President Joe Biden on Thursday praised Jimmy Carter’s "strength of character” and called out hate and abuse of power at the former president’s state funeral.
“Jimmy Carter’s friendship taught me, and through his life taught me, the strength of character is more than title or the power we hold,” Biden said as he delivered the eulogy at the 39th president’s state funeral at Washington National Cathedral. “It’s the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect; that everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves an even shot. Not a guarantee, but just a shot.”
“We have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor, and to stand up to what my dad used to say is the greatest sin of all: the abuse of power,” Biden added.
As the United States has especially grappled in recent years with accusations of hate and abuse of power in government, Carter’s passing on December 29 has proved to be an opportunity for Democrats and Republicans to come together. Biden and politicians across the aisle have praised Carter, who was a Democrat, as a decent and good man. And his state funeral marked the first time since former President George H. W. Bush’s state funeral in 2018 that all five living U.S. presidents have gathered at one place.
