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

[serax]

Hello?

[Logan22]

So, to those who are all commenting on HC and sexism - is it ok for Clinton and her people to play the race card, the elitist card, the inexperience card, when speaking about Obama? I have heard all of the above when they are speaking about him.

Clinton campaign failed because of miscaluclations and the assumption that she was the front runner and the designated nominee. They thought they had this in the bag over a year ago. It is and will be her hubris that will end her campaign, not the fact that she is a woman.

Also, the negativity is a generational thing i believe - those of us from the X generation down for the most part don't look at color or sex as a divider as much as the Boomer's do. Now yes, I am making generalizations, but they seem to be playing out right before our eyes. It's time to stop using the things that devide us like she is a woman, he is black or he is too old and just look at the issues and where these candidates stand. If the American people could just do that - and do that intelligently - then truth be told - I wouldn't care who wins.

[J.B.Brown]

Obama is an idiot,what he said about Iran being an insignificant threat.They are on the Verge of Nuclear Armament.Ahmadinejad has vowed before the whole world to "wipe Israel off the face of the earth," Yet narrow-minded liberals still think he is able to run our country.

[Diverx99]

So Carmella Soprano (oops I mean Gerry Ferraro) won't endorse Obama. What I want to know is how any serious person can take this mob associate seriously. She and her husband made millions doing construction and leasing deals with the Gambino family (before Sammy the Bull whacked their business partner Robert DiBernardo).

If a male Republican had done thse kind of dirty deals I doubt he would still be given a forum in their party.

[DD]

I agree with Geraldine, I am a female that will not vote for Obama. I am 50 and have always supported the Dems. If Obama is the nominee, I will not come together and vote for Obama, he is a racist, Anti, American, know nothing full of Bull S.. To many skeltons in his closet, Rezko, Wright, Larry Sinclair. Gay, crack smoking Murderer.

[Leila]

Wow..hmmm. some feminist you are Geraldine. Let's see - for whatever reason you have decided not to back Obama. Fine, thank goodness we live in a country where we have the opportunity to vote. But as a Democrat you now say that you might not vote for him in November.
Then as I read the respnses here, I see a number of people who are saying they are going to write in HRC instead of voting for Obama. Let's think about this - the write-in campaign, while a noble form of protest, will not work. All it might accomplish is help put a George Bush clone back in the White House for another miserable four years.
What is that I am hearing? Oh right, actually during those miserable four years he might get to appoint at least 3 supreme court justices? Hmmm, so we can say good bye to the Right to Choose and anything else that most "feminists" would consider dear to our cause.
So while I am a die-hard HRC supporter, I am also a realist, and no one is worth throwing my vote away especially if it means helping John McBush win the White House. Remember ladies, to take a very "male phrase"; we have to be very careful not to win the battle but lose the war.
HRC has done magnificently in the campaign and I am confident before my daughters are old enough to run, we will have a female president. Maybe not this time but soon.

[Anonymous]

Sexist? Perhaps..

Marxist? Definitely,

Evil? You betcha.

[John Shewmaker]

Hey, she's a democrat. What's the big deal with a little more stupidity. Any truth to the rumor that BHO is going to appoint Rev. W Sec of State? Why not Farrakan? He'd be a better choice. It is true that BHO was just listed in the Giuness Book of Records as the person who can talk the most and say the least? I looked up "empty suit" in Websters and there was his picture.

[Jim in Kuwait]

Is it irony or sadness that Ferraro would prefer a Clinton over Obama because he's sexist? What was her opinion of Bill I wonder.

[Greg Neubeck]

How well do we really know Obama? Obama, whose father was a practicing Muslim and whose mother was a radical Marxist, has stated that his mother: "Was the dominant figure in my formative years; and, the values she taught me continue to be my touchstone in the world of politics". Common sense deductive reasoning suggests that Obama's rearing as a child, and his extended 20yr relationships with anti-American fanatics such as Rev. Wright and William Ayers are in fact reflective of Obama's true psychological makeup. This man's refusal to wear an American flag lapel pin and to place his hand over his heart on the singing of our National Anthem are conditioned reflexes from his protracted association with disaffected elements in our society; visual images that Obama is certain to attempt to obfuscate in future campaign appearances. Further, Michelle Obama's angry commentary directed at our country is telling. Obama's statements that he would use Tactical Nuclear Weapons against Pakistan, while in other commentary stating that he would halt the U.S. military's development of advanced weapons systems demonstrates a profound ignorance of the geopolitical threat environment confronting America. Obama is indeed the real-life Manchurian Candidate. Greg Neubeck

[Tony c]

Obama , Is not going to get elected,The man has no common sense, This cannot be taught in College,His speech writer made him, Free talking he sounds like a fool. I am a Dem and know this, Our choices are lousy< thank Soros for this.

[Brad]

Maybe she though Barack Obama should have said, "Ladies first and let here have the nomination"?

This lady is either insane or working on some new book or both.

