Carter: Fox commentators have ‘deliberately distorted’ news

Jimmy Carter said Sunday that Fox News commentators such as Glenn Beck have “deliberately distorted” the news.

Speaking on CNN’s "Reliable Sources" Sunday, the former Democratic president took aim at the cable news channel climate, often a target for President Obama, and says he tries to avoid the cable chatter.

“The talk shows with Glenn Beck and others on Fox News, I think, have deliberately distorted the news. And it’s become highly competitive,” Carter said. “And my Republican friends say that MSNBC might be just as biased on the other side in supporting the Democratic Party, the liberal element.” 

The ex-president said opinions about the two channels were “part of give and take” in politics in the United States. Carter also believes CNN has suffered from trying to remain nonpartisan in comparison to Fox and MSNBC.  

“And I think CNN, more than others, has kind of tried to play the middle to their detriment as far as viewership is concerned and profits are concerned,” Carter said. 

Carter spoke about his relationship with the press during his one term in the White House. He said he was treated unfairly by reporters while president, but Carter also blamed himself, saying he could have reached out more to the press.

“Yes, I think I should have had a much more assiduous desire when I got into the White House to court the friendly relationship and a compatible and mutually trustworthy relationship with the key members of the press corps,” Carter said. “There's no doubt about that.”