Ferraro Resigns From Clinton Campaign

Former VP Candidate Was Under Fire For Suggesting Obama's Success Is Only Because He's Black

(CBS/AP)  CBS News confirms Geraldine Ferraro is stepping down from her position as a fundraiser for the Clinton campaign.

Ferraro, the 1984 Democratic vice presidential candidate, has come under fire this week for comments she made suggesting that Barack Obama only achieved his status in the presidential race because he's black.

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.

Ferraro notified Clinton by letter Wednesday that she would no longer serve on Clinton's finance committee as "Honorary New York Leadership Council Chair."

"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. The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you. I won't let that happen," she said in the statement.

Campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson said Ferraro left the post on her own initiative.

Earlier today, Ferraro defended her comments on CBS News' The Early Show and said they were taken out of context. (Watch the video.)

"It's a historic candidacy," she said of Obama. "I would think he should celebrate the fact that black voters in this country are so excited that this is a groundbreaking thing… it was not a racist comment. It was a statement of fact."

"I'm a little bit hurt, because I've had a career of 40 years of fighting discrimination," Ferraro told Early Show news anchor Russ Mitchell. "For the campaign to take that and spin it, and attack Hillary, and me as being racist… it is just appalling."

Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that she disagrees with Ferraro. 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.

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.

Also on 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."

Later, at a news conference in Chicago, Obama said he thought Ferraro's comments about his candidacy were ridiculous, but not racist.

"I don't think she intended them that way," Obama said when asked if the comments were racist. But he called them "ridiculous" and "wrong-headed."

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."

Ferraro said she was outraged at criticism of her remarks by Axelrod, because he knows her and her record.

"David Axelrod, his campaign manager, has chose to spin this as a racist comment because everytime anybody makes a comment about race who is white - he did it with Bill Clinton, he was successful; he did it with (Pennsylvania governor and Clinton supporter) Ed Rendell, he was less successful; and he is certainly not going to be successful with me,'' Ferraro told The Early Show. "He should have called me up ... He knows I'm not racist."

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."

[joe_llama-2009]

I just wish people could use their brain and see the spin doctors for what they are. Ferraro has been an advocate for civil rights for years, and the people that knnow her well, including blacks know this.

To take what she said was racist is being completly irrational. It is not hard to see that what she meant was that a white man with only three years senate experience (1 year of that was campaigning)would not be taken seriously as a candidate.

John Edwards learned this in 04. Can anyone honestly tell me he wasn''t the more charismatic between himself and Kerry? His inexperience cost him the election.

This is how she meant it. As I said, the comments were taken out of context, and I do not believe if you honestly think about it, you couldn''t agree.

[jesterbelle]

Ever see a 105 pound women kick a 225 pound, 6 foot tall mans azz, I have. Men like you amuses me, they cannot even see how much of a fool they really are.



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Posted by croft777 at 10:23 PM : Mar 13, 2008

Yeah,I saw that movie too.In real life,it''s like the video taken from the cop car of the female cop that pulls over the big black guy,and when he decides he''s had enough of her,he drills her dead in the nose,and all she''s doing after that is wishing she hadn''t pulled over that big black guy,LOL I think she was more like 140lbs.

[jesterbelle]

well I belive the judgements are in and as Ferraro claims it is Senator Obama who is belived to be exploiting white women with false attacks as racist....and whose own Rev Obama mentor Rev says it is the Rich white women like Hillary who are the problem see ABC news.


And God dammmmmmmmmmmnnn America ...




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Posted by pepperp1 at 06:56 PM : Mar 13, 2008

I can''t help laughing everytime you Clintoons cry foul.Obamas'' had Hillary off balance,and dancing around like Pinocchio from the start.Now he proves he''s better than her at "her" game of dirty politics,and you cry foul again,LOL "Wait,no stop!Can we have a do over?"Poor Bubba and Hillary.They''ve been bested at there own game.

[neobrian-2009]

Shrub Speaking " Ask Not ,..
What I can do for My Oil Buddies,...But ,How Can I further My Kingdom ?",.. "By telling More Lies,By making Sure each Working citizen is So Far in debt,that ''''Corporate America " can Truly Rule!
" By squelching personal Freedoms,and devaluing our currency I Will Destroy the Middle Class! "
" By the end of My Occupation of the White House,each citizen over the age of 18 of this country
will owe over $112,500 due to My war."
" With interest,due to China,this will grow daily,..My legacy will Never end as this country will Never recover from my policies"
" While you morons languish in debt,I`ll be living the high life in Dubai !"
" Always remember as Your King,..I did my best to break each one you,..Of course my friends in big business can`t thank you enough for being led into this situation. "
"Karl Rove will be on Your new currency,The IlliterO ! " ,..Thank You for being such Shrubbies ! "

[blkpresident]

Hillary''s a woman. OLD man McCain is too old. Obama is the only real choice here. Obama 2008!

[pepperp1]

well I belive the judgements are in and as Ferraro claims it is Senator Obama who is belived to be exploiting white women with false attacks as racist....and whose own Rev Obama mentor Rev says it is the Rich white women like Hillary who are the problem see ABC news.


And God dammmmmmmmmmmnnn America ...

[jsilver2th]

"Ferraro is currently a lobbyist in New York with Blank Rome Government Relations."

Oh I see she''s really a lobbyist for Republicans and the military industrial complex now...

