Why do they hate Jimmy Carter?

by

Gerald Plessner

December 21, 2005 - Why do Republican politicians and right-wing talk show hosts hate Jimmy Carter? I have been trying to answer that question for a long time.

A fine Christian gentleman, Jimmy Carter, with his wife Rosalynn, has devoted his retirement to providing homes for the poor, acting as a peacemaker between warring tribes and nations, and monitoring democratic elections the world over.

Why would a predominately Christian political class hate such a man so much?

And then it dawned on me! Jimmy Carter is everything too many Republican politicians and radio loudmouths are not --- humble, dedicated to unselfish public service, not out to make every buck he can on his fame, and not willing to step down into the gutter to debate his critics.

In a time of war when most pro-war politicians have never worn their country's uniform, Jimmy Carter's military service puts most of our current political leaders to shame. And his sacrifice was voluntary, serving his country for seven years as a Navy officer, ultimately commanding a nuclear submarine.

To a political party so dedicated to religious ideals, yet plagued by a host of elected officials who use every opportunity to preserve their power and enhance their financial resources, a humble public servant like Jimmy Carter must be made the object of ridicule.

To a war party with few leaders who have served their country in uniform, a successful military leader like Carter must be minimized. A leader who managed one of the most complex and important war machines is just too bright to be respected.

As president, Jimmy Carter faced very difficult times. He followed President Gerald Ford, who lost the election because of his pardon of Richard Nixon. Carter had to deal with inflation, unemployment, the energy shortage and the Iran hostage crisis.

To his credit, Jimmy Carter decontrolled domestic petroleum prices, prompted civil service reform, advanced deregulation of the trucking and airline industries and sought to improve the environment.

His administration saw an increase of nearly eight million jobs while it decreased the budget deficit measured in percent of the gross national product.

President Carter's most important achievement was the Camp David agreement of 1978, helping to bring amity between Egypt and Israel. His worst failure was the Iran hostage crisis where 52 Americans were held captive until the inauguration of his successor, Ronald Reagan.

In a political party where religious figures like Congressman Ralph Reed, the former director of the Christian Coalition, faces possible indictment for taking bribes from infamous lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Jimmy Carter is an abomination.

In the right-wing talk radio world, where personalities like drug-buying Rush Limbaugh hire high-priced lawyers to put off their day in court; where chronic gambling addict William Bennett can talk about aborting all black babies; and where trash-talking media bimbo Ann Coulter is an important thinker, the innocence and Christian sacrifice of a man like James Earl Carter must be diminished.

Though current events during his presidency did not treat Jimmy Carter well, history will be most kind.