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Endorsements Carter shucks, press swoons Austin Not since the civil rights movement have our regional prejudices been so set a-twanging by Yankee news coverage of a Southern phenomenon. As we read Northern journalists on the subject of Jimmy Carter, we remember that old feelingeven when they get it right, they get it wrong. Mother of pearl, here we find otherwise intelligent journalists explaining to an eager public that even though a man talks slowly, his mind may work quickly. A death-defying insight. Then we get Sally Quinn interpreting Southern Manhood, with references to Faulkner and Tennessee Williams. “There is military discipline and hardness combined with a politeness and gentleness, a sense of duty combined with manners and deep religious faith indigenous to Southerners. He has the kind of dignity about him, too, that is special to Southernersthe God-andwoman, the officer-and-gentleman dignity.” Lawsy, lawsy, Miss Sally. Ah don’t know nothin”bout birthin’ baybies. Over yonder is Richard Reeves, who is supposed to be tough-nosed fella, comparing Carter’s spiritual appeal to Mahatma Gan. spent an entire column complaining about the fact that Jimmy Carter does not call himself James Earl Carter, Jr. If he called himwouldn’t change his stand on national health insurance. Then you find your I-used-to-be-anti -Southern-but-I’ve-reformed-and-so-should you-and-prove-you’re-not-prejudiced-and expatiate-your-sins-by-embracing Jimmy Carter school of thought. \(See Robert Sam Anson in Just read the Yankee press: there are two major schools of thought. Jimmy Carter is a Southerner, he talks funny, and has religiontherefore he is not to be trusted. Or, Jimmy Carter is a Southerner, he talks funny, and has religion, therefore he has some kind of mystic communion with the people, can offer them the peace after which their troubled souls thirst, is the Balm of Gilead after Watergate, and we should all stand back in awe. There is a third school of folk who are on the right track, but who invariably over-do it. They are prone to announce, with the air of one who has just ascertained that the world is in fact round, that Jimmy Carter is A POLITICIAN. TA-DAAAH! So what else is new? Even the discrepancies in Carter’s statements have been blown out of proportion. So he weasels, so he waffles, so he fudges, exaggerates his good points, downplays his bad onesthat doesn’t make him a villain or a monster. But we’re pleased that the Yankee press can find some time between its debates on collard greens and spiritual charisma to think about what Carter is or is not saying, what he has or has not done. These are the same turkeys who kept writing about “the New Nixon” while they had 20 years of Nixon’s record in front of them. Accent, teeth, looks like Kennedy, reads the Bible in Spanish, stands on his head and clacks his heels while reciting “the Ballad of Dan McGrew”so the hell what? Re Classified advertising is 20g per word. Discounts for multiple insertions within a 12-month period; 26 times, 50%; 12 times, 25%; 6 times, 10%. BOOKPLATES. Free catalog. Many beautiful designs. Special designing too. Address: BOOKPLATES, P.O. Box 28-1, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387. PLAYING THE RECORDER IS EASY. Free catalog, best recorders, recorder music. Beginner’s Pearwood Soprano Book, $11.95. Amster Music, 1624 Lavaca, Austin. GUITAR PICKERS. Buy your guitar strings from us and save 20%. Mail orders accepted. Amster Music, 1624 Lavaca, Austin. BOOK-HUNTING? No obligation search for rare or out-of-print books. Ruth and John McCully. Austin,Texas 78703. WANTED. Political campaign buttons and memorabilia. National or state. George Meyer, 2204 Matthews Dr., Austin 78703, or phone 478-2848. member Journalism 1? Remember “look at the record”? Look at Carter on the issues: He is “totally opposed” to abortion, but he won’t support a constitutional amendment prohibiting it. April 23, 1976 21 THE NEW YORK TIMES Sunday edition delivered to your home in the Dallas area. Call 2395325 for rates and information. NEED SOMETHING from Germany? Jim & Hanni International, 1600 Northwood, Austin 78703. 474-2582. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, John Garza. J. E. INTERESTED IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE RE-FORM? Join the National Council on Crime and Delinquency in Texas. Write NCCD, 3409 Executive Center Drive, No. 212, Austin, Texas 78731. BUMPERSTICKERS. “S.1One Giant Goosestep for Mankind.” 3 for $1. Texas Civil Liberties Union, 600 West 7th, Austin, Texas 78701. NEW ORLEANS ON $8 A YEAR. The Weekly Courier, 1232 Decatur, 70116. JOIN COMMON CAUSE. Only one person can make democracy work again … YOU. $15 \($7 Lavaca, Austin, Texas 78701. CLASSIFIED