Why do people mock Jimmy Carter?

Question

Jimmy carter gets mocked because he said he "lusted in his heart" but remained faithful to his wife. Bob Dole, Newt Gingrich, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Rudy Guiliani, Anotnio Villaraigosa, Gavin Newsome etc. have all cheated and switched spouses like it the thing to do. Yet we ridicule the politician who was honest about temptation. What is wrong with Americans? We get in a tizzy over adulterers, but fry the man who actually respects his marriage?

Let's talk about being mocked for being a faithful, stand-up guy. I'll ask a question about his policies later on.

Answer 1

You forgot Bush who cheated on his wife! And he was a far better president than Bush!

You forgot Trent Lott, who was cheating on his wife as he was trying to impeach Clinton!

Jimmy Carter is probably one of the finest and moral individuals you will ever find, bar none! And I might add, he is one of the most devout husbands to his wife as you will ever find, and they still love each other!

Just shows how little and petty they are, when their presidents, who doesn't have an honest bone in his alcohol soaked body, whole war is based on lies!

"letting Iran kick us around for 400+ days is the reason"

Oh scott, he didn't cut and run from Beirut after 424 of our Marines were killed in a barracks blast (Like Reagan) and he wasn't selling our enemy, Iran, weapons (Like Reagan)!

Bush is currently selling Iran F14 fighter parts!

Carter has more morality in his little finger than all the Republicans combined!

Answer 2

I think it basically has to do with Jimmy Carter's interview in Playboy during the election campaign of 1976; the contents of the interview published in the November 1976 issue after he won the election. He basically outed himself as being a normal, red-blood American male and not the pious, upstanding citizen other presidents were perceived to be by the American public.

But I think his ridicule has more to do with his presidency than that simple interview. Opponents of the Carter administration simply used the interview to reinforce their claims he was a weak leader.

Under the Carter Administration, the United States went from bad to worse. Here are some of the events of the period which tested his abilities.

Three Mile Island -- nuclear reactor nearly went to meltdown.

Gas Shortages -- line-ups for fuel became common place.

Soviets Invade Afghanistan -- Carter responded by boycotting the Moscow Summer Olympics in 1980. Most of western world responded in like. Eastern block countries respond by boycotting Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 1984. Soviets remain in Afghanistan until 1989.

Iran Hostage Crisis -- University students in Tehran storm the United States embassy and take the staff hostage, holding 52 hostages for a total of 444 days; only to be released a few moments after Ronald Reagan took the oath as the 40th president of the United States. An attempt to rescue the hostages -- Operation Eagle Claw -- took place about half-way through the crisis and ended disaster on Great Salt Desert of eastern Iran; eight US servicemen died and several others were injured when a RH-53 helicopter clipped a C-130 transport plane and crashed. The hostage crisis dominated the last year of Carter's presidency and was largely seen as contributing to Carter's defeat in the 1980 election.

Collapse of the Economy. -- Under the Carter Administration, the economy suffered double-digit inflation, helping to create very high interest rates, high unemployment and slow economic growth. Productivity in the United States had declined to an average annual growth rate of one per cent, compared to 3.2 percent during the 1960s. The federal budget deficit also grew to 66 billion dollars.

The interview was simply more fuel in the fire.

Answer 3

When Jimmy was the dictator in the white house, I was trying to raise a couple of kids worked a second job to put a little away for a rainy day. Jimmy Mocked that! Taxed it. Oh by the way the only way I could buy my 1st home was with an ARM. Jimmy Mocked that with his interest rates.
Jimmy Mocked Americana's because he figured we were all as stupid as his brother Billy and couldn't do a thing for ourselves.
Jimmy's distrust for the American people on the center left and right came out in nearly every speech he ever made.
The only thing Jimmy ever did right is make me vote Republican.

Answer 4

President Jimmy Carter brokered piece to the middle east during the meetings at Camp David.
He was an officer in the first nuclear submarines in the U.S. Navy.
During his Administration the Ayatolla Khomina of Iran kidnapped U.S. hostages. The U.S. military conducted a raid to rescue that turned into a fumble that killed several U.S. military.
Carter was blamed for the failed military fiasco.
George W. Bush has screwed up everything he touched so far:
This war in Iraq is the greatest military screw up disastor in the history of the world.
Social Security privatized?
Do nut hole in medicare?
Amnesty for illegal aliens?
Holes everywere in the borders surrounding the U.S.
thanks

Answer 5

He did the right thing. The Southern Baptist Convention has also morphed into a large, anti-gay advocacy group. Each year, they vote for motions reviling and demonizing God's gay children. Homophobia is a sin like lying, stealing and murder and I'm glad Mr. Carter is no longer associated with them.

Answer 6

It has often been said that emotions are alarms, awakening us to matters that require attention. Perhaps, dissatisfaction, unease, anxiety, undue stress, unfulfillment and depression are trying to tell us something. Could it be, that these states are a consequence of external noises influencing the internal noises to such an extent, that so many alarms are collectively going off in so many people, that we are beginning to notice?

I believe that President Jimmy Carter was trying to tell us that in the late 1970's when he made reference to the "malaise" we were feeling. Perhaps, he heard the alarm.

In 1982, he and his wife Rosalynn founded the Carter Center. They envisioned the Center,

...as a place where people could come together to resolve their differences and solve problems...The Carter Center identifies creative ways to address problems that impact the most vulnerable people – those who have access to the fewest resources.

It would appear that the Carter's have found a way to respond to the alarm. I would imagine that the noises inside their head differ dramatically from that found within many of us.

Answer 7

We mock Carter because he was a bad President:
18% Home Mortgage rates.
Gas Rationing.
Got the Nobel Peace Prize with a known Terrorist.
Did nothing for American Hostages for 444 days in Iran.
Double Digit Unemploynent.

His lustful heart was the least of his issues. And most of America admired his hoesty about that.
Just not his Presidency...

Answer 8

Senator Hillary Clinton also kept her family together by not divorcing Bill. I guess that doesn't count in the family values category since she is a democrat. Carter is a good man, he has honesty and integrity on his side. Good enough for me. I'll answer your next Carter question when it's asked.

Answer 9

It has nothing to do with his morals. We make fun of him for:

1. Gas lines.
2. Hostage crisis.
3. God-awful economy
4. Inept leadership
5. No spine

That's just the top 5, but every book about the Presidents I've read in the last 20 years has him ranked in at least the top 3 worst Presidents ever. 'nuff said.

Answer 10

Because he was the WORST President in the 20th century. He's a good man, but a horrible leader. Gas lines, energy shortages, our embassy staff being taken hostage by a bunch of lunatics, and his malase speech on top of that.