Comments on: Uproar Over Geraldine Ferraro's Remarks

Former VP Candidate Suggested Obama's Success Is Only Because He's Black

[dschellb]

It is a serious character flow to place your ambition above everything else. If she had just played it cool, I would would probably vote for her in November. I was a supporter of hers until Dec. of last year. As it stands now, however, I will have to vote for Mccain if Obama does not get the nomination. She is just too divisive. I don''t care what she says about experience. If she can''t work with people she wont be able to get the job done.

I am not against the idea of a woman president but it has to be someone with the right leadership skills. She simply doesn''t have them.

[socrates392]

As the first viable woman candidate in US history she is really setting women''''s rights back, by appealing to the dark side of the US psyche.

Posted by dschellb at 03:39 PM : Mar 12, 2008

I agree with you there. There are going to be serious reprecussions both to race and gender relations in this counrty if Hillary wins. It will also cause an unbridgeable gulf to form between the baby boomers and everybody else. She can only win by driving wedges between core groups of the Democratic party, which is clearly a losing strategy in the long term, even if it allows her to beat Obama.

[dschellb]

This notion of Obama not being asked difficult questions because he is black is a red herring. No reasonable person would interpret a legitimate question or concern about his experience as a racist aside.

The truth is that Obama has avoided playing the race card. At the beginning of the process he was criticized for not being black enough. Then the clinton campaign began the drug innuendos, the Moslem innuendos(which were not dispelled by Hillary''s rather modest disavowal), and the race questions. As the first viable woman candidate in US history she is really setting women''s rights back, by appealing to the dark side of the US psyche.

[samthetvcat]

More double-talk from the Clintons - they claim they''re not giving up on the black vote at the exact same time they have foot-in-mouth Ferraro do follow-up interviews on Fox to claim she''s getting picked on because she''s white.

It''s like how Hillary says Barack''s not muslim . . . if you say so . . . because she has no reason to believe otherwise . . . of course . . .

No better than Karl Rove imo

[socrates392]

On the other hand, I do think the media and alot of other people have shown they are afraid to ask Obama alot of hard questions because they are afraid of being labelled racist, even if they are not racist and only asking hard questions that should be asked of any Presidential candidate.

Posted by libra127 at 03:20 PM : Mar 12, 2008

Like what? What questions would you like the press to ask Mr. Obama that they haven''t?

[socrates392]

"If Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn''''t be in the race," - Geraldine Ferraro, April 15, 1988 Washington Post

You really think she''''s not a racist dolt?

Posted by taddles at 02:49 PM : Mar 12, 2008

Have you ever heard of sarcasm? Of course, I think she''s racist. You didn''t get that sense from the rest of my post?

You need to learn to read a little more carefully before you start calling people dolt, dolt!

[truthradar]

Ferraro slammed the media in prehistoric days that she was not being judged as a viable candidate, but just as the "first woman" and that her hunsband''s unscrupulous business dealings were being unfairly scrutinized "just because she was the first woman VP nominee", but she NOW finds stuborn legitimacy in her "only because he''s black" argument. GIVE ME A BREAK. LET''S GET REAL...and like her endorsed candidate, her''s is not a speech, NOR SOLUTIONS...but devisive politics to win at whatever price, even to the detriment of her own party and legacy! TRUTH, LIKE IT OR NOT...

[dschellb]

You are really giving her the benefit of the doubt. We always assume that dems or liberals can''t be racist but that is not entirely true.

If she trully wanted to attack his experience than make reference to his remarks on Pakistan or his position on the energy bill. Nobody would be criticized as a racist for raising legitimate questions about his positions.

