spanone]

25. Carter is trying to save the world from trump...he realizes the insane evil of the man.

trump won't allow carter to upstage him

[Mike Nelson]

26. And...

...Trump brings on the bad coverage with his words and deeds. I see what Carter is trying to do, but I think it's hopeless.

[ProfessorGAC]

28. Hence The Issue Here

Ex-POUTESes don't criticize sitting presidents! They should!

[ismnotwasm]

29. Hardly.

Slightly more honest perhaps but not “hard”. If the media had done their jobs he most likely wouldn’t be in office—where he is an utter incompetent

[DemocratSinceBirth]

37. Imagine if somebody here started a thread that the press has been too hard on Trump.

They would be pilloried and rightfully so:

"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

[SummerSnow]

31. He feels sorry for him. I bet Trump has not one good thing to say about Carter...

Oh wait, he already did that...

Trump: .......I’d never understood how Jimmy Carter became president. The answer is that as poorly qualified as he was for the job, Jimmy Carter had the nerve, the guts, the balls, to ask for something extraordinary. That ability above all helped him get elected president. But then, of course, the American people caught on pretty quickly that Carter couldn’t do the job, and he lost in a landslide when he ran for reelection.

http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2015/09/29/donald-trump-takes-aim-at-jimmy-carters-everyman-image/

Link to tweet

[jalan48]

32. Jimmy got jobbed by former CIA Director Bush Sr. behind the scenes (Iran hostage situation)

in the lead-up to the 1980 election. You'd think he would have learned something about Republicans back then.

[4now]

33. Trump knows Dems will eventually cave

How sad to be Carter.

[Demsrule86]

59. The GOP doesn't need the Dems to cave...they own it all..and I think the elected Dem have been

pretty fucking great consider what they have to work with...and I think your statement is ridiculous. Carter has never forgiven the Democratic Party for the Kennedy treatement...and it often shows.

[Blue_true]

34. Carter hates war. He has gone to other hotspots to prevent war.

My take is Carter care more about preventing war and may realize that Trump has to be buttered up.

[mucifer]

57. Exactly. Carter has a lot of experience negotiating with evil dictators. I'm sure he has buttered

lots of them up with lies before.

I think he wants to negotiate with North Korea and he needs trump's approval and he is willing to butter up trump to do it. It's about preventing nuclear war which is a tad more important than a lie about trump.

Just my theory.

[uponit7771]

35. i disagree

[Tobin S.]

36. I think Carter sees a great danger here with Trump and North Korea and is just trying to help.

Any kind words directed at Trump are an attempt to open the door on diplomatic action with North Korea. I don't think Carter truly endorses Trump on any issue. Earlier this year Carter said that America currently has no functioning democracy.

If you look into the potential consequences with a war with North Korea, they are horrific. Policy experts on the issue say that the casualties would be in the millions and there is the potential there for nuclear detonations. Trump seems to be a-okay with that and is trying to pick a fight with North Korea. I'm glad Carter doesn't see it that way.

[BlueStater]

38. Keep in my mind that "harder" doesn't mean the same as "unfair".

Carter may be right in that the orange blob has received more negative press coverage than any previous president, but he never said that it wasn't 100% deserved.

[UTUSN]

39. I've been trying to love Jimmy since 1976 & always crash with the effort

[n2doc]

40. And it is WELL DESERVED

Trump is a liar. He can't tell the truth to save his presidency. The Media should be calling him out on his lies, every single time. And twice on Sundays.

[no_hypocrisy]

41. + 1,000,000,000,000

[Paladin]

42. Jesus, can you imagine the MILEAGE trump will get out of this?

President Carter, you're hurting us.

[coolsandy]

53. My feeling exactly!

[JI7]

43. He is trying to stop nuclear war. He could go on a trip to north korea anytime ghee wants

This is about nuclear war.

[Trumpocalypse]

50. Saying nice things about Hitler

didn't stop WWII.

[Crunchy Frog]

45. Placating him to try to head off possible nuclear war?

[jmowreader]

46. If there's anyone in the US that's capable of talking Kim Jong Un down, it's Carter

Regardless of your opinion of our current whatever the hell Trump is (mine is about as low as it's possible to get), if Jimmy Carter is willing to risk his life to try to save ours, I don't think we have any choice but to give him the support and logistical backing he'll need to do it.

[Trumpocalypse]

51. He doesn't need to suck up to Trump

to do that.

[jmowreader]

83. Yeah, actually he does

Carter also realizes Trump could get him killed by tweeting the wrong things. He knows Trump is an incredibly dangerous man. He needs constant praise to keep him from going off on a temper tantrum. It saddens and disgusts me that the president of the United States has to be treated like a two-year-old, but that’s what President Carter is doing.

[LovingA2andMI]

47. Dumb Crapola Carter....

Period. You have DISAPPOINTED many and lost others respect when you double down and stated the confederate Statues need to "Stay In Place".

[Soxfan58]

54. The Media

Has a lot of good reasons.

[MariaCSR]

61. Maybe he's just pretending to be nice to avoid war with NK

So if he has to play along with manchild-in-chief in order to obtain that goal then so be it.

[HughBeaumont]

62. Love you, Jimmy . . . .

. . . . but no.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

64. Check this post out, Hugh.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=9740867

[HughBeaumont]

71. +200

Any one of us would be lambasted for posting something that doesn't square with the facts.

