The Geraldine Ferraro furor: Will it have legs?

Aides to Barack Obama campaign are doing their best to claim Geraldine Ferraro's scalp (figuratively speaking) in the wake of her racially tinged, dismissive comment about their candidate's success in the Democratic presidential contest.

The flap built somewhat slowly. Ferraro -- the first, and only, woman to secure a spot on one of the major parties' White House ticket -- opined in a story published Friday in the Daily Breeze of Torrance that "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position."

That "position" would be running slightly ahead of Ferraro's choice for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton.

As is often the case with inflammatory statements, Ferraro's quote wasn't even played that high in the story; it ran in the 11th paragraph. And on Friday, the Obama campaign was otherwise occupied -- dealing with the uproar created when one of his foreign policy advisors, Samantha Power, had called Clinton "a monster" while talking with a reporter.

Ferraro's statement began attracting widespread notice today. The Obama campaign homed in on it this morning when another of his advisors, Susan Rice, said on MSNBC that the comment was "outrageous and offensive." Rice went on to say Ferraro's words ...

were "far worse" than the monster characterization, and she urged Clinton to "really repudiate" the comment.

Obama's chief advisor, David Axelrod, raised the stakes this afternoon in a conference call the campaign set up with reporters. He called for Ferraro to be bounced as a member of Clinton's finance committee.

"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.

So far, there's no indication that the Clinton campaign will force Ferraro -- obviously, a person with far more heft within the party than Power -- to take a walk.

This is all Clinton herself had to say today when asked about the brouhaha: "Well, I don't agree with [Ferraro's remark], and I think it's important that we try to stay focused on issues that matter to the American people. And both of us [Clinton and Obama] have had supporters and staff members who've gone over the line, and we have to rein them in and try to keep this on the issues. There are big differences between us on the issues -- let's stay focused on that."

And Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams issued a statement that, in essence, tried to turn the tables on the Obama campaign.

Williams' only reference to Ferraro was to concede that "supporters from both campaigns will get overzealous."

The statement, which you can read here, focuses on taking Obama and his staff to task.

Ferraro, for her part, has been lying low. And she may catch a break -- although her comment has made news, it's taken a backseat to the spotlight on the sex life of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

(UPDATE: Tonight Ferraro appeared on Fox News and appeared to hold her ground. "First of all," she said, "let me say I'm sorry people thought it was racist." Later she added, "What I find is offensive is that every time somebody says something about the campaign, you're accused of being racist."

(Ferraro, who accused Obama campaign manager Axelrod of organizing the protests against her recent statements, also repeated a remark she said she's made possibly 500 times over the years: "If in 1984 my name was Gerard Ferraro instead of Geraldine Ferraro, I would never have been the nominee for VP.”)

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[dk]

Wow, I looked up Geraldine's speech when she accepted the vp nom, and I can't believe what she's saying now. How can she be supporting Hill when her story sure sounds a lot like Barack's? Maybe it's a "woman thing", I dunno. Here's a URL for the full speech from 1984, but I've also included an excerpt. My favorite part:

"The promise of our country is that the rules are fair. If you work hard and play by the rules, you can earn your share of America's blessings."

-Geraldine Ferraro

http://gos.sbc.edu/f/ferraro.html

Tonight, the daughter of a woman whose highest goal was a future for her children talks to our nation's oldest party about a future for us all.

Tonight, the daughter of working Americans tells all Americans that the future is within our reach - if we're willing to reach for it.

Tonight, the daughter of an immigrant from Italy has been chosen to run for [vice] president in the new land my father came to love.

Our faith that we can shape a better future is what the American dream is all about. The promise of our country is that the rules are fair. If you work hard and play by the rules, you can earn your share of America's blessings.

Those are the beliefs I learned from my parents. And those are the values I taught my students as a teacher in the public schools of New York City.

At night, I went to law school. I became an assistant district attorney, and I put my share of criminals behind bars. I believe: If you obey the law, you should be protected. But if you break the law, you should pay for your crime.

When I first ran for Congress, all the political experts said a Democrat could not win in my home district of Queens. But I put my faith in the people and the values that we shared. And together, we proved the political experts wrong.

In this campaign, Fritz Mondale and I have put our faith in the people. And we are going to prove the experts wrong again.

We are going to win, because Americans across this country believe in the same basic dream.

[robert oversier]

I never thought I would find myself agreeing with a Democrat, let alone Geraldine Ferraro, but she is absolutely right. An inexperienced Senator like Obama would never be in the lead for the nomination if he weren't black. That is NOT intended to be a rascist statement, it is simply a fact.

