Yes it can make things worse and yes it doe hurt to talk!
Hamas is considered one of the leading terrorist groups in the world. The State Department has made the choice to keep Hamas politically Isolated.
For an ex President to go against State Department Policy and meet with this leader of one of the strongest terrorist groups in the world shows he has no respect for the position he once occupied.
It also shows division within our country and shows the terrorist that what they are doing is working, any time you can get an ex President to break the law of the land he once swore to protect then their resolve will be strengthened.
Carter screwed up foreign relations and helped build up terrorist groups that we have today. And now he is throwing gas on the fire he helped start.
If Carter thinks that we should meet with Hamas that is his prerogative, but he should obey American Policy out of respect. If he wants someone to go visit then he should help get a Democrat like Obama in office then go, but right now he should show respect for the sitting President.
If he meets with Terrorist leader of Hamas he should be hung for it Treason!