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

[SpanlenStienTheMovie]

she looks a little like ron paul these days, no really!

[Curley]

Great news! Being opposed by that senile old windbag ensures votes for Barack!

[Greg]

Funny how the supposed pro democracy democrats hate on the man winning through their own process.

Why?
Hillary is running the same Republican campaign if no one has noticed. "I will not quit."

Is this not borrowed from Bush Iraq policy? LOL!
Notice how she puts emphasis on the work quit or quitter? I'd hate to be in the front row receiving all that spit.

America... considering what the Republicans have done and Obama winning a fair process for people NOT to vote for Obama can only point to one thing. Racism. I know. I know. Call it race card if you will, but when I see a dog that is what I label it.

Stop hiding behind all of these lame excuses.
I'll give one WVA voter credit because she didn't hide her reason. She doesn't want a black person running the country. Gotta give her credit even though it is a racist statement. At least she was honest about it.

But November will reveal the true make up of the SYSTEM of this country and will unfortunately continue the cloud over the younger generation supporting Obama for Obama and no issue with race.

So sad.

[Lisa Watson]

I believe her comment about Obama being a sexist is right on the mark. If the church he belongs to, is like the Church of Christ I attended? He is definitely a sexist and he will never in a million years choose a female running mate, or a female to be in charge of anything that males are a part of. They fully believe that women shall not teach or have authority over men. I'm not saying he definitely is a emmber of that part of the Churches of Christ, but I'm not voting for him, just in case he IS. I don't want to see the hard work and tough times women have endured to gain what little access they have to having a say in this country, to be lost because I voted for Obama

[Jim]

If the Clinton's cannot unite the Democratic party, then obviously their next step is to place a wedge in it.

Remember when all of the liberals went around quoting Bush's statement 'i'm a uniter, not a divider?'
Some people need a little more self-examination.

Also, did anybody notice that Cindy McCain dumped her financial holdings in Sudan last week? Why isn't this an issue to anyone? Did she care about how the money was invested 6 months ago? It seems convenient to drop those investments now doesn't it? I wonder how much money those investments returned, and if it was improper for her to invest the money in Sudan, why isn't she returning it? Hmm...is the Republican nominee living off of blood money?

[Paul]

There is no way a true democrat would vote for McCain simply because their primary candidate lost.
If a democrat does that, then they are showing that they are incredibly immature, and also that they don't care about the future of this country. Voting for McCain is like voting for Bush, and voting for Bush means you like going to war for trumped up false reasons, and you like watching our deficit continue to grow without pause.

[Tonesolo]

What a bitter old hag. Sexist, thy name is Geraldine!

[george]

Geraldine Ferraro is getting a sex change at the KKK clinic...

[Martha Biggs]

How disappointing! I supported Ferarro in her bid for vice president -- not because of her gender but because of her stands on social issues and international affairs. I feel a sense of betrayal that she would give McCain her support at this time. Did I make a mistake? Was she not genuinely concerned about social issues?

[Allisio Rex]

I really commend Geraldine Ferraro for having had the courage to say what many people have in their mind but are afraid to say.
She's right on everything that she said about Obama Hussein and I'm sure that she didn't totally say what she had in mind about this would be "Savior" of the United States.
Let me tell you, even without Geraldine, this Obama has everything which a really Patriot wouldn't want in a person running for any political office, let alone the Presidency of this Country.
This slow but sleek talker knows how to manipulate the masses.mostly the poor Whites who have remained at the end of the economic ladder because of decades of affirmative action, forced integration and unchecked illegal immigration and the zillions of dollars that all these things costs us.
Those who propelled him to where he is today in the polls,know nothing or very little about our real world and are easily influenced by the Obama the Baracca slogan on the "We need CHANGE" and he will Deliver the goods!
As President, "My God No,please" as "CHANGE" he will transform this ones beautiful and orderly Country into a third-world cesspool and with his brash and undiplomatic attitude he will not get nothing done in Congress.
Additionally, this Baracca, may not even be a "Natural Born Citizen" as the U.S. Constitution says about qualification for the Presidency because he was born in Hawaii and Hawaii never relinquished with free will of its citizens its sovereignty and the following forced annexation was never ratified.
The same applies to John McCain who was born in Panama and not in the United States.
Obama, Natural born or not, cannot be allowed to become President of the United States of America.
This is the man who with Hillary and McCain voted to allow 40-50 millions of illegal criminal aliens to remain in this Country and become "Citizens?"
Wake-Up America!
http://www.usapoliticaltyranny.info
http://www.stanley2002.org