But if you make a racist comment, that don''t whine about it when the press calls you on it. She appears to be a smart woman so I am assuming that this is a conscious decision by the Clinton campaign to pander to the confederate flag dems in the state of PA

[libra127]

This is an argument againsts alot of African-American professionals, that they can''t occupy a position of importance because of their merit, only because of affirmative action

Posted by dschellb at 02:39 PM : Mar 12, 2008

I am really torn on this issue (whether Ferrarro''s comment was truly racist). For almost any other professional position, I agree with what you''ve said above, that such a statement would be racist and offensive. But somehow being a candidate for _President_, with national importance and interest and extremely high standards which apply only there, doesn''t qualify for the idea that it''s an "affirmative action" situation. That would be a laughable concept. On the other hand, I do think the media and alot of other people have shown they are afraid to ask Obama alot of hard questions because they are afraid of being labelled racist, even if they are not racist and only asking hard questions that should be asked of any Presidential candidate. I take Ferrarro''s comment as more of the latter type (he''s been less closely vetted because he''s black) than the former type (because he''s black he''s had to meet a lower standard). I sincerely doubt that Ferrarro is racist. I think she just wanted to help Hillary''s campaign and screwed up.

[smashwl7]

It looks like Obama was right. There were no Al Qadea in Iraq. Go figure and know we are going to pay 4.00 a gallon for gas.

[popstom1]

Because this is Racist remember the two poor white
girls from Al.and Nc. killed by the two evil black
men now you think Mrs. Ferraro is being racsit
Now you got some racist $hit to talk about

[irmarebecca]

taddles, She was right then. I voted for Jesse precisely because he was black. I didn''t agree with a lot of his comments, but he was a brother and in my twenties, that was a pretty cool enough reason for me. It was in the wake of racial tensions and riots that occurred thanks to Bush the 1st. At that time Black Power and Pride was burning strong. See you don''t remember that do you? Oh yeah, I almost went with Obama, until I heard Michelle blaming Hillary for Bills indescretions. Then Obama made comments like Hysterical/emotional. I immediately dumped those thoughts. Why, cause they were shallow, I wanted to vote for the brother. Hillary has proven herself to fight for those at the bottom, that''s what I know will help me and mine.

[dschellb]

Here is another comment by Ferraro

"Ferraro also stated on Fox News that Obama should not attack her comments about his race because he needs her to raise money for him if he wins the Democratic Party nomination."

Boy is she really out of touch!!! News flash Geraldine there is such a thing as the internet which eliminates the need for sucking up to low lifes

[irmarebecca]

No, but you hear the same comment being made that she wouldn''t be in the position she is in if she were not married to Bill Clinton. I think it''s true. However, she is quite accomplished in her own right long before marrying Bill, but people choose to ignore that. Name recognition does help, but it''s not the only reason. I feel that Obama''s skin color at this point is the reason he symbolizes something to everyone. Remember how ashamed the nation was about Katrina? Helps to soothe some of the guilt by propelling one of us into office. Good thing it''s a man, a woman wouldn''t stand a chance. Hillary Clinton''s name gave her a chance. Obama''s skin color gives everyone a chance to repent.

[irmarebecca]

If you''re the mary that posts on ABC, you have been an Obama supporter all along, and I remember when you said the same thing other times.

[taddles-2009]

"As you notice sexist remarks are played over and over and a discussion is held about each one...

Posted by irmarebecca at 02:34 PM : Mar 12, 2008"


I haven''t heard anyone say "She wouldn''t be in this position if she were a man".

[taddles-2009]

"Okay, you convinced me. Her comments weren''''t racist.

Posted by socrates392 at 02:41 PM : Mar 12, 2008"


She made the exact same comments about Jesse Jackson back in 1988.

"If Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn''t be in the race," - Geraldine Ferraro, April 15, 1988 Washington Post

You really think she''s not a racist dolt?

[irmarebecca]

Socrates392, totally comfortable with that. I liked Bill a lot and I know that Hillary shares his philosophy in government; one that benefitted most of us, especially minorities in education and other social programs.

[xzonz]

Mary you have made the right decisions. America is a wonderful country with many great women of integrity. i believe America is ready for a woman president but just not Clinton

[irmarebecca]

libra127, you''re right! It had nothing to do with his role as President, nothing to do with where our tax dollars should have gone instead of being wasted into trapping someone in a lie; about consensual adult ***. The Republicans are such LOSERS. They don''t help the majority of Americans. They deplete resources for social programs by giving tax breaks to the rich, then they waste money on pointless things like investigating people having *** or creating lies to invade countries.