Uproar Over Geraldine Ferraro's Remarks

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

(CBS/AP)  Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday she disagrees with Geraldine Ferraro, one of her fundraisers and the 1984 vice presidential candidate, for suggesting that Barack Obama only achieved his status in the presidential race because he's black.

In a brief interview with The Associated Press, Clinton was questioned about Ferraro's remarks. The Obama campaign has called on the New York senator to denounce them.

Ferraro told the Daily Breeze of Torrance, Calif.: "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. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."

The newspaper published the interview last Friday.

Clinton said, "I do not agree with that," and later added, "It's regrettable that any of our supporters - on both sides, because we both have this experience - say things that kind of veer off into the personal."

"We ought to keep this on the issues. there are differences between us" on approaches to health care, energy, experience, she added.

On CBS News' The Early Show Wednesday, co-anchor Harry Smith asked Obama about Ferraro's statements.

"Obviously, I strongly disagree with her comments," Obama said. "I think if you think about the history of this country, the notion that being a black American named Barack Obama paves the way for the presidency doesn't, I think, ring true with most Americans."

Ferraro is a former New York congresswoman and was Walter Mondale's running mate when he was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984. She has endorsed Clinton and raised money for her campaign.

Obama senior adviser David Axelrod said Ferraro should be removed from her position with the Clinton campaign because of her comments.

"The bottom line is this, when you wink and nod at offensive statements, you're really sending a signal to your supporters that anything goes," Axelrod said in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.

"There's no other way to send a serious signal that you want to police the tone of this campaign," he added. "And if you don't do those things then you are simply adding to the growing compendium of evidence that you really are encouraging that."

Axelrod said Clinton has encountered problems because people view her as a "divisive and polarizing force."

"The best way to address those concerns is to not allow divisiveness and negativity to flourish among your supporters," he said. "And this is an opportunity for her to address that."

Jan Schakowsky, an Obama supporter and Illinois congresswoman, said Democrats should not tear each other down, and instead focus on defeating John McCain, the Republican nominee-in-waiting.

"I respect every person's right to promote his or her candidate, but any and all remarks that diminish Senator Obama's candidacy because of his race are completely out of line," Schakowsky said on the conference call.

Ferraro also said Obama has it easy because of a "very sexist media."

"I think what America feels about a woman becoming president takes a very secondary place to Obama's campaign - to a kind of campaign that it would be hard for anyone to run against," she said. "For one thing, you have the press, which has been uniquely hard on her. It's been a very sexist media. Some just don't like her. The others have gotten caught up in the Obama campaign."

Last week, a former adviser to Obama resigned after calling Clinton "a monster."

[cbs4me3]

Right on Geraldine. You did not denigrate his character. Why does the media continue to treat him with kid gloves? He is running for the Office of the President of the United States of America. This office was held by such honorable people as George Washington, Abraham Linclon and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. So subject him to scrutiny. He thinks this is a joke, but the American think otherwise.

[blogthis1]

She''s probably correct. Otherwise he''s a nobody.

[gkc99]

"Clinton said, "I do not agree with that," and later added, "It''s regrettable that any of our supporters - on both sides, because we both have this experience - say things that kind of veer off into the personal."



Does Clinton mean to say that someone in the Obama campaign intimated that she would not be a candidate if she were a white male?

Saying that she would not be the candidate if she were not Bill Clinton''s wife is a very different matter. That is a specific attribute, not a general matter of race or gender.

Plus it''s true. Unlike Ferraro''s cheap shot at Obama.

[gkc99]

If Hillary grabs the nomination by brute bully force, when she''s behind in all votes, she can be thanked for destroying the Democratic party''s chances of winning. So many Obama supporters will hate her guts, they''ll be voting for McCain.

Because there''s not that much difference between her and McCain in temperment or on the issues. The Clintons have always been like Republicans with a Democrat icing, and with Hillary, it''s showing.

