The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) sent a letter signed by six former U.S. ambassadors to Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, asking him to remove former President Jimmy Carter from his position as Honorary Chairman of Democrats Abroad, an arm of the DNC.

The letter comes in response to statements by Carter which call into doubt his suitability as a representative of the United States abroad. Recently, he criticized the U.S. government for withholding direct aid to Hamas, describing this policy as “criminal.”

The letter states:
As you probably know, in public comments made on June 21 after receiving a donation for his foundation from a group in Dublin, Ireland, the former President castigated our government and the governments of Israel and the European Union for withholding direct aid to Hamas leaders in the Palestinian Authority. Carter described this policy as “criminal.”

It has been nearly a decade since the State Department under President Clinton designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. As you know, it is illegal for individuals in our country – much less the federal government itself – to knowingly provide material support or resources to an organization that has been so designated.

In light of these considerations, it is the course of action Carter is advocating – provision of direct aid to Hamas by the U.S. government – that would be “criminal.” In light of Hamas’ long record of murderous attacks on civilians in Israel and within the Palestinian territories, it would also be grossly immoral.

… You may recall that last November, a Hamas subsidiary issued a communiqué calling on sympathizers to attack American targets “all over the globe.” It is difficult for us to understand how Carter can be deemed fit to serve as Honorary Chairman of Democrats Abroad after having urged support for Hamas.

When a prominent American such as a former U.S. President makes statements abroad so at odds with American policy and with good sense, they raise diplomatic and public diplomacy difficulties for our government and our official spokesmen abroad.

When Jimmy Carter published an anti-Israel book, the DNC issued a statement saying that “on this issue President Carter speaks for himself, the opinions in his book are his own, they are not the views or position of the Democratic Party.” Given Carter’s most recent statements, the former ambassadors call upon Chairman Dean to match action to words by removing Jimmy Carter from his official position with Democrats Abroad.

Full text of the letter:

June 27, 2007

The Honorable Howard Dean
Chairman
Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003

Dear Governor Dean:

We are writing to share our deep concern about the decision of your party to have former President Jimmy Carter continue to serve as Honorary Chairman of Democrats Abroad, the official Democratic Party organization for Americans living outside the United States. We urge you to reassess his suitability for that honored status in light of his recent outrageous remarks regarding Hamas.

As you probably know, in public comments made on June 21 after receiving a donation for his foundation from a group in Dublin, Ireland, the former President castigated our government and the governments of Israel and the European Union for withholding direct aid to Hamas leaders in the Palestinian Authority. Carter described this policy as “criminal.”

It has been nearly a decade since the State Department under President Clinton designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. As you know, it is illegal for individuals in our country – much less the federal government itself – to knowingly provide material support or resources to an organization that has been so designated.

In light of these considerations, it is the course of action Carter is advocating – provision of direct aid to Hamas by the U.S. government – that would be “criminal.” In light of Hamas’ long record of murderous attacks on civilians in Israel and within the Palestinian territories, it would also be grossly immoral.

As former ambassadors, we have learned – sometimes through difficult experience – that the words used by prominent Americans while overseas can resonate more loudly than remarks uttered at home for domestic consumption.

That seems especially true in this instance. You may recall that last November, a Hamas subsidiary issued a communiqué calling on sympathizers to attack American targets “all over the globe.” It is difficult for us to understand how Carter can be deemed fit to serve as Honorary Chairman of Democrats Abroad after having urged support for Hamas.

Mr. Chairman: You have credited Jimmy Carter with spurring your entry into public service. While campaigning for the office of President of the United States, you left Iowa just days before the all-important caucuses to visit Carter at his home, and in public remarks you made while standing beside him you said, “I think Jimmy Carter is a loved figure all over America for his moral standing and the way he has conducted himself in helping others since he’s left the presidency.” And you said that if elected, you would seek to “follow the example of Jimmy Carter.”

But when Carter published a book smearing Israel as an “apartheid” state, your committee issued a statement asserting that “on this issue President Carter speaks for himself, the opinions in his book are his own, they are not the views or position of the Democratic Party.”

In view of Carter’s most recent remarks, however, we urge you to go further and take prompt action to ensure that Carter is stripped of the formal role your party has bestowed upon him by removing him as Honorary Chairman of Democrats Abroad. As Republicans, we know that we will agree to disagree with Democrats like you about many things, but we are hopeful that on this matter, we can find common ground.

Thank you for your careful attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Amb. Stuart A. Bernstein (retired), Denmark
Amb. Joseph B. Gildenhorn (retired), Switzerland
Amb. Earle I. Mack (retired), Finland
Amb. John Price (retired), Mauritius
Amb. Mel Sembler (retired), Italy / Australia
Amb. Ron Weiser (retired), Slovakia