Obama Must Allow Jimmy Carter to Speak at Convention

As the democrats have gathered in Denver to unite and rally all supporters behind Obama, they are causing a lot of excitement about the prospect of America getting passed the tipping point and addressing many of the challenges we have been facing for decades. However, Obama continues to show signs that even his courage to address the tough issues and ability to tell people what they "need to hear" has its limits.

Former President Jimmy Carter was invited to speak at the convention on Day 2, which was yesterday. That was until August 22, at least, when Israel Resource Review reported that the National Council on Young Israel -- an umbrella organization which represents more than 150 synagogues around the U.S. -- decides to break the unspoken rule not to intervene in American partisan politics by appealing to both the Obama campaign and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean to rescind Carter's invitation because Carter has dared to be a courageous voice against Israel's longer-than-four-decades-long military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, as well as their settlement building in direct violation of international law and Fourth Geneva Convention.

And surely, as little exposure as this request received, Jimmy Carter was sidelined yesterday and wasn't allowed to speak at the convention. When Amy Goodman of Democracy Now asked Carter why he was sidelined, he avoided answering the question.

Some have attributed this event to an innocent "change of schedule." Don't buy it; it makes no sense. Jimmy Carter is a living former president of the United States. That makes him a member of the most exclusive club in American political life with often no more than five members at a time. Besides, he had already received an invitation to speak, indicating that his speech was built into the convention. Conventions are strictly scheduled events and no one's speech on day 2 ran over by longer than a few seconds. Schedule changes of this magnitude don't just happen. What other justification can the Obama camp and DNC have for sidelining a former democratic president and someone who won the Noble Peace Prize for his efforts to bring peace to Israel?

Calling Obama out on this act of caving to special interest is not enough. He needs to stop allowing Zionist groups push him around as he repeatedly has done ever since he started his campaign. Jimmy Carter's contributions and service to this country have been immense. Senator Barack Obama owes a through explanation to the American people for why Carter was sidelined, and he needs to do the right thing and make sure that Carter gets to speak at this convention.

Comments

[thewisemann]

To have allowed President Carter to speak at the convention would have been inconsistent with Senator Obama's goals. Senator Obama wanted to present his candidacy as a progressive one that rejects bigotry and extremism of all types. As a former president, we must respect President Carter, but we don't have to go overboard and allow him to destroy Obama's chances of being elected by giving people the impression that he supports President Carter's extremist and anti-progressive views.

[EspressoAtNoon]

Here's another article about all the maneuvering from Pro-Israel Jewish groups to punish Carter at the convention:

The Jewish Daily Forward
"Jimmy Carter Conspicuously Absent From Podium"
http://www.forward.com/articles/14110/

[Bitsko]

Carter gave a terrific speech at the last convention.

[pkmlk]

I believe Carter spoke either on Monday or Tuesday...

[King Mobley]

I know they played a short film of him and the help he has been doing in New Orleans but I think right after that they just had him and Mrs. Carter come out and take a bow. Shortly after that they were interviewing him on PBS.

[MagisterLudi]

Yes, yes yes. Anything negative in Obama campaign from this point on will be attributed to Zionists. Hey, it works for Ahmadinejad and worked for Czars and various Baathists.
Of course this has NOTHING to do that Carter is a symbol of failed policies and one of the least popular Presidents (along with Bush2 ). Of course not. It MUST be Zionists hiding in our mids.. Come on, for shame, people.

[MagisterLudi]

You can not divorce religious belief and public service. I've never detected any conflict between God's will and my political duty. If you violate one, you violate the other.
Jimmy Carter

Hmmm, not exactly the thing you may want to hear at a Democratic convention...

[MagisterLudi]

The reason that Carter is being muzzled is because he is the symbol of failure in American politics. No one wants to be associated with that. Thats the reality--- deal with it.

[XME]

Did I miss something? I could have sworn I saw Jimmy Carter speak yesterday and was then joined by his wife...was I dreaming that??

[kbrandauer]

No XME you didn't dream it. He did come out on stage with Roselyn and he is on the official schedule:

http://www.demconvention.com/monday-schedule/

[JTyroler]

It is very interesting that former-President Carter is not only a living ex-President, but he's also a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. The Democrats had the opportunity to have 2 Nobel Prize winners speak at their convention.

Plus, Carter has been willing to speak to those people that Obama has caught flak for suggesting we talk with.

[realityczech4u]

For those wishing to listen to Jimmuh, Charlie Rose interviewed him recently. I'm sure the DVD is available from PBS. Far less expensive than Lunesta and far more effective.

[Yugeen]

Does anyone know if Dr James H Cone will speak this week?

[JaneEyrez]

Stirring up trouble?

[Chris210]

The McCain campaign has made an effort to paint an Obama administration as a "Second Jimmy Carter term" in answer to the charge McCain would be a third term for Bush. Like it or not, most consider the Carter administration as a failure, and it might be wisest for Obama to distance himself from him.

[WorkingClass]

What would happen if one time - JUST ONE TIME - somebody did the *right* thing instead of pandering to idiots. How bad could it be?

[ApolloniaCreed]

I'm sure President Carter understands...

[burndtdan]

carter was offered a speaking slot in 04 and declined. ever consider that he just doesn't want to speak?

[MagisterLudi]

No. Carter is a relentless seeker of publicity....He was not offered a prime speaking place in 04. This is misinformation.

[TrooAmerican]

umm. i coulda sworn that while i was watching msnbc, that while they were interviewing someone, he asked if he could go listen to President Carter speak, and then they spoke to him after that on camera... i think even Olbermann cut his own comments to go to him to keep him from waiting.
?? is that wrong?

[madamgee]

Yea that's what I thought too. Was that a MSNBC person nagging Nancy? It was probably all of them, you know how the MSM vulcurs have been acting about this big rift in the party due to the Clintons not getting their proper respect.

[ellwood]

That's the impression I got too, Pelosi said something about wanting to hear Carter speak IIRC. I was irritated at MSNBC for going off into punditry-land after that, but at least they did manage to interview Carter, which I enjoyed (I've since switched to PBS :). Did Carter really not get to address the convention? If so, I'm speechless.