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."

[alanrobisch]

do you think she took one for the team? Desperate times require desperate measures. Hillary couldn''t say it so she had a surrogate do it and then pretend that she objected to her comments and fire her. No real loss and maybe it would hurt obama

[paris1969]

These Obama-maniacs are getting SCARY ... and what a da** shame to do this to a woman who has spent years working for civil and human rights!
NOBAMA!!

[alanrobisch]

She is as corrupt & dishonest as George Bush.


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

Posted by tuckerndfw at 06:07 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse
So far i haven''t seen him accused of racism

[oregonboy3]

We now return from our constant Spitzer coverage back to our normal programming in which Obama accuses anyone affiliated with the Clinton campaign of being a racist. Today''s contestant? Former Congresswoman and VP Candidate Geralding Ferraro. So Gerry, how long have you been a racist? How much are your monthly membership dues to the KKK? You realize that saying that African Americans supporting Obama because he is African American is racist, don''t you? It''s not like saying Latinos support a Latino candidate because he is Latino or female candidates supporting a female candidate because she is female, is it? Tune in next time when we''ll examine exactly whether or not the voters who support Hillary Clinton or anyone else besides Obama are unenlightened, racist, moronic neanderthals, and whether they can be enlightened enough to support his Greatness? See you then!

[alanrobisch]

These Obama-maniacs are getting SCARY ... and what a da** shame to do this to a woman who has spent years working for civil and human rights!
NOBAMA!!


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

Posted by paris1969 at 06:09 PM : Mar 12, 2008

What are you thinking of she made an out right racist comment and you think thats good

[alanrobisch]

think it''''s a shame she quit. Would love to see Farrakhans good friend Obama-rama quit though.


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

Posted by ObombA1 at 06:11 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse
please translate do you want farakhan to quit or OBAma?

[singindick]

Too bad Hillary missed her opportunity to look like a real leader. She should have immediately fired her. That would have sent a clear message to the country about what her party stands for and the kind of leader that she is. Instead, she meekly chose to "disagree." When will democrats learn that this country wants a leader who knows what he or she stands for?

[alanrobisch]

Tune in next time when we''''ll examine exactly whether or not the voters who support Hillary Clinton or anyone else besides Obama are unenlightened, racist, moronic neanderthals, and whether they can be enlightened enough to support his Greatness? See you then!


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

Posted by oregonboy3 at 06:12 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse
I find your comments idiotic. Her comments were racist. do you remember what happenned to don Imus for his racist comments? He got fired.

[paris1969]

What are you thinking of she made an out right racist comment and you think thats good
Posted by alanrobisch2

... it was not a racist comment ... did you watch her on "Good Morning America" ... she was very clear about her conclusion.

[doctariusa]

What dirty pool. Ferrero stumps to used by the Clinton machine, but Obomo does not take the bait. This is racist regardless of what Ferrero says. It was the same plan used when Billy Bob ran his mouth in the Carolinas. It was not an accident. Trying to turm this into a racist thing and avoid issues. They planned for Obamo to fire back wit the same applied to Hilley; that only because she was female and an ex first lady was the reason she could run. She certainly has not been impressive as a senator. But he was smart enough not to go there. Maybe we should stop with the race, ***, and age thing and focus on issues like $3.00 gas. Oh hell no, they don''t want to talk about that.

[alanrobisch]

When will democrats learn that this country wants a leader who knows what he or she stands for?


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

Posted by singindick at 06:15 PM : Mar 12, 2008

We rarely agree but this may be the basic problem most dems have getting elected president

[moeen1000]

Her unapologetic stance, even after she has resigned, says she is a racist to the core.

Most of the racist are supportive of republican party/candidate, and the remaining few are in Hillary''s camp, and Ferrero is the perfect example of that.

[generey]

I''m happy to see the stupid kuhnt go. (ps; I thought I got uglier with age....holey chit dat beech got ugly!)

[paris1969]

Former Maryland Lieutenant Gov. Michael Steele, who is black, said that Ferraro%u2019s comments are true, and the fact she can%u2019t speak them %u201Cgoes to the heart and ugliness of racism.%u201D He said Obama%u2019s candidacy is not diminished by her words, but an oversensitivity is harming debate in America.

%u201CIt just speaks to the fact that race, no matter how you slice and dice it,%u201D is all too present in people%u2019s minds, he said.

[singindick]

Hillary couldn''t say it so she had a surrogate do it and then pretend that she objected to her comments and fire her. No real loss and maybe it would hurt obama
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 06:01 PM : Mar 12, 2008

Alan, you don''t really know this, which makes you a liar. Did you know that one of the ten commandments says "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor?" I think you have to spend about 10,000 years burning in hell for every lie you tell (that''s what I''ve heard). Is it worth it? Perhaps you should think twice before lying about another person, no matter how much you hate that person.

[alanrobisch]

was not a racist comment ... did you watch her on "Good Morning America" ... she was very clear about her conclusion.