[kstar42]

I think this is a racial race and Obama know''s this... and to say he doesn''t aprove of the negativity.... and that she should denouse this issue..what about his issue with Farrahkan, Rev. Wright? Does he still go to one of the biggest racist churches around? I think so....Also does he realize he is going to the states and campaineing in the big cities where the black vote is? Yes he is. Ohio told all...cleveland,dayton,cincinnati,columbus...those were the only states he won in! And why because of the black vote. Who''s running a racial race? OBAMA

[denn034]

One gets surprised by racist bile coming out of a Democrats mouth. I had the privilege of voting against Ferraro and Mondale when they ran against Reagan. Horray!

[lorinkundert]

Hillary has said the same thing over and over again everytime she lost a state with a higher black population.

[quetzal0666]

Is it any wonder Reagan Trounced her and Mondale?
What a messed up mentality,
Im Glad we are going Beyond this Class, society Caste System, but we still have a ways to go.

[generey]

Beech pleeeze! His mother was WHITE! That makes him WHITE duh! (Little tanned, but WHITE!) And what does that matter anyway???

[broncfan1661]

How do they justify getting upset by the TRUTH?
Obama''s campain has been playing the race card from the very beginning and everyone knows it. The press is not going to publish it because as Geraldine says, they are gender biased or just plain anti Clinton.
IF YOU CAN"T TAKE THE HEAT!

[truthspeake2]

BYATCH!

[matter77]

Actually, her comments aren''t about Obama, they''re about others and how they lifted him up to where he is, based on external factors. Obama himself is irrelevant. Is this true? Have people put him where he is because he is black, or young and black? I don''t know, but if it IS true, it isn''t any different than anything else political. Age, gender, anything goes. In the end it is the people who respond to stuff like that and that is what the comments really were saying.
Voters choose a candidate based on all kinds of superficial nonsense, that is what she is saying. Her comment is about the stupidity of the voters. She''s not far off. Ask any supporter in depth question about a candidate they''re fanatical about and they don''t have a clue. They''ll just spew some stuff they heard. They don''t know anything. A year later they''re ready to kick ''em out and vote for someone else. So today they''re in love with the idea that a black man, or a white woman can become president. What next?

[bigmanal08]

When you have ANY group voting as a BLOCK--80% of the time--Then they are supporting that candidate on something OTHER than the issues.
The media is not hesitant to point out that white women favor Clinton--but somehow this is out of bounds? Why?
Ferrarro told the ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
Unfortunately whether it''s using his (legal) middle name, or suggesting that "SC is not representative of the nation" is a racist comment--Obama exists in this media bubble---anything critical =racism.
Jesse Jackson Jr., on the other hand, can compare Obama beating Clinton in SC to OJ murdering Nicole---and the MEDIA ARE COMPLETELY SILENT.

[mcvet]

He didn''''t achieve status because he''''s black; he achieved status because he''''s an Oreo.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by cybervigil at 05:37 PM : Mar 11, 2008
+ report abuse

You people are very sad!

[eddynewhope]

Hahahahahaha - But did Hillary denounce AND reject Ferrarros comments? LOL

[luvny-2009]

I think she is partially correct, that did help but I believe he is also a very intelligent man.

[deq54]

Ferraro has just made herself irrelevant to this and future campaigns. She thinks it is tough being a woman and navigating in the world--Try being a kid of mixed race. I imagine that growing up no one called her names, picked on her for being female.

She had to run her mouth and show her ignorance for that. This is what I admire about Obama. Nothing being said about him can pierce through--he has lived through this his whole life. He has been there experienced that. Now he offers us a different path--Get over it and join the movement--It''s not too late to change our country.

And NO he didn''t start the race issue--Bill Clinton shot off his mouth in S.C. (Remember the Jesse Jackson remark). It cost Hillary the state. Before Bill''s remarks there were some blacks questioning is he was black enough. Go back to some of the earliest debates and Obama was actually asked this. Now, because he leads in the primary--Suddenly he is blessed to be black--Everyone knows that black men in America have it made (sarcasm meant). Let''s get real--

[kissamaarse]

The obvious that Obama runs as clean campaign and Clinton runs a sleaze-ball campaign have cemented me as an Obama supporter. Every time Clinton''s campaign slimes Obama, I become as stronger Obama supporter.

