by Jimmy Carter
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/23/103458/107
There is a desperate need in America to block and reverse the radical departures from the moral and ethical principles
that have made ours a great nation.
This is not a conflict between liberals and conservatives or even between Democrats and Republicans. The unprecedented
changes in policy are from those of Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Dwight Eisenhower, and
also, of course, from those of Democratic presidents.
These changes involve the most basic aspects of America's moral values: peace, human rights, justice, the environment,
fiscal responsibility, respects for the civil rights of Americans, the honoring of international commitments, separation
of church and state, and the control of nuclear weapons.
As described in my current book, "Our Endangered Values, America's Moral Crisis," all of these basic principles have
been grossly violated. The proud announcement of "preemptive" war as an official policy, repudiation of Geneva
Convention restraints and officially condoned torturing of prisoners, refusal to acknowledge the reality of global
warning, and rejection of every nuclear arms control agreement of the past half century have tended to make our nation a
pariah within the international community. The incredible budget deficits and secret and illegal spying on American
citizens have not only burdened our children and grandchildren with enormous fiscal debt but have been embarrassing to
traditional conservatives of all political parties.
Since there will not be another presidential election until 2008, the only chance to modify these trends will be in the
elections later this year for U.S. Senators and Members of Congress. Because of gerrymandering by both parties as they
gain control of state legislatures, the reelection of most House members are assured - a circumstance in itself that is
a radical departure from the vision of our founding fathers.
The only real opportunity, therefore, is to join in a concerted effort to win seats that are actually up for grabs. The
best chance to change party control and therefore national policy is in the U.S. Senate, and eight Republican seats are
vulnerable: Arizona, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Tennessee. Among these, the
smallest margins of victory by President Bush in 2004 were in Ohio (51%, 136,000 votes), Nevada (50.5%, 21,500 votes),
and Pennsylvania (50.8%, 129,000 votes) and they reveal real opportunities this year in statewide races.
Nevada is the one that has received the least attention, perhaps because the state has traditionally been Republican
and the first term incumbent is known to have a large campaign war chest from the gaming industry, but this one real
advantage can easily be overcome by three factors:
First is his almost total compliance with the White House (96% average for the five years he has been in office and 100% in
2004!) at a time when many voters are having second thoughts about the Bush administration.
Second is a strong candidate, and Jack Carter has already entered the race. With degrees in physics and law, he also has had a broad career as an expert on
agricultural commodities, and later in international trade and commerce. A veteran of Vietnam and an effective
campaigner in my 1976 campaign, Jack is knowledgeable about security, and especially familiar with a broad range of
political issues throughout America. Happily married, with four children, he understands and appreciates real family
values. Although he doesn't talk about it on the campaign trail, Jack is also a loyal member of his local church, where
he plays the guitar on Sundays.
Knowing that John Kerry had a comfortable combined margin of victory in the urban areas of Nevada but lost
overwhelmingly among farmers, ranchers, and citizens of small towns, Jack's background makes him quite compatible with
these voters. Everyone who knows him agrees that he will understand even the most complex challenges of Nevadans and
will always address them courageously and truthfully. An added bonus among his supporters is that he will campaign full
time and will never back down or give up.
The third factor - adequate campaign financing - is more difficult, but can be achieved with grassroots support from throughout
the nation. Jack needs campaign contributions, which will be a fine investment for any American who is willing to
participate in restoring our nation's values.
You can find his website here.
ENDS