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

[George Roberts]

Quick, name the man Ferraro thinks isn't sexist. I couldn't name one either.

that1guy wrote: "Suck it up, feminists. If you want to play in the big league, then you'd damn well better learn to accept defeat as gracefully as glory. There's a word for it: "equality". Practice what you preach."
-well said. My whole life I have heard feminists talk about equality, but when they are losing, they want to move the goalposts.

To paraphrase Arkansas' favorite son "Equality is as equality does." Perhaps Senator Clinton could learn a few things from 'ol Forrest.

[Mike Jonze]

This is too funny.

Geraldine Ferraro said that Barry Obama wouldn’t be where he was if he weren’t black.

Barry Obama called Geraldine Ferraro a racist.

Geraldine Ferraro is now calling Barry Obama a sexist.

Identity politics at its finest. Still proud of that tactic, Dems?

[Bruce in NYC]

Don't people realize that voting for a woman because she's a woman is the EXACT SAME THING as NOT voting for a woman because she's a woman?

[JAY JOHNSON]

Liberals that buy into the whole idea of "open mindedness" scream like little girls when someone disagrees with them. You're all a bunch of babies when you can't get your way. The democratic party is getting exactly what it deserves. Racism exists amoung democrats? Sexism too? News flash to liberals......as a group you have never had the moral high ground when it comes to issues of race and gender. What a bunch of hypocites.

[andyK]

So...Ferraro cares NOTHING for the generations of future women who will have LOST the right to choose...all because people like her are too petty to see beyond their own histrionic feelings...sad

[CJR1173]

Huge mistake when Obama called the reporter "sweetie". I mean what was the Barry thinking? I have said that once and only once to a woman I didn't know and her curt reply was "Don't call me sweetie"! Now yesterday he's on GMA saying "Lay off my wife. You can go after me but not my wife.:" That's not acceptable seeing that Michelle has been so active in his campaign giving speech after speech about how bad things are in this country and how she's never been proud of this country. I am sorry Michelle but you are now involved in the discourse. Every person who actively engages in a campaign has to be responsible for his or HER words. This is pure irony in it's wholistic form. Obama's camp decried Ferraro and demanded her firing for words that she used. However, when it comes to Michelle, Barry says she's off limits and he's going to stand up for his woman as if he's at a high school dance. This is laugh out loud stuff. Obama has a glass chin and it will be shattered.

[Larry]

Who care what this old Hag thinks! She also works for Fox News, enough said. Say Mrs. Ferraro, why don't you and Hillary go tell Karl Rove his playbook is not working. You and her been hanging out with him too much. By the way, He's going to jail in do time. Congress is closing in on him.

[Alex]

Every day I follow the news I'm more convinced Hilliary's supporters are fanatical. Between this day-to-day garbage, and her vote allocation strategy that makes her win (WHAT A SHOCKER), I find it amusing that you would ever think someone who cross party lines to vote for this trainwreck.

[Rickster]

It's amazing how BO attacks a democrat for being a Racist! What a twist of fate - from a guy who got where he did ONLY because of his race. He's got nothing yet because he's black you HAVE to listen to him OTHERWISE you're a racist. The fact that his views are left of Joseph Stalin, doesn't know how many states there are. 57? Was he thinking of Heinz money & flavors? Can you believe that wasn't the LEAD STORY. The person the media has proclaim victor without winning doesn't know how many states there are in the country? Maybe if he wore his flag pin he'd figure it out. BO will do more to divide this country than anyone in history. As far as Gerry goes - you go girl.

[ATM]

Hillary will be the first person to serve in all three branches of government?? When the hell did she serve in the Executive branch? Is "first" lady now an executive position?

Let's face the facts. Ferraro was right when she said that Obomba is where he is because he's black. There can be no question about that since it is a fact that black voters always vote at least 85% for the black candidate. There is no more racially biased voting in this country.

Obomba would not be anywhere close to where he is today if he had split the black vote as the rest of the vote has gone. He would have dropped out long ago and we wouldn't have needed to hear his lying about not taking lobbyist money and not taking PAC money.

We could also have done without his "I can no more disown the Rev Wright than I can disown my own grandmother of the Black community" BS before he disowned the Rev Wright. How politically expedient. Throw your family and race under the bus along with your "pastor" to get elected - or did he simply just lie to us again?