[Hatshepsut]

FINALLY SOMEONE NOT AFRAID TO STAND UP AND TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT B.O.!!!! CONGRATULATIONS GERRY! HOW DO WE SIGN ON TO YOUR MOVEMENT?

[mike tan]

as Asian/Indonesian imigrant I wil tell you obama supporters my suggestions. If I have a right to vote, I would not vote for obama and here is why. One, he spent his childhood in Indonesia, where I came from. He knew the Indonesian politic and corruption and he's demonstrating it now. He's a fake leader and corrupted, just like Indonesian ex- president. he manipulated and outsmarting the political system, that's why he has so many votes with the youngsters because young people did not read the news and did not know the fact and around the world and especially Indonesian make a joke and laugh if he's a president. Did you all people know that his name is a Muslim name. I have been spent my life in Indonesia and you know that raise me a flag. his corruption with tony ruzka, his bad pastor, he's already form a radical club. I could go on and on but I could not vote anyway. If I could I would vote for Clinton. she's the best person. I hope American people wake up.

[Tariq M]

How is Obama a "sexist", please explain....?

I dont think Hillary is a racist, and I dont think Obama is a sexist.

They are both natural casualties of being a black man VS a woman in a campaign tussel.

[Paul, Obama Blog]

Hey, Barack Obama won fair and square and as the underdog as well.

[Tex]

I am a 32-year-old woman who once supported John Edwards and now supports Obama. To all the women here who claim you won't vote for Obama because he is sexist, what has Obama ever done that can remotely be considered sexist (other than call a reporter "sweetie" on one occasion)? On a similar note, what has Obama ever done or said that is "racist" or intended to play the race card? To the contrary, Obama has consistently attempted to downplay race and run as a candidate for Americans of all races.

I agree that some of the media coverage of HRC has been sexist, but how is Obama responsible for the comments of Jay Leno, Chris Matthews or any other TV personalities?

It's very disappointing that some women claim they won't vote for Obama out of pure spite, just because he defeated HRC for the nomination. If you truly believe in women's rights, how can you vote for McBush, who will appoint hard-right judges and set back women's rights 50 years? What has McCain ever done to further women's rights?

For those of you who wanted to see a women president, I understand your disappointment, but why can't you see that HRC lost based on flawed strategy and her actions during the primary race? As a woman, I am saddened and disappointed by the example she set in this race -- from lying about sniper fire in Bosnia to trying to change the rules of the primary halfway through the race. She has indicated by her actions that she is untrustworthy and will say anything to win -- a quality most people do not want in their president. That is why she is losing, not because she is a woman.

Please stop blaming sexism for Obama's victory -- he won fair and square because, among other things (1) he is perceived by most as honest and sincere, unlike HRC; (2) most people don't buy that being the first lady gives one "experience" to be president; and (3) HRC voted for the war.

Those of us who are tired of Republican warmongering and mismanagement of the economy truly hope (and welcome) all of you who support HRC to unite behind Obama. You are welcome in Obama's campaign because we all want what's best for this country: the end of disastrous Republican policies. Don't you realize that HRC will have more opportunities to serve this nation under an Obama administration than a McCain administration? If she is not the VP, then she could be appointed to a cabinet position or even to the Supreme Court, where her keen intellect and detailed knowledge of the issues could really make an impact on issues such as healthcare, education, poverty, etc.

