Matthews to Jimmy Carter: Will 'Right' Play 'Racial Card' Against Obama?

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By Geoffrey Dickens | April 29, 2008 - 17:48 ET

Chris Matthews invited on former President Jimmy Carter on Tuesday’s "Hardball," and not surprisingly tossed softballs at his former boss and prompted him to weigh-in on Jeremiah Wright as he asked: "Do you think his pastor will be used by people on the right to play the racial card?"

The following exchange occurred on the April 29 edition of MSNBC’s "Hardball":

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Do you think his pastor will be used by people on the right to play the racial card?

JIMMY CARTER: I don't have any doubt. They'll use everything they can by the racial card. That's what the Republicans have done, at least in the South, ever since 1964 when Lyndon Johnson ran against, against Barry Goldwater. And my mother was Lyndon Johnson's campaign, campaign leader in Sumter county. So yeah I think they will use everything they can against Obama if he gets the nomination.

A little later in the interview Matthews then asked the former president how America can change its image as "enemy of the world."

MATTHEWS: How do we get back to a country where your mom would join the Peace Corps? I mean that spirit, that sense of public service and the sense that we are part of the world, we're not the enemy of the world?

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Ugh

Gag me with a spoon!

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Do you

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Do you think his pastor will be used by people on the right to play the racial card?

What racial card would that be, Chris? That Wright accuses all of white America of being racists? That he accuses the Amercian government of delivering drugs to black communities so they could put black men in jail?

Does anyone even know what "playing the racial card" means any more? Does it mean anytime someone white disagrees with someone who's black? To me, THAT's playing the race card!

As far as I can see, a legitimate definition of playing the "racial card" is Rev. Wright claiming that White America is attacking the Black Church.

I don't see anyone on the white side of the racial divide accusing blacks in general of anything nefarious.

When a black person is the object of criticism, "playing the racial card" is just another euphemistic accusation that liberals throw out there in order to intimidate white Americans into shutting up 

Setting back race relations...

If this plays out the way I think it will, this will set race relations back 40 years in this country. This nomination will be taken from Obama at the convention and handed to Hillary because they will know he is too damaged to win. Our inner city friends will then begin the looting, shooting and booting (Reginald Denny reference) to show Whitey how damn mad they are.

I'd make sure you can protect your home if you live near the danger zone. The clock is ticking.

Agreed, mb.

The purpose of asking the question is to plant and reinforce the assumption that Republicans are racists. Carter doesn't even have to answer, the question itself is enough. It's a variant of the when-did-you-stop-beating-your-wife? question. In both cases, the trick is to embed two assertions within one question. Any single answer, then, can only address one assertion, leaving the other assertion to do its mischief.

In this case, the two assertions are that

  1. Republicans are racist
  2. Republicans will actively attack

No matter how Carter answers (2), the assertion that Republicans are racist (1) will go unchallenged, If Carter answers yes, then he reinforces both assertions. But even if he simply says no, that will only deny (2), and (1) will remain.

Every time the Democrats throw mud, they try to escape responsibility by claiming that the Republicans will do it in the fall. That way, they reap the benefits without paying any cost. (Doing things without taking responsibility is kind of a Democrat pattern.) Don't hold your breath waiting for anyone in the media to call a Democrat on that.

I saw this..it was barf bag

I saw this..it was barf bag time...

What really is infuriating is that the leftists are the very critters that are the ones who have used race FOREVER!

When oh when are the blacks going to realize this...

...and no I of course do not mean all of them, but the majority of the blacks...the dems depend on them and they do not realize yet they are just pawns in a game of political power...why do they not realize this yet is what I want to know.

Jimmy Carter is the enemy within as far as I am concerned...just look at his recent BS with Hamas...he makes me ill just looking at him this afternoon...tough enough to listen to.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

bt & mb

Are we in a recession?

Will the right play the race card?

Are we doing enough about the climate crisis?

Are we in a recession?

Will the right play the race card?

Are we doing enough about the climate crisis?

Are we in a recession?

Will the right play the race card?

Are we doing enough about the climate crisis?

Are we in a recession?

Will the right play the race card?

Are we doing enough about the climate crisis?

Are we in a recession?

Will the right play the race card?

Are we doing enough about the climate crisis?

Are we in a recession?

Will the right play the race card?

Are we doing enough about the climate crisis?

Are we in a recession?

Will the right play the race card?

Are we doing enough about the climate crisis?

 

On and on and on and on.... we hear this daily drum beat, and soon enough it all morphs into an alternate-universe truth.

We are NOT in a recession. 

Conservatives are the ones who have no desire to bring up race -- no, I'll go further, they/we DON'T CARE ABOUT RACE!! -- that's how UN-racist a majority of right-leaning people are, because we work to make the playing field even in the purest way, to give ALL PEOPLE an equal opportunity. But that is what infuriates the left, because to them we should be "caring" more.

