Is it 1976 all over again? Is Obama the new Jimmy Carter?
I get this idea from, of all people, Democratic strategist Bob Beckel. Beckel was on TV the other day saying that Obama was looking a bit like Jimmy Carter in 1976. Beckel intended this as a compliment. After all, Carter came out of nowhere to steal the Democratic nomination and then went on to win the election. Obama too has vanquished a woman who was thought to be invincible for the Democratic nomination.
I think Beckel has a point with his Carter analogy, although Beckel does not seem to have thought it through deeply enough. Actually it goes even further than he imagines. Obama, like Carter, has had no preparation for the high office he seeks. Carter's background was in peanut farming; Obama's is in community activism. Yes, Carter was governor of Georgia and Obama has served briefly in the Senate. But no one can seriously argue that either brings to Washington anything like the experience necessary to run the United States of America.
Second, Obama, like Carter, tries to be all things to all people. Carter campaigned largely on vacuities like "change" and "cleaning out Washington." Sound familiar? Of course Americans after Watergate wanted Washington cleaned up and they wanted change. And of course Carter gave it to them, although it wasn't exactly the change they sought: stagflation, economic recession, runaway interest rates, U.S. hostages in Iran, a Soviet bear on the prowl, and what Carter himself called a national "malaise."
Obama is hoping that once again Americans will fall for his content-free campaign. And so far he seems to have the white liberal intelligentsia completely fooled. A classic example is my former debate opponent Alan Wolfe, who has endorsed Obama on the sole grounds that it's about time America let a black man into the Oval Office. Wolfe is not the brightest light in the academic firmament--I think of him as white America's answer to Cornel West--but he is one of the biggest opportunists this side of the Nile. Consequently his support of Obama shows which way this academic weatherman thinks the wind is blowing.
I don't know if Obama, like Carter, will make it to the White House in November. But the best thing about Carter was that, by being a complete disaster, he helped Reagan get elected in 1980. Even so, America paid a high price for Carter's foolishness--several countries fell into the Soviet orbit, and Iran fell into the clutches of the radical mullahs. Who knows how costly an Obama presidency could be? I for one hope it's not 1976 all over again.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 25)
1.
DoubleD, you failed to mention how Carter alienated the Northern Democratic power base by leaving them out of his administration. Will Obama be as politically naive as Carter, or will he learn from Carters mistakes as B. Clinton did?
JefFlyingV at 9:24AM on Jun 18th 2008
2. "stagflation, economic recession, runaway interest rates,"
Yeah, I'm concerned about that under the next presidency as well...but wait...we're nearly ALREADY THERE! 2 out of three exist today, and we're heading for runaway interest rates as well.
I do see a big problem, though, with Obama's coming presidency: this economy, political system, war, and indeed, entire country is so messed up right now, it will not be fixable in 4 years. Not by a long shot.
brandon at 9:25AM on Jun 18th 2008
3. http://www.evolutionfacts.blogspot.com
JOHN McCAIN at 9:29AM on Jun 18th 2008
4. Not much of a comparison between Carter and Obama, if you ask me. As far as I can tell, most people think Carter is/was a good man who wasn't really suited for the job of president. Still, the problems of the 70's seem like cake compared with our problems now. The economy is so wretched Americans don't even bother traveling much any more; everyone hates us and the dollar's next to worthless anyway. The GOP is obviously more or less in shambles, at its lowest point of the modern era. Obama will work on setting up a very skillful team to tackle these problems. That's what he wants to do and obviously is smart enough to do it. Most Republicans will go along quietly; every single last one of them I'm close to feels duped, shamed, disgraced, and doesn't like to talk about it. This is probably a good thing, and will presage cooperation between Right and Left.
Nah . . . there are no meaningful comparisons here, and it's too soon to tell who Obama will most resemble after he takes office.
best,
mw
michael white at 9:50AM on Jun 18th 2008
5. Isn't this wonderful? You conveniently heard someone else compare Obama to Carter and you thought you'd do Obama a favor and continue the contrast. This is how a rumor gets started like Obama is a Muslim. You know Obama isn't Jimmy Carter because Obama hasn't been elected President or presided over a media hyped hostage crisis. This is a fear campaign targeting Grandpa Simpson. What person under 35 even remembers the good things that Carter did?
Cecil Jones at 9:54AM on Jun 18th 2008
6. My thoughts exactly. Obama is headed towards a do-nothing presidency, unless he gets Hillary as a running mate. We need someone with some experience.
peggy at 10:07AM on Jun 18th 2008
7. MR. D'SOUZA,
YOU ARE RIGHT ON. CARTER WAS NOT A GOOD PRESIDENT, AND NOT EVEN A VERY GOOD MAN WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT, JIMMY CARTER IS A DISGRACE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, SHAME ON MR. CARTER AND ANYONE WHO THINKS HE IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF AN AMERICAN PATRIOT. OBAMA IS NOT PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL AND NOT AT ALL WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THIS COUNTRY ARE LOOKING FOR. THE KOOL AID DRINKERS NEED TO MOVE TO SOMEPLACE WHERE THEY WILL BE MORE COMFORTABLE, FRANCE PERHAPS.