[Go Obama!!]

I will be happy if Obama calls me sweetie. Ferraro is a sore loooser!!!

[yo]

Wow. I find that Obama and Clinton ran pretty clean campaigns. Clinton was a bit dirtier, but I would not say it was very dirty compared to many other primaries. Obama is sexist? Please, there is scant evidence of this. Clinton is racist? Also scant evidence. Lucky for us these two fine candidates are not the ones taking these positions, its the few uninformed rabid supporters such as Ferraro... its really very sad.

[arg]

Wow. So many things to say about this article.

First of all "fully one third" of six is still a really small number. Thank you, LA Times, for trying to make this insignificant figure into something meaningful.

Second of all, those TWO votes come from (1) a Republican pretending to be a Democrat and (2) a known racist. Not exactly high on the credibility list in my book.

Finally, to all those people who are saying that they will not vote for Obama when he is the Democratic nominee, think hard about what that means. It means that you are willing to put slanderous crap like this article and petty personal disappointment that Clinton is not the nominee ahead of preventing McCain from getting into the White House. It means that you feel that it is more important that you get to throw your little temper tantrum than it is to ensure that the troops come home, that the poor get healthcare, that our international reputation is not further tarnished by a man who does not know the difference between Sunnis and Shias, that we elect someone who was not funded by hordes of lobbyists...the list goes on. I suppose that if you are basing your vote on the person and not the policies, you won't care anyway. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that people are still voting for the president of the United States as if it were the president of the high school class...

[Mike M]

Always a one sided story. I would love to see what you big talkers would say if you were black and went through what Rev. Wright has gone through in your life. With all the corrupt deals our government has been involved in it's funny how you think Rev. Wright has no case at all. Eight years of Bush selling out our country, with 11 trillion in debt and a dollar that's not worth spit, you people still don't get it. Some people have to learn everything the hard way.

[RR]

What is this 'may not be able to vote' for him 'if he is the nominee'? She should just say it... "I won't vote for him, period". Otherwise, it's just B.S. posturing. Let's see her square that non-vote with her choice, Hillary's declaration that she -will- support the nominee. Ferraro's been in politics too long... make up your mind... and stop the political 'nudging', because it just gets you ridiculed for being mindless and not a leader.

[archie]

Let's see, the would be Mafia Moll from Staten Island calls Obama racist and now sexist.

Fact was her husband 'business associated' with made members of the Gambino clan, so she should know what racism and sexism is.

ROTFLMAO

[walker]

I love how the Hillary troops are out in droves today to try and make an Obama nomination seem like a catastrophe. If you are stupid enough to vote for ANY republican over a democrat after witnessing the past 8 years under Bush & co., you don't deserve the dignity of voting for the (inevitably victorious) democratic ticket this November. good riddance.

[Guy Saperstein]

I now have read four articles on this topic and Ferraro has yet to explain what causes her to allege that Obama is sexist, let alone explain why a "sexist" man would marry a powerhouse woman like Michelle Obama. Or perhaps Ferraro could try, to explain why her current feminist champion, Hillary could tolerate a husband who has been cheating on her for 30 years. Is that part of the feminist agenda? I wonder what Ferraro would say if it was the other way around---Barack cheating on Michelle?

[Jack Wolf]

Wow, Geraldine. You been at fox news to long. No one really cares what you think anymore, except possibly Hillary and your friends at fox news. Please go away.

[Will Fenrick]

So, I had the Game Show Network on in the background here, a little while ago.

Match Game was on back in the 70s ... remember ... that show with Gene Rayburn, where celebrities had to match a contestant's answer when presented with a question or phrase ending with a blank?

So, then I read this story on former Democratic VP candidates, and I immediately thought of the following Match Game question:

"Geraldine Ferraro is a dumb _____."