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

Posted by paris1969 at 06:16 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

Nope. what excused her remarks. It seems to me saying that Obama would not be in his position because of his race is clearly racist and certainly demeaning of the man. Hillary is their because she''s married to bill. Is that sexist or what?

[alanrobisch]

It just speaks to the fact that race, no matter how you slice and dice it,%u201D is all too present in people%u2019s minds, he said.


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

Posted by paris1969 at 06:19 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report

Let me guess he is a clinton supporter

[singindick]

We rarely agree but this may be the basic problem most dems have getting elected president
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 06:17 PM : Mar 12, 2008

I agree, we rarely agree on anything.

[lorinkundert]

Hillary can''t even maintain discipline within the ranks of her campaign workers, how is she going to even stand a chance trying to control a nation where half the people revile her?

[alanrobisch]

Most of the racist are supportive of republican party/candidate, and the remaining few are in Hillary''''s camp, and Ferrero is the perfect example of that.


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

Posted by moeen1000 at 06:18 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse
I find that insulting as a republican and you might note that white dems in mississippi voted for Hillary. Blacks voted for Obama 9-1. Maybe a little racism in the dem party.

[alanrobisch]

Is it worth it? Perhaps you should think twice before lying about another person, no matter how much you hate that person.


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

Posted by singindick at 06:19 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse
no I don''t know this to be true. It was a theory. when I start writing for the NYT I wouldn''t say it. If I recalled I said could it be true. If i didn''t this is how I meant it. I am obviously not an insider.

[moeen1000]

UNLUCKY are the women of America...that their aspiration to have first female president is not represented by so many great women out there...rather by divisive, evasive, hypocritical, untrustworthy, narrow minded, prejudiced, utterly self-centered, arrogant women like Hillary and Ferrero....That is Sad!

[hypnotoad72]

Did Geraldine reach her position because she''s female in a male''s world?

Not a bright move. But heck, she''s a liberal and for affirmative action. Of course it was because he was black and no other reason. She plays right into the stereotype of anyone who''s left-of-center. Or she''s just a d@mn fool.

[pepperp1]

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


Niether will we Jeri neither will we we will fight with you...

[hawksprings]

"Hillary can''''t even maintain discipline within the ranks of her campaign workers,"
Posted by lorinkundert

Don''t be fooled by this whole event.
This is classic Clinton Strategy - Send someone else out to do your dirty work. That way the damage can be done to the Clintons'' opponents and they can claim innocence.

If anything, Geraldine Ferraro should feel used, betrayed, and abandonned by the Clintons.
Just another woman in a long line that they have done that to.

[stn_sage]

Well---it''s too little, too late! We had a non-denouncment from Mrs. Clinton, an ''I''m staying on'' statement from Mrs. Ferraro, and NOW--- a non-apologetic ''I''m getting out'' statement from Ferraro!

Feedback to the Clinton campaign must show this is REALLY hurting them! I just bet her resignation was requested/ordered and NOT volunteered!

In light of Mrs.Clinton''s demand that Mr. Obama denounce Mr. Farakhan for his comments---in the last debate---it''s totally hypocritical of her to not have swiftly done the same thing when Mrs. Ferraro erred! Huh?

[pepperp1]

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."



Actually its when every any one mentions his guy has no resume they it the oh they are racist they have attacked our collective WEEEEEEWEEEE..

and it will take his candidate down..........

[alanrobisch]

In light of Mrs.Clinton''''s demand that Mr. Obama denounce Mr. Farakhan for his comments---in the last debate---it''''s totally hypocritical of her to not have swiftly done the same thing when Mrs. Ferraro erred! Huh?


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

Posted by stn_sage at 06:32 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse
Agreed but talk to singindick it bothers him that people like you and me might think this was a set up job.

[antizion]

Ferraro can return to the place she has been since 1984, invisible.

Old racist white hags for Hillary!

[sumac61]

It''s a racist remark. C''mon. It just is.

[alanrobisch]

UNLUCKY are the women of America...that their aspiration to have first female president is not represented by so many great women out there...rather by divisive, evasive, hypocritical, untrustworthy, narrow minded, prejudiced, utterly self-centered, arrogant women like Hillary and Ferrero....That is Sad!


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

Posted by moeen1000 at 06:26 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

You got it. I wouldn''t vote for a liberal dem but have many times voted for women in office. If the pubs only had a person like maggie thatcher

[alanrobisch]

Actually its when every any one mentions his guy has no resume they it the oh they are racist they have attacked our collective WEEEEEEWEEEE..

and it will take his candidate down..........


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

Posted by pepperp1 at 06:32 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse
another blind eyed person who sees the clintons as the best. whether ferraro is a racist or not the comment was racist and was meant to marginalize obama. He''s just a black candidate. Think if obama said hillary was in the position she is because she is a woman You would be outraged

[singindick]

This is classic Clinton Strategy - Send someone else out to do your dirty work. Posted by hawksprings at 06:29 PM : Mar 12, 2008

Much as I like Hillary, you are giving her way too much credit. If she wanted to capitalize here, she would have had Ferraro make the statement and then she would have fired Ferraro on the spot showing us all that she knows what she believes in and what she stands for. Instead, Hillary is looking pathetic for barely "disagreeing," much less than "rejecting and repudiating," when she could have come out fighting and looking like a leader.

