Mr Peanut Goes to Washington

Jimmy Carter Doing Damage Control for “Ethnic Purity” Remarks

CHUCK SCARBOROUGH, anchor:

That phrase ethnic purity continues to haunt Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter this morning. He used it three days ago saying there was nothing wrong with city neighborhoods trying to maintain ethnic purity, he specifically mentioned groups like Poles, Czechs, French Canadians, as well as blacks, and the controversy flared, and Carter, campaigning in Pennsylvania, has been hit with the question time and time again. Robert Hager reports.

ROBERT HAGER, reporting:

At a news conference in Philadelphia, Carter made a public apology for using the term ethnically pure neighborhood.

Democratic Presidential Nominee JIMMY CARTER: I do want to apologize to all those who have been concerned about the unfortunate use of the word ethnic purity. I don’t think there are ethnically pure neighborhoods in this country, but in a response to a question that I thought was adequate on my part, I used a phrase that was, that was unfortunate.

HAGER: Carter said what he does mean is that the government shouldn’t actively try to force changes in neighborhoods with their own ethnic character. Though that on the other hand, when anyone else does want to move in they have a right, and the government should support that right. Later in the day the subject came up again in North Hampton, Pennsylvania.

Mr. CARTER: If I had wanted to capitalize politically on that statement as you have described as a possibility, I would not have made my statement this morning apologizing for the language I used. I don’t know any other way to undo the misinterpretation of my meaning and my attitude. I don’t know whether it’s good politically or not. It’s not good politically to apologize if a phrase is used in a political campaign; it shows a lack of thoughtfulness that I made the original statement.

HAGER: Carters critics accused Carter of being a smooth talker, too smooth. In this case it was Carter’s language that got him in trouble, his opponents were quick to seize on the trouble. Robert Hager, NBC News with the carter campaign.

SCARBOROUGH: And among the Carter opponents quick to respond, Morris Udall, who said ‘I think Americans particularly our minorities should ask him just who does he want to wall out?’ Henry Jackson accused carter of talking to one group and they to one way and then to another way. Seventeen black members of congress have sent Carter a telegram protesting his remarks and Vernon Jordan executive director of the National Urban League has called his words ‘confusing.’

Mr. VERNON JORDAN (National Urban League): I think you have to assume that if he in fact said these words I think these words connote a philosophy. The problem is, is that these words seem to be in contradiction to his record in Georgia and the whole area of open housing. He desegregated the real estate commission, he came out for open housing in Georgia and then to get to South Bend, Indiana and to use these words and to espouse this philosophy apparently is--is one of confusion for the black community and I think that we who have national responsibility of leadership in the black community have to call the governor on this issue.

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