Countdown: Geraldine Ferraro's Racial Comments About Barack Obama
By Logan Murphy Tuesday Mar 11, 2008 8:42am
We've tried to stay out of the weeds of accusations/counter-accusations between the Democratic candidates, but after a discussion behind the scenes here at C&L, we came to the conclusion that we needed to cover this story. While C&L has not--and will not--endorse either Democratic candidate, Ferraro's comments were over the line offensive and absurd on the face of it, and the Clinton response unacceptably tepid, especially considering the uproar over Power's remarks last week.
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This mash up from Tuesday's Countdown features Keith Olbermann speaking with Howard Fineman and Rachel Maddow. Fineman posits that the Clinton's reluctance to fire Ferraro -- and this wasn't the first time she's made these comments-- Ferraro's refusal to back down and Campaign Manager Maggie Williams' angry pushback is because this is the kind of fight that Clinton wants. Rachel Maddow doesn't know if this is the best strategy for the Clinton campaign to take:
For anybody to be saying that Barack Obama is only where he is because he is black, that black men are so privileged in America that that's the only thing that explains his success because he's otherwise unqualified - which is the implication of her comment, would be absolutely offensive, more than regrettable, from anybody commenting seriously on the campaign. Honestly, you know it, you know it would be. But for this to come from somebody whose an official part of the campaign and the campaign did not to disavow that person and distance themselves, is, it's an incredible decision and therefore does make us question whether they're doing this on purpose for some reason."
Pam Spaulding can't figure out what the Clinton campaign is thinking either. One whisper that has been floated as a possible alibi is that Ferraro's ongoing cancer treatment meds may be affecting her, but that doesn't excuse Clinton's mild response. In fact, there's no excuse whatsoever for this kind of thinking at all. Can you imagine the uproar if O'Reilly or Limbaugh said this and is that the kind of company Clinton wants to place herself?
Thanks to Nicole for her help.
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Hillary's greatest hits:
1. Obama = Ken Starr
2. Obama not a muslim (as far as I know)
3. Ferraro "Obama's only around because he's black"
4. McCain has more experience than Obama
Enough. Hillary needs to go away. She really is turning into a monster right in front of our eyes.
I don't why people act surprised. Many in society continue to prove we have a long way to go.
People are only pissed off because she's right.
Hillary really needs to drop out for the sake of the party. This is getting too ugly and people are not going to put up with this any more.
Also I love Rachael Maddow. I wish they would have given her the time slot on MSNBC instead of David Gregory.
I don't know why the superdelegates don't put an end to this. They just ring up and tell Clinton, I haven't decided whether you have my vote yet but if you keep up this kind of crap, you won't. Problem solved.
Watusi @ 3:
Yes because everyone knows in American society mixed race men with middle names of Hussein have it easy
This is a way for Clinton the throw red meat out at those republicans currently disenchanted by their party and who are willing to vote for a dem this time around. She's greasing the wheels of the racist side of the republican party. Make no mistake about it - Clinton is highly calculated and she will do whatever, I mean whatever, it takes to win.
vrk @ 5:
Nice idea, but there might be too many idiots that think like Watusi (Commenter #3)
I can really see how being black in America would give you an advantage starting with the free ocean voyage from the old country back in the day, cheap and easy access to guns and pharmecuticals in those thriving urban markets, not to mention our long and proud history of electing black President after black President.
Why wasn't the field crowded with black men this time around, is being President somehow benieth them?
Someone will have to come explain to the black men in my neighborhood just how wonderful things are. I mean about being a black man in America.
There are many fine people here in my neighborhood, we all know that.
I just don't think the message has made it this far yet. That these folks have all of what they have because they are of their color.
So someone please come explain it to us here! We're waiting.
ChrisM70 @ 8:
At least give me a moment of respite from this carnage and allow me a pleasant daydream.
Hillary knows the sharks are circling, so she's letting this fester until she can find another distraction to delay and mask the Really Nasty Surprise that she doesn't want anyone to "know" about. What could that be? Stay tuned to find out... if it breaks soon, it'll break in about a month, depending on the outcome of the primaries...
Every time race is injected into this campaign, it is from Hillary.....this is no accident. Once again this speaks volumes about Hillary and her Republican style fear mongering feeding into a perceived Caucasian paranoia.
Watusi @ 3:
what does that make you?
Well, I'm glad to see C&L finally decided to run with this. Simply saying "well both candidates are making jabs at each other" doesn't make it true. This is the latest in a series of beyond the pale attacks by Clinton. I'm frankly so disgusted by her at this point I can barely keep the TV on when they show a 10 second clip of her.