Obomba is a charlatan, Marxist and liar. How perfect that he's the leading Democrat candidate today.

[joe]

She, is the one who is a Sexist. If it's not female, she's a-gin-it! just like the rest of the bias women libbers in this country. Hillary, is not any different, either. Iron my shirt, B****!

[GilC]

Obama is telegenic but severely lacks wisdom. Most of his supporters do not know why they are voting for him. Hillary has more experience and does not have a crazy spouse. Michele Obama has never been proud of this country until Obama starting running for office - that's just crazy.

[JAMIE]

FERRARO HAS NO PROBLEM BEING AN AVID SUPPORTER OF BILL CLINTON BUT NOW CALL OBAMA A SEXIST!!??

THE MANY ALLEGATIONS MADE BY WOMEN AGAINST BILL CLINTON DON'T MATTER TO FERRARO??

SHE IS EITHER A FEMINIST FRAUD OR A RACIST.

[Chief Two Dogs]

Crazy old white lady. Go to your bank now and ask them about your money.

[Chief Two Dogs]

Crazy old white lady. Go to your bank now and ask them about your money.

[Cindy Crupi]

Why don't you Barack supporters find out what he's about first. The problem is most of you have NO idea WHO he is, he just talks a big game!!! It is hillarious to hear you put people down b/c they don't care for Obama, they are smart people who don't like what he stands for and his elitist, feel sorry for me I'm black campaign. Do some research guys, he is not the savior you think he is. duh??? I've done my research and he will NOT get my VOTE.

[CPM]

Feminist Activist said one of the smartest things I've read in this entire article. Honestly, if bitter women (and even men) that supported Hillary cost the Dems the election, then it'll be a while for me to have a modicum of support for any female candidate. Reason being is that if the next female candidate comes close but loses in the primaries, then I'll be nothing but apprehensive about the bitter vote again. Ferraro, as stated before, is just incredibly bitter and is only a hindrance to the Democratic Party. I also didn't read or hear of why Obama was supposedly sexist. I don't really see minority women lashing out in anger at him nor a lot of young women.

All those saying they'll vote McCain instead of Obama as much as it might kill you, you are pathetic. Hillary is losing not because she's a woman, but because she's Hillary. She lied about Bosnia, makes ridiculous claims, unrealistically threatens Iran/OPEC, and threw a kitchen sink of personal attacks against Obama. Obama is not squeaky clean but he weathered the storm and now it's bitterness and personal pride that's preventing the Dems from truly succeeding.

If Hillary really wants to help, after today if she decides to drop she should encourage Democratic unity. It's divisive pride and idiocy like this that keeps the Dems from winning and makes the party look like indecisive wimps.

[Women Count!]

If the comments here are any indicator, not only are Barack's supporters sexist, they are also ageist. Wake up Democrats. Those under 25 always speak with a loud voice. Women and those over 30 speak softly--- but we vote in large numbers.

[anotherjoshua]

who cares what geraldine ferraro thinks and who cares who supports? she's completely irrelevant.

[Cindy Crupi]

Why don't you Barack supporters find out what he's about first. The problem is most of you have NO idea WHO he is, he just talks a big game!!! It is hillarious to hear you put people down b/c they don't care for Obama, they are smart people who don't like what he stands for and his elitist, feel sorry for me I'm black campaign. Do some research guys, he is not the savior you think he is. duh??? I've done my research and he will NOT get my VOTE.

[serax]

Geraldine, is like a great number of Italians and whites over all, they hate ni66ers and can't say it so they make up this crap in there minds to help them understand the rage and anger that wells up in their minds when they are around blacks. They have been told their entire lives that blacks are not to be trusted, associated with respected etc., and now we live in a world were these animals have been given human rights and they can't reconcile their pure hatred with this new reality.

[Robert Borquez]

Ferraro and Hillary have done nothing but try and separate black and white America. By trying to say that we'll lose the election if we pick Obama...without actually saying it.

[JWV]

Ego, ego ego! No wonder the Democrats have such a hard time winning national office. At a time when the Republicans are most vunerable, the Democrats spend their time trying to sink each other and eating their young.

[Charles Westmoreland]

All you losers-vote REPUBLICAN.

[Connie]

Hillary, I know what your problem was. If you had acknowledged straight women by wearing skirts once in a while, you would have been more accepted by heterosexuals. Instead, you only focused on lesbians by wearing pantsuits all the time.