Jimmy Carter: Worst. American. Ever

[MrScorpio]

Why right-wing bloggers think the peanut farmer was more heinous than any serial killer -- or even Obama
BY ANDREW LEONARD

Let's get the big honking disclaimer out of the way first. As a callow 18-year-old, I cast my first vote for president of the United States in 1980 to reelect Jimmy Carter. While I can't claim to be have been a hugely enthusiastic supporter of the much-beleaguered president (he reinstated registration for the draft, for crying out loud!), there was no doubt in my mind that he was infinitely superior to that joke from California, a has-been actor who already had one foot inside a retirement home. I also was confident that Richard Nixon's disgrace would keep Republicans out of the White House for at least a couple more terms.

Needless to say, I was rather shocked at the outcome of that election, and have pondered its significance ever since. While I think Carter was largely doomed by factors that he had little direct control over -- the oil shocks and the hostage crisis -- I am willing to admit that he had his flaws and didn't leave much of an enduring legacy. He certainly wouldn't be on my list of the top 10 U.S. presidents.

But in what universe does he qualify as the Worst American of All Time? How does that work?

All weekend long, liberals have been goggling at a thoroughly unscientific poll of right-wing bloggers by the Right Wing News blog that purports to list the 25 worst Americans of all time -- the lowest of the low of "all the gangsters, serial killers, mass murderers, incompetent & crooked politicians, spies, traitors, and ultra left-wing kooks in all of American history."

http://www.salon.com/news/jimmy_carter/index.html?story=/tech/htww/2010/08/16/worst_american_of_all_time_jimmy_carter