Interview With Jack Carter: Future Senator From Nevada
Jack Carter is campaigning for Nevada’s second Senate seat the old fashioned way, city by city and voter by voter. First, his daughter and fellow blogger, Sarah R Carter indulged us with an interview and now its Jack’s turn. He recently took time out of his busy compaign schedule to answer some questions about his message and his campaign. I have been personally struck by Carter’s ability to articulate a unique Western Democratic message: a healthy skepticism of federal government, an ability to speak plainly but intelligently to consituents, the desire to protect personal freedoms, being responsive to the people who elected you, and a pragmatic approach to solving problems. Its a message of authenticity–of meaning what you say and saying what you mean. It certainly sounds simple, but as citizens of Nevada are well aware, Senator Ensign has spent his Congressional time (on you I may add) supporting his corporate sponsors in their quest for ever growing profits at our expense (not to mention invading our privacy) and furthering his own interest in legislating through god.
On to the interview:
MTM: You have a degree in nuclear physics from Georgia Tech and law degree from the University of Georgia and then ended up forming your own investment company. How did get from nuclear physics and the law to investment banking and finally to politics?
I dropped out of school, joined up, got out of the Navy, and returned to Ga. Tech as a junior. I had decided to go to law school and physics, my original major, was the quickest way out. After law school, I went directly into Dad’s Presidential campaign. After he won I worked a brief period as a lawyer, but, with a few investors, built and operated a grain company. The commodities market was fascinating. I transferred grain hedging expertise into the nascent interest rate futures market and followed that up with ADM’s offer to go to the Chicago Board of Trade to teach its banks how to lock in interest rates. The CBOT fascinated once again, this time the speculative side of markets gripped me along with the hedging side.
When the bond market lost its luster in 1988, I shifted to foreign currency markets. Later, I met Elizabeth on a client call to Cleveland, OH. We got married in a fever, as they say, and it still burns hot. But we ultimately wound up in Bermuda where we could live in the same house and both get to good jobs. Her background is banking and investments; mine is markets and derivatives; so, it was a natural move into analyzing investments for big institutions. That continues to be our business.
Politics came after a realization that this administration and its counterparts in the Congress believe that there are two classes of Americans: theirs – the country club members with money and influence who were experts in what was best for our country, and the rest of us who needed direction in our lives. As you can infer from the previous paragraphs, I don’t like other people giving me direction. I like to make my own mistakes and go my own way.
MTM: You’ve lived in various parts of Georgia, Bermuda and Chicago, Illionois–I’ve spent some time in Georgia and a lot of time in Chicago, and they are both great cities–Chicago in particular. (I wish I could say I’ve been to Bermuda but I haven’t yet). What on earth drew you to Las Vegas, or as I like to call it, the city on the surface of the sun?
I was living with the most beautiful, intelligent and far-sighted woman in the world in Bermuda, a damp, non-American place of little interest to our 20-somethings children. At that time, the spring of 2001, I was concentrating on an early season baseball game while she was concerned about our future. She called me over to the computer. I went over to see her at the controls of a virtual tour of a condo in Summerlin, a place I associated vaguely with Las Vegas. I said, “It looks like a condo.” She said, “It is. Do you mind if I buy it?”
After rocking back on my heels for a few minutes, I recognized the wisdom of her words. Thus, we arrived in Las Vegas, a dry, raucus American city of great interest to our children. We came, we saw, we loved it.
MTM: I’ve heard you say that you are a Libertarian in some ways and Democrat in others, Can you elaborate on that?
I am a Democrat because to me Democrats are for the working men and women in America. That is the Democratic message for which our national party leaders search.
I am a Libertarian in personal freedoms. I believe the Constitution of the United States places the highest importance on our personal freedoms – they are specifically enumerated. The Federal government is potentially the most dangerous to our personal liberties and is therefore the most restricted. The states, of lesser danger, have the remainder.
MTM: You are from one of America’s great families–your parents have dedicated themselves to addressing global poverty and elections and other social justice causes–I’m compelled to ask you what its like to grow up in that kind of environment and to be a part of the Carter family? What does it mean to you to be a part of the Carter Legacy?