[Adelaide Gustauro]

Her statement is true. If he were not an African America he would not have 84percent of the Black Vote and he would not be as far in the race as he is now.

It is true and she should NOT recant.
It is also true that when White people vote Hillary
they are accused of potential racism, yet 84percent of African Americans get off scottFree from that charge.

I think we know full well who are the RACISTS in this scenario. And the media doesn't have the guts to tell it like it is...and they will avoid the truth as always. There are no more true journalists anymore.

[Susan]

Geraldine Ferarro is making the point that the media and public in general are hyper-aware of racism and deaf, dumb and blind to sexism.

Case in point: Can you imagine if someone in the audience at an Obama speech had held up a sign (as was done to Hillary Clinton - iron my shirts) that said "shine my shoes". Or if people were wearing vulgar and derogatory t-shirts about Obama that spoke to his race as they do against Hillary Clinton based on her gender. The world would be outraged and rightfully so.

But when it is done against women it is just accepted and expected. That's the reality she was referring to.

[Randy]

Unfortunately, Americans are brand oriented and victims of psycho-conditioning on race, sex.

Obama is a black man.

Hillary is a white woman.

Do the candidates benefit from their race or sex based on this time is history... "You bet!"

Our society is evolving and people are making determinations based on what their convictions are ... good, bad or indifferent.

Obama is benefiting from a certain pathology centered on "societal balancing" and so is Hillary as well.

Obama is getting 85%(plus) of the Afro-American Vote.

The facts are the facts...

I'm sorry if I somehow hurt your feelings by speaking the truth.

Geraldine Ferraro didn't call Obama a MONSTER unlike Obama's staff had called Hillary. Ferraro simply stated that he is benefiting from his minority status as an Afro-American male.

Grow-Up and free your MINDS! Dummies!

[Susan]

Geraldine Ferarro is making the point that the media and public in general are hyper-aware of racism and deaf, dumb and blind to sexism.

Case in point: Can you imagine if someone in the audience at an Obama speech had held up a sign (as was done to Hillary Clinton - iron my shirts) that said "shine my shoes". Or if people were wearing vulgar and derogatory t-shirts about Obama that spoke to his race as they do against Hillary Clinton based on her gender. The world would be outraged and rightfully so.

But when it is done against women it is just accepted and expected. That's the reality she was referring to.

[Dominique]

I believe that Geraldine Ferraro's comments were on target. As an African-American female, I know that many of my African American friends are voting for Barack Obama solely because he is a liberal Black Democrat. Had Barack Obama not been in the race, African-Americans would have largely gone for Hillary Clinton. I know of very few African-Americans who supported any of the White male Democrats during the 2008 primary. Many feel that this is an opportunity to elect the first Black US President, and they are not going to let the opportunity elude them. As a result, I do believe that Geraldine Ferraro is correct in her assessment. I do not think that it is a crime to have an honest discussion about race, which I believe is what Ferraro was doing. Barack is Black, and it is a major factor in his appeal to African Americans.

[Sophie]

White women need to get off their high horses. They feel they can get away with the most racist comments in this political campaign. Feminism is itself an elitist white philosophy at its core, its approach and its values. I'm including Gloria Steinem's outrageous comments in this. Why Ferraro gets flak, but not Steinem is mind-boggling.

[Nate]

The Daily Breeze got the follow-up today when Ferraro reiterated her prior comments and didn't give the slightest indication that she is moving away from them. Interesting stuff...

[eric]

Geraldine Ferraro's comments of Hillary Clinton's main rival for the Democratic ticket has as much depth as former Senator Gary Hart commenting how unattractive Bill Clinton's mistresses appear to be.

[robinia]

You mean Geraldine Ferraro, the VP candidate in 1984, is still alive?

Honey, Ms FERRARO and Walter Mondale were on the short end of one of the worse presidential landslide defeats in history of elections in 1984. Honestly, I thought she had died of shame!

[Marks]

If we didn't talk about Ferraro, a week ago, why would her bizarre statements matter from now on?

She's opinionated but controls nothing in the Presidential race. Whether Clinton's keep her on as adviser and fund raiser doesn't matter. The media controls whether Ferraro continues to get focus.

She only injures her causes, promoting women's rights. Some may challenge her now to be replaced. She can't promote sexism is worse than racism, that's nuts.

Women have to succeed on their merits and not just because it's a "woman's time".

She never won a Senator race.

Obama was challenged in many ways, the odd name first, not too many black Senators in history. He's the only one currently.

