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.

[wastedyears]

Tattoine?

[Pearls Before Swine]

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

Well, he wasn't!

[Billthedrill]

Sure, Jimmuh, because it's all about you and electability, not about the hostages being held by a hostile, radical gang for whom you did precisely nothing but get good men killed. I mean, that's where the priorities lie, right? Your sanctimonious ability to preen as a peace lover trumps embassy staff being beaten and terrorized in Tehran, right?

There will come a time when my contempt for this poseur gives way to pity but that time is not yet.

[Cincinnatus]

Actually overheard at a New York City restaurant during Reagan’s second term (Rosalyn and Jimmy at the next table). ROSALYN: “That Reagan is so lucky. As soon as he starts getting into trouble he either gets shot or gets cancer and everybody feels sorry for him and he gets away with everything!”

[lefty-lie-spy]

...queue manly rabbit scene...

[rod1]

Cardigan-clad swimming bunnies for everyone.

[henkster]

Maybe...Jimmuh would have gotten the Sand People votes. He put them in power in Iran.

[lefty-lie-spy]

Cool. That was fast. :)

[henkster]

People who knew Rosalyn said she was a complete 100% Witch with a capital “B.”

[rrrod]

Manly and Democrat do not compute..................

[wastedyears]

The SS let you be that close to him?

[Amagi]

Yo, Jimmah, explain then the re-election of the current candy-arm pansy-ass POTUS.
Just go away, Jimmah. You are a complete disgrace.

[pineybill]

What an idiot. 20% + mortgage interest rates, gas lines,
the answer to the energy crisis - “put on a sweater”
not to mention his asinine brother. Just like Obama with ISIS, it was his foreign policy decsions that led to the
crisis in Iran - what a loser!

[ArtDodger]

Did he get that idea from his daughter, Amy? Oh, wait! No, she was his foreign policy advisor...

[hinckley buzzard]

No, this is actually an insult and slap in the face to the American people. He's saying that we jug heads and slobs are so gullible that we will vote for anyone who puts up a macho appearance. We have no appreciation for the sophisticated nuances so beloved by liberals.

[PGR88]

Yes, but if he were more manly, he wouldn’t have been Jimmy Carter.

[Olog-hai]

The wife’s words are perhaps sicker. So many libs equate surrender with peace.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

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

And here I thought his daughter Amy was his advisor.

[Obadiah]

Had Carter been more manly he would have had the courage to admit his presidency was a stunning failure and not run against Reagan.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

“Eventually my prayers were answered and the hostages came home safe and free.”

I know how he feels. My prayers began to be answered on election night 980 when I came home from work, turned on the TV, and watched Reagan sweep Carter into the ashcan of history.