Jimmy Carter's advice to Barack Obama: Forget Hillary Clinton as veep

Former President Jimmy Carter, who endorsed Barack Obama on Tuesday night after weeks of acting coy, says picking Hillary Clinton as Obama's running mate "would be the worst mistake that could be made." The reason? "That would just accumulate the negative aspects of both candidates."

Carter told England's Guardian newspaper that he believed an Obama-Clinton ticket would merge behind John McCain two groups: those who dislike Clinton -- he set her unfavorable rating at 50% -- and those who would not vote for Obama for a variety of reasons.

"If you take that 50% who just don't want to vote for Clinton and add it to whatever element there might be who don't think Obama is white enough or old enough or experienced enough or because he's got a middle name that sounds Arab, you could have the worst of both worlds," Carter said.

So who should Obama go for? Carter has a formula: "What he needs more than a Southerner is a person who can compensate for his obvious potential defects, his youthfulness and his lack of long experience in military and international affairs." Carter's pick: former Sen. Sam Nunn, the onetime chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Nunn also happens to be, like Carter, a Georgian.

-- Scott Martelle

Photo: John Bazemore / Associated Press

Comments

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

I have always admired and respected Jimmy Carter. Now I do so more than ever.

[alee21]

Is Carter senile? Do ex-presidents get cognitive tests for Alzheimer's before they shoot their mouths off? The Hamas stunt was strongly suggestive; he needs to be reined in.
I bet Carter is a closet sexist and just can't bare the thought of a woman anywhere near the Presidency.

[alee21]

Oh, Nunn is 70 years old, is this the balance Carter wants? An inexperienced youngish politician with someone who is old enough to be his father? I guess in Carter's book the VP would look just like Cheney.
Carter really needs his head examined.

[BJ]

YES BARACK, LISTEN TO JIMMY CARTER!!!

You shouldn't put someone who's a stronger candidate than you as second banana...

BE LIKE ME, (Carter says) SO YOU CAN HAVE THE 2ND WORST DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENCY IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA!!!

You deserve it!

[CeeCee]

Clinton has too many issues with her. Judging by her speech last night, how could you trust her. She seems to want the job by any and all means necessary. Who knows what she may do to obtain the TOP Office.

[BRIAN]

If Obama insists on making Clinton his Veep then he better get a food taster.

[CAL]

Shame on Jimmy Carter, another white male who cannot stand the thought of a woman becoming president and now will not even allow her to be the VP. She is a million times more qualified than Barack and received more of the popular vote but alas she is a woman.

[Hillary is still the better candidate]

Stick to growing Peanuts and smoking Pot with your friend Willie Nelson... and please SHUT UP for God's sake!!

This man had the worst presidency of the century, yet he continues to blab like the village idiot that he is. The Obama - Clinton ticket would unify Democrats who would not vote for Obama without her. I am one of them.

[lightnin]

Heard on the news a couple of days ago that, over the past 15 years, while "Rev." Wright has been spewing his hate-filled, racist, anti-American, anti-white speeches, and Obama has "not-heard" any of that, their "church", which recently gave a Lifetime Achievement award to Louis Farrakhan, has quietly been the recipient of $15,000,000 of our tax dollars! They are probably still getting it!

How'd they arrange to get that much of our tax money, who set that up, do you think? Separation of church and state? Has that been repealed? Do you think anybody should ask Obama if he had anything to do with getting that "church" this money? If he didn't, who did? Shouldn't we know?

[dan]

I believe Barack is way too smart to consider her. He'd need a 24 hour food taster just to make sure no "accidents" happened. He does not need this bull’s-eye of a liability tapped to his back. As an independent I point out that Dem's and Republicans don't win elections by themselves without the help from independent voters. She is way to polarizing to pull in the independent vote.

Her sleazy campaign has demonstrated her complete lack of character and integrity. She's come back time and time again changing the rules with Clinton-half-truths that anyone's grandmother would call lies, plain and simple.

