Carter blasts Miller for 'mean-spirited' speech
By JIM THARPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/07/04
Nobel Peace Laureate Jimmy Carter has waded into the war of words against
Zell Miller, firing off a scathing letter to the maverick U.S. senator accusing
him of betraying fellow Democrats.In a two-page missive, the former
president blasted Miller for his "rabid and mean-spirited speech"
to the Republican National Convention last week in New York.
"By your historically unprecedented disloyalty, you have betrayed
our trust," Carter wrote in the letter, which Miller's office received Tuesday.
Carter wrote that he has known Miller, a former legislator, lieutenant
governor and governor, for 42 years and considered him a friend.
But Carter's letter accused Miller of choosing "the rich over the poor,
unilateral preemptive war over a strong nation united with others for
peace, lies and obfuscation over the truth and the political technique
of personal character assassination as a way to win elections
or to garner a few moments of applause."
The letter was signed, "Sincerely and with deepest regrets, Jimmy Carter."
Miller has not responded to Carter in writing. Asked for comment,
Miller quoted another Democratic president. "John F. Kennedy
warned about the dangers of extreme party loyalty and once said,
'What sins have been committed in its name.' My first loyalty is
and always will be my family," Miller said in a written statement.
The letter was supplied to The Journal-Consititution's editorial page
and is published in its entirety today there. Carter spokeswoman
Deanna Congileo said it was intended as "a private communication
between two political contemporaries who have a long history and
strong views on public issues."
In the keynote address at the Republican convention last week,
Miller accused the Democratic Party of moving too far to the left
and blasted presidential nominee John Kerry as incapable of leading
the war on terror. Miller's speech was the latest straw in a series of
actions that have infuriated Democrats - but delighted Republicans.
Miller endorsed Republican President Bush for re-election. Then Miller,
who is retiring from the Senate, authored "A National Party No More,"
a best-selling book aimed at the the Democratic Party.
Georgia Republicans said the tone of Carter's letter shows that Miller
scored a direct hit "You wouldn't write a letter like this unless Sen. Miller's
comments really hit home," said Alec Poitevint, chairman of the Republican Party of Georgia.
Georgia Democratic Party Chairman Bobby Kahn declined comment.
But other Democrats said the former president and Georgia governor
simply articulated what many Democrats feel.
Only Carter "could write that letter and generate the kind of respect
and the kind of reaction that is appropriate," said state Rep. Tyrone
Brooks (D-Atlanta), president of the Georgia Association of Black
Elected Officials. "He is the grandfather of the Georgia Democratic Party."
Miller is expected to hit the campaign trail with Bush in the final two months,
said Reed Dickens, spokesman for the Bush-Cheney campaign.
Carter, who endorsed Kerry, has "no campaign activities planned," Congileo said.
The fact that a Nobel Peace Laureate has waded into a political feud
is remarkable, said Michael Binford, a political scientist at
Georgia State University. But Binford said Miller "left himself open"
when he used the Republican convention to criticize not only the
other party but also the alleged weakness of the Carter administration.
"It was a very personally focused and angry attack," Binford said.
In his letter, Carter scolded Miller for his comments about his tenure as president.
"I, myself, never claimed to have been a war hero, but I served in the Navy
from 1942 to 1953, and, as president, greatly strengthened our military
forces and protected our nation and its interests in every way," Carter wrote.
"I don't believe this warrants your referring to me as a pacifist."
- Staff writer Tom Baxter contributed to this story.
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