Geraldine Ferraro, calling Barack Obama "sexist," may not back him

Might fully one-third of the six surviving Democratic vice presidential nominees end up opposing their party's national ticket this November?

That possibility arose today based on comments Geraldine Ferraro, the 1984 Democratic veep candidate, made to The New York Times.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, who occupied the No. 2 slot for the Democrats in 2000, months ago declared for presumptive Republican White House nominee John McCain.

And Ferraro, a staunch Hillary Clinton supporter who sparked a brouhaha earlier this year over whether she made a racially dismissive remark about Barack Obama, apparently is no longer a reliable Democratic vote.

Ferraro, in the NYT story, terms Obama "terribly sexist." And, as a result, she says she may not be able to cast her ballot for him if, as anticipated, he gains the Democratic presidential nod.

On the positive side for Democrats, no signs of apostasy are emanating from the four other one-time party veep candidates still alive -- John Edwards (the '04 nominee who officially signed on with Obama last week), Al Gore (the nominee in 1992 and '96), Walter Mondale (the 1976 and 1980 nominee) and Sargent Shriver (George McGovern's running mate in 1972 -- they may have gotten trounced by the GOP's Richard Nixon/Spiro Agnew pairing, but their longevity is impressive).

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[new_york_loner]

So, who cares what six losers think? Is this a slow news day?

Ferraro was a female politician who happened to be in the right place at the right time, but her luck ran out when the electorate got a good luck at her sleazy hubby.

No wonder Mrs. Ferraro supports Mrs. Clinton, their resumes are congruent.

We dumped Geraldine, now let's dump Hillary!

[jeffs]

Ferraro has been outrageously vilified for making a true comment, that the public and Dem. elite were in the mood to make a statement by picking a black/ bi-racial candidate more than a female one. If Obama had had a shred of decency he'd have stood up for her and acknowledged the truth of what she said; instead, he whined indignantly about how his obstacles and path had been so much harder than Hillary's, and went on to brand Bill a racist, too.

Obama's black when he wants to be, like how he defended his pastor Wright's racist/ anti-American/ wacko 9/11 Conspiracy Theorist comments, as reflecting the black point of view -- as with his wife Michelle's that she'd never before been really proud of her country.

But when anyone else mentions his race, they're "racist." Some "open dialogue about race."

[ash]

must be menopausal hot flashes

[KG]

What's wrong with Ms. Ferraro? Why is she so hateful? Why is she putting fuel in this fire instead of acting like a leader and telling Hillary supporters to wisen up? The game is over. Like it or not Obama played by all the rules and won fair and square, against incredible odds and ugly tactics from the other team. Why can't she accept this? Is she really a democrat, does she care about our future or is she so insane she's willing to spew her hate to damage the party?

[David Reynolds]

I think she's lost it.

[LaurenR1]

Thank you Geraldine! I totally agree. If Hillary is not on the ticket, I will write her in. Obama will never get my vote!

[KWinn]

Umm..Ms. Ferrarro..you became irrelevant a long time ago and you're looking like a bitter old woman so please by all means..cast your vote for whom you please..if you think you're going to hold the Obama camp hostage with your threats please think again..you represent one vote..that's all so if you'd prefer McBush over Obama..more power to you!!

[Paul Covington]

Geraldine Ferraro is really making herself popular. She is part of the failed, pathetic, spineless, gravy-sucking Democratic Party of yesteryear.

Obama will bring change. People like Ferraro have gotten so happy being losers that a winner like Obama scares them and makes them feel inadequate.

Time for you to exit now, Geraldine, you've done enough damage.

[Richard McDonough]

I can't imagine that anyone not institutionalized would care about what Geraldine Gerraro thought about anything. She is a rich, nasty, ill-tempered person who is angry, angry, angry.

[Leslie Bell]

If ALL Hillary Clinton supporters WRITE HER IN, and there WILL BE A MASSIVE MOVEMENT to do this, SHE WILL OBLITERATE BOTH McCain and Obama.