Here''s what Blank Rome''s own web site says about Gerry:

"On a slightly territorial note, however, the Washington Post.com reported, Geraldine Ferraro is heading back to D.C. or at least she be spending more time here . . . . The 1984 vice presidential candidate . . . adds a bit of Democratic flava to a firm known for its GOP ties; she also returns to town just in time for the latest round of the nation ready to elect a woman? interviews."

So when she''s out there raising money for the Clintons and being disciminated against because she''s white- is she really on a feminist crusade or is she trying to buy favors for Blank Rome''s big bucks clients?

What a joke- Hillary''s superdelegate Mr. Spitzer isn''t the only NY politician that understands prostitution....

[pepperp1]

so Senator Obama in his vast 2 years of experience in the Senate, who somehow was able to come down on both sides of every issue by voting one way and then giving a speech on the opposing side with a nod n wink approach, interprets a principal vote by another Senator as Old Politics and a flipper%u2026%u2026

%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026lordy what a goof%u2026%u2026.......what%u2019s the matter run out of 71 year old non We women to slander as racist did we.....


The first time I have ever been proud of my country...wife.................God *** America.....Rev

[blkpresident]

prayerman3,

So what if Hillary gets your one vote in PA. She''s gonna need more than one vote, so you may want to start praying now for at least a few others to follow your lead and vote for her. NOT!!! After PA., Hillary returns to NY and her kitchen stove, so she can bake cookies and hink about what could have been. OLD man McCain is next in line to experience the Obama shuffle. Scared OLD man?

[taddles-2009]

"ANYWAY YOU LOOK AT IT HILLARY WILL WIN Pennsylvania

Posted by prayerman3 at 02:34 PM : Mar 13, 2008"

Very likely but that will only net a few delegates since it is apportioned. It is very nearly impossible for Hillary to win the nomination since she is not getting the 60%+ wins she must have to get enough delegates to pull into the lead and justify the super delegates voting for her.

Simply put, Obama will go to the convention with the lead in decided delegates and in overall votes. That will put enormous pressure on the remaining undecided super delegates to vote for him since none of them want to go back to their constituents (remember they are all mostly sitting legislators) and explain why they voted against the will of the people. Obama will be the nominee of the Dem party and Hillary will go down in history as the first serious woman contender for the Presidency.

[prayerman3]

May God bless you all and pertect you where ever you may go.
Seeya Later

[prayerman3]

NOT 1,800, 1,900,2000 NOT 2,024,You Needed to Secure Nomination 2025. I hate to burst your bubble!!!!

[boatdocster]

prayerman3

She may very well win PA, but her chances of being the nominee overall are slim and getting worse by the day.

Final counts are looking like OBAMA will win TEXAS with more overall delegates.

[prayerman3]

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

[prayerman3]

prayerman3,

Please stop spewing your garbage about Obama''''s church. Face it, your sissy *** girl Hillary has lost. Deal with it!
BLKPRESIDENT at 01:46 PM : Mar 13, 2008

Sticks and stones may brake my bones but name will not ever hurt me. OW COME ON GROW UP "SISSY" GIVE ME A BRAKE.
I am a human being, male, 45, in Pennsylvania where I am going to vote ON APRIL 22 AND IN NOV. .
Hillary 65%
Obama 35%
or
Hillary 59%
Obama 41%
ANYWAY YOU LOOK AT IT HILLARY WILL WIN Pennsylvania NO YOU DEAL WITH IT.

[prayerman3]

BUT THE REV. WRIGHT SAYS WORD FOR WORD " WHITE AMERICA OF USA OF THE K** A. (I do not support any groups that do not allow everyone to be free.) AND TO go to a church to allow a man of the cloth to preach this to young ones that isN''T racist WHAT IS.
"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ''God Bless America.'' No, no, no, God *** America, that''s in the Bible for killing innocent people," he said in a 2003 sermon. "God *** America for treating our citizens as less than human. God *** America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

In addition to damning America, he told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001 that the United States had brought on al Qaeda''s attacks because of its own terrorism.

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America''s chickens are coming home to roost," he told his congregation.

[prayerman3]

In addition to damning America, he told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001 that the United States had brought on al Qaeda''s attacks because of its own terrorism.

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America''s chickens are coming home to roost," he told his congregation.

You are telling me this is ALRIGHT to say in church against God and America OOPS WHITE AMERICA!!!!!!!. NO WAY!!!. YOU DO NOT TEACH ANYONE TO HATE ANYONE. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR SAID "ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO HOLD HAND IN HAND NOT TO BE JUDGE BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN WHITE ,BLACK, ORANGE, RED, CHINNEES ETC. WE ARE TO TEACH THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO LOVE EVRYONE . TO HELP THE ELDER, THE POOR AND THE HOMELESS.

[prayerman3]

I was in a car accident and my wife already had sign us in a 3.5 mile walk for the homeless. I was put in a wheel for 4 months and I still did it in that wheel chair to help raise money. I still do things wrong, I am not perfect but a REV. you are to looked up to do the whats right, to show others how to follow Gods word, to use Gods wisdom not your own wisdom .

[blkpresident]

prayerman3,

Please stop spewing your garbage about Obama''s church. Face it, your sissy *** girl Hillary has lost. Deal with it!

[iamthequeen-]

Here''s the video from Obama''s advisor: http://youtube.com/watch?v=hAYe7MT5BxM