Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to James Carville

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving James Carville.

James Carville is an American political consultant, author, and commentator known for his work strategizing for political candidates both in the U.S. and internationally. As a prominent Democrat, he is a center-left leaning pundit frequently appearing on cable news, podcasts, and public speaking engagements, offering his insights on U.S. elections and political affairs.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1968: Arrested at Democratic National Convention

In 1968, Wofford was arrested at the Democratic National Convention for disorderly conduct.

1972: Political Job Distributing Negative Literature

In 1972, Carville's early political work involved distributing "hate sheets" with negative information on a political opponent for Ossie Bluege Brown's campaign for district attorney of East Baton Rouge Parish.

June 1984: Phil Gramm Emphasizes Family Values

In June 1984, during the general election, Phil Gramm emphasized family values, including his insistence at a prayer breakfast on "having people who believe in Christianity in charge of government," which Carville countered as antisemitic.

1987: Appeared on WLEX-TV's "Your Government"

On September 25th, 1987, Carville appeared on WLEX-TV's "Your Government" program and implored reporters to look into the background of John Harper's family, which was followed by Harper's confirmation that his son had been shot and killed during a pharmacy robbery.

June 1992: Criticism of Sister Souljah at Rainbow Coalition Conference

In June 1992, Carville orchestrated Clinton's criticism of hip hop artist Sister Souljah at the Rainbow Coalition's "Rebuild America" conference in Washington, D.C., creating a public war between Clinton and Jesse Jackson.

1992: Shielded Clinton from Gennifer Flowers' Allegations

In 1992, Carville sought to protect Clinton from Gennifer Flowers' allegations of an extramarital affair, accusing a supermarket tabloid of paying Flowers for her story and criticizing the media for "cash for trash" journalism.

1997: Remarks on Paula Jones lawsuit

In 1997, in response to Paula Jones' civil lawsuit against Bill Clinton, James Carville made controversial remarks about finding "a hundred dollars through a trailer park."

1999: Civil Suit Filed by Flowers

In 1999, Gennifer Flowers brought a civil suit against Carville.

1999: Defamation Lawsuit by Gennifer Flowers

In 1999, Gennifer Flowers sued James Carville and George Stephanopoulos for defamation of character, alleging they ignored signs that tapes of her conversations with Bill Clinton were doctored.

2000: Hillary Clinton Added to Defamation Lawsuit

In 2000, Gennifer Flowers added Hillary Clinton as a defendant in her defamation suit against James Carville and George Stephanopoulos.

2003: Advising Business Interests in Venezuela

In early 2003, James Carville advised Venezuelan business interests seeking to destabilize the government of Hugo Chávez.

September 2006: Remarks on Hugo Chávez

In September 2006, James Carville remarked, "I've worked in Venezuela and I would be very reluctant to call Chávez a democrat."

November 15, 2006: Carville blasted Dean's leadership

On November 15, 2006, James Carville blasted Howard Dean's leadership as "Rumsfeldian in its incompetence,", called for Dean's ouster as DNC Chair and his replacement with Harold Ford Jr.

November 2006: Carville proposed a truce

In late November 2006, James Carville proposed a truce of sorts after criticizing Howard Dean's leadership of the Democratic National Committee.

March 22, 2008: Carville Compared Richardson to Judas Iscariot

On March 22, 2008, James Carville compared New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who had endorsed Barack Obama, to Judas Iscariot, calling it "an act of betrayal."

2008: Speculation on Clinton's Run

In 2008, Dick Morris speculated that Carville and Greenberg infiltrated Kerry's campaign to engineer his defeat and clear a path for Hillary Clinton to run.

2008: Carville remarked on Obama's toughness

In May 2008, during the primaries, James Carville remarked to Eleanor Clift, insinuating that Hillary Clinton was a tougher candidate, criticizing Barack Obama.

2010: Carville criticised Obama

On November 18th, 2010, James Carville spoke to an audience at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast and criticized Barack Obama's political style.

November 2013: Carville's Comment on Obama's Approval Poll Numbers

In November 2013, James Carville commented on President Barack Obama's declining approval poll numbers.

2017: Santos Acknowledged Illegal Campaign Payments

In 2017, Juan Manuel Santos acknowledged that his 2010 campaign received illegal payments from Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht.

2018: Lindsey Graham references Carville's remarks

In 2018, Lindsey Graham referenced James Carville's "trailer park" line during the Brett Kavanaugh SCOTUS confirmation hearings, alluding to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's claims.

February 2020: Proposal to Replace Democratic Primaries

In February 2020, James Carville suggested abandoning the Democratic presidential primaries and caucuses. Instead, he proposed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should select the Democratic Party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Carville also suggested Mitt Romney should resign from the Senate and run the Democratic convention, and that he might write in Nancy Pelosi's name on his Louisiana ballot.

February 2020: Criticism of Bernie Sanders' Nomination

In February 2020, James Carville voiced his opposition to Bernie Sanders potentially winning the Democratic nomination, labeling Sanders a "communist" and Sanders' supporters as a "cult". Carville warned of dire consequences if Sanders were to win the Democratic nomination. He also criticized progressive Democratic policy positions such as student loan debt forgiveness and allowing "people voting from jail cells", and decried banning hydraulic fracking for shale gas.

June 27, 2024: Call for Biden to End Re-election Bid

Following U.S. President Joe Biden's poor performance during the June 27, 2024 debate, James Carville was among those who urged Biden to end his campaign for re-election. Carville stated in a July 1 interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, "The country wants something new. Let them have it."

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2024: Comments on Democratic Party Culture

Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, James Carville argued in an interview with Maureen Dowd that the Democrats' political culture had become "too dominated by preachy females", which he claimed contributed to Democrats' declining support among black male voters. Carville made these statements in 2024.