JOSLYN at 10:23AM on Jun 18th 2008
8. I am old enough to remember the Carter presidency. It was a disaster; high unemployment, the Iran hostage crisis, etc. Jimmy Carter was horrible! I remember making a wish in third grade that “Iran would let our hostages go”; thank God for Ronald Reagan who restored American confidence. I am voting for John McCain. If he looses, perhaps Barack Obama will be like Carter and lose a 2nd term. Christian Conservatives can prevent Barack Obama from winning by voting for John McCain. McCain may not be the ideal candidate, but he is better than what we will face from an Obama presidency!
janesophie1 at 10:29AM on Jun 18th 2008
9. Joslyn, maybe you should move to Jim Jones' Guyana compound. You seem to prefer the idea of having other people think for you, and you would never have to live in a land where there is freedom of speech. Good luck on your quest.
JefFlyingV at 10:32AM on Jun 18th 2008
10. "Having been destroyed by his own undoing in the field of religio-atheistic debate, Mr. D goes to Washington. Two blogs in, and the stain where he was used to mop the Beltway still lingers. But the rains are coming."
This ridiculous assertion by the scared-shitless neocons that Obama is unqualified flies in the face of the fact that Lord W, although theoretically "qualified", was/is arguably the worst/stupidest/(add your own) commander in chimp/Howdy Doodoo puppet this country HAS ever, and WILL ever see. The economic situation under Carter pales so far by comparison that it is almost transparent- do you read the news, Dumbass?
Congress is being accused(by the same neo-con agenda) as doing less, and having a poorer approval rating that Lord W, yet nothing is said about how they are stymied at every turn, by a Senate that undoes everything they attempt. By the numbers, Congress is just BARELY in control of the Dems, and that margin is bought out from under their 'control' daily.
Now, then, when Obama is President- and his election will be as soundly convincing as the Celtics win, and the tipping of the tide in the next Congressional election cycle, CHANGE will occur. Yes, taxes WILL rise, but in a more equitable fashion (and yes, the Corporos will squawk, but they'll find other ways to gouge us). Energy policy will re-group around new technologies, education will finally prosper, and Americans will move into the dawn of a New Age.
By the end of the second Obama term, another 'liberal' Democrat will take over the helm, because the new America will LIKE its' new version of prosperity, and the former war-hawks and neo-cons will join the soi-disant 'terrorists' in their caves, out of fear of retribution from a re-awakening American public.
Robert at 10:45AM on Jun 18th 2008
11. P.S. Several of my friends WERE hostages in Iran. You have NO FUCKING IDEA what you are talking about, so leave that issue alone.
P.P.S. Sorry about the screaming profanity in that last, but- a sore point. And yes- Amed(whatever his name is) WAS one of the hostage takers.
Robert at 10:48AM on Jun 18th 2008
12. The republicans gave our country jerks like Reagan, Bush, and Bush which have almost bankrupted our country. Now they want to give us another loser, McCain who recognizes GW Bush as the alpha male. Any man who recognizes Bush as the alpha male is lacking in depth that we need in a leader. It scares the right that we may have a peoples president that really stands for the all the people, not just the wealthy. If it was possible to have a choice today between Jimmy Carter, and GW Bush, Carter would win in a landslide.
Jerry Brown at 10:49AM on Jun 18th 2008
13. Dinesh,
Carterism....that's what Americans need right now, a good dose of Carterism. To heck with the rest of the world dumping on us, we'll have President Obama.
I can hardly wait. President Obama, sitting in the Oval Office, telling us that the US is in decline and our best days are behind us.
In reality, Carter was so inept, that after about 18 months in office the Democrats nearly held him hostage in the White House for fear he'd say something stupid...again.
The Democrat's learned a lot from the Carter years, which is why Obama only gives "prepared" speeches. Speeches that all Democrat Party bosses have reviewed several times. Obama doesn't know it yet, but he's already been taken hostage by the party bosses.
Willet at 10:52AM on Jun 18th 2008
14. Robert,
I don't want to pay higher taxes! My taxes are high enough. As a single woman, I don't qualify for tax breaks. Why should I pay higher taxes to support another failed attempt to create a "Great Society"? Barack Obama has these Socialist ideas and thinks the American people should fund them. Well, I am tired of paying for every Marxist pet project of liberals. I would like to keep my money. I don't work hard so people like Obama can implement their liberal fantasies.
janesophie1 at 11:01AM on Jun 18th 2008
15.
More to the point: Is John McCain the New Bob Dole?
The comparison is apt. Semi-competant Republican gets elevated past his level of ability, basically as a reward for sticking around long enough and not making too many waves.
Candidate is a war vet riding primarily on that reputation, even if it is barely deserved. Candidaate is elderly and more than a little out-of-touch with mainstream America. Seems to think his credentials as a Yes Man will carry him, even though his party is a shambles...WITH "stagflation, economic recession, runaway interest rates, U.S. hostages in Iran, a Soviet bear on the prowl, and...a national malaise" brought on by the party in power for the last 8 years.
Oh well. Hope McCain enjoys the ride. Just like Dole, it's headed for the same destination.
T.Brough at 11:02AM on Jun 18th 2008