By Linda Falcão, Esq.
When I read about JD Vance’s cynical switch from 2020 Trump critic to 2024 Trump running mate, I thought about former President Jimmy Carter, celebrating his 100th birthday on October 1st, and how our standards have fallen since that fine man was in office.
Twitter DMs reveal that Vance said in 2020 that Trump “thoroughly failed to deliver” on his economic populism, and called him “Emperor Trump.” Now JD’s his second in command, touting Trump’s alleged economic prowess and populist bona fides. Given that Trump is 78, if elected, Vance could easily become President in the next four years.
Contrast this with Jimmy Carter’s honesty, compassion, and humility. He told us when he was running for office that he had “lusted in his heart,” and after leaving office, picked up a hammer and personally built homes for the homeless. With his wife Roslyn, he founded the Carter Center, which has all but eliminated guinea worm, a leading cause of blindness.
I met President Carter in person in 1978 in a Rose Garden ceremony in the White House as a US Presidential Scholar. I was honored to shake Roslyn’s hand.
I know we won’t see a saint like him in office again in our lifetimes. But has character become completely irrelevant in public life?
You’ll answer that question when you vote this November. And when you vote, please remember former President Jimmy Carter.
