The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
September 22, 2010

Carter Retracts "Superior" Comment on Post-White House Record
-------------------------------------------------------------



Former President Jimmy Carter is causing a stir after comparing his
record since leaving office to that of other living former presidents.
In an interview with NBC News, Carter said he has played a "superior"
role.

Jimmy Carter: "I feel that my role as a former president is probably
superior to that of other presidents, primarily because of the activism
and the injection of working of the Carter Center into international
affairs and, to some degree, domestic affairs, on energy conservation,
on environment and things of that kind. We’re right in the midst of the
constant daily debate."

In a statement, Carter said he had misspoke, saying, "What I meant was,
for 27 years the Carter Center has provided me with superior
opportunities to do good." Carter made the comments as part of a media
blitz to promote his latest book, a memoir of his presidential term. In
a previous interview, Carter also criticized the late Senator Ted
Kennedy for blocking his efforts to push through healthcare reform.
Carter said Kennedy effectively thwarted healthcare reform as part of a
personal effort to impede Carter’s political career.



.