On Saturday, 9/28 I was honored to present Jimmy Carter with birthday greetings from the Citizens of Washington, DC, our Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Council. The occasion was the Plains Peanut Festival, a day of parades, peanuts and just plain fun in Carter’s beautiful hometown of Plains, GA. Plains is a great place to visit. Thanks also to DC Councilmember Charles Allen for his work to honor Carter.
Back in the day Jimmy Carter was a special friend of DC residents who are currently subject to taxation without representation. Carter helped lead the effort for a constitutional amendment to correct this clear injustice. It passed in the Congress but failed in the states under the 40th President. Carter remains a supporter of DC statehood.
Fast forward to the present! Jimmy and his bride of 73 years Rosalynn look great! Despite a recent broken hip, Jimmy walks well though slightly stooped. And his mind is just as quick as ever. His smile will still light a dark day. I had a chance to chat a bit with the former president and conveyed best wishes from Leslie Salzillo, founder of the Honoring Jimmy Carter Facebook group and Daily Kos favorite. Leslie especially respects Carter for his commitment to womens rights and the interconnections between the status of women, poverty and public health.
Jimmy Carter turns 95 on October 1. In addition to his global humanitarian work with the Carter Center, Jimmy is also an active Democrat. He campaigned for Stacy Abrams last year. Viva Carter! I expect to be in Plains in 2024 when he turns 100. I hope President Warren will join me in Plains to honor one of the very best Presidents ever!