There are 16 women Senators.

Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House, third in line to the Presidency.

Ferraro failed to become a Vice President, a long time ago. She wasn't part of women in Congress progress and obviously bitter about it.

She feels the absurdity in Clinton's campaign, they can't believe Hillary is behind.

Clinton's had every advantage, Bill and name recognition. Hillary was a two term First Lady. She's been to 80 countries.

Ferraro doesn't understand the negatives against Hillary isn't because she's a woman.

People reject going backward politically, many are done with the Clinton's being in the White House.

Obama is doing fine whether Ferraro ever supports him or not. Some Democrats may not come together!

[shohre]

What is confusing is the fact that senator Clinton downplays what ever wrong her camp does but amplifies what Obama camp does. It sure sounds like a monster.

[LCSusan]

Ms. Ferraro has been treated with disrespectfully by some Obama-ites which may have something to do with this comment. We should get past race and gender which while hindrances are doubled if one happens to also be poor or old or disabled. Working on all of these problems should be at the forefront of the race. At this rate, Senator McCain will cake walk to the White House.

http://strictlyanecdotal.com/2008/02/27/another-inclusive-post-from-one-of-those-wacky-guys-and-gals-in-obamaville.aspx

[NickNas]

Careful you don't judge me too quickly. I come form a family of Vets , my Father, Uncles, Myself all fought in Combat for this Country and my Daughter Just got Back from Iraq. Now read on......

I have been literally ASHAMED to be part of this country.. YES I said it!! If you don't like it change the Channel. MANY people have been feeling the same way but are afraid to say it. Try traveling around the world and see how you are looked at being from here. BUSH ( and NO I did NOT vote for that Idiot) has ruined most of what we had to be proud of.

If Hillary gets the racist ignorant side of this country to vote her in then Once again I will be living in SHAME! The WORLD is watching and we are looking like Idiots right now. CNN loves it , it sells Commercials so don't blame them.

You people cannot deny this. Hillary has turned outright nasty and unrespectable. I haven't seen this much racial commentary from high level officials since the 60's.

If it works it is just for ONE reason and we all know it. Even Hillary can't talk as much about herself as you people do because there is not all that much to say. The only way to win is to play on Race Race Race and oh don't forget. Bill will be there to Catch me if I fall on my face.

[Tom J]

The question is: Why did the Clinton campaign DEMAND that Samantha Power resign?

Personally, I'm sick and tired of their double standards, double-dealing, and playing this campaign like it's some sort of video game - all the while self-righteously claiming the opposite. Time for the Clintons to go - they've delighted us long enough.

[Randy]

Barack Obama has made it perfectly clear that he is not running a campaign based on negativity or hate.(He sure could've fooled me!)This is shocking to say the least. The latest comment comes from his late great Foreign Affairs Adviser. Unbelievable! Consequently, this statement from Stephanie Power calling Hillary a monster is coupled with an earlier foreign affairs snafu with Canada over NATA and Obama's Economic Adviser Austan Goolsbee.

Power said... (Hillary Clinton)"She's a Monster!"

Obama said... "The communication with Canadian Government and Mr. Goolsbee (Obama's Economic Advisor) concerning NAFTA, NEVER HAPPENED."

Uh huh, sure!

Lies of the Mind!

Lies of the Heart!

Lies of ALL KINDS!

After you've heard lie upon lie... there can hardly be a question of why.

Unfortunately, Barack Obama is NOT what he seems... at all!

[Tom J]

On Hillary Clinton:
"And if she was a man (of any color) she would not be in this position. She happens to be very lucky to be who she is. And the country is waking up to that concept - and switching their support to Barack Obama."

[robinia]

To the blogger named Randy (3-11-08, 5:01p.m),

Honey, stop tryin' to sound so profound. What you need is a date sometimes. You sound like a WUS. I'm a black-Puerto Rican woman. You think you can handle that? Maybe if you weren't on this computer so much women may find you something other than repulsive, honey. By, the way, Obama all the way!

[Ok]

Ultimately they all need to shut-up and stop tearing the party apart.... the Dems must win this year or this country is in for a really rough ride (if not a nuclear war....).
Yes, Hillary and her supporters want to win the nomination, likewise for Barack and his group, but what is the most important thing is that one of them wins the general election, and that means they have to "play nice".... these childish comments and criticisms are destructive beyond this race.... Hilary's comments about Barack not having the experience to lead are going to be used by the Republicans if he's the nominee.
Is that her goal, to loose to McCain because of things she said? And the Barack camp needs to be just as aware of the lasting damage that can derail the entire election.
I implore both candidates, and their associates, to stop being childish and stupid and start running on your platform and your positions and your plans.... not what the other candidate is or isn't.
(And by the way, I'm a white middle aged hard core feminist woman who voted for Barack.... not because he's black, not because Hilary is a woman.... but because I happen to believe he best represents issues that are important to me. Sometimes it's just that simple....)