This is a tough question because answers about one’s family are very complicated. Instead, let me tell you what I learned first hand that other people might not have picked up in their lives.
When I grew up, I believed there were two classes of people, the ones on TV and the rest of us. The ones on TV were talented, smart, knowledgeable and somehow better than us. In 1972, Dad was Governor and all the Democratic contenders for the Presidential nomination routed themselves through Atlanta. These included McGovern, Lindsey, Humphrey, and many others. With the exception of Hubert Humphrey, I was disappointed in every one of them. Looking back at it, I suspect that they were ordinary when I expected Super. My image of the “better class” was shattered.
My mother called us into a family meeting in late 1973 and announced to us that “your father is going to run for the Presidency of the United States.” Our immediate reaction (the three sons ranged in age from 21 to 26, Amy was 6 and didn’t participate much) was, “Cool. We’ve met the other guys and you’re better than they are.”
I was in law school during Watergate. That, coupled with my experience in the Navy with Vietnam, left me with a fairly cynical view of the American public. But our campaign required us to spend nights in our supporters’ houses, giving me a first-hand look across the nation at the average American family. I had a political epiphany. I discovered that my fellow countrymen were well-informed, full of reasonable solutions to the problems of the day, and totally unselfish. All they wanted out of their involvement was good government.
So, I’ve learned that 1) the guys who run things are not better than we are, and 2) we, the average Americans, are very well able to run things by ourselves. And, not only are we as qualified, but we’re a lot more able to run things without thinking that we’re better than everyone else.
That’s the Carter Legacy: a deep belief in the trustworthiness of the average American that extends, particularly in my parents’ experience, to the average person everywhere. That is, in my opinion, a phenomenal viewpoint (also enshrined in the Constitution which gives the only power to make laws to the representatives of average people) which provides a cure for tyranny and a foundation of hope for the future under the darkest circumstances.
I trust the people of Nevada. I trust myself as one of them. I don’t trust anyone who believes that we don’t need to know what’s going on or that we can’t handle the stress or make good decisions for ourselves.
MTM: You’re recently back from a much hailed state-wide rock-n-roll tour. How did the audience receive your message and your music?
It was a piece of old fashioned Americana – the true stump-speaking, gather ’round the flat-bed truck for some music and politics, country romp. I loved it. I think the people who came to see us loved it for the same reason. The best kind of politics where you stand there and say what you believe and stick around to shake hands, take suggestions and answer questions among equals. I’ll never forget it.
The musicians, Jason Holcomb and Barry Van Wie, were excellent and worked their tails off, setting up the truck and packing it up three times a day. I learned how to play “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Deep River Blues”. If I was a better musician, I don’t think I could be a politician because that kind of day job would be too good to leave.
I learned a lot about local issues and what was on the minds of my fellow Nevadans. I also picked up a much stronger vein of anti-administration, throw-all-the-bums-out, attitude than I’d expected. That bodes well for me if I can convince them that I can do the job.
MTM: You have stated that you are a Babtist. I don’t know if you’ve read them or not, but the New York Times has been publishing some great articles on the role of religion in American politics and other institutions like higher education lately and I’m hoping this reflects a national trend in which more people are beginning to question what place religion should play outside of their home lives and churches. What are your feelings as far as the role religious beliefs should play in politics and other public institutions? How do your reglious beliefs inform your political decisions? What about in terms of science?
My religion leads me to try to understand other people as “loved by God”. If they’re good enough for God to love them, then I should try. My religion also informs me that humility is a prized trait and that judgment is for God alone. I believe in God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
I understand politics to be the art of living among a group of people who are different from me, who believe differently from me. And I must respect their views as I do my own. Their actions, however, must fit within the structure of “living among a group”, and to the extent that individuals can’t do that, they must be controlled. I prefer the structure set up in our Constitution and the laws that flow from it. I am convinced that maximizing personal freedom provides the key to happiness and protection against tyranny here on earth.
I have no conflict between religion and science. I majored in physics. I believe in galaxies, other planets, global warming and stem cell research…and God.
