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

[Miles Long]

Ferraro claims Obama is "sexist" and yet she turns a blind eye to that womanizer Bill Clinton?

She's the Rev Wright of feminism.

[john baguta]

Ferraro thinks Obama is a sexist leader and because she is too old to play sex with him, she is not going to vote for him! She must be feeling too bad because she was unable to be a Bill's running mat and enjoyed the BILL'S SEX when she was some what young.
Do not worry, Ferraro, still there is time to enjoy sex with an old and medically handicapped John McCain. Nothing wrong in requesting him for a dtae!

[Wm T]

The Democrats have always known how to lose elections. Why should this time be any different?

[Tannim]

And Ferraro is relevant these days why?

Oh, yeah, that's right, she's not.

She;s just another Democrat has-been-and-never-was trying to get back into a spotlight.

Quick, somebody go interview Gary Hart next!

[Benard Jones]

Geraldine Ferraro...must be tough to feel entitled and then be disappointed by an outsider, huh? So the next best thing...apply a label that you hope others will embrace so that you can perhaps pull support from him.
The world is changing, and clearly you haven't...L O S E R!

[Michael Olsen]

One can just hear Obama's reply to Ferraro. "OK, sweetie, whatever makes you feel good!"

[LonghornMama]

Geraldine, use your power for some purposeful end. Like helping the rest of Hillary's supporters negotiate the VP slot or something that honors Hillary's lifetime of work for this nation. She's not going back to the Senate to toil until 2011 or the DNC is not going to get my vote. I'll write Clinton in instead. But no one should be thinking of those options unless Hillary is completely shoved aside by the DNC. I spoke to a friend last night who is losing her home to foreclosure. She wept as she spoke about all that people have lost in the past 8 years. I'm going to do what I do in my business all day long, which is to broker a powerful deal for my candidate Hillary Clinton. But at the end of the day, we have to help Americans get back on their feet. And that means doing something outside of ourselves to make a difference. So stop sparring with Barack and get out there and do something positive for Hillary's future position with this nation.

[Anne]

You are not alone Geraldine --- I've been a Democrat my entire life but I WILL NOT VOTE for Barrack Obama! He is a fraud.

[Fred]

I remember watching Ferraro's pathetic performance in her vice presidential debates. As a Democrat, it was hard to watch. Then came her recent remarks about Obama's race, that forced Clinton to dismiss her... She has become an all-around embarrassment, and I, for one, am thankful that she won't be connected to the Democratic nominee in this Fall's election.

[Phil Douglas]

I guess they want a Republican President for four more years of McBush.

[Scy]

People like Ferraro do a great disservice to Hillary. I don't think 3 people care who Ferraro endorses. Hillary will show class and fight for the Dem nominee. Pity Ferraro can't follow her lead.

[Benjamin]

Geraldine who? When was the last time she was relevant to the mainstream democratic party, let alone mainstream America?

Accusing Obama of being sexist while Clinton touts herself as the only one who can bring in the white vote is disingenuous. While there has been plenty of sexist comments made about Clinton(none by Obama that I know of) the fact is, most of the people who don't like her, don't like her because of her record and things she's done.

Her congressional record of supporting the Bush agenda lock step until it became politically expedient not to is what does it for me. She voted for the war and the patriot act and then wants me to believe that she's different now? Probably the most disturbing thing for me regarding her character are the history of lies(or untruths) that she has told in marketing herself. The most well known of the recent ones being that she was under sniper fire, like she was some kind of first lady action hero. It was pure fiction and she knew she was lying when she said it. She had no control, caught up in her own hype, believing her own fantasizes about herself and her imagined character that she sells to those who don't critically analyze her actual record in politics.

That she has to rely on these embellishments to sell herself(like the claim way back that she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary, which turned out to be not true) speaks volumes of the kind of character we can expect her to show in the whitehouse. We need someone with more depth than that. That she happens to be a woman is completely irrelevant for most of us who don't like her.

Because of her known history, Obama's relative inexperience is actually a strength. Who wouldn't, when given a choice in hiring, prefer the inexperienced person with stronger communication skills and persuasive arguments to manage their company over the proven liar with experience that strongly indicates they won't do the job you want done? I'd rather take the chance on the new blood as they might do the job I want done, rather than hiring someone I know for certain will not do the job I want done.

[BitterBetty]

While I respect both Ferraro's and Clinton's life time of work in politics and in furthering the cause of women, comments like these dont help anyone.

[Ron]

Thankl You Geraldine for not Backing Barack Obama. I am sure that he will do much better without you.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Sexist? What's wrong with being sexy?

[Chris]

Geraldine Ferraro is the sexist one. Listening to the ignorant bile and vitriol coming out of this woman's mouth in defense of her indefensible is precisely the kind of nauseating experience that has driven the majority of Democrats in this country to vote for Obama.

[David Miner]

Ha Ha! Mr Ferraro funny. She no like Obama. Obama bad. Clinton trick. Say sniper shoot her. Ha ha good trick! Funny funny Ferraro. Funny funny Clintons. Me want beer with Clinton. Me want beer with Bush. Bush make funny trick too!
No weapons mass distinction. Funny Bush! Obama bad. More Bush! Me want beer with McCain!

[RonTn]

Ms. Ferraro has clearly become a bigot. The perfect mate for Archie Bunker.

[whatever]

I read the times article you linked to. Geradline Ferraro doesnt call Obama sexist in it. Stop being inflammatory. It's helpful to neither women, America, HRC, BHO or Ms. Ferraro.

[Richard P. McDonough]

Why anyone would care what Ferraro said is beyond me. She is not dealing from a full deck, is vaguely racist, and should know better, having been painted darkly by allegations about her husband's activities. Just an ill-tempered former politician with very deep pockets. But not much real depth.

[Jared]

Terribly racist Ferraro calls Obama terribly sexist.

How relevant is this in the grand scheme of things? Is Geraldine Ferraro really going to vote for McCain? Somehow that seems unlikely.

[Franklin]

"Terribly sexist?" I know "sweetie" was a little sexist, but I know of no other sexist comments from Obama. His followers, on the other hand ...

[Karen]

Let Geraldine and all the other dinosaurs fade away in to extinction. There's a new DNC and come January 08 a new America filled with hope.

Obama 08

[Jawn]

How has Ferraro surfaced? Is it Groundhog Day ? Does anyone really care about her opinion ?

[DT]

Funny. She's mad that she was called a racist and now that her candidate is losing she is acting like a child, picking up her democratic ball, and sucking her thumb as she walks away from the political playground. funny how she couldn't wait to call Barack a racist for no reason whatsoever now that he is the nominee. Now I hear Hillary wants to run as an independent. Her and her constituancy sure as hell don't care about the democratic party, and I honestly think when Hillary says it isn't over, she means she and her campaign of sorelosers aren't finished tearing Barack Obama down. When I say this, I don't mean to offend any honest Hillary supporters, because I know many of you are, but there are many Hilary supporters iout there who are racist, elitist, "remember the ol' days" ancients who can't stand to see a more popular candidate get elected. Shame on Hiillary. When will she stop?