[Invictus 06]

If this is the way that Hilliary plans to win the nomination, not by debating the issues but by relying on racism, ignorance and deception then the Dems can kiss the white house goodbye. Just to let you know, there will be no Obama VP and most of his supporters believe it or not will vote for McCain. Behavior like this I expect from Republicans but from my own party is downright embarrassing and disgusting. People who subscribe to such views are downright moronic.

[ohjeez]

If the Democratic party allows people to make racist comments, or to put one group over another, then I will do my best to encourage my friends and coworkers to delist, and become independents. Not to give a dime to the national party.

Bleed this hatred dry. I really hope that Bloomberg follows through on his third party threat. I'll join.

[Max Brand]

Listen to yourselves!!!! You're all falling for the song and dance routine that the Obama advisors play. As long as they can keep your minds busy with such diversions like this they won't have to answer important questions regarding the issues that should be important to all of you. Think about it!! For a while he seemed to be that much needed breath of fresh air that U.S. politics needs but the closer I look at this guy's campaign & it's messianic/paranoid behavior I see some real creepiness in the shadows. Start holding both these candidates up to the light & stop being caught up in their games!!!

[T Mitchell]

Hillary and her comrades need to stop playing the race card. She has had many more opportunities than any other presidentail candidate in history. Stop making excuses as to why you are losing and take responsibility for your numerous missteps and desparation.

As a woman I find your racist tactics insulting. Our country deserves better.

[Joseph Hayden]

Hillary Clinton is only where SHE is because she was married to Bill and has spent the majority of her "career" as a priviledged White Woman parading as a feminist.

Stop Whining! Hillary Clinton is a Bitch whose campaign has gone over the top and I look forward to being the White Male swing vote.

F--- off Geraldine, you cashed in and sold out long ago. Shut up and get off your high horse.

"She's a man, baby!"

[Bill Hussein]

Ferarro's remarks were stupid and unprovable. The vacuous arguments used to prove her right, show the reason has nothing to do with the issue.
Ferarro supports Hillary because she Ferarro's kind of woman. Clinton is duplicitous. Oh dear, I'm being redundant.

[Stephen Dolle]

Perhaps the Clinton machine has finally exposed a little too much dirt for most of America to ignore. I mean, Ferraro's comment comes a day after Clinton offered Obama the #2 VP spot and repeatedly saying he is unqualified. Then she attacks the media claiming it is sexist. At some point, American's WILL turn away, and this direct slam on Obama's being black as the only reason he is doing so well, I think is going to be the tipping point. Maybe there's is some truth to the Obama team's off record comment last week that Hilary is a "monster." She's certainly behaving like it!

[Patricia]

Ferraro is absolutely correct. What she forgot to add...if a white male candidate had Hillary's credentials, they would be the runaway candidate.

[Ken Mattos]

I am an undecided Democrat in Pennsylvania. I want to focus on the issues and leadership abilities. I am so tired of these statements that do not reflect on these matters. I abhor the sexism of the mainstream media in its treatment of Clinton ... and I was giving the Clinton camp the benefit of the doubt regarding Bill's statements in the S.C. primary and then the noise about whether Obama had been made to appear even darker in an ad to emphasize his "race." But now Ferraro's comments do make me wonder. Look, it is not Jesse Jackson or any other African-American in this contest. Anything on Obama's part that draws me (as it has been at times with Clinton) has been issue stances and the promise they proffer for progressive change ... not his "race" or her gender.

[Ron M]

Clinton is not too good handling money. The campaign ran out of money after NH. She has Geraldine Ferarro whose husband's hands were sticky with other peoples money on her finance committee.
When Ms. Powers called Ms Clinton a monster, I thought it hyperbole. Judging by Ms Clinton's response to Ferarro's remarks, maybe it was only a slight exaggeration.

[SimpleRep]

To the blogger named DK...touching, but the only thing missing is the violin.

Fathers tell their sons and "daughters" the same thing. Immigrant fathers captivate their father's work ethic that may open doors that were closed for them. Please, don't "matronize" the American people and focusing on a gender to soften one's heart to clarify your opinions. That's old. This is a political process and it is the integrity of the individual who is campaigning that is in question. Her actions are based on her being a politician that happens to be a woman and NOT a woman-politician.

