Former President Jimmy Carter accused the Supreme Court of being “eager to see” the wealthy and corporations “become more powerful,” a knock on the high court’s recent rulings, including the 2010 Citizens United case.
“The Supreme Court seems eager to see rich people become more powerful and to see corporations become more powerful than individuals with their, with their previous rulings,” Carter told PBS during an interview that aired Wednesday. “So I think with the presently constituted Supreme Court, there’s very little chance that we will see money removed from politics.”
Carter attributed the current divide in the country to the “massive influx” of money into political campaigns, and recalled how during the 1976 election, when he ran against President Gerald Ford, the two raised no money for the general election.
“I would like to see the money aspect to elections reduced in this country dramatically,” Carter said.
The former Democratic president said he doesn’t have “much confidence” in the Supreme Court reducing the money that flows into politics, but does believe there is one area where the justices can improve the current landscape.
“One thing that the Supreme Court is considering that would help is to do away with the gerrymandering,” Carter said. “That is the acquisition of power by either the Republican or Democratic Party within a state.”
The Supreme Court has heard arguments in two partisan gerrymandering cases this term, the first a challenge brought by Democrats to the whole Wisconsin legislative map drawn by Republicans, and the second a challenge brought by Republicans to a single Maryland congressional district drawn by Democrats.
The justices have acknowledged the dangers of partisan gerrymandering, but do not appear closer to finding a solution to address it.
Carter has been speaking with a variety of media outlets as he promotes his new book, Faith: A Journey for All.