[eddynewhope]

You have that backwards. Obama has steered clear of the race card. It''s the Clinton campaign that has played the race card and here we see it again in Farrarro''s remarks.

[candide777]

She''s still alive?

Poor lady has become senile.

[gospelle]

Can you say HYPOCRITE?

Clinton campaing screams bloody murder and DEMANDS the resignation of an Obama campaign member who called her a "monster", (which by the way, Obama did make her resign) but one of her campaign members spouts racial slurs and she is embraced by Clinton.

It is OUTRAGEOUS!!

One could say, it''s "montrous"!

[notopennshut]

Ferraro - Another racist coming out of the closet. Bill started it all in SC, and now it is open season for all Hillary''s followers. From gutter politics to gutter politics - how can anyone not see through the real character of her campaign. There is no fury like a woman "scorned" and it it becoming clearer by the day what Hillary would do to win. Cheating? Lying? Stealing? They are all part of her tactics to get the nomination.

[xlib]

Ferraro ia correct in her remark. This guy is being pushed through by the msm with little or no knowledge of his past or really what he stands for. Other than being the most liberal senator we know nothing about him. He has not undergone the scrutiny that the other candidates have to endure. It appears to be "hands of" and if you question him at all-you''re called a racist.
And remember folks, he''s only half black. Funny thing is, his own party has been playing the race card from remarks back in the early days of the race that he "wasn''t BLACK enough".

[candide777]

This guy is being pushed through by the msm with little or no knowledge of his past or really what he stands for.
Posted by Xlib at 06:03 PM : Mar 11, 2008

You mean the way GWB was pushed through with little or no brains? One thing we do know is that Obama is infinitely smarter than our current idiot-in-chief, so things are finally starting to look up again!

[jahmartin-2009]

Geraldine Ferarro is absolutely right. If it weren%u2019t for the fact Mr. Obama delivers a speech well, he would have been out of the running long ago due to lack of credentials for the job. That and the fact the press has gone so easy on him. I%u2019d even go so far as to say Chris Matthews, of MSNBC, has some kind of man-crush on him. Like many people, I am tired of Mr. Obama%u2019s boastful claim that, unlike Hillary Clinton, he was wise enough to oppose the war in Iraq from the get-go. I, too, opposed the Iraq war from the get-go. And I, like Mr. Obama, did so from the safety of the sidelines. At the time we had Rumsfeld saying there was %u201Cbulletproof%u201D evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and we had Colin Powell giving a speech before the UN Security Council stating there was a connection between Al Qaida and Saddam Hussein and that Iraq was an imminent threat to the US. Considering we were less than a year beyond the events of 9-11, plus the climate of the time, I don%u2019t blame Hillary Clinton or anyone else for giving the go ahead. What if the assertions had been true?

[deq54]

Ferraro is NOT correct in her remark--This is a ploy designed to describe this man simply by his race--He is where he is because of unmatched organizational skills, a brilliant orator, and the ingenuity to build a movement that brought in $55 million dollars last month--NO lobbyist money--Clinton can''t say that.

How to try to destroy the messenger--Describe him as black--Sure blacks are voting for him just as women are voting for Clinton--Howver, women, independents, and white men are also voting for Obama--How many blacks do you think there are in Wyoming, Vermont, etc? It was the white voters in Ohio that gave Obama the election. In my home state of Georgia, white men were the overwhelming voters for Obama--Maybe I shouldn''t have said that--next someone will say Obama is sexist.

[kman821]

Senility has taken another victim! How ironic %u2026 Ferraro was a true token female back in 1984 %u2026 she certainly didn%u2019t have a resume that would have garnered a white man a VP spot on that ticket!

[luigi999-2009]

Everything about Hillary Clinton is disgusting and repulsive. She has absolutely zero moral fiber and deserves to lose the nomination. How terribly shameful it would be to have a person of her low ilk as our president.

