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Carter: How dare Zell Miller think!
Hmm⊠this should have less spittleâŠWASHINGTON (AP) - Former President Jimmy Carter says the appointment of Georgiaâs Zell Miller to the Senate was a mistake because his fellow ex-governor ``betrayed all the basic principles that I thought he and I and others shared.ââ "Appease! Reward terror and punish cooperation!" The comments, which Carter made Wednesday on the radio program FOX News Live with Alan Colmes, are the latest criticism from prominent Democrats of the maverick senator who has endorsed President Bushâs re-election and penned a new book arguing his party is out of touch with the South. And the rest of the country too. When Colmes asked Carter about Miller, the former president initially said, ``I would rather not even comment about Zell Miller on the radio,ââ then proceeded to call the appointment ``one of the worst mistakesââ then-Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes made in his final four years in office. Right before his [Carterâs] lips fell off. ``He has really betrayed all the basic principles that I thought he and I and others shared,ââ Carter said. "Appease! Reward terror and punish cooperation!" Barnes tapped Miller in 2000 to fill the vacancy left by the death of Republican Sen. Paul Coverdell. Miller then went on to win a special election to complete Coverdellâs term, which ends in January 2005. Miller has announced he wonât seek re-election, and Republicans are optimistic about reclaiming the seat. Miller dismissed Carterâs comments Thursday, calling the former president a friend of more than 40 years. ``And over those 40-plus years, I bet Iâve received about two dozen personal notes from Jimmy Carter,ââ Miller said. ``Half of them are giving me hell, and the other half are bragging on me. So, I figure Iâm doing OK batting .500 with Jimmy Carter.ââ Barnes declined to comment Thursday on the squabble between the two other former governors. "I can say no moreâŠ" Posted by: Atrus 2003-12-11 |
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