Jimmy Carter says he would have defeated Reagan had he been more 'manly'

The Washington Examiner ^ | 10-1-14 | Paul Bedard

[afraidfortherepublic]

Former President Jimmy Carter claimed Wednesday that he would have been re-elected and beaten Ronald Reagan in 1980 if had been more “manly” in his dealings with Iran.

Interviewed by the show "CNBC Meets," Carter repeated his belief that the failed mission to free American hostages held in Tehran killed his chances, but then added that had he gone to war, America would have rewarded him with a second term in 1980.

“I could've been re-elected if I'd taken military action against Iran, shown that I was strong and resolute and, um, manly and so forth,” said the former president, who has established himself as a world human rights leader.

“I could have wiped Iran off the map with the weapons that we had, but in the process a lot of innocent people would have been killed, probably including the hostages and so I stood up against all that all that advice, and then eventually my prayers were answered and every hostage came home safe and free. And so I think I made the right decision in retrospect, but it was not easy at the time,” he said, according to a transcript provided to Secrets.

Interviewed with his wife, Carter said he also had to ignore Rosalynn’s pleadings to “do something.”

In the end, she said that she was proud of her husband. “Peace is very difficult. War is popular in our country,” said Mrs. Carter.

[Gay State Conservative]

[Buckeye McFrog]

I lived through it and yes, the Iran thing was pretty much a death knell for his Presidency. But there were many, many other things going wrong all at the same time (gas rationing, a massive coal strike with rolling blackouts, Russians in Afghanistan and Poland, Cubans in Angola, Misery Index economic numbers with an 18% prime rate, etc.)

Not unlike King Obama has going on today.

It was close because those “Reagan Democrats” (blue collar union types who had traditionally voted Democrat) only decided to break for Reagan at the last minute.

[jazusamo]

The one word coming to mind is senility.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Imagine where we would be if he had won. /shudder

[moovova]

Yes, and if Jimmie had been allowed to identify as a woman way back then...he could’ve been the first female president.

[Lumper20]

Carter is obviously senile. Carter disgraced this entire nation for many a long day after day as we had to endure seeing our countrymen mocked by Iranian punks. Carter had difficulty even getting the guts to authorize the SPECOPS mission that ended in the desert. I recall another SF legend, Dick Meadows, got Ross Perot’s folks out of Iran.

[Sister_T]

Killer rabbit? What’s the story behind that?

[Rummyfan]

ROTFLMFAO! Who rousted Jimmuh from his crypt?

[longtermmemmory]

Carter is attacking Hillary.

IOW “manly” wins elections.

Hillary is not a man

Hillary does not win elections.

[Rummyfan]

...said the former president, who has established himself as a world human rights leader.

According to whom? Every tinpot Third World dictator with money to donate to the Carter Center? -

Carter should be giving thanks for Obama replacing him as worst president.

[Let's Roll]

Yeah, and if I were 7 feet tall and 22 again I could play in the NBA.

[novemberslady]

I heard carter say that the hostages came home safe and free.

Nice way to clean yourself up there jimmy.
Trying to somehow claim credit for bringing home the hostages...

jimmy you made a whole generation of democrats embarrassed.

You made a whole group of people that voted for you ashamed-do you get that, you jerk?

You made me decide to vote republican when I reached voting age you Sorryass SOS.

[Lumper20]

The clown on the right does the same motion over and over like an Obama speech.

[BunnySlippers]

Jimmuh would never be able to pull off ... “manly”.

[MeshugeMikey]

indeed INDEED! and he makes as much sense as Obie ever has... to boot.

[Arrowhead1952]

Jimmah catta should have stayed with peanut farming and helping his brother brew beer.

[Arrowhead1952]

Don’t forget gas lines and rationing.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter_rabbit_incident

[Buckeye McFrog]

Killer rabbit? What’s the story behind that?

While on vacation fishing someplace Carter claimed to have been attacked by a rabbit. It made all the headlines and soon the late night comics were making Killer Rabbit jokes.

Within hours after Reagan was sworn in the White House released a photo.

[mulligan]

Jimmy ate too many peanuts and his brain turned to peanut butter.