[prof_s]

It''s sad but, Ferraro is correct. Because of the nature of the accusation, ''racist'' is the natural response, as opposed to ''messenger''. Senator Obama could be an outstanding president, if he''d only have the patience to get the experience he needs to do the job. People are catapulting him into the stratosphere, but one day he''s going to come crashing back down to Earth. V.P. would be a good experience for him, but I don''t think his ego could accept it.

[randynason]

Ferraro was, for the time, very much ahead of her time. Now, she seems to have joined the ranks of the narrow-minded, old, "gee, I coulda been somebody, if..." sleeper-types. We all are what we are and shouldn''t have to apologize to anyone for that. A charismatic speaker needs no color or ***- just charisma. It''s that simple.

[candide777]

Senility has taken another victim!
Posted by KMAN821 at 06:13 PM : Mar 11, 2008

Or, we really do have to begin wondering whether Hillary knows how to control her own people. I mean really, was this a stunt by her campaign, or did Ferraro wander out of the alzheimer''s ward while nobody was watching? I don''t get it.

[hadenufff]

Ferarro is right! If he wasn''t a negro he wouldn''t be where he is now. Besides do we really want a family of negros living in the "White" house?

[deq54]

badaxmofo When you can''t debate on issues--act republican--just name call--it could only be worse if YOU ran for office--just what we need...another dumb white man like Bush.

[candide777]

Besides do we really want a family of negros living in the "White" house?
Posted by HadEnufff at 06:21 PM : Mar 11, 2008

Not only do we want it, we absolutely need it! At least until people like you can learn how to grow up and treat others with respect and dignity.

[deq54]

badaxmofo-- Your guy put us in debt--Before Bush came in we had a balanced budget--You don''t like it? Complain to management--He lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Just remember one thing--He doesn''t give a hoot about you.

[deq54]

During his term in Illinois legislature--Obama worked in insure 150,000 children being left behind (thanks to your guy), he worked with law enforcement to tape arrests--they fought it, but now say it helps them prosecute. In the senate he has worked to secure nuclear weapons, helped pass an ethics reform bill and is also running a dynamic campaign for pres.

Before politics he walked away from a hefty law career to work with displaced workers in Illinois--In other words put his money were his mouth is--How about you--what have you done in your miserable life but call people names?

[b-easy63]

It''''s quite amazing that Camp Hillary uses the same negativity that can then be turned around on her by the Republicans, if she were to get the Democratic nomination. 3am, who''''s got more experience her or John McCain? How did she get to where she is in politics? First Lady/gender. She really is as dumb as she seems.

Posted by Policrypt at 06:27 PM : Mar 11, 2008


If Hilary gets the nomination, all McCAin has to do is repeated play the 4 occasions when Clinton endorsed him and his level of experience.


You can''t get better than the opposition nominee endorsing you for President:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMVOT-IH8
sg

[jwind11]

Not only do we want it, we absolutely need it! At least until people like you can learn how to grow up and treat others with respect and dignity.

Posted by Candide777 at 06:26 PM : Mar 11, 2008

like your pal mcvet does, right candide?

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II is very pleased with all the in-fighting, backstabbing, mud slinging, and outright stupidity being exhibited by the evil, cowardly Whimpo-crats in their pathetic attempts to determine the nominee to the throne in the Oval Office!

Although unconcerned about the fate of his stupidly-loyal neocon Fascist Nazi Republican supporters in Congress, the Great Emperor would like to see John "the Great Pretender" McCain park his behind in the throne of the Oval Office for 4 years.

The Great Emperor feels it would be fun to watch how befuddled McCain would be at inheriting the absolute mess and chaos created by the Great Emperor over the past 8 years, irregardless of the consequences that would be for the citizens of the USSA!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, McCain????

[b-easy63]

Baracko defined:

clueless wonder

Posted by badaxmofo at 06:24 PM : Mar 11, 2008


LOL.... Hilary defined: Most Hated Monstrosity ...

This is fun. Your turn....lmao

[shutupnvote]

Faux uproar if you please, recall O is running in another Red State where 70 of the Dems are black so a women has to be the racist fall person again. And by now we all get it call the opposition racist whoever but women fit the inflame grievance card best and hopefully turn out more male voters. YAWN, this is the Axelrod media play book to get the liberal press covering inflammatory negative press stories bot bites for the Spitters.