There is no scientific proof that we are in any sort of climate "crisis".

 

* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change

Hey MrS... You finally

Hey MrS...

You finally got out of the green maze of NBC eh?

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

Close...

Actually, it should be:


What should we do about the recession?


How will the right play the race card?

What more can we do about the climate crisis?

Keep in mind, they don't ask things like "Are we in a recession?" because to them, it's a forgone conclusion. Just like they won't ask if you are a wife beater, only if you still beat your wife.

 

 



"To send men to the firing squad, judicial proof is unnecessary." Ernesto "Che" Guevara


→ Hey Shy

You forgot the most important question.

Are we in a recession?

Add that to the list, and you've got it.

♣ a seal

I agree, to a point...

I think you're spot on about the right thinking little about race. However, that is going to begin to change with the daily drum beat we get about Whitey being evil, Whitey keeping us down, Whitey owes me, etc. Can't speak for anyone else, but I'm freaking sick to death of hearing it and I'm starting to resent the hell out of the garbage bringing it up.

Carter has quite a record himself

Founded modern terrorism, gave Mugabe his throne and rein of terror, and left the US hostages to twist in the wind for 400 days. What a guy. Democrat Jimmy Carter's greatest hit was donning his cardigan and spouting off about the world would be out of oil by the year 2000.

Of course he holds numerous records for misery and highest inflation and jobless in living memory. And Jimmuh was real good with the windfall profits tax and managing the oil business. I recall having to stand in line for half a day to get my 5 gallon ration.

What a guy. A question, why would anyone want to ask him about anything important?

During his presidency, every

During his presidency, every time he spoke my friend would say "More mush from the wimp". It definitely hasn't changed. The worst President in my lifetime bar none even Clinton (a close second)

I thought Carter was

I thought Carter was dead.  Who knew?

I stated on several blog

I stated on several blog replies that Obama's minions will claim that if he doesn't get the nomination it will be because of racism, If he gets the nomination but loses the election it will be because of racism, if (God Forbid) that he wins the election any criticism no matter how reasoned or deserved will be considered racism. He is virtually untouchable due to his race already. The Republicans are nowhere near as adept at playing the race card as the opposition who have been doing so since day one of his campaign.

He is virtually

He is virtually untouchable due to his race already.

I agree. This is why I have repeatedly said he is not Teflon, he is Kevlar.

The whole race deck

One of Obama's biggest problems is that his supporters have played the entire race deck. They're trying to use it as a way to insulate him from criticism.

Obama has been smart to try and stay above the race business, but his supporters will drag him down with it.

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

But, Dhimmi!?! How will

But, Dhimmi!?! How will the race card NOT be played? Especially by a hate-mongering race pimp like the reverend Wrong.

Liberal: a power worshipper without power. George Orwell

My question to admin. at

My question to admin. at NB.... How in the world did you guys fit two enormous "tools" in that tiny little box?

Heilige Scheiße! How do you turn this damned thing off? -J. Robert Oppenheimer

Hi BAM... LOL...bet the

Hi BAM...

LOL...bet the answer has to be practice.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

Yes... practice, practice,

Yes... practice, practice, practice! Ya know....it's a good thing there aren't laws on the books that criminalize stupidity.... Carter would be behind bars long ago... well, come to think of it, so would the majority of all our "political leaders"..... anyway, always good to see ya, BT!

Heilige Scheiße! How do you turn this damned thing off? -J. Robert Oppenheimer

BAM... Feelings

BAM...

Feelings mutual...

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

A proper interview of Jimma

Chris: Hey, Jimma. Do you think we'll ever see 16% mortgage rates again, like we did under your presidency?

Jimma: Uh, I , ah . . My mother lived with me at the White House!

Chris: How about 21% credit card rates, or gas prices when adjusted for inflation would make todays' gas prices look like tootsie roll prices?

Jimma: We'll ah , my brother had his own brand of beer called Billy Beer and . .

Chris: And do you think we'll ever have a military again that would forget to retrofit their helicopters to land in Iranian SAND DUNES so they wouldn't flop over and crash, like they did under your command?

Jimma: My Habitat for Humanity homes are leading the way in foreclosures - and they don' t even have mortgages!!

Chris: Something to be proud of Jimma.

Jimma: Thank ya. Did I mention Bush sucks?

Come on Mica, nobody

Come on Mica, nobody complained about high gas prices in Jimma's day............. because nobody could get any! 

When asked if he went to war with Iraq  to derail the impeachment vote:  “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).

Who's playing the race card?

