So much for that Ted Kennedy love fest in Denver. CNN's "American Morning" today showcased former President Jimmy Carter who is still obviously bitter about the divided Democratic convention of 1980.
Carter told anchor John Roberts that he is "probably the world's foremost expert on split parties" after that experience.
The former president then told the other side of the Massachusetts senator and showed how he hasn't let go animosity after 28 years. "In 1980, we were never able to heal the wounds between me and Ted Kennedy, who never did endorse me. He wouldn't even shake my hand on the platform the night I got the nomination," Carter told Roberts.
Carter used his tale to segue into a claim that the party will leave Denver united. But Roberts pointed out Carter's own objection to Obama with a clip from the Nov. 30, 2006, "Charlie Rose Show," where the former president had this to say about his would-be successor: "He's got yet to prove substance or experience to be the president."
Carter told Roberts that was understandable since it occurred so long before Obama became a candidate. "So that was a normal thing to say, you know, two years before he ever announced that he was going to be candidate." However, Carter's timeline was wildly flawed. His appearance on the "Charlie Rose Show" came less than two months, not two years before Obama announced January 16, 2007.
In fact, it wasn't even two years from his initial criticism to Carter totally changing his tune.
There's more fun in the Carter interview including his comments about the "great deal of squabble" between the Clintons and the Obamas. Here it is for your enjoyment:
ROBERTS: Mr. President, it's good to see you. It's always good to see you.
JIMMY CARTER, FMR. U.S. PRESIDENT: It's a pleasure. Thank you.
ROBERTS: There was a video of you here at the convention. You walked out on stage with Rose. But you didn't speak here at the convention.
CARTER: That's right.
ROBERTS: What's the reason for that?
CARTER: Well, I had a choice. I talked to David Axelrod, who was in charge. And I saw that at the time we had that conversation there was a great deal of squabble going on between the Clintons and the Obamas, you know, with Michelle being the first night and then the second night, tonight would be Hillary and the third night would be Bill Clinton and then the last night would be Obama. And I told them that I didn't care about making a speech but I just wanted to be of maximum help. So we decided that I would go down to New Orleans. I spent all day last week in New Orleans and to make a film. And rather than my coming back on the stage and describing what I saw in New Orleans, it's going to be better to make a high quality documentary about New Orleans and how the Democrats and Republicans deal with crises of that kind in a different way. That was fine for me.
ROBERTS: Though some pundits have suggested that it might be your views toward Israel, the fact that some Jewish voters are still not quite sold on Barack Obama, they didn't want what they saw as potentially an antagonizing factor on the stage tonight.
CARTER: I can't deny that but I don't know anything about that.
ROBERTS: Right.
CARTER: I just know what I just told you.
ROBERTS: Let me remind you of something you said. It was back in November of 2006 on the "Charlie Rose" program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARTER: He's got yet to prove substance or experience to be the president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: What changed since then for you?
CARTER: Well, at that time, as you well know, I never had met Obama. The only time I ever saw him was when he made the convention speech in 2004. I knew he did a superb job then. And I was really then hoping that Sam Nunn would run or Joe Biden would run and they would have been my choices. So that was a normal thing to say, you know, two years before he ever announced that he was going to be candidate.
ROBERTS: Mr. President, you know well the effects of going into a convention divided or there being a divide in the party going back to the 1980 convention. Are you concerned that the remains have split in the Democratic party between the Barack Obama faction, the Hillary Clinton faction and do you think that that can be repaired?
CARTER: John, I'm probably the world's foremost expert on split parties. In 1980, we were never able to heal the wounds between me and Ted Kennedy, who never did endorse me. He wouldn't even shake my hand on the platform the night I got the nomination. But this year is different. I think that by the end of this week, you will see a united party. And I believe that tonight with Hillary's speech, I don't know what he's going to say, and tomorrow night with Bill's speech you're going to see a major healing process. And by the time we leave Denver, the Democrats are going to be united behind Obama.
ROBERTS: Mr. President, it's always great to see you. Thanks for stopping by.
CARTER: I've enjoyed it. I enjoyed the music that we heard.
ROBERTS: Good luck in the future, sir.
CARTER: Thank you very much, John.
—Dan Gainor is vice president for Business and Culture at the Media Research Center.




















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Comments Policy
I wonder if Harry Smith was
August 27, 2008 - 13:40 ET by Chris NormanI wonder if Harry Smith was around at the 1980 Democratic Conevntion, marvelling at their "enthusiasm" and unity?
