After a brief exchange with University President James W. Wagner, Carter stated country singer-songwriter and his close personal friend Willie Nelson was his favorite singer.
“Five different times I’ve been on the stage with Willie Nelson,” Carter said. “He always calls me up on his final number, which is usually ‘Amazing Grace,’ and we sing a duet together. He’s very careful to turn the microphone completely away from my voice.”
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Annelise Alexander
Former U.S. President and Distinguished Professor Jimmy Carter discussed his thoughts on topics ranging from the 2012 presidential election to his love of country singer-songwriter Willie Nelson at the 30th annual Carter Town Hall Wednesday evening.
Carter commented on the many differences between the current political climate and the nature of politics when he was in office, specifically noting that he would not be interested in being president in this political day and age.
“There is a completely different atmosphere in Washington, a completely different atmosphere in the United States of America,” he said, in reference to the growing polarization between political parties.
Bipartisan cooperation has eroded since he was in the White House from 1977 to 1981, Carter said.
Murmurs of approval rippled through the audience as Carter not only claimed that the primary goal of today’s politicians is to “distort the character of whoever their opponent may be,” but also that the schism between Republicans and Democrats is preventing political progress.
Students erupted into applause when Carter declared the 2010 Supreme Court decision allowing for unlimited corporate spending on political campaigns as “one of the stupidest rulings ever consummated or perpetrated on the American people.”
One student asked Carter about his thoughts on politician Sarah Palin, to which Carter stated that “she was an acceptable governor of Alaska.”
“She’s an eloquent speaker, but I think her biggest achievement is being elected governor, both in the past and future,” he said.
As the evening drew to a close, the topic of the upcoming presidential election of 2012 arose. Carter said with a smirk that he does not have “any time to waste” with the Republican debates, confessing that he had only seen the highlights of the most recent debate on CNN.
He said he believes Texas Gov. Rick Perry is at the forefront of the race to the Republican primary, but he added that Perry’s opposition to the theory of evolution and rejection of the Social Security system will harm his popularity in the general election.
Carter displayed no personal preference for a single Republican candidate.
While many questions focused on the upcoming election, some students also focused on Carter’s presidential term, particularly regarding the Panama Canal treaties in 1977, which granted control of the canal to the people of Panama.
Carter described the treaties as his proudest, yet most difficult feat, one that was “more difficult than being elected president.”
Carter expressed pride for his other accomplishments such as “keeping peace, for us and others, and promoting human rights.”
Though many of the students’ questions centered on Carter’s political views and his experiences while he was in office, one of the students wanted to know Carter’s favorite musician.
Carter concluded his Town Hall address to the freshman class with an emphasis on his philanthropic endeavors at the Carter Center, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that he founded in 1982.
He stressed that the organization strives “to go where others will not go” and focuses on affairs that pass under the radar of other aid organizations.
He explained that one of the Carter Center’s major goals is the eradication of “neglected tropical diseases,” or diseases of which many around the world are unaware of, such as trachoma, an infectious eye disease that is one of the leading causes of blindness in many countries with substandard health policies.
Overall, several attendees said they were surprised by Carter’s candidness with his student audience.
“There was no attempt to fluff anything up,” College freshman Andrew Mezher said.
He added that he found Carter gave “engaging, thoughtful and sincere answers to the questions.”
Some students whose questions were randomly picked from the crowd such as College freshman Alex Foster said it was an important experience.
“Carter answering my question is definitely a memory that I will keep for a while,” Foster said.
During his speech, Carter said he was glad to be at Emory.
He explained that his involvement with the University stemmed from an “infatuation with the Emory political environment” and the ability of students and professors alike to voice their opinions on controversial topics without censorship.
In addition, Carter spoke fondly of Emory and his relationship with the University.
“I have come to love and to understand the essence of what Emory is,” he said. “I am very proud to be a part of Emory.”