Chris Matthews: ‘I Was and Am a Carter Loyalist’

“Let me finish tonight with a man who just turned 90, former President Jimmy Carter. I was and am a Carter loyalist. I know all the knocks who are made against him back in 1980. But I also know the great goals, which he set for this country.

He is worried about the spread of nuclear arms around the world, but nobody else, including Ronald Reagan was. He was concerned about our energy dependence in the Middle East, and worked to reduce this country`s dependence.

And he, alone, remember this — forged the enduring peace between Israel and its number one regional rival back then, Egypt. Jimmy Carter was an honest man. I mean, he was ready and willing to tell the American people the truth even when it didn`t exactly make the people happy to hear it.

I will always be proud of working for him, rooting for him, wanting him to make it politically. Losing was bad for him. Not telling the truth, which he refused to do even though it cost him politically would have been bad for the country.”