During an appearance on Newsmax on Monday, presidential historian Craig Shirley drew parallels between the policies of Jimmy Carter and Joe Biden, suggesting their approaches inadvertently paved the way for conservative leaders Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.
In a discussion on "The Chris Salcedo Show," Shirley shared his insights into how the policies of past presidents have shaped the political landscape. Regarding whether Carter's presidency paved the way for Reagan, Shirley said it wasn't intentional but noted clear patterns in both Carter's and Biden's terms.
"Well, it wasn't planned that way," said Shirley, author of "The Greatest Speeches of Donald J. Trump. "Carter, interestingly enough, ran ... as somewhat of a conservative populist who was going to clean up Washington and eliminate corporate corruption."
Shirley elaborated on Carter's campaign promises, pointing to his critiques of tax deductions like the "three-martini lunch" and his stance as a "cultural conservative" grounded in his Southern Baptist faith. However, Shirley argued that Carter's approach shifted after entering office.
"Once he went into office, he became enamored of the powers of the presidency and of what he could do," Shirley said, adding that Carter's policy decisions expanded the government. "He grew government. He created the Department of Education. He created the Department of Energy, which were basically useless bureaucracies, but they exist today."
Shirley also criticized Carter's handling of Soviet aggression and rising federal spending, asserting that these decisions alienated voters.
"He pursued policies that were anathema to what the American people wanted in 1980," Shirley said, referencing Reagan's landslide victory over Carter.
Drawing a parallel to modern politics, Shirley compared Carter's trajectory to Biden's, arguing that Biden's policies have led to similar voter dissatisfaction, suggesting that both Carter and Biden inadvertently laid the groundwork for significant political shifts toward conservatism in their respective eras.
"Just as Joe Biden pursued those same types of policies, which again produced the election of the conservative Donald Trump," Shirley said.
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Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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