MTM: You are a Vietnam Veteran. John Ensign is on the Veteran’s Affairs committee isn’t he? How do you feel about the support your opponent has helped provide for America’s veterans during his tenure on that committee? What do you feel should be done about the war in Iraq?
In my recent rural tour, the most recurring issue was some failure in the services provided to our Veterans. I blame this Administration along with the Republican-controlled Congress for this dereliction of responsibility to these heroes. I am convinced that much of the reason for the veterans’ aggravation on my tour was the result of a mentality that could declare an international War on Terror with one breath while giving our wealthiest Americans a tax break with the next. I submit that that is not the way to approach veterans’ affairs or our national security.
Iraq is covered on my website www.carterfornevada.com.
MTM: Many people are concerned with the way in which the Bush Administration has over-reached the traditional limits of executive power through its policies on torture, surveillance and imprisonment of U.S. citizens, ignoring Congressional oversight, etc. If you were a sitting Senator, what would you do about it?
I’d mobilize as much support as I could from the American people and my fellow Congressmen. I would raise my voice at every opportunity. And I’d find some crafty Senator who’d been there a long time to tell me how to jerk some good old fashioned Constitutional sense into this administration.
MTM: How will you represent the best interests of Nevada citizens better than your opponent in the Senate?
As I said earlier, I believe that the regular people of Nevada best know their concerns and problems along with solid ideas to solve them. I won’t look for answers in Washington from a panel of experts. I’ll spend my time talking to Nevadans here and take their views to Washington.
John Ensign is Washington’s voice to Nevada. I will be Nevada’s voice to Washington.
MTM: Your opponent, John Ensign, has been dubbed one of the 50 most beautiful people on Capitol Hill and a white man who can jump by Wonkette. Obviously, he’s a man of considerable talents. How can you compete with someone like that?
I can play “Sweet Home Alabama” on the guitar. Rock-n-roll.
MTM: Any closing remarks?
I find the blogosphere to be particularly appealing in a number of ways, not least this ability and opportunity to hear and be heard. But I think it is particularly important that we remember the strengths of regular working men and women who may not be much of a party to this rarified region. Education and a glib execution of prose doesn’t equate to reasonable solutions. Nor, surprisingly, does a concentrated study of the issues. I am convinced that the Democratic Party must go into the Red Counties of our country, not just to show ourselves and present our platform, but to listen to the truly significant ideas that bubble up in the truckstops and small-town restaurants which dot our land. Trust me. Average American folks know as much as anybody.
Try it, Myrna. Just go out there and listen. It’s sort of like a baptism of pragmatism.
We can all use a baptism of pragmatism once in a while. Way to put me in my place Mr. Carter. See, that’s whats so cool about Jack Carter. You can meet Jack and his father Jimmy Carter at the upcoming Washoe Democrats fundraiser on September 28th.
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[...] Myrna the Mynx from Reno and Its Discontents nailed an interview with Nevada Democratic nominee for Senate Jack Carter. He got his dad to come to Nevada to announce Sonny’s for office and he hopes to topple Nevada Republican Senator John Ensign. You may remember Daddy was a president of the United States and is a Nobel Prize laureate. Summary: Jack is not running on Daddy’s coattails, but did you know he’s Jimmy Carter’s son? No? Ask him. He’s got a long answer. [...]
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Anyone have confirmation on the Heller ethic problems?
http://nvupnorth.blogspot.com/
Democratic party confirms complaint file by northern Nevada resident.
http://www.nvupnorth.blogspot.com
Man, that Jack Carter is one cool cat. I hope the national Dems focus a little on his race. And I hope he wins.
By way of contrast - here’s the transcript of a form letter I got from John Ensign in response to an email I sent via congress.org regarding the Marriage Amendment.
Goofy formatting preserved, because, as it informs me, it is a Crime to Tamper With It In Any Way.
Graphictruth: An Insult from the Junior Senator from Nevada
Mr. Carter:
I do not appreciate you making insulting statements about America’s sitting
President George Bush! Conduct like this is not going to change your record
of being one of the worst Presidents in history, it only reenforces it.
Tom Lowe
Lukeville, Az 85341