Obama camp says Carter won’t be talking foreign policy at convention (Corrected)
Jimmy Carter will be speaking at the Democratic National Convention, but he won't be talking about Israel. The former president will be speaking "via a special video tape message from New Orleans," said Obama convention spokesperson Jenny Backus via e-mail. He will talk "about Americans coming together to help their neighbors and friends, fitting our theme of one nation" and "discuss programs that we can do together to make America stronger." Backus added that Carter "is not discussing foreign relations." Backus said Carter will be in Denver and be recognized before the video is played.
The Republican Jewish Coalition has called for his removal from the scheduled because of "troubling anti-Israel bias." Carter also spoke at the 2004 convention, but that was before the publication of his controversial book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid."
8 Comments
Share This
barack obama,
Democratic convention,
Featured,
Jimmy Carter,
Presidential Race,
RJC
Comments RSS Feed Reader Comments
Jimmy Carter is a good and decent man, and the Democratic Party is lucky to have him. As president, he brokered a historic Middle Eastern peace treaty and put the issue of global human rights on America’s agenda for the first time. Since then, he has devoted his life to building houses for poor people and working for world peace. It is a shame that so many people refuse to acknowledge the merit in his calls for human rights protection in Israel and Palestine.
Oh, lord. As the head of the ad hoc Democratic Coalition of Minnesoteans (By Descent), I call upon the Republicans to remove John McCain from consideration as their nominee. Please report that in your next write up concerning John McCain’s appearance in Minnesota.
Jimmy Carter is a good man. I don’t feel that any group that represents the Republican party has a right to dictate or even suggest who we honor and allow to speak. We love Jimmy Carter for his truth to power and influence.
“Peace Not Apartheid” was a decent book that seemed to look at the facts on the ground in an unbiased way. I don’t necessarily see it as “anti-Israel.”
It’s a shame a former Democratic President cannot speak at a Democratic convention merely because of lobbying by those who represent a foreign country.
Talking Points Memo links to this story, that’s how I came here. I’m in total agreement with Miles. I don’t think there was anything wrong with “Palestine: Peace not Apartheid.” We’ll never know the real reasons why he can’t make it to Denver other than he’s got a prior engagement in New Orleans. Give him a break.
Former President Carter and First Lady Rosalyn, have done more for the good of more people since leaving the White House, than all the collection of former Republican Presidents & their wives, including the current incumbents (slapping backs at the beach volleyball women’s site in China recently) put together. The fact that the Jewish-American community calls for an exclusion of someone who may actually have the facts straight, seems to support the current Republican Administration’s view of free speech.
Leave a Comment
To comment on this article, you must first be registered with JTA.
Not Registered?
There are real advantages to a FREE registration with JTA.org:
- Make your voice heard through comments on articles
- Receive our e-mailed Daily Briefing, an invaluable quick-read
- Help decide what Jewish news matters most with interactive tools
Register Now
Already a JTA member?
David
08/21/08 12:02 PM
What a sign of weakness to simply say that those who have a different opinion than yours should be disallowed to speak out.
Jimmy Carter’s last book was “A Remarkable Mother”. I guess the Association of American Fathers should chastise Carter for discriminating against fathers.
Jimmy Carter is a good a decent man who has done more to bring peace to Israel than any other American. Supporters of peace everywhere should be demanding both Obama and McCain pledge to appoint Jimmy Carter as a special envoy to negotiate peace between Israel and her neighbors.