Posted on 05/09/2008 12:06:28 PM PDT by freerepublic_or_die
I do not think the President of the United States should be a liar, and believe that the overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens agree with me. For security reasons, the whole truth cannot always be revealed, but it is quite obvious that lies are seldom made to protect our nation. Almost invariably, the political fortunes of the prevaricator are at stake.
During my campaign for the White House in 1976, veracity was a very important issue, because of the known falsehoods having been told during the Vietnam War and the revelations of the Frank Church senatorial investigation that our government had, through the CIA, committed murder and other crimes. I habitually told my small groups of supporters, "If I even make a misleading statement, don't support me."
Although stigmatized as naïve and often having to suffer the consequences, I maintained this commitment to truthfulness during my term in office, and it paid off in many ways. One example was the trust aroused in me by President Anwar Sadat and Prime Minister Menachim Begin, which was instrumental in orchestrating the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty. I've observed at other times that the exploding consequences of a small lie can result in political catastrophe, as was shown in President Nixon's effort to conceal the Watergate break-in.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.washingtonpost.com ...
He would have decked Jimmuh.
I would have been proud to hold his hat and coat while he did it.
I remember his acceptance speech at Madison Square Garden very clearly: “I’ll never lie to ya! I guaranteeeeee it!” And the sheeple bought every syllable.
Another memory from 1976 — that election night, when the nation was introduced to Billy Carter for the first time. I remember thinking: how come the news media didn’t introduce us to this Bozo (sorry... no offense to any Bozo’s out there) before tonight?
Some things never seem to change. And Jimmy is one of them.
Sounds like Jimmy has a guilty conscience.
Like Nixon’s “I am not a crook”
Nor should they be traitors.
I remember during the Clinton Administration seeing a very clever bumper sticker:
“Jimmy Carter: no longer history’s worst president”. On second thought, he probably is the worst president at least during my lifetime.
Jimmy C. can’t see the link between his neutering of the CIA & the lack of accurate pre-war intelligence concerning Iraq. Jeeze Jimmy. Whatdya expect?
And above above all else, they shouldn’t be criminally stupid (cutting Jimmy slack as being naive was used up a long time ago).
Some ex-presidents should have their passports cancelled - permanently!
Deceased New York Senator Moynihan (D) had it right: “Jimmy Carter never forgave the American people for his defeat. He intends to pay them back for their injustice every day he lives.”
Actually, during the failed attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran (failed because Pres. Carter dithered so long about launching the operation), Carter famously lied to the the Press saying IIRC that they had no plans to launch a rescue when they positively did.
I remember when he told the truth about the U.S. satellite imagery program, revealing a wealth of information about our capabilities to our enemies. And, of course, he destroyed a significant portion of our HUMINT capability by having our CIA activities revealed during the Church hearings. How many of our agents died because of Jimmuh’s obsessive inability to keep his mouth shut?
but it’s OK to support the party of abortion, while parading around as being a Christian. Something stinks in Plains.
(Lie told) JUST THREE WEEKS AGO: "I was NEVER told, cautioned or advised by the State Dept. not to go into Gaza and speak to Hamas."
If only Miss Lillian had aborted him, think how much safer the world would be.
Carter has me a little confused here. The CIA had plans to assassinate Patrice Lumumba of the Congo, Rafael Trujillo of the Dominican Republic, the Diem brothers of Vietnam, Gen. René Schneider of Chile and President John F. Kennedy's plan to use the Mafia to kill Fidel Castro of Cuba. Did any of those succeed? If not then who are those that he's talking about that the US murdered?
To quote Jimmie’s mother, “My only mistake in life was in not remaining a virgin”.
He would have decked Jimmuh.
I would have been proud to hold his hat and coat while he did it.
:-)
ML/NJ
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