The three networks routinely fawn over Jimmy Carter as a wise and impressive voice, yet ABC, CBS and NBC were silent when the ex-President trashed his fellow Democrat, Barack Obama, on Tuesday. In an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Carter complained about how Obama handled ISIS: "First of all, we waited too long. We let the Islamic state build up its money, capability and strength and weapons while it was still in Syria."
Implying that the President's handling of the crisis in the Middle East has been muddled, Carter added, "It changes from time to time... I noticed that two of his secretaries of defense, after they got out of office, were very critical of the lack of positive action on the part of the president."
In comparison, on October 1, 2009, then-ABC reporter Clair Shipman interviewed the Democrat at his presidential library, enthusing, "This is really incredible!"
On the March 23, 2014 Meet the Press, NBC's Andrea Mitchell touted Carter for standing up to a Southern Baptist congregation. On the October 1, 2014 Nightly News, Brian Williams marveled, "Former President Jimmy Carter turned ninety today. By all accounts, just as busy as he was when he was fifty."
On November 28, 2006, then-CBS host Charlie Smith hyped Carter as someone who "continues to promote world peace."
Yet, ABC, CBS and NBC ignored the ex-President's attack on Obama. Apparently, Carter's thoughts on life and the world aren't always interesting.
On Thursday's Fox News, Martha MacCallum recounted what the ex-President had to say:
MARTHA MACCALLUM: New reaction to former President Jimmy Carter saying that the White House basically blew it with ISIS. During an interview with the Fort Worth Telegram, President Carter said this: Quote, "We waited too long. We let the Islamic state build up its money, capability and weapons while it was still in Syria and when it moved into Iraq. The Sunni Muslims didn't object to them being there and a third of the territory in Iraq was abandoned." Here's Ambassador John Bolton on this.
JOHN BOLTON: Not only is the analysis consistent with the critiques we have heard of the fecklessness of Obama's strategy, but the fact that one former president and a Democrat to boot would say it about the an incumbent president is really stunning. Carter's criticism of Obama on ISIS is, really, stronger than anything either of the President Bushes have said.
On Thursday's The View, co-host Rosie O'Donnell lauded Carter as "my favorite president ever."