McNotObama '08
Speaking of unity, any
August 27, 2008 - 14:00 ET by BuffNBoneSpeaking of unity, any Schieffer kids with birthdays in the late Spring of 1981?
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Unless Schieffer was a
August 27, 2008 - 14:13 ET by Chris NormanUnless Schieffer was a Carter supporter and his wife supported Kennedy...and to this day, they bitterly sleep in separate bedrooms... :)
McNotObama '08
Are we ever going to get to
August 27, 2008 - 13:44 ET by bigtimerAre we ever going to get to the point where we don't have to hear one more word form one of the worst presidents in the USA...for me Clinton is tied with the title.
I do not care about one single word the evil dictator loving man has to say.
Put a sweater on Jimmah...just go away..you are very much part of the reason we have ANWR off bounds and gas prices where they are...too long of a story and I'm outta' here.
I despise Carter.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
When Jimmy shall speak no more
August 27, 2008 - 13:49 ET by nkviking75"Are we ever going to get to the point where we don't have to hear one more word form one of the worst presidents in the USA?"
Yes. The day he dies. Until then, his ego will force him to keep uttering inanities.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Once again, Jimmah Cahter suffers from hoof-in-mouth disease...
August 27, 2008 - 16:38 ET by goldenthroatHe just doesn't get it, does he?
Let's see, where do we start? How about with his miserable policies as president which led to double-digit inflation and sky-high interest rates, his shmoozing with world dictators and turning his back on Israel, using his socialist version of Christianity and Habitat for Humanity thinking it will divert attention away from his own personal ineptitude, and the biggest one of all, getting demolished by Reagan in the 1980 election.
Yet none of that was your fault, was it, Jimmah?
As Bugs Bunny once said: "What a maroon!"
"I think we'll all bozos on this bus!" - Firesign Theatre
I'm afraid we might have Carter's revisionist views...
August 27, 2008 - 16:31 ET by ThalpyI'm afraid we might have Carter's revisionist views of the world for all of his life, bt. Arab money seems to be limitless right now and that's all Carter is; he is a shill for Islam.
Carter doesn't actually use facts
August 27, 2008 - 13:48 ET by c5thenHe uses feelings to make all his decisions, like a good liberal. It feels like it was 2 years before Obama announced, so therefore it must be. Also the old boy isn't used to the modern campaigns that last two years for an office that lasts only 4 years.
But Carter was right in his initial critique of Obama, he did need to prove either experience or substance. Unfortunately for the Democrats, he has shown neither, let alone proved either of them to the public.
His "above my pay grade" remark about when life begins showed a glaring lack of substance from one claiming to be a Christian.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Vera bittah
August 27, 2008 - 14:05 ET by SickofLibsPeace with Hamas but not The Swimmer. Hmmm.
So much for the Nobel Peace prize...
Bitter hardly covers it.
August 27, 2008 - 15:10 ET by Kenny BunkportBitter hardly covers it. This guy has major resentment issues. Talk about holding grudges. If I had given him a wedgie in high school, I'd still be afraid he might be planning some awful revenge on me.
A gun in your hand beats a cop on the phone.
X
August 27, 2008 - 14:07 ET by serfer62I'm glad he's on the air a lot, it cost the Kommiecrats voters...
Internal Issues
August 27, 2008 - 14:10 ET by JDWThis is only one.
Where is Pelosi in this mess? I linked to the BG with regard to Clinton's perfect speech but what about Pelosi's stance on abortion? Who is addressing the GOP's response to her?
Hillary's accomplishments are the top of the list of the things wrong with the DNC's America.
What about the convention is not a mess?
How will Bubba address the audience tonight?
JDW
DAILY WAVE
Let me get this straight,
August 27, 2008 - 14:24 ET by UtherpendLet me get this straight, Jimmy Carter blames Ted Kennedy for his loss in 1980??? That is the height of Delusional, and it is also sad that he really beleives that instead of the true reasons that everyone has noted above.
Democrat vs. Republican crisis management
August 27, 2008 - 16:45 ET by Hunter12"high quality documentary about New Orleans and how the Democrats and Republicans deal with crises of that kind in a different way"
Democrats: Wail, wring hands, wait for help and guidance, but ask for none, do nothing until ...
Republicans: Push wailing Democrats aside and deliver as much aid as can safely be deployed.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill