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

[SP]

Ferrero has been and is one of the most thoughtful in the democrat party. I find it very interesting the speed with which the democrats eat their own. It is amazing to see how often the race card (feminist card) is being played by the democrats against democrats -- really no surprise. The party of openness is really not one of inclusion, but rather of bigotry. Too bad.

[Rob M.]

In terms of stated positions, I honestly don't think it makes a huge difference which democratic nominee is chosen, in reality their differences are just down to small details in proposals (campaign strategy aside). The important thing to look at is just how awful of a candidate McCain is. Ever since he became the presumptive Republican nominee he has fallen back on neo-con ideals, including his horribly regressive tax proposals. Here is a summary with a link to the full proposal: http://www.americanprogressaction.org/pressroom/2008/03/mccain_tax.html

[Diane Regina]

She's absolutely right. He is by his own admission, a racist and a sexist.

[Charlie]

I was an enthusiastic supporter of the Mondale-Ferraro ticket in 1984. What a great tonic it was to have a woman sharing the national ticket. It has similarly been unfortunate to witness the unraveling of Geraldine Ferraro"s public credibility. First with the shady dealings of her husband, and then the misuse of her political position to assist her son after a drug arrest. She has just not lived up to the great expectations, and has come to sound more and more like another loud mouth from Queens: Archie Bunker.

[Marissa]

I am voting for Hillary. Obama is a racist and a sexist. He thinks he is better than hard-working Americans. I will change parties if Hillary is not on the ticket. So will several million other core democrats.

[Charlie]

I was an enthusiastic supporter of the Mondale-Ferraro ticket in 1984. What a great tonic it was to have a woman sharing the national ticket. It has similarly been unfortunate to witness the unraveling of Geraldine Ferraro"s public credibility. First with the shady dealings of her husband, and then the misuse of her political position to assist her son after a drug arrest. She has just not lived up to the great expectations, and has come to sound more and more like another loud mouth from Queens: Archie Bunker.

[DoTheMath]

Don't you think this blog's lead might be a tad hyperbolic? Considering that "fully one-third of the six surviving Democratic vice presidential nominees" refers to exactly two people, one of whom has long-since become a virtual Republican, we're really only talking about Geraldine Ferraro. Her feelings about Obama are hardly news.

[Richard Bentley]

Ferrraro is an angry old feminist who is inclined to make outrageous statements. Those statements serve neither her, her party, and her country. Clinton could well have been the nominee had she not been accompanied by baggage and character issues. And those are what may have decided this race.

[Dennis Berry]

Geez, Geraldine, if you care about women and the feminist cause you claim to support, how about acting a bit less like the stereotypical spurned woman?

You just contribute ammunition to the sexist turds who already consider women a lesser version of themselves. Why give them more ammo?

As I recall, it was your comment about Obama not being where he is, were he not an African-American that opened the discussion. How does that transmute to HIM being sexist? Someone in this equation is definitely being sexist, but it's you, Ms Ferraro, not Obama.

[Dennis Berry]

Geez, Geraldine, if you care about women and the feminist cause you claim to support, how about acting a bit less like the stereotypical spurned woman?

You just contribute ammunition to the sexist turds who already consider women a lesser version of themselves. Why give them more ammo?

As I recall, it was your comment about Obama not being where he is, were he not an African-American that opened the discussion. How does that transmute to HIM being sexist? Someone in this equation is definitely being sexist, but it's you, Ms Ferraro, not Obama.

[Jimi Mosey]

For all the discontent over Hillary's perceived loss to Barack in the primaries, I have a very hard time believing that when the time comes that because your candidate did not win the nomination you will put at risk myriad women's issues by allowing or backing McBush in his presidential bid. Think about it. McBush will continue to roll back education, appoint more right wing judges to the bench with the undying need to overturn Roe v. Wade, deny all but the very rich tax breaks, do nothing to salvage what is left of the middle class, etc., etc., etc. The alternative is another four years of Bush policy and the scariest part is the Supreme Court. Two of the justices are old and getting older and the liklihood of McBush appointing a moderate are about as slim as his trophy wife.

[Kevin]

Racist, sexist and homophobes oh my....the Demographic Party. It's all we care about.

[ohmygod]

They tried to bring him down by insinuating that he is a Muslim. Was not true. Did not work.

Then they tried to bring him down insinuating that he is anti-American because his preacher had said some stupid things. Was not true. Did not work.

Then they tried to bring him down insinuating he is out of touch (imagine, these ultra-millioniares from NY doing that). Was not true. Did not work.

Now they are trying to bring him down insinuating he is sexist. IS NOT TRUE. WILL NOT WORK!!!

Don't assume we, the American people, can not to see through your ugly tricks, superrich NY politicians!!!

[JonDo369]

The Dems are fragmenting at the boundaries of their special interests. Pretty tough for feminists and blacks to both get their way this time. But one thing remains the same -- the race card only plays one way, and is trump over the sexist card.

[Dave]

This woman is a racist pig. Who actually cares what she says. Why does the media even pay attention to this looser?
She was hated in the past and has always been a pest.

[John Doe]

Who cares what this crabbed old has-been crone thinks?
Just wish she blows away like a withered leaf in the cold autumn wind.

[Wolfgang]

Okay, what's the surprise? Geraldine F. and J. Leberman don't like a change in Washington DC? I'm so sorry!!
W.

[Pam]

I finally get it - the women's movement is for white women only, at last according to Hil and Gerry.Women are not allowed to have their own thoughts or support their own race or do anything that stands in the way of a white women. Thanks for clearing that up.

I am deeply, deeply hurt by GF's comments as are my nonwhite sisters. I guess we only count when we take care of their homes asnd families so the white women can make history oir whatever they call it.

Nive going, Hillary.

[Zurui]

"Obama's black when he wants to be"

wow! that is a stuck on stupid comment! it is not too hard for people to comprehend that obama has no choice on whether he (or his wife) "choices" to be black for the moment. he's black, he knows it, we know it, so get over it.

do not fail to understand that there is not a time when a black person is not black in america and most other places in the world. money and opportunity changes perception, not color.

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

why mention his race? mention his record, what he stands for and above all, mention the issues. all else is not important.

not trying to bash you but i only hope that you and other voters open your eyes and get away from how it has been and start believing and preparing for what it can be.

we all one nation under a groove getting down for the funk of it, oops! we are all one nation striving for the same things: FREEDOM, LIFE, LIBERTY, PROSPERITY, PEACE, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

See you at the polls in November!

Zurui

[IndependentWoman]

Yup, she confirms it again--Ferraro is angry, self-involved and stuck in the identity politics of the 60s and 70s. She's so blind to the changes that have taken place that she can't recognize a superb leader and decent human being who would advocate for fair play for all people, whether male, female, young, old, black, white, brown--everyone.

Go away, you sore loser and spoiler: you do NOT speak for thinking women and thinking men who care about the good of their country.

[Jeff Cronin]

Ferraro is a has-been whose heavy baggage hurt rather than helped Mondale in 1984. As for those of you in Hillaryland, remember the shallow feminist solidarity that the Clintons extended to Lani Guinier, who, by the way, is supporting Senator Obama! No more Bushes, no more Clintons. No dynastic presidency.

[Who Cares?]

Sounds like there needs to be a Geraldine Ferraro / David Duke ticket. They could give Hillary a run for her money in Kentucky and West Virginia.

[Tenicka]

What a hater. Will you get a life and stop acting like Bill O'reily. You would rather vote for McCain, who would turn the clock back on women's rights? Yea, what a true lady. You should stop race baiting. Obama will be pronounced the democratic nominee on the 45th anniversary of the I have a dream speech. That is destiny, and you my dear, are one of many-a hater.

[rosetee]

Who cares what the old woman says anyway?

[Bricker]

So Sargent Shriver is an Obama supporter? The following is from a speech his son-in-law (Schwarzenegger) gave about a year ago:

"I have a father-in-law, Sargent Shriver, who has Alzheimer's," he said of the 91-year-old husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of late U.S. president John F. Kennedy.

"Now, Sargent Shriver, I'll tell you was one of the most brilliant minds in the world. He was working under the Johnson administration, the Kennedy administration, started the Peace Corps, the Jobs Corps, like I said, brilliant, brilliant," the governor said.

"Today, he does not even recognize his wife," he said.

Well, that would certainly explain it...