Jimmy Carter sends his condolences

[LTR]

http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=39628

"This is a sad day for our country," Carter said before teaching Sunday school at his church, Maranatha Baptist Church, in his hometown of Plains. "I probably know as well as anybody what a formidable communicator and campaigner that President Reagan was. It was because of him that I was retired from my last job."

Carter normally issues statements through the Carter Center in Atlanta, but as of Sunday the Center had not released any response. Carter told a handful of reporters gathered at the church Sunday that he would make no formal comment or answer questions after the service.

(snip)

"He presented some very concise, very clear messages that appealed to the American people," Carter said. "I think throughout his term in office he was very worthy of the moniker that was put on him as the 'Great Communicator.'"

(snip)

"It was a very sobering day for the country to lose a former president," Carter said. "I want to express my admiration for him and his wife and associate myself with the grief that America feels."

[bluestateguy]

1. Point

Much of the Reagan defense buildup was simply an acceleration of Carter's policies. He had already begun increasing the defense budget in his fourth year in office and had he been reelected he likely would have build up the military quite a bot more.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Carter is such a class act.

If it were me, I would have said: "Back in 1980, America wanted to be lied to, and Reagan performed admirably."

[LTR]

3. Yes, but...

...that would sound pretty terrible coming from a former president.

It seems that there is an unwritten code of conduct among presidents when speaking about one another. Sure, it's been stretched a few times. But there is almost an atmosphere of respect.

Besides, Carter is a deeply religious man with a good heart. He knows how to forgive.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Carter is a class act.

No question about that.

[madrchsod]

4. teaching sunday school??

interesting-a president who actually-does-god`s work here on earth. i wish i had a sunday teacher like him when i was a kid....remember that is where religious values are taught not in school..

[checks-n-balances]

6. He teaches almost every Sunday and it's open to the public in Plains, GA

I have a friend from Atlanta who went once and said he was an excellent teacher (and she's a pretty conservative Christian, not likely to have voted for him) and I'm sure he was because he's articulated things about his faith.

Ironic, isn't it, that the Religious Right turned on him completely and praised the mostly un-Christian policies that dominate to this day thanks to the rethugs...

Definitely a class act, like Jesus was, and both have been reviled by the rich & powerful...