This is the HRC supporters' NUCLEAR OPTION, and it will work, because most of us will ignore any attempt of Hillary's to rally us behind Obama WHEN ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS WRITE HER IN TO WIN.

So I suggest the DNC superdelgates consider their options, AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE MAP, VERY carefully.

[latinovoter1]

The Racist calling him a SEXIST? Funny, tell that dinosaur to go sit down, one open seat on the convention floor.

[Mike in Sac]

It is truly sad to see this coming from Geraldine. She seems to be obviously very biased. I find it somewhat disturbing that Obama says that Michelle keeps him "straight", that he was raised by a single mother, and has a long history of supporting issues like women's right to choose... but Geraldine says he is sexist???!!!???

Is this because her own world view is so completely sexist? Is this her own personal biase speaking out? I think so as it seems unfathomable otherwise.

[tiddle]

Isn't it amazing, that when anyone claiming to support Obama, he's Democrat, and if anyone (like Ferraro) says anything otherwise, s/he is not???

Fine, Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi can have whoever they want, but I'm going to vote with my feet (and my vote), if they persist in pushing Obama as nominee.

So much for Dem.

[Franklin]

It's great how she backs it up with absolutely nothing.

People need to start growing up and realize that this election has to do with the future of our country and the lives of both its military and citizens. Instead, you see another person looking to throw a tantrum to get attention because they didn't get their way.

[Joe Canadian]

I can't wait for these dinosaurs to die off. Their views that are marred in the politics of the 60's and 70's do not speak for my generation.

[Sharon]

As a 61 year old female I must say Geraldine my dear, you are acting sexist. It works both ways you know. Or perhaps you have switched parties and forgot to tell us.

[BJ]

This is the reality for November!

The Democratic party is now broken, and they have no one else to thank for it but themselves!

This is the most divisive campaign they have ever waged... pitting democrats against democrats. "Humpty Dumpty had a great fall... all the obama horses and all the obama men, can never put humpty dumpty tgether again".

You don't gang up on someone, pummel them to the ground, then extend a hand saying: "oh, I just remembered, I need your help..." and expect them to welcome you with open arms!

[Andrew Austin]

I have paid very close attention to what Ferraro has been saying in this campaign, but what was the racially-dismissive comment Ferraro made about Barack Obama? I missed that.

[toby]

McCain can make this election really easy on himself and pick a VP like Olympia Snowe.

OR

Obama can make this election really easy on himself and just pick Clinton.

[OldSchool]

How exactly is Obama "terribly sexist"?

Sorry, I don't get it. I understand being a bit disappointed that your preferred candidate is not doing what you expected but this seems to be pulling something from thin air

[ds]

Now Obama is sexist? How and why Ferraro, because Obama appears to have beaten the Clintons?

So vote for McCain then even though you just exposed that it's personal and you are willing to put what you believe is politically correct aside. To think you almost because VP of this country.

Rest assured, if disgruntled Dems like Ferraro think they will contaminate this years election so Clinton can get in 2013 think again. If that turns out to be true it will be the end of the democratic party and none of Obama's supporters like me will vote for Clinton in 2013.

Shut your trap Ferraro, your a discrace to the democratic party not to menton a bigot. Do us all a favor and jump in bed with Libermann already. We don't need you or want you in our party.

[Marshall]

Geraldine Ferraro has just made herself the Al Sharpton of the the feminist movement, officially doing more harm than good for women's rights with her silly groundless claims. Good to know there is no gender gap when it comes to being a poor loser.

[JEFF]

Whis is sexist? Look in the mirror Geri

[White Lilly of the South]

Of course she won't back him. After all, Geraldine Ferraro is racist and thinks that black candidates can only get elected based on their race and not on their platforms, insight, knowledge, track record and proven leadership.

So yeah - no big surprise out of granny today.

[DKW Chapel Hill NC]

I think the Freudian slip, calling a female reporter "sweetie" speaks to that point. It may not have been Freudian...he said that he calls a lot of women sweetie.