Watusi @ 3:
There are three kinds of ignorance. Adult ignorance, which I describe as simple lack of knowledge. It's easy to deal with adult ignorance because all you have to do is correct the error in one's knowledge. It's acknowledged, and the adult goes on. Juvenile ignorance is a bit more work. The juvenile ignorant will protest that they actually know better, despite the clear presentation of facts, and struggle with it but eventually grudgingly be convinced and agree.
Then there's infantile ignorance. The infantile ignorant will scream with red-faced rage that it has to be their way, throwing anything and everything in sight. The problem with this is that the person engaging in this childish tantrum is usually a fully grown adult. But the infantile ignorant is often so proud of his thunderstruck stupidity that he displays it whenever and wherever he can, unaware that the image he is presenting is that of a full-grown man who's shit his pants and is proudly showing it off. Civilized and adult persons find him disgusting and offensive and completely without redeeming social qualities.
One of the prime examples I can give of someone who I characterize with infantile ignorance was the individual I encountered on the freeway one day who proudly bore a sticker on his rear window that read "Aids cures fags." I almost ran my car off the road.
Your sentiment is in the same league. Go, like, change your pants or something.
Do you really think that a personable and inspirational single-term senator would get so much attention if he was white? Probably. Do you think being black helps him? Probably. Do you think folks are over-reacting by styling Ferraro (and of course the "KKKlintons") racist? Probably. The amount of uncritical regard for anything Senator Obama does, says, was and is remains in kool-aid drinking levels. Kos and most progressive blogs are not the nation and the sweeping charges of racism against anyone who does not see the Senator as nothing less that the Magic Negro (to use Spike Lee's term) Second Coming will come home to roost. All this shrill silly and demended hysteria only helps that old guy who want to bomb, bomb, bomb Iran. All you knee-jeck "you're a racist cause you don't think like me" folks need to take a cold shower and STFU for a bit.
Watusi @ 3:
Dimwit!
It's all about PA so they found a northeast-influenced surrogate to stir the pot and get the race discussion started....and the response is just what they were looking for because this story is everywhere.
Ferraro is right on this one. If BO were white he wouldn't be running for President today (though in another 12 years he might). Just like if Ferraro weren't a woman she never would have been selected as VP nominee. Just like if Hillary hadn't been married to Bill she wouldn't running for President either.
Seelieme @ 17:
Yes, I do believe such a senator would. In the same way a Governor from a small southern state did much the same. As for your concern about helping McCain out, tell it to Hillary, she's the one saying both her and McBush are more experienced.
ChrisM70 @ 1:
Hopefully the people of Pennsylvania have started to realize what kind of person she is.
Correct me if i am wrong but didn't it come out in Geraldine Ferraro's election campaign that her husband was up to his eyeballs in some kind of illegal scheme to make a lot of money?
Ferraro is making these statements on Fox. FOX! Hillary is the target of far too much sexist crap, but that doesn't excuse having her people appear on the Republican network spouting racist garbage on her behalf.
Seelieme @ 17:
Blah Blah Blah, the media is so easy on Obama and all his followers are just cult members drinking the kool-aid. You're so full of shit! The comments are absolutely racist... the only question is whether she said them because she's a racist or because she's trying to impersonate one and get the real racists fired up. Neither explanation is the slightest bit OK.
Seelieme @ 17:
So what you are saying is that instead of attacking Obama on the issues the Clinton campaign needs to point out that he is black and we are supposed to say, Wow! You're right?"
More than racist, Ferraro seems to be desperate but mostly BITTER! Yeah...she has had a really difficult life...sorry she was held back by her being a female! She didn't achieve anything in life...
I haven't really followed her in recent years so I really don't know what she has been up to of late...but over the past couple of days I would use the word bitter to describe her best!
slippy hussein toad @ 16:
There is absolutely no evidence in the link to support the claim that the medications that Ms. Ferraro is taking in her battle against cancer is affecting her ability to think rationally. The reporter who wrote the story should have indicated whether this particular drug does cause side effects but there was no mention in the story to back up the claim made by C & L that this may have caused Ms. Ferraro to say what she did about Obama.
who would talk about Geraldine Ferraro if she was a he. either way, we will find out in november if america is racist, sexist or age discriminates, or are we bigger than that? I have my doubts.
Geraldine Farraro was dead right, and anyone that doesn't see that race plays a part in 91% of blacks in Mississippi voting for the black man is BLIND. If Obama was say "John Edwards" he would not be in the race at this time, wake up people it is what it is, race plays a part in our lives everyday, it is reality. I personally am tired of sticking my head in the sand and ignoring that fact, racist come in all colors.