She has squandered her capital and credibility in her blatant lust for power. Why would he divert his impeccable campaign and risk his credibility with her broken moral compass?

How could he run on the change platform by selecting a VP who (second to Bush and Cheney) is perhaps the most polarizing, corrupt figure in American politics???

[TruthIsTreasonComplianceIsPatriotic]

I seriously doubt Obama would be stupid enough to take on Hitlery as VP. Can you imagine willingly choosing to spend four years working with that woman? And on top of that she's already brought up the idea of assassination three times already!! It's pretty obvious what's on her mind right now...

So, is the LA Times going to bother covering the Bilderberg meeting that's going on right now in Virginia? Naw, why should anyone care that the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world are meeting in secret. The slaves have no need to know.

[shakespeare]

Carter is right. There are so many people who can't stand Hillary that havng her as a running mate would be a dangerous gamble. Besides, Obama is strong enough to champion the general election without Hillary, even though some angry white females will defect.

[Brittanicus]

For a man who 'gave away' the Panama Canal, Jimmy Carter should keep quiet about any other politicians short comings. I'm an Independent and have watched disturbed in the last few years, to the fact that Communist China has heavily invested in this sea passage that joins the two oceans.

Ferdinand de Lesseps built this marvel and now has become a security risk to America. Carter Ultra Liberal disguised as a Democrat should stay in the shadows, and not demonize Hillary Clinton on anybody else about any issue. Nor should the Bush Administration, who have tried to sell port infrastructure, interstate highways and airlines to foreign governments and financial speculators. Even today as Obama and McCain enter the final race, both are liable to sell cheap labor in the form of AMNESTY. Hopefully both potential candidates will care about the legal citizens of the country and not be another puppet to big business. American taxpayers cannot afford to subsidies the world anymore.

Our military is stretched thin, trying to nation build for Bush and police the world. I want my taxes to support the border wall, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to police our fence, instead of us funding a Israeli Palestinian wall.

[Alessandro Machi]

Does anybody see the irony here? Ted Kennedy backs Barack Obama, so does Jimmy Carter.

Both Kennedy and Jimmy Carter apparently would like HIllary to just give up even though Ted Kennedy defied Jimmy Carter back in 1980.

So we know why Jimmy C is against Hillary, but what about Ted Kennedy? I believe the Democrats are trying to get rid of Hillary as soon as possible to cover up the Edwards, Richardson, Obama triangle in Iowa. MSNBC is just assaulting Hillary all day long, on every show for doing nothing more than what Ted Kennedy did in 1980.

http://www.CaucusCheating.com
http://www.Hillary-Wins.com
http://www.Florida-Michigan.com
http://www.CaucusConfession.com

[Dennis]

Aren't you the jacksmith that has been posting all over the internet that anybody who thought positively about Barck was an idiot?

[jmr09]

VP Clint on would solve the problem as to how to unified the Democratic Party, if you ride on statistics alone. Obama should be concerned that Democratic groups that are loyal to Hillary may not come back to hime- He needs the votes from blue collar, Jewish, and senior Americans to win this.
This article says it pretty clearly:
http://www.greenfaucet.com/hanlons-pub/aipac-speech-highlig hts-a-big-obama-problem
The left should be a little concerned here..

However, combined Obama and Clinton would be a nightmare. The first issue: Would it be Obama Clinton 09, or Clinton Obama 09. Both candidates have huge egos, so putting Clintons name second on the ticket may destroy the partnership before it starts.
.. But seriously, it wouldn't work for a variety of reason: different agendas, the double negative: a black man and a white woman ticket bring up obvious complications within areas of the population not ready for change...
it goes on and on.

[Katie Rose]

Regarding Hillary as VP?
Just say "No"!

[jb]

hillary clinton is the most ambitious person i've ever seen in my life, and that's not a compliment. she campaigned far too long, she couldn't except reality.

i will not vote for obama if he chooses her as a running mate.

