Stay the Course When You Get Blow Back

Former President Jimmy Carter provided of model of what not to do when enactors blow back--that is, when they have harsh or soft responses to the objections of others to their unkind deeds.


Mr. Carter was unprepared for the responses he got when he famously criticized the administration of George W. Bush as the “worst in history” in terms of its “adverse impact around the world.”

A Bush White House spokesperson had an immediate harsh comeback, which was a cover-up that diverted attention from Carter’s criticism. Tony Fratto said Carter’s words are “sad and reckless evidence” that Carter is “increasingly irrelevant.”

This is hardball. Fratto’s words must have been a direct hit at the hot buttons of the aging statesman. The next day in a nationally televised interview, Carter tried to take back some of he had said. In this electronic age, there was no way he could. The day after Carter’s attempt to roll back his words, President Bush delivered a soft cover-up when he said his (Bush's) “actions are based on what’s best for this country.”

Fratto said of Carter’s rollback on his criticism of Bush, this “just highlights the importance of being careful in choosing your words.” Fratto chose his own words of criticism so carefully Machiavelli would be proud.

In actuality,Carter had a point. At the time he criticized the Bush administration, the United States was in fact held in disfavor throughout the world for its foreign policy. Had Bush and members of his administration chosen to be accountable, they would have said that they take the words of an esteemed elder statesman seriously.

They would have promised to look into the truth of Jimmy Carter's words and report back to national and international audiences.

Instead, a spokesperson attacked Carter and Bush took the “high road” of virtue that Michiavelli recommended.

Carter had the support and encouragement of many. For example, Hillary Rodham Clinton refused to criticize Carter’s words and said the Iraq policy has failed, President Bush is stubborn, the Iraqi government is unwilling to make “tough decision” and as a result “our young women and men are in harm’s way.”

Carter waffled when it is important for recipients of unkind deeds and cover-ups to stay the course. Jimmy apparently could have used back-up. Before his famous remarks, He might even have strategized with confidant(e)s about the many possible ways that the president and his team might respond. Had he done so, he would have stayed the course.

Routinely, a spokesperson or two says something really harsh and then the president comes on the air with soft but firm words that expound on his own virtue, while indirectly casting his critics as unenlightened and unpatriotic.

Jimmy Carter made the big mistake of acting alone. By the time others spoke up to endorse his views, he had already tried to take back his words. He did not stay the course.