ChrisM70 @ 1:
5.
Obama lied about NAFTANO WAIT
Hill lied about NAFTA!
vrk @ 6:
Smart black guys (and smart women of any race) can gain prominence more easily than a white guy.
Who was the last white guy in his 40s to make a serious run at the Presidency? Who was the last white guy with as little government experience as BO to make a serious run? Even JFK had three terms in the House and two in the Senate before making his successful run for the Presidency.
The meltdown has begun.
No, Ferraro is wrong. She's creating a false dichotomy here, by claiming that Obama has the advantage of being black, while Hillary has the disadvantage of being female. It could be argued in reverse; no black has ever been on a national ticket before, while Geraldine herself was Mondale's running mate 24 years ago.
Either way, it's identity politics. "Vote for me because I'm a _____" has morphed into, "He's only running because he's ______" Identity politics sucks. If women at large had believed Ferraro in 1984, she and Mondale wouldn't have lost 49 out of 50 states. Do the math, folks...women represent over 50% of the electorate (blacks, about 11%). If women played identity politics, they could elect a woman to any office without a single male vote. Fortunately, most women are too smart to play Ferraro's game.
Dave K @ 330:
What Mrs. Ferraro, like Bill Clinton with his Jesse Jackson comment, forgot is that Barak Obama as a white man would be little more than John Edwards from the midwest. The last I checked, Edwards would be the fourth Democrat in line for the nomination behind Gore, Obama and Hillary.
The funny thing is that when they personally attack Obama, sometimes they're backhanding John Edwards.
EliteLemming @ 347:
Then war it is!!!!
Site Monitor: Not on this site, it isn't. If the two of you can't play nice, I'll give you both a time out. Now please address the topic and stop attacking other posters.
Kudzu @ 356:
Thanks for confirming you have no clue what you are talking about and don't know the difference between your slanted opinion and fact. Take your bloviating somewhere else.
Mister Anderson @ 355:
LOL. Now we're getting somewhere. ;<[)
Isome Hussein @ 353:
To be fair, Alan Keyes did really well among black Republican voters.
Both of them.
He's already won more than half the states smart person...
Kudzu @ 356:
The longer you are here the more we learn about trash.
Joementum @ 363:
True! *ha*
I think what Ferraro was trying to say and not saying it very well is that if a white man the same age and with the same education and years of experience were running he would have had to answer many more questions than Obama has had to answer. Everyone, especially the media, is walking on egg shells and being very soft on Obama because he is a black man. No one wants to risk being called a racist so Obama has turned those tables and with the media's help he has made both Hillary and Bill into racist. Now, no one who knows them believes that but if the media tells you every day that they are racist many will start to believe it. But, it was a good strategy for Obama and he had plenty of help.
And I am struck by the fact that Obama can get more than 90% of the black vote and no one, and I mean no one, will discuss that in terms of race. Racism is unacceptable regardless of where it comes from and I believe that we are now witnessing reverse racism that has our country quivering in the corner hoping no one mentions that ugly fact.
Yes, we have a long way to go in this country and our media has not helped matters at all. Obama should have had to answer questions and he should have been treated as any other person and been vetted but that has not happened and will not happen.
Hillary will win against Obama because she will get the black male vote:
"Black men really love white women. Anna Nicole Smith had six black pallbearers at her funeral. I thought Farrakhan had died" _Chris Rock
vonrking @ 350:
Fucking A Right. She made a stupid comment, demonizing Clinton, and Obama handed her ass to her and rightfully so. He has made it VERY clear that if he is going to attack Clinton then it will be on her judgement, which is very poor based on her voting record.
Obama has taken the high road and that is why Hillary is losing.
Oh and before you try to act smart and mention Barack's comments about Clinton's tax records, he's right, she should release them but she won't because she doesn't want to reveal how much money she's getting from Saudi Arabia and China.
Swashbuckler @ 249:
You don't seem to get it. There is a long list of progressives who admire Obama's campaign and despise the desperate hateful tactics Clinton has used. She's lost those of us who find those tactic offensive no matter who's doing them.
Hillary would have my support if she ran her own campaign, but she wants to be everything to everybody and it just comes off as desperate.
To be honest I wanted Edwards. Both Hillary and Obama are too middle of the road for me, but I strongly believe that he will surround himself with people who have fresh ideas that he will listen to. Hillary has little to no chance of bringing the 2 parties together. Putting their feet in cement to oppose her will be badge of honor to most every Repub.
With every passing day, Clinton is overtly looking more and more like the Republican that i view her as covertly being. That bottomless-bag-of-ambition-in-a-human