[Tony c]

Obama , Is not going to get elected,The man has no common sense, This cannot be taught in College,His speech writer made him, Free talking he sounds like a fool. I am a Dem and know this, Our choices are lousy< thank Soros for this.

[Jilly]

Posted by: jeffs | May 19, 2008 at 10:50 AM
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."

I totally agree JeffS. Obama is quite good at being offended even at things that are obviously true.

[daven]

Obama is sexist. Calling multiple female reporters "sweetie" and being dismissive of them. Making comments in speeches directed at Hillary with very sexist overtones. No woman should ever want to vote for this sexist, Obama!

[Jim in Kuwait]

Big Beth said:
"So, all disgruntled Clinton supporters will vote for McCain? At what cost? Staying in Iraq for who knows how long (maybe we can go to war with Iran too), demolishing what is left of our economy, insuring that we will be paying $8.00 per gallon of gas within a couple years, Roe vs. Wade repealed by a Supreme Court that will be even more hopelessly stacked towards ultra right wing, a health care system that will totally exclude the poor, and break the middle class, in short continuing down the G W Bush road, and believe me, it’s all downhill from here.

That will show Obama!"

Where exactly is the problem? U.S. fuel is the cheapest in the non-oil-producing world. Not killing babies is a good thing. The Clinton economy was a success because of Reagan and GB#1. The economy is down now primarily because of Clinton - It takes many years for a president's policies to make a difference.
Want health care? Get off of welfare and get a job. (That automatically makes you a Republican BTW) Try the military. Free health care, unless you were too stupid to finish high school.

[dablueshound]

So, as a long time conservative, I am turned off by McCain. I'm leaning strongly towards Obama not so much for his policies, but for the (few) policies he's articulated, but that might make me a sexist. If I were to vote (should it snow in Singapore) for Hillary, I would be a racist.

This is way too Orwellian for me. This inane infighting is going to put McCain in the White House. Why can't folks accept that folks like me prefer Obama because I prefer Obama and I dislike Hillary for her dissembling and lack of credibility (in my mind).

For a late 50s year old conservative to move to the Obama camp is significant, at least in my life. To state that voting for Obama is a sexist reaction is ludicrous. Perhaps I should just stay home. The Democrat Party, remember I'm conservative - not Republican, is tearing itself apart.

Can't you good folks accept that a difference of opinion is not a personal assault, but merely a difference of opinion?

[Robert]

I have long been a moderate Democrat from an Ivy League background. I am so dissapointed in the quality of the candidate that we have put forth this year. Quite honestly, I feel Obama is too smug for someone with no real experience. He gets an "A" in public speaking, but so do a lot of people. I think that he is too liberal and is not right for our country. It would be a bit of a whip-saw reaction from what we currently have.

[Racer]

This broad's still around? I thought she washed out in the '80s.

Gotta love those Dems. Always looking to the future.

[GrandpaMike]

If Mrs. Ferarro thinks Senator Obama is a sexist now, imagine what she would think of him if HE was the one who said that the only reason she was put on the democratic ticket was because she was a woman. Some might say that SHE is both a sexist and a racist.

[Codeblue]

So some of you are saying that because boo hoo, Clinton won't win because of her deceptive and irresponsible campaign, people are going to not vote purely out of spite? This isn't a popularity contest or a vote for prom king. It's for the office of PRESIDENT. That's 4-8 years of YOUR life that will be affected by the policies of the next administration. Remember what happened for the LAST 8 years? Want a repeat of that?

All of this nonsense is a distraction. Maybe some of you should spend more time actually learning about the ideas and political beliefs of the candidates than wasting time arguing about petty accusations that have nothing to do with what directions this country may take over the NEXT 4 YEARS based on the ultimate outcome of the election.

[Franck]

And I suppose Hillary's vote authorizing military force in Iraq was just her taking a feminist position, right, Geraldine?

You know what I loved about your outburst last spring? You compared Obama's millions of votes to your *nomination* as VP. That was rich!

You got the VP spot, you said, because the party was simply taking advantage of you as a woman. And you think the tens, hundreds of thousands of voters turning out for Obama is comparable? That, my dear, is simply delusional. A nomination is not an election, or haven't you learned that yet, sweetie?

[Justo]

Oh people wake up and smell the manure this Obama is spewing.... We eat too much...we shall not keep our AC at 72 degrees and we shall not drive SUV's ! I don't thinks so. He is supposed to represent our way of life not some third world country.I truly believe that GD America is what he and his wife really stand for.

You go GF at least you love your country and so do I !

[Jim Brooks]

Geraldine Ferraro's time has come and passed. She is no longer significant. What she says and what she thinks is no longer of interest to democrats.

I almost feel sorry for the woman as she passes into distant history ... almost!

[art]

if hillary's spineless team wants to create racial unease, they should do it openingly themselves rather that use ferraro as a strawman.

my first personal experience with ferraro was when her son got busted for dealing coke at middlebury college. she blamed the college of course for corrupting her son. (if you don't believe me, google it.)