[jheckerman]

With kind regard Mr. Past President Carter. No one asked you for your advice. As a Hillary Clinton Supporter and like Millions and Millions more Clinton Supporters feel Hillary Clinton did not Loose. Hillary Clinton Won- She won support from many many Americans. She listened to us and stayed the course. Thank You and BRAVO for a job done honestly with great incite and Leadership. If not now- then in 2012.
I will take my chance on McCain- I would only vote for Obama if Hillary Clinton is VP.

[Allen T]

PART 2 of 2: These aliens are the very least educated in their home country, so they further dilute US educational standards and slow classroom progress. Aliens send US $ back home increasing the strain on the US balance of trade. So the sending country benefits in 2 ways. For Mexico they dump their illiterate population & it’s their 2nd largest “industry” now competing with 1st-place Mexican oil sales in decline (peak oil). Cash flow out of the US adds to the US treasury debt. So which candidate will address these problems?

Why do Americans today still want more help from our broken Government? Why do candidates pander for votes by offering more government handouts? Remember JFK: Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country? Working on all the above is a good start. Which potential leader sees the real problems facing America’s decline? country benefits in 2 ways. For Mexico it’s their 2nd largest “industry” now competing with 1st-place Mexican oil sales in decline (peak oil). Cash flow out of the US adds to the US treasury debt. So which candidate will address these problems?

Why do Americans today still want more help from our broken Government? Why do candidates pander for votes by offering more government handouts? Remember JFK: Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country? Working on all the above is a good start. Which potential leader sees the real problems facing America’s decline?

[Allen T]

PART 1 of 2: This was an epic contest. Jimmy makes valid points. I love America. We need a very great leader in these troubled times as our great country shows cracks and poverty in all directions. It’s not just the people that are broke; it’s the county that’s really broke and broken.

Jobs leaving offshore daily. The US dollar is very weak making oil expensive. The balance of trade is astoundingly negative still running for more than a decade. Our recent problems via subprime/foreclosures have top focus and are straining our financial system. Some claim the Fed is bailing out the US financials, when in fact those institutions are near collapse and NEED to be propped. Our precious population is in academic decline. Kids in school learn less year-over-year occurring for nearly 2 decades. So the US grows more non-competitive. The growing number of single families hurt kids because they lack direction and stability. Drugs and/or unprotected sex by KIDS and ADULTS affect 2/3 of US families reported United Way – a new phenomenon. 20 million illegal immigrants now in the US are draining US services while paying little more than sales tax and are forcing the US to become bilingual at great expense. What a government expense and future burden just to have cheaper labor today.

[C. Marcus Parr]

The issue Democrats now face is what has been described as Sen. Clinton's "delusional narcissism" for not conceding gracefully (something promised this coming Friday), which could result in the Balkanization of the Party as her supporters refuse to accept reality and splinter or threaten to vote for Obama’s opponent.

Through a sense of group hysteria and refusal to admit defeat, Clinton supporters have effectively subdivided the Democratic Party into yet another faction consisting largely of middle-aged white feminists who see Mrs. Clinton as their standard bearer.

Hillary Clinton is guilty, through either her delusional narcissism or listening to bad advice, of turning a slam-dunk election for the Democrats into a very iffy affair indeed. She has done more for the McCain campaign than all the Republican lobbyists could ever hope to accomplish.

[Suzy]

I agree with Mr. Carter but for a different reason. As a Hillary presidential supporter from Florida, I wouldn't vote for Obama even if he did put her on the ticket. I'm becoming an independent and voting for John McCain. (Heeding well all those Obama bloggers who have kept saying if you don't support Obama you don't belong in the Democratic party.)

[john burnette]

maybe not Sam Nunn. Maybe better Senator Max Cleland.

Check out his UTube videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLUN1miFDpc

[tlsmith1963]

Obama should pick someone else. Then, for the first time in a long time, we will have no Bushes or Clintons involved in the campaign for the White House, & no older Baby Boomers, either. Should be a lot quieter...I hope.