Thursday, June 28, 2007
From the Republican Jewish Coalition:
The letter comes in response to statements by Carter which call into doubt his suitability as a representative of the United States abroad. Recently, he criticized the U.S. government for withholding direct aid to Hamas, describing this policy as "criminal."
The letter states:
As you probably know, in public comments made on June 21 after receiving a donation for his foundation from a group in Dublin, Ireland, the former President castigated our government and the governments of Israel and the European Union for withholding direct aid to Hamas leaders in the Palestinian Authority. Carter described this policy as "criminal."It has been nearly a decade since the State Department under President Clinton designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. As you know, it is illegal for individuals in our country - much less the federal government itself - to knowingly provide material support or resources to an organization that has been so designated.
In light of these considerations, it is the course of action Carter is advocating - provision of direct aid to Hamas by the U.S. government - that would be "criminal." In light of Hamas' long record of murderous attacks on civilians in Israel and within the Palestinian territories, it would also be grossly immoral.
... You may recall that last November, a Hamas subsidiary issued a communiqué calling on sympathizers to attack American targets "all over the globe." It is difficult for us to understand how Carter can be deemed fit to serve as Honorary Chairman of Democrats Abroad after having urged support for Hamas.
When a prominent American such as a former U.S. President makes statements abroad so at odds with American policy and with good sense, they raise diplomatic and public diplomacy difficulties for our government and our official spokesmen abroad.
When Jimmy Carter published an anti-Israel book, the DNC issued a statement saying that "on this issue President Carter speaks for himself, the opinions in his book are his own, they are not the views or position of the Democratic Party." Given Carter's most recent statements, the former ambassadors call upon Chairman Dean to match action to words by removing Jimmy Carter from his official position with Democrats Abroad.
The full text of the letter is below, and can be found on the RJC website.
The Honorable Howard Dean
Chairman
Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
Dear Governor Dean:
We are writing to share our deep concern about the decision of your party to have former President Jimmy Carter continue to serve as Honorary Chairman of Democrats Abroad, the official Democratic Party organization for Americans living outside the United States. We urge you to reassess his suitability for that honored status in light of his recent outrageous remarks regarding Hamas.
As you probably know, in public comments made on June 21 after receiving a donation for his foundation from a group in Dublin, Ireland, the former President castigated our government and the governments of Israel and the European Union for withholding direct aid to Hamas leaders in the Palestinian Authority. Carter described this policy as "criminal."
It has been nearly a decade since the State Department under President Clinton designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. As you know, it is illegal for individuals in our country - much less the federal government itself - to knowingly provide material support or resources to an organization that has been so designated.
In light of these considerations, it is the course of action Carter is advocating - provision of direct aid to Hamas by the U.S. government - that would be "criminal." In light of Hamas' long record of murderous attacks on civilians in Israel and within the Palestinian territories, it would also be grossly immoral.
As former ambassadors, we have learned - sometimes through difficult experience - that the words used by prominent Americans while overseas can resonate more loudly than remarks uttered at home for domestic consumption.
That seems especially true in this instance. You may recall that last November, a Hamas subsidiary issued a communiqué calling on sympathizers to attack American targets "all over the globe." It is difficult for us to understand how Carter can be deemed fit to serve as Honorary Chairman of Democrats Abroad after having urged support for Hamas.
Mr. Chairman: You have credited Jimmy Carter with spurring your entry into public service. While campaigning for the office of President of the United States, you left Iowa just days before the all-important caucuses to visit Carter at his home, and in public remarks you made while standing beside him you said, "I think Jimmy Carter is a loved figure all over America for his moral standing and the way he has conducted himself in helping others since he's left the presidency." And you said that if elected, you would seek to "follow the example of Jimmy Carter."
But when Carter published a book smearing Israel as an "apartheid" state, your committee issued a statement asserting that "on this issue President Carter speaks for himself, the opinions in his book are his own, they are not the views or position of the Democratic Party."
In view of Carter's most recent remarks, however, we urge you to go further and take prompt action to ensure that Carter is stripped of the formal role your party has bestowed upon him by removing him as Honorary Chairman of Democrats Abroad. As Republicans, we know that we will agree to disagree with Democrats like you about many things, but we are hopeful that on this matter, we can find common ground.
Thank you for your careful attention to this request.
Sincerely,
Amb. Stuart A. Bernstein (retired), Denmark
Amb. Joseph B. Gildenhorn (retired), Switzerland
Amb. Earle I. Mack (retired), Finland
Amb. John Price (retired), Mauritius
Amb. Mel Sembler (retired), Italy / Australia
Amb. Ron Weiser (retired), Slovakia
Jimmy Carter: Worst ex-President ever and arguably the Worst President so far:
Above all his mishandling of Iran which lead to the rise of the AyaToilet :-) Aytollah Khomeni, but also stagflation, promoting a sense of American weakness during a time of mortal peril for the Republic etc.. Carter's motto appeared to be "Speak loudly and carry a little stick".
Carter is a man who seems to never meet a dictator he doesn't like unless the dictator is friendly to America.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article1837738.ece
A man who makes Bill Clinton look good and who negotiated the disastrous treaty with North Korea against Clinton's wishes leading to that vile regime now having nukes.
http://www.nationalreview.com/flashback/flashback-nordlinger121002.asp
Ask Alan Dershowitz about Carter's lies or just read:
http://blogcentral.jpost.com/index.php?cat_id=7&blog_id=59&blog_post_id=935
I even heard on the radio recently that a Habitat for Humanity house that Carter work on was built on a landfill and so badly built that the foundation cracked and allowed awful odors and dangerous gases to enter the house (have been unable to yet find confirmation so any help finding it would be appreciated). Now I am not sure EVEN that this part of Carter's disastrous for America life is good.
This failure's latest project seems to be making excuses for Hama's muderous terrorists.
The submarine that was misnamed for this disaster of a President should be renamed the "Sea Hare"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter%27s_rabbit
Please Remove Jimmy Carter.
Please remove Jimmy Carter's name from everything.
For a former President to do what he did is ciminal, and should be brought to justice for such a crime, as his executive powers only protect him while he's in office as President.