The Democrats are pros at this.  Clinton plays the race card and then accuses Obama of doing it. Let's face it, you have to admire their ability to turn the attention away from them.  You can't get away with this stuff if you don't have a compliant media behind  you.  That's what was killing Hillary, she used to be able to say anything and the press would never follow up.  Now, they sometimes fact check her.  Not a good thing for Hillary.

My bet, the Democrats say that, everything the Republicans are saying is playing the race card, and the media just follows suit and there you have it.  Of course the Republicans won't but they will be accused of it.  In fact, John McCain will do everything in his power to avoid saying anything about race and will be accused of using it anyway.  The moral of the story, if you going to be accused anyway, you might as well do what you have to do.  

Democrats: Stuck on Stupid since 2000.

Will 'Right' Play 'Racial Card' Against Obama?

That should read: Will 'Wright' Play 'Racial Card' Against Obama?

He already has.

Peanut Farmer

 

 Dont ya really wish Jimmy Carter would just go away?

I wonder if he thinks about the beatdown the old cowboy gave him?He lives everyday knowing america booted out a sitting president in a landslide.What a sap.

these two

are as relevant to the truth as a pimple on the butt of an elephant is to the elephant.

"How do we get back to a

"How do we get back to a country where your mom would join the Peace Corps?"

Moms joined the Peace Corps because it was the only place they could get a square meal during the Carter malaise days.

And kids joined up because the Peace Corps was a stronger military force than Carter's decimated armed forces.

 

When asked if he went to war with Iraq  to derail the impeachment vote:  “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).

Without a doubt, it is 100%

Without a doubt, it is 100% certain that the Right will play the race card against Obama.Why? Because it's not possible to criticize him in any way, shape, or form for any reason, no matter what, without it being framed as racism, which means even if they don't play the race card, they will be playing the race card.

Racist....

"you can always tell when you are winning an argument with a liberal when they call you a racist".  A job well done!!!!

"Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money...." MARGARET THATCHER

Republicans = Wimps

The girly man Republicans won't do anything that could cause them to be called "racist." Oooooooh!

McPain has already shown that by criticizing the NC Repub party's ads showing nothing but Revrum Wrongs videos.

White people have to take away the main weapon of the left. We must stop giving a rats a** if we are called racist. I prefer to call myself a realist.

gfrrman and jeff,

I know many in our camp are salivating over the chaos currently raging over in the other party.

I freely admit that, at times, I too have felt a similar euphoria, only to sense its sudden retreat once I remember who the republican nominee is going to be.

Regardless of who the dem nominee is, I fear McCain is going to be in for a self-inflicted tough time.

What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008

RDH,

first of all, nice to be in company!!  :-)  "Regardless of who the dem nominee is, I fear McCain is going to be in for a self-inflicted tough time."   I defer that the media will be more inflicting than he!!!  After all we know with whom the media(90%+ Dems/Libs) are in bed with.

"Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money...." MARGARET THATCHER

gfrrman,

My bad, as I momentarily forgot about the MSM's feigned support for McClinton in the early primaries.

They will turn on him so fast that ol' Vidkun Quisling himself would blush.

Overwhelmed, he will be.

What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008

Right RDH

and that tagline you use is priceless.  Obama's answer???....THE FREAKIN' GOV'T.  God help us all!!!!  Wahhhhhh!!

"Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money...." MARGARET THATCHER

gfrrman, yeah, I chose something subtle this time around...

...yet something that would scare the hell out of any real conservatives around here.

It reminds me of Ronald Reagan's quip about, "We're from the government, and we're here to help."

My advice? Run like hell.  :-O

What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008

Yeah, RDH

he said that those were the scariest 9 words that you should/would ever hear!  Run like he77!!!

"Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money...." MARGARET THATCHER

Defininition of a Racist

Anyone winning an argument with a liberal.

Jimmy Carter.

Jimmy Carter is a glittering jewel of colossal ignorance. He is probably the worst president of the 20th century, and one of the worst of all time.

"women and minorities hardest hit"

Jimmy Carter gave me an 18%

Jimmy Carter gave me an 18% mortgage interest rate, (and I voted for this idiot). After his hideous presidency, I became a Republican. Now they're letting me down with John McCain running around not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings. WELL, THEY'VE ALL HURT MY FEELINGS.

I don't care what Jimmy Carter has to say. He's a communist and not worth the sweat off of anyone's butt.

Ever since losing to Reagan

Ever since losing to Reagan he has had a chip on his shoulder.  And he's been bitterly trying to undermine every president that has succeed him...(even Clinton)

Carter should either run for president again (he still has 4 years of eleigibility) or just shut his yap.

Not content with earning the

Not content with earning the distinction of worst president ever, Jimmah is striving for the worst ex-president moniker, as well. Just hope that he's a better carpenter than a politician, for the sake of those who live in his HfH houses.

Not content with earning the

double post