Should Democrats 'Tone It Down' on Abortion? Jimmy Carter Thinks So

In a rare bipartisan interview, Jimmy Carter sat down with radio talk show host Laura Ingraham to talk about his new book, "NIV Lessons From Life Bible: Personal Reflections With Jimmy Carter." In the interview, reposted by the Daily Caller, Carter touches on multiple topics, including his view that the Tea Party doesn't care about working people, but "just wants to feather their own nest."

However, when the conversation turns to the the topic of abortion, Carter's remarks may surprise those who are accustomed to seeing the 39th President as the embodiment of modern American liberalism. Carter strikes what is, for the Democratic Party, a decidedly conservative stance on the topic.

"I never have believed that Jesus Christ would approve of abortions and that was one of the problems I had when I was president having to uphold Roe v. Wade and I did everything I could to minimize the need for abortions,” Carter says. "I’ve signed a public letter calling for the Democratic Party at the next convention to espouse my position on abortion which is to minimize the need, requirement for abortion and limit it only to women whose life are in danger or who are pregnant as a result of rape or incest."

Given that Carter claims to not be in favor of criminalizing abortion in the same interview, how he proposes to limit the procedure remains something of a mystery. Nevertheless, given that Carter opposed public funding for abortion as governor of agency, this is hardly the first time he has taken a conservative position on the issue relative to the rest of his party.

In fact, it's worth remembering that Carter was the first Presidential candidate to actively court evangelical voters and win their votes in large numbers. In a true stroke of irony, those same voters went for his opponent, Ronald Reagan, in the next election. Still, some of the old born again Carter may remain alive, if this interview is any guide.