Oh goody O going win another Red State that provides ZERO electoral votes, thanks again what is thin now the 19 or 20 Red State win. Hopefully this is the last race card contest not a victimless exploitation I might add.

[b-easy63]

like your pal mcvet does, right candide?

Posted by jwind11 at 06:35 PM : Mar 11, 2008


Every poster on here can only speak for themselves. We can no more take credit or umbrage for what a fellow poster says anymore thatn the POTUS can take the credit or umbrage for what each American citizen does.

[b-easy63]

Okay, My clinton Monstrosity remark was over the top...I forgot that badax is a neo con, and should not be encouraged to troll here.

[b-easy63]

Oh goody O going win another Red State that provides ZERO electoral votes, thanks again what is thin now the 19 or 20 Red State win. Hopefully this is the last race card contest not a victimless exploitation I might add.


Posted by shutupNvote at 06:38 PM : Mar 11, 2008


The thing about a lot of those Red states... some of them USED to be blue states. Obama offers a chance for the Dems to recapture them again. Of course the Dems could just rely on the 36% of the electorate that is their''s...and see how that plays out...

[deq54]

badaxmofo It took you 10 minutes to respond and the best you could do is rattle off something a drugged up Rush Limbaugh would say?

I gave you facts--on Obama''s work in the senate, in the Illinois legislatue, and his career in Illinois in 4 minutes--

You republicans really are slow--that explains alot about why Bush got 4 more years.

[b-easy63]

Ferraro is an annoying freaky old fossil. But, she happens to be right this time. Just ask yourself folks: if you changed just ONE thing about Obama--made him white---and EVERYTHING else stayed the same, do you truly believe he''''d be the Demo front runner? No way. He''''d be another John Edwards, as in, already dropped out, and nothing special. The Dems are drooling over Obama because, deep down, they are all so secretly blown away and amazed that a guy who appears "black" is also so bright and so eloquent and so inspiring. Ferraro calls them as she sees them, and so do I.


Posted by michaelt302 at 06:45 PM : Mar 11, 2008


You may have a point. Now let''s do the same to Hilary. if Obama was a white male and Hilary (we''ll change the fact she was married to Bill Clinton--would she have even been a Senator much less running for President? The answer is probably no and if a white male was running--chances are, the dynamic would have stayed much the same. Never discount that people will always choose the lesser evil and never forget or try to gloss over, just how much many people despise Hilary Clinton.

[jntlw-2009]

Geraldine F. has not been heard of since she ran for VP. She should have kept it that way. Her remarks are beyond insulting to everyone who voted for Barak, white, black, male, and female. Barak Obama is the better choice of the two candidates and Geraldine''s remarks will not help Hillary at all!

[deq54]

michaelt302--No he wouldn''t be another John Edwards--He is a brillant orator, and he built a movement that funded $55 million last month--With the message and the money--if he was white, Hillary (in 2nd place) wouldn''t have offered the VP slot. That''s how I see it.

[b-easy63]

he answer is probably no and if a white male was running--chances are, the dynamic would have stayed much the same. Never discount that people will always choose the lesser evil and never forget or try to gloss over, just how much many people despise Hilary Clinton.

Posted by b-easy63 at 06:48 PM : Mar 11, 2008

If the dynamic were different: Another white male vs Hilary--chances are high, the result would be the same. One of the main things Obama offers is: an alternative to Hilary. The best way for her to have the nomination was to run unopposed. Which is what she thought she was doing when Obama and Edwards were left. Which is why she overspent. Yet another costly misjudgment from the candidate who can''t get the war right or the projections of her campaign right--but really believes she will be ready on day 1 to get our country right. She''s batting close to 0 on that one.

[b-easy63]

So what happens when Baracko does NOT get the nomination...superdelegates will send Hillary to the top spot...?

Posted by badaxmofo at 06:52 PM : Mar 11, 2008


LOL. If he does not get the nomination, then superdelegates will already have sent Hilary to the top spot. They are the only ones that can determine the nomination now anyway.