My Conversation With Jimmy Carter (VIDEO)

Earlier today, I sat down with former President Jimmy Carter for an extensive conversation about a number of issues, including the debate over the amount of money being spent on campaigns.

I specifically asked him about the Supreme Court decision earlier this year that paved the way for unlimited corporate contributions.

The full interview airs tonight on PBS.

 

Comments

[stevebol2]

10:38 PM on 11/01/2010

Only a republican would call Carter a bad president.

[stevebol2]

10:31 PM on 11/01/2010

Carter had foresight.

[gino618]

01:27 PM on 10/26/2010

Ah yes - the man who claims he would have won the 1980 election were it not for a 3rd party candidate....

This despite the fact that Reagan won the electoral college with 489 to Carter's 49.

With logic and numbers knowledge like that... who needs the truth?

How many people even KNOW there was a 3rd party candidate in 1980?

[not one of the sheep]

01:50 PM on 10/26/2010

Ain't senility great!

[rchham]

01:15 PM on 10/26/2010

Jimmy Carter is one of the worst Presidents in history. First of all, he is a progressive, we had gas lines (every other day you could get fuel), high un-employment, interest rates in the high teens, stagflation, the takeover of American territory and nothing done. There is more, but I'd just become petty! A very inept President.

[Nitalia]

03:05 PM on 10/26/2010

Wow, people who don't like progress I would think would be "very inept".

[steve11407]

12:12 PM on 10/26/2010

Now this is the kind of guy NPR could wrap their head around. Juan, not so much

[Nitalia]

03:14 PM on 10/26/2010

Well when you use bubble wrap around your head like Juan does, who can blame NPR. Since Bubble Wrap is the business attire worn most by Faux News reporters, Juan should be their best dressed reporter and as long as he doesn't ask for a raise- you know so that he can be paid like O'Reilly, Beck, and Hannity- the sky will be his limited!

[steve11407]

05:46 PM on 10/27/2010

yeah, yeah, yeah...

[Deparis]

11:04 AM on 10/26/2010

The most misunderstood statesman in the history of the America. A true leader, a very fine, decent and honest man. President Carter, that is.

[steve11407]

12:08 PM on 10/26/2010

Not

[cloudjungle]

12:52 PM on 10/26/2010

Just give me an example of why not. Please, I'm waiting to hear.

[Pearlswan]

05:11 PM on 10/26/2010

True that. Carter is the most honest and caring President America has ever had. He appears selfless. That is exactly what we need in our leaders. But, you can see where it got him so we don't get it. Too bad for us. Americans say they want an honest president who cares for the people over the corporations but when we get one we demonize him and throw him to the dogs. It's sad and pathetic.

[MARTYB]

08:49 AM on 10/26/2010

When i was in the service he gave us our first "decent" raise in years, really like the guy.

[Pearlswan]

05:16 PM on 10/26/2010

I served in the Army under Carter too. I felt he really cared about the troops and didn't want to send us into a war for profit. We came close during the Iranian hostage crisis but when Carter saw that our equipment and forces were set up for a war in the jungle rather than the dessert, he decided not to seek war with Iran and tried to get those hostages out peacefully, which he did but Reagan got the credit for it. Then came Iran-Contra under Reagan making the whole thing clear to me. I'm so glad Carter didn't send us to war with Iran. He genuinely tried to modernize the military for our own good.

[stevebol2]

10:35 PM on 11/01/2010

Same here, I was in the Navy under Carter. Then Reagan got elected and I thought, "You must be joking. Reagan?"

[northstar11]

07:57 AM on 10/26/2010

i dont care what the righties say -------i like mr carter ---

[pinkibus]

03:39 AM on 10/26/2010

America has no wish to have honest, intelligent and well educated men represent them. Carter would have saved America the pain of going to war in Iraq for oil and the pain of the gulf oil spill because he knew the need for green energy and freedom from having to depend on foreigners for oil. Whatever the cost of green energy it cannot be as high as the price of oil which is subsidized by tax dollars and runs up huge costs in health costs, environmental degradation etc. Just add the price of the war in Iraq to the price of oil for americans so they thhink they can afford to drive to MacDonald's for a Big Mac. The Iraq war will cost at least a million dollars. Add that to the price of a gallon of gas and you have an idea of the true cost of gas. Coal is an ancient fuel the Chinee have planned to leapfrog by building green cities - thirteen to be exact. And America is still for drilling.

[dobberdoss]

03:34 AM on 10/26/2010

Just to play devil's advocate: Do we know OR like where ALL the (so-called) "left wing money comes from?
Did Obama not get a cent from GS?

[Nitalia]

03:20 PM on 10/26/2010

The difference is Obama had to disclosed where his campaign cash came from. If the GOP was an honest party, they would not have blocked the DISCLOSE act nor would they not have co-erced John Roberts into creating a ruling to influence electons, but just wait- the same cash flying the GOP's way will be flying President Obama's way in 2012. Ah, I think I will just sit back, relax, and start counting!

[frank day]

11:16 PM on 10/25/2010

I'm old enough to remember what Carter refers to.

A time when Politics was about the issues. And candidates acted with restraint and civility.

[skjn62]

06:46 AM on 10/26/2010

Me too, Frank.

[GardenerNorCal]

08:06 AM on 10/26/2010

Me too.

[lyingtruth]

11:08 PM on 10/25/2010

Carter is the most under-rated modern President. Had the country continued with his energy plan, imo cars would be getting double the mileage and oil would be below $40.

[skjn62]

06:47 AM on 10/26/2010

Agreed, but this country never seems to learn. We've been blinded by greed.

[GardenerNorCal]

08:09 AM on 10/26/2010

Well while he was playing by the rules Reagan wasn't with Watergate and his Iran Contra deals. On the surface Reagan may have been civil but in practical fact he was anything but.

[Beatriz09]

10:57 PM on 10/25/2010

Indeed, if you read about how the political climate was decades ago, you immediately see that there's one big difference: the level of "civility".

It's something that Obama has tried to restore, EVEN when the Republicans went further than ever in calling opponents "liars" and saying the most absurd and false things about them and their policies.

But ... well .. it's also Obama who has been elected president. Maybe their do still is some kind of respect today, maybe the American people do want to reward civility?

[Deus Angelus]

07:58 AM on 10/26/2010

If the American people want to reward civility lets vote Democratic at the polls this Nov and throw the GOP and their illegitimate love child the Tea Part out of Congress.

[lightist]

10:41 PM on 10/25/2010

All that money going into the hands of those who control the messages, the media. Obviously that must be changed immediately, if not sooner. And don't tell me it can't be done when I know as factually as I know I'm alive, that it is going to change for the better in a huge way sooner than we actually know.

Then how do I know? It doesn't matter. I simply know.

Don't despair over it.

Have a happy day.

[pinkibus]

03:40 AM on 10/26/2010

lightist - I hope you are right.