Jimmy Carter ought to be ashamed of himself.
Millions of Americans are legitimately concerned over an attempt by a political party to fundamentally change the country through government without regard to the limits imposed by the Constitution. These are legitimate concerns being expressed in legitimate ways. The left, so bereft of humility, cannot recognize genuine political and philosophical disagreement but see only racism.
The former President has been cozying up to authoritarian Marxists for so long and is now so convinced in the rightness of their leftness that the noise of the democratic process is no longer required or even welcome. In fact, it is no longer viewed as the democratic process anymore but as opposition to progress. Further, opposition comes in only one flavor these days, racist.
The fact is that people like Jimmy Carter do not like Americans and they certainly do not trust them. This is one of the reasons that Reagan crushed Carter, he trusted in the goodness of the American people. Statists, like Carter, do not.
For my part, I still believe in this country. I still believe that we can overcome this current crisis in national identity. In order to do so, we must first reject the oft bigotry of racist expectations.
Does racism still exist? Absolutely. Is it a driving factor in our current national discussion? No way. We are bigger than that. Better than that.
I say to you today, my friends, that even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day America and those who serve her will cherish the limits of government and the limitless aspirations of the people.
I have a dream that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution and reserved to the people are not usurped by those who view with disdain this wonderful charter of negative liberties.
I have a dream that all will recognize that it is impossible to take liberty from one to give it to another without destroying it in the process.
I have a dream where people will respect the lives and liberty of all from conception to natural death.
And yes Jimmy, I have a dream that one day my children will one day live in a nation where they can criticize someone for the content of their character and their ideas without regard for the color of their skin.
I have a dream today.
September 16, 2009 at 8:35 am
Carter is a good-hearted idiot. The problem is idiots of any callibre or stripe can cause real damage. I blame him for prolonging the civil war in Sudan (Infidel north vs Christian south) due to his interference and giving the government there legitimacy.
September 16, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I spent all of my childhood and most of my adult life living in the Southern US. Much of that time was spent in the Deep South. Racism does exist there just as it does in other places around the planet. However, people like Jimmy Carter really don't have a clue about real racism and race relations. The situation is very difficult. Criticizing a person of color in the South is, more often than not, misconstrued as racism. Once I attempted to correct a child who was bullying one of my boys. The woman verbally assaulted me, threatened me, and accused me of being a racist. I almost went to jail. I have plenty of those experiences. These types of attitudes are pervasive in many areas. Many people are accused of racism all the time simply because they expect people of any race to live by certain standards. Mr. Carter should know better. Mr. Carter comes from a very much different time. He lives in a time warp.
September 16, 2009 at 1:19 pm
As a loyal member of the peanut brigade, I once drove down to Plains, Ga. to see Carter play in a softball game. He and the Secret Service were playing the press. I don't remember who won. I do remember Carter at the bat… swinging away but missing. Little did I know how his performance that afternoon would prefigure his administration. Judging from his most recent statements, he's still swinging and he's still missing.
September 16, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I really resent having the race card continually played at us in this administration, and elsewhere. I didn't like Kerry's views, so did that make me a hater of those who spend too much time grooming their hair? I didn't like Clinton's policies, so did that make me a hater of dirty old men who molest interns? Oh yeah… I do hate those guys. Never mind!
September 16, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Can a man exist who is at the same time prominent, black, and not virtuous?
–Seems to me that in America today, this man is not allowed to exist.
Oh, ya, except that despicable Clarence Thomas…
Kate
September 16, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I'm actually starting to worry that this continual lobbing of the "racism" charge is going to start reigniting some actual, y'know, racism. Living up (or down) to expectations, and all that…
September 16, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Jimmy Carter ought to be ashamed of himself.
I don't think the man is capable of shame. He is an egoist of the highest degree.
September 16, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Unbelievable. It wasn't considered hate to say all those horrible things about George W. Bush (not that I agree with everything he did) but it's hate and racist to criticize this current president? Please.
I believe as you do. This country can overcome all that's happened.
September 17, 2009 at 1:20 am
I'm waiting for them to throw the spin that even if you voted for Obama, you were just trying to hide your racism.
September 26, 2009 at 5:54 pm
You call yourselves Christians,that's the only reason for laughter on this site,even Jesus would spit on you!Closeted,hypocritical,
blind,defective,dimwitted…those are the nicest things that can be said of any of you!
September 26, 2009 at 6:09 pm
1)Here is your prayer for Sunday,LORD Please forgive us for being such HYPOCRITES,Please give us the humility for REAL INTROSPECTION ,AND PLEASE LET US FOR THE FIRST TIME SEE WHAT JESUS REALLY STOOD FOR!
2)Jesus a truly Good "MAN" and the first SOCIALIST!
September 26, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Want the real , older TRUTH -read CONFUCIUS!