Jimmy Carter said he'd rather have a Dem elected, but Romney would be ok.

[MoonRiver]

Huh? This guy calls himself a Democrat??

[Rambis]

1. There is a democrat in this race?

That being said Mittens would be a disaster there is no choice!

[MoonRiver]

3. I've been VERY disappointed with Obama.

But he is one of our usual milk toast own. Romney would have to throw red meat to his base and that would be a total horror show.

[Rambis]

7. I had no expectations but

I didn't not expect NCLB to continue. The patriot act which guts civil liberties I thought would be gone. Drone attacks gone- He has done some good things but no one is as left as I want them to be.

[Tx4obama]

6. Are you implying that Obama is a Republican? nt

[Rambis]

9. He is a goldwater republican IMO

The republicans are now so right it makes our massive shift to the right look minuscule.

[ananda]

13. Consider...

Obama governs completely to the corporate right in almost every aspect of government
except certain social issues where he throws a bone to the left.

Maybe you could call him Reep lite, and Romney fringe right.

[Tx4obama]

15. Considering this is DU, I will not call President Obama anything other than a DEMOCRAT

And that is what I will say EVERYWHERE on the internet.

[CakeGrrl]

29. +10000

Let's see how long that stuff flies once the general election campaigns are underway in earnest.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. He doesn't just call himself a Democrat, he IS a Democrat.

And a damn fine human being to boot.

He's a diplomat (one of the best this country has ever seen) using diplomatic language applied to the context of partisan politics. Nothing more and nothing less.

Save your outrage for something worth it.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. Please read the whole statement. He is not endorsing Romney.

Former President Jimmy Carter said he expects President Obama to win reelection, but Mitt Romney would be his top choice on the Republican side.


"I think of all the Republican candidates who are prominent, I think Romney would be the one I would rather see have a slight possibility to be president," on MSNBC's "Jansing & Co" in an interview that aired Wednesday.

When pressed on whether he would be "comfortable" with a Romney presidency, Carter responded, "I would rather have a Democrat, but I would be comfortable."

<snip>

"I think he's gone too far in the conservative positions to suit the average American, that's why I think President Obama is going to be reelected," he said.

http://thehill.com/video/campaign/223703-jimmy-carter-comfortable-with-romney-in-the-white-house

And, yes, Jimmy Carter is a Democrat.

[MoonRiver]

10. Well, you can substitute comfortable with ok.

Both mean the same thing. And as I said he would rather have a Democrat elected.

[Johonny]

19. People love over acting to Jimmy Carter

In the modern partisan world people are much more use to former politicians declaring the end time if the opposing party wins. Carter still lives in the world before hyper-partisanship. Although funny enough Rethugs love to treat Carters criticisms when he does express them as totally new to ex-presidents. LOL Carter can't win either way he goes. People love hating on him.

[JNelson6563]

5. Ok, wow.

[quinnox]

8. Um, even former presidents are allowed to have an opinion

Are you going to take away his party membership?? I'd love to hear what you think a Democrat should think.

[Autumn]

11. Jimmy Carter IS a Democrat.

Unlike a lot of "New Democrats" we have today. I think you missed part of what he said though.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

12. All he really was implying is that we would likely survive a Romney presidency.

It wouldn't be fun or easy, but he probably wouldn't be as destructive as some other Republicans might be.

Whereas if the Republicans were to nominate a true crazy reactionary, a la Allen West or Michelle Bachmann or another Bush or Cheney, there would be no telling if this country could manage to stay afloat.

[quinnox]

17. exactly, and Carter is right on this, IMHO

Romney definitely was the most sane of the repubs running. Just imagine if instead of Romney, it was a Bachmann or a Rick Perry had won, (so as not to scare people or give nightmares I won't even talk about the possibility of Santorum or Gingrich having won)

Sure, Romney is a 1 percenter all the way, but he is not a crazy right winger like some of these others. He would be a boring president and very likely not be radical or do things to upset the status quo too much.

Carter is saying Romney would not be a total disaster (like for example, Bush Jr. was), but that of course the Democrat would be better for the country and much better for the future of the nation.

[libinnyandia]

14. If I remember correctly Carter did not appoint any Justices to the SCOTUS. Romney would appoint

right wingers. I could iamgine a 7-2 right wing majority eventually.

[Tx4obama]

18. Correct, Carter did not appoint anyone to the SCOTUS

List of all SC justices here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Supreme_Court_Justices

[stranger81]

16. Don't blame the messenger for the fact that there is very little daylight

between Obama & Romney on the issues. He calls them like he sees them. And as our last real Democratic president, that is his right.

[libinnyandia]

20. The makeup of the SCOTUS is important. If Romney has his way the Court will move

eben further to the right.

[stranger81]

21. I heard this over and over during GWB years, when every Democrat in Congress voted obediently

and with a smile for Bush's most radical nominees. Until our party starts using ammunition against radical RW justices when they have it, I am completely tuning out the bogeyman talk about saving the country from a RW SCOTUS. It's a talking point, and not much more.

And setting SCOTUS aside, shouldn't our nominee be able to point to more than just who he/she would nominate to the SCOTUS to distinguish himself/herself from the Repugs? If our nominee can't do that, it certainly isn't Jimmy Carter's fault.

[libinnyandia]

25. It is much better and much more effective to have the power to appoint judges than to try to

prevent the appointment of judges. With the Senate so dysfunctional if you block GOP justices too much they will block Democratic judges. The constitution give the POTUS the power to aRobetts and aaaalitoppoint. It is much more difficult to block. Nader and his followers are in part responsible for Roberts and Alito.

[Tx4obama]

22. Oh BULL. There is HUGE difference between Obama & Romney on the issues n/t

[treestar]

32. That was not President Carter's message

jump to conclusions fail

[Motown_Johnny]

23. What other statement would have damaged Rmoney with Conservatives more than that?

Carter being against him would be something they liked.

[kctim]

24. Just more proof

of how moderate Romney is and that will lead to the Republican base not really showing up at the polls.

President Obama in a landslide.

[MoonRiver]

26. When I saw Carter's interview I thought,

this is going to send the (rw fundie base packing). A thumbsup for Willard from Carter??? Nooooooooo....

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

27. It's reverse psychology... like having the KKK or Hitler give the OK to a candidate.

If Jimmy Carter gives Romney the nod then Republican turnout will be disillusioned. Who worse than Jimmy Carter to give Romney some sort of positive PR!

[Bluenorthwest]

28. Not reallly. For one thing, he is presuming the President will win. He says:

"I think of all the Republican candidates who are prominent, I think Romney would be the one I would rather see have a slight possibility to be president."

So, Jimmy says the GOP nominee will have a slight possibility to be president.
Of the GOP menu, Mitt is the least shameful to the nation in the part of 'he who loses to the President'. I think he is correct. Someone has to lose to the President, Mitt will do it well.

[sendero]

30. Carter is smarter..

... than most of the people here. there is very little difference between Romney and Obama other than pointless rhetoric.

Anyone paying the slightest attention would know that. Jimmy is paying attention.

[deacon]

31. Obviously, senility is kicking in. Yo carter, we don't want the ryan plan. n/t