Get Carter.

I was very impressed with former president Jimmy Carter in his Q&A with Scan Kennedy [January 17]. I have always believed in the separation of church and state but would immediately find myself jumping on the bandwagon in favor of same-sex marriage. It wasn't until Carter expressed his belief that marriage should be left for the church to sanction but that the government should provide equal rights for all couples in civil unions, including gay people, that I had my "aha" moment. How simple the idea--equality to all through civil unions, and then blessings from my church that supports and ordains same-sex marriage anyway. Chip away one's personal religious beliefs, remove my church and your church from the equation, and what's left--true equality! Thank you, Mr. Carter, for simplifying the issues and turning my lightbulb on.

STEVE WISEMAN Los Angeles, Calif.

Shame on me. I was enthralled by his 1976 campaign. I went to see him talk at Southern Illinois University and was so jealous of a friend who shook his hand at the rally. Then I was disappointed by his lack of "backbone" during the hostage crisis. He became a "gentleman" in the '90s, pushing for "just" causes I respected. I just watched. In the current years I became a "contributor" and admired his passion for helping to eradicate devastating diseases we ignore. Now I'm ashamed that this man has been noble all his life and I have been nothing but an observer. Jimmy for president!

CHAD RUBIN Columbia, S.C.

While it is encouraging to see Jimmy Carter expose the Bush presidency for what it really is, it smacks of being too little, too late. My question instead would be, Where was Carter before the election, when comments of someone of his stature and access to the media may have made a difference? Now that he has a book to promote he is all over the media bemoaning the Bush administration. The battle is already over, we lost, and thanks to Johnny-come-latelies like him, we are losing the Supreme Court.

NEIL WILLIAMSON Tampa, Fla.