Jimmy Carter already had drawn months of media scrutiny as a devout Southern Baptist running for president. Then the 1976 Democratic nominee brought up sex and sin as he explained his religious faith to Playboy magazine.
Carter was not misquoted. But he was certainly misunderstood, as his thoughts in the wide-ranging interview were reduced in the popular imagination to utterances about "lust" and "adultery."
Carter spent five-plus hours with Playboy across several months -- "more time with you than with Time, Newsweek and all the others combined," the nominee told Scheer and Playboy editor Barry Golson. Scheer called it a "sensible statement," reflecting Carter's Baptist tradition: "He was saying, look, I'm not going to be some fanatic. ... I'm not this perfect guy."
Headline writers, satirists and late-night television pounced anyway, labeling it Carter's "lust in my heart" interview. "Saturday Night Live," then a fledgling NBC sketch comedy show, had a field day. One political cartoonist depicted Carter lusting after the Statue of Liberty. Carter initially told reporters he was taken out of context. Scheer "ran back to the plane to get the tapes," and effectively caught the nominee violating his pledge never to make a "misleading statement."When his commentary on adultery ballooned, Carter insisted the exchange had been off-the-record, throwaway banter as Scheer and Golson prepared to leave.The way the story morphed "ended up making Carter seem like a creep," Roessner said.
Roessner, the daughter of a Protestant pastor, said Carter's Playboy comments were clumsy, "but if anyone should have understood the context ... it should have been the ministers."
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Masters champ Rahm rebounds as Walker leads RBC HeritageJimmy Walker shoots 6-under 65 to take three-shot lead at the RBC Heritage
Read more »
New report featuring survey of 200+ B.C. sex workers calls for decriminalization, support - Terrace StandardNew report featuring survey of 200+ B.C. sex workers calls for decriminalization, support
Read more »
Masters champ Rahm rebounds as Walker leads RBC HeritageJimmy Walker shoots 6-under 65 to take three-shot lead at the RBC Heritage
Read more »
WARMINGTON: Could 'Waco apocalypse' have been avoided?For the 76 Branch Davidians \u002D\u002D including 28 children \u002D\u002D who died on April 19, 1993 at Mount Carmel near Waco, Texas, it was an apocalypse.
Read more »
Opinion: In sailing toward disaster, or navigating a new path, humanity should consult its historyThe climate has evolved in its own way, but history shows humans have certainly been a factor in its transformation
Read more »
Dangerous driving factor in drowning deaths of four RMC cadets: militaryMilitary police say dangerous driving was a factor in the deaths of four RMC students plunging into the water near their campus in Kingston.
Read more »