Ferraro Steps Down from Clinton Campaign

By: Ryan Corsaro
Topics: Hillary Clinton

(CBS)

From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:

Geraldine Ferraro removed herself from the Hillary Clinton campaign today after remarks made over Senator Barack Obama's skin color consumed Clinton's political headlines.

"I am stepping down from your finance committee so I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what is at stake in this campaign," Ferraro said in a statement. "The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you. I won't let that happen."

Ferraro has made several comments in past days, saying it was a matter of truthtelling that Senator Obama's popularity and media coverage benefited from being a candidate of color.

Among her remarks, Ferraro said "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman of any color he would not be in this position."

Earlier today, Senator Obama called the comments "wrong-headed and ridiculous."

Up until late this afternoon, Senator Clinton's Communications Director Howard Wolfson had denied there was any need to let go of Ferraro's support, despite rejecting her comments.

"Each campaign has taken a different response when confronted with different issues," said Wolfson on a campaign conference call. "I would remind everyone of when at the start of this campaign when David Geffen made comments that many found objectionable, Seantor Obama said he disagreed with them but said there was no reason to remove him from the campaign and he remains a campaign fundraiser."

But ultimately, Ferraro showed herself the door. It is unclear at the time what sort of input the campaign had in this decision.

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by memekiller March 12, 2008 11:23 PM EDT: Another rich victim of class warfare? A victim of reverse discrimination? Was the great advantages of her gender not great enough to overcome the disadvantages of the color of her skin?

I, for one, blame the institutional prejudice against stupid people on the part of discriminating voters.; Reply to this comment


by sjbj2322 March 12, 2008 10:46 PM EDT: Geraldine did nothing but tell the truth and Barrack knows it. The only difference is he''s not being called down for lying and embellishing in order to ingratiate himself amongst members of the black community like she''s being called down for acknowleding the degree to which he''s been successful in doing it. http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/saywhat.asp; Reply to this comment


by missglo March 12, 2008 9:23 PM EDT: Ferraro is delusional. I thought she was smarter than this. Old habits are hard to Break, Right Ms. Ferraro.; Reply to this comment