The media helped him become president because they wanted RATINGS.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

73. We can't have one set of standards for politicians we like and one set for ourselves.

It reminds me of the Dianne Feinstein brouhaha. None of us should legitimize Donald Trump, period.

I read Maureen Dowd's piece more than once. She intended to create controversy or a buzz if you will but the 39th president gave her a load of comments to work with.

Whenever there was a positive or negative inference to be drawn from Chump's actions the 39th president drew the positive one.

[Bettie]

65. The media were easier on him

during the election, but really, the only way they've been "harder" on him is that the cover literally everything he does.

That is the big difference.

I think Pres. Carter is wrong in this case and I hate that he is defending that evil orange clown.

[hatrack]

69. Yes, and for a number of very good reasons . ..

[Joe941]

70. What does tRump have on carter?

[WinkyDink]

85. You jest, right? There's NOTHING. Jimmy marches to his own moral beat. Nobody needs agree.

[Joe941]

87. It's inexplicable that carter would say this stuff. Just trying to figure out why...

[kentuck]

74. I read thru this thread and I see about 6 trolls that should not be on DU...

I doubt very much that they have ever supported any Democrat. Just my opinion.

[PdxSean]

78. Im sure Carter is crushed by the loss of your trust.

Did you ever stop to consider that Carter might be trying to avert a nuclear war? Trump is a proven megalomaniac; if ya gotta stroke his ego to get him the fuck away from the “red button,” let the stroking begin.

[Trumpocalypse]

81. That's just spin and

rationalization. Didn't work for Chamberlain with Hitler.

[PdxSean]

86. Have you tried contacting Carter?

He seems like a humble guy who’d appreciate hearing from someone wiser and more politically intelligent than himself.

Or maybe you could ramble and rant online and hope he sees your posts.

[Trumpocalypse]

88. No but I don't try to contact Trump either

when he says something untrue or stupid.

When any politician does we should have no fear of calling them out on it and not engage in a cult of personality where someone cannot be criticized not matter what. That is what mindless Trump supports do. We should have a higher standard.

[PdxSean]

97. Constructive criticism is one thing.

"Don't think I'll trust Carter ever again," however, is the kind of hyperbolic Trumpspeak that has little, if anything, to do with constructive criticism.

[Trumpocalypse]

99. And Carter's comments weren't hyperbolic?

Please spare me the hypocrisy.

[PdxSean]

103. Sigh.

Based on Carter’s record as a humanitarian, he might understandably be stroking Trump’s ego to get to an end-game: involvement in discussions with North Korea to avert nuclear war. You, however, are stroking your own ego.

[Trumpocalypse]

104. That's spin

We should call out BS at all times.

And since you've resorted to name calling, you've lost your credibility.

[PdxSean]

107. Then go forth, noble one, . . .

. . . and call out BS which offendeth thee.

I’m signing out, utterly vanquished by your valor.

[Trumpocalypse]

108. Sorry that the truth hurts. nt

[SixString]

82. JC was being civil.

That seems to be a foreign concept to some here.

[Trumpocalypse]

89. Lying is not being civil.

That's what Carter was doing.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

91. Should we have been civil to Jefferson Davis ?

[WinkyDink]

84. As well they ought to be, Jimmy. It's best you stop now. Love, WD.

[JCanete]

92. The statement is certainly untrue, excepting late shows maybe. Frankly, the media has

continued to bend over backwards to make his Presidency legitimate. They've just come to the realization that that is mostly a lost cause. How many times and how late in his term can they claim "Trump became President today" before their own strained credibility snaps?

Carter may think he's trying to avert a disaster by stroking Trump's ego here, but they will not be sending Carter to North Korea, and I do think its a bad move to propagate Trump's own lies and delusions. I respect President Carter greatly, but this statement is certainly not his shining hour.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

93. I love and admire JC

but this is just weird.


Still, if he manages to calm things down with NK, I could deal with that.

[louis c]

96. Is Carter OK with Hitler, too?

After all, look how harshly the Media has treated him

[DemocratSinceBirth]

100. Folks need to read the entire piece

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/21/opinion/sunday/jimmy-carter-lusts-trump-posting.html


The 39th president suggested the 45th president is being treated unfairly by the press, has not inflamed racial tension, has not lowered the image of America in the world, Russian meddling in our election was of no moment, and the NFL players who are taking a knee during the National Anthem are wrong.

If I posted such thoughts my posts would be hidden and I would be a pariah.

[dlk]

101. Extremely Advanced Age, Unfortunately, Takes It's Toll on the Brain

[DemocratSinceBirth]

102. His thoughts were coherent but wrong.

Every time he was asked to characterize Trump's actions he characterized them in the most positive light.


I am loathe to criticize any Democrat. However when they violate my 11th Commandment that thou shall not legitimize Trump I'm compelled to.

[heaven05]

105. yeah right, jimmy

[Hoyt]

106. It is sad. I just looked at the Atlanta Journal site and a lot of white wingers are bashing

the media for treating Trump "unfairly" -- citing Carter's comment as proof -- in response to the article about Carter's comments.

Of course, Carter has been very critical of Trump at other times. Hard to criticize Carter, but his respect for the office of Prez is hard to support with Trump.