[hawksprings]

"Ferraro can return to the place she has been since 1984, invisible. Old racist white hags for Hillary!"
Posted by AntiZion


Well since Ferraro is gone, maybe Hillary can roll out some other moldy oldy liberal losers, like McGovern, Dukaka, or Mondull...

[vet_sk]

Hillary still has not ''renoucnced and rejected.'' And you Clinton supporters wonder why we see Hillary as a mean spirited piece of work.

The world does not need to see another mean spirited President from America - we''ve had enough of that over the last seven years.

[singindick]

Agreed but talk to singindick it bothers him that people like you and me might think this was a set up job.
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 06:34 PM : Mar 12, 2008

I''m not saying it was or it wasn''t, but if it was, it was so poorly executed that I''m even more convinced now that Obama should be the one to take on McCain.

[alanrobisch]

it was so poorly executed that I''''m even more convinced now that Obama should be the one to take on McCain.


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

Posted by singindick at 06:43 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse
in this we agree. I would prefer Hillary because she would unite republicans unlike anyone else but if we must have a dem i prefer obama

[beehive21-2009]

She is one ugly MF, please take your racist second amendment bashing, fool, to hell and don''t come back,we don''t need u no mo.

[scottyusa]

Why do we average americans let political correctness ruin so many careers? I am not a Ferraro fan or an Obama fan but to have to step down for voicing your opinion? Where the heck is free speach! All she should have to do is say that she was speaking for herself, not the party, and that should be the end of it. If we are going to crush people for voicing their opinions we are in a very sad way my friends. I don''t believe the remark is racist at all. It was nothing more than a statement of fact as she sees it. It is time tp put a stop to this and soon.

[jsilver2th]

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

Oh I see she''''s really a lobbyist for Republican now...

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

"On a slightly territorial note, however, the Washington Post.com reported, %u201CGeraldine Ferraro is heading back to D.C.%u2014or at least she%u2019ll 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 %u201CIs the nation ready to elect a woman?%u201D interviews.%u201D "

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....

[kissamaarse]

About time. The double-standard between the two campaigns was getting to be very troublesome.

[jsilver2th]

singindick: She couldn''t fire old Gerry- too many friends, too many clients, some real pull in NYC and Rodam may need to run for re-election to Senate- get a clue.

[jsilver2th]

starsnbars12: hate to tell you the confederacy lost the war-

[xlib]

What she said was true and not racist at all. This guy is getting a free ride based on half of his race. So, this is the way it''s going to be?? No one can say a word about this guy?? How is that right on any level?? We''re in for a bad, bad time in our country.

[alanrobisch]

It was nothing more than a statement of fact as she sees it. It is time tp put a stop to this and soon.


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

Posted by scottyusa at 06:47 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

It was an attack on obama based on his race. this is racism If you are a presidential candidate and your staff starts attacking your opponent because of his or her race it gives the candidate a black eye. the most loyal dems are blacks. can you see a dem winning if the black voter stays home because they don''t like their candidate because of the attempts at racial slurs have turned them off.

[alanrobisch]

It was nothing more than a statement of fact as she sees it. It is time tp put a stop to this and soon.


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

Posted by scottyusa at 06:47 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

It was an attack on obama based on his race. this is racism If you are a presidential candidate and your staff starts attacking your opponent because of his or her race it gives the candidate a black eye. the most loyal dems are blacks. can you see a dem winning if the black voter stays home because they don''t like their candidate because of the attempts at racial slurs have turned them off.

[alanrobisch]

What she said was true and not racist at all. This guy is getting a free ride based on half of his race. So, this is the way it''''s going to be?? No one can say a word about this guy?? How is that right on any level?? We''''re in for a bad, bad time in our country.


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

Posted by Xlib at 06:52 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

Can you prove this. It seems there are many people who won''t vote for him because he is black.

[alanrobisch]

What she said was true and not racist at all. This guy is getting a free ride based on half of his race. So, this is the way it''''s going to be?? No one can say a word about this guy?? How is that right on any level?? We''''re in for a bad, bad time in our country.


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

Posted by Xlib at 06:52 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

Can you prove this. It seems there are many people who won''t vote for him because he is black.

[fairandbal]

The ruthlessness of the Clinton campaign is unbelievable. Have your attack dog bring up race issues to keep the white voters on her side and then have that person ''resign'' to get some apparent ''distance'' from the issue. damage is already done and this one is on Clinton, not Ferraro.
Doing this within your own party is unforgivable.

Hawksprings, your interpretations are so sour and inflammatory about Hillary, you need to take some Maalox. The right-wing fulmination about Hillary is outsized and ridiculous. You learned how to hate her from Rush and have not been able to see past his poison.
It is insane to assume that Hillary would be promoting the kind of negative reaction Ferraro has been getting from the press and from the Obama campaign! It reveals your total prejudice against the senator.