Save your hankerchief for someone who cares. Your manipulation amuses me. There are soldiers out there right now dying for me. They are soldiers that happen to men or women. They are soldiers FIRST. The bullets and bombs they dodge or mortally succumb to have no preferences. I suggest you analyze the slings the media, the public and the political powers that be towards your woman-candidate the same way. You are insulting every blogger and women who desire equality without reservation. Hypocrite !

[Organizer 721]

So let me see if I have this right. According to Ferraro and her defenders, Barack Obama is advantaged because he is African-American? He wouldn't be leading in this contest in every category if he was white? Is that really what you are saying?

If that were true, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would have brought millions of new voters into the process and would have been real contenders for their party's nomination. That's not how I remember their candidacies.

If that were true, it's just a coincidence that young African-American men fill our prisons in disproportionate numbers while young white men (and women) fill our colleges.

If Hillary Clinton was an inspirational figure who was a credible symbol of change, she would have carried more states, won more delegates, and received more votes than her opponent. But she is not, and she hasn't.

If Barack Obama was white, and still possessed all his qualities of intelligence, inspiration and freshness, and was still the inspirational figure whose message of hope and transformational change had galvanized new voters and even former skeptics, he would not simply be leading in this contest - he would already have won.

Barack Obama is not in the position he is in because he is black - he is where he is DESPITE that fact. Ferraro's despicable comment is racist, ignorant and plain stupid.

Unless Hillary Clinton removes Ferraro from her Finance Committee, she will be doing much worse than simply running a negative, dishonest, Rovian campaign. She will be condoning and encouraging racism.

[dave]

Wow .. if this isn't Rove-ian campaigning.... Ferraro is taking a bullet for her candidate. Hillary can disingenuously distance herself from the comments, but this reeks of strategy. She's surely thrilled at the opportunity to so publicly seed this concept and raise this discussion at this point in the primary race she's otherwise losing.

It's disgusting and shameful. I'm a life-long Democrat, and I finally see what people have loathed in the Clintons all these years.

[Ridiculous]

I guess Geraldine hasn't been looking around her recently. There are black people in Congress - they didn't get there by magic. We have a black FEMALE secretary of state. George didn't pick her because he liked her wardrobe selection. Not only blacks, but hispanics, asians, and muslims too. Maybe what Geraldine is intimidated by is not seeing a bunch of white women in power. Maybe that's what 1970s feminism was. Maybe they never cared for anyone but their own.

I'll tell you that *this* white woman wouldn't get on any stage with Ferraro or Clinton. They disgust me.

I've sent several emails now to the DNC office demanding that they come out and denounce any kind of tactic like this, as the Republicans have, and haven't even gotten an autoresponse.

I'm going to have to assume that they approve of hate. Way to go Democratic Party.

[robinia]

Here is a frightening scenario; A Hillary Clinton-Geraldine Ferraro Democratic ticket. Would Hillary be that delirous? Hell, if she stayed with a man for the power of his political name despite his public humiliation with Monica, then this scenario would be right up her alley in absurdity.

[OK]

To "Simple Rep" DK's blog was a copy of Ferraro's acceptance speech.... (which I guess goes to show that she, not DK, is a hypocrite)....

[Latina]

Does anybody really think that most Democrats were just sitting around waiting to vote for a Black guy? I do not think so. Not even a Harvard-educated Black guy. But Obama surprised all of us. Obama has reached people because of his race and despite his race. That is the contradiction of Obama and the contradiction of America. Ferraro does not seem to get this.

Obama is thoughtful beyond belief -- and yet charismatic. He is as intelligent as Hillary -- and yet not a boring policy wonk. He has effortless grace and graciousness and inherent decency. He is a black guy, but he is not angry or resentful about it. As the child of an immigrant, he seems to carry the optimism and hope of one who chose to be an American. So really Ferraro, how could we resist? To reduce him to just his color is so unfair to him and to us who voted for him. We would have voted for him if he was purple or a green frog.

And yet to Ferraro, he is just an affirmative action baby? Really? Despite his remarkable achievements and talents, really? What is even more absurd is her comparison of her own failed candidacy to this. Please Ms. Ferraro. Get a grip. You never inspired a movement like his. You can diminish your own failed candidacy all you want, but don't pretend you are in his league.

[Clinton 4ever]

geraldine ferraro just sold out on Greta. Gave BHO a huge break.