Rant #88: Jimmy Cuts Crap, and I Don't Care

Jimmy Carter, probably the worst and weakest President that we have had during my 52 years here on this planet, opened up his mouth the other day, and while we must all given a former President his due, this former Chief Executive should be given the boot for what he said.

Carter claims that Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst against President Obams (see my Rant #84, Sept. 11) was not a mere voicing of an opinion about health care. No, according to Carter, it had its links to racism.

The former President believes that many people are still unnerved about our President being a black man—he is actually mixed race—and that Wilson’s tirade was a racist one.

Wilson’s son has come out to say that his father is not a racist, and that the outburst was simply one having to do with his father’s displeasure at the President’s health care program.

However reprehensible the elder Wilson’s actions were, I seriously doubt they were racist.

Why does Carter feel the need to inject a topic that has nothing to do with the real topic here: people being upset at the President’s health care proposal. Whether they are wrong about the proposal or spot on, that is the issue.

Racism has nothing to do with the health care proposal and it certainly had nothing to do with Wilson nincompoop behavior.

What Carter has done is inject a topic that can still be labeled “hot button” into this debate, much like this topic was dumped into the O.J. Simpson trial several years ago by Johnny Cochran.

It had no place in that trial, and it has no place in the current debate.

I would expect such an opinion to be held by the Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons of the world; but for it to be voiced by a former President is disturbing. I think his credibility is certainly lacking here.

In fact, President Obama himself said that the outburst had nothing to do with the color of his skin, and that should end the argument.Also, remember when President Clinton was in office, Hillary Clinton also proposed a health care plan, which was shot down, but somehow, I don't remember people saying that this happened because of either racism or sexism.

However, this whole episode brings us back to square one: did people vote for Obama due to his platform, or did they vote for him because of his race? I would hope it would be for the former reason, although I have never been too sure about that, especially based on the way people like Carter act.

And since he is a black President, are we not allowed to knock him and disagree with him if we feel it is necessary? Would we do the same if he were white? Are white people to be called racists if they disagree with what he is saying? I don't remember minorities being called racists when they disagreed with President Bush.

I am sick and tired of the “political correctness” that some people think should be accorded our first black President. I will say it again: if he is a good President, let’s re-elect him so he can continue to guide us. If he is a bad President, let’s get rid of him during the next election.

And it has nothing to do with him being black, green, yellow, or purple.

I will repeat, I think what Wilson did was reprehensible. However, this is no time to bring up race in this debate. By doing so, Carter is no better than Wilson, venting his feelings at an inappropriate time and place.

Personally, I think Carter is ready for the old age home, and he stands as the only former President in history whose words should not be taken seriously. He was a do-nothing President, and as a former President, he is good for nothing.