Knollenberg takes shot at Carter's age in interview about Carter

Well, it's hard to believe, but Joe Knollenberg actually found a way to make it into the news. Joe Knollenberg is ok with torture, no health care for 47 million Americans, the war in Iraq, the shredding of the civil liberties of Americans, and a whole host of other issues that have been devastating to our standing in the world.

Now, though, he wants to go after Jimmy Carter. Now, I don't pretend to know if Carter's conducting talks with a leader of Hamas is a good idea or not. It seems any time, though, that we are talking to our enemies conducting diplomacy at least we have a chance at negotiating a settlement of differences.

In this interview (click here to listen. it starts about half way through) Joe actually took a shot at Carter's age, suggesting that Carter may be losing it by choosing to talk to Hamas.

Knollenberg wants Carter Center funding cut

Hamas meeting prompts legislation

By TODD SPANGLER • FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF • April 17, 2008

Rep. Joe Knollenberg is pushing legislation that would prohibit the federal government from giving money to a center headed by former President Jimmy Carter – a reaction to Carter’s plans to meet with Hamas, an Islamic militant group.

Knollenberg, a Bloomfield Township Republican, introduced the legislation in Congress on Wednesday to block future funding of the Carter Center, a human rights organization based in Atlanta and founded by the former president.

Carter has been criticized by officials in the United States and Israel for agreeing to meet with Hamas as part of a Mideast peace mission. Hamas has opposed peace negotiations and has called for Israel’s destruction, and the United States considers Hamas a terrorist organization.

Said Knollenberg: “America must speak with one voice against our terrorist enemies. It sends a fundamentally troubling message when an American dignitary is engaged in dialogue with terrorists. My legislation will make sure that taxpayer dollars are not being used to support discussions or negotiations with terrorist groups.”

Knollenberg, according to his staff, was the first member of Congress to speak out against Carter’s meeting, sending him a letter after hearing of it and asking him to reconsider.

“I would hate for Hamas to realize any benefit from an American dignitary, such as you, engaging in dialogue with them,” he said.

The bill, the Coordinated American Response to Extreme Radicals or CARTER Act prohibits taxpayer funds from being appropriated to the Carter Center, which Knollenberg’s office said has received at least $19 million in federal money since 2001.

The Associated Press reported Carter’s meeting with Hamas officials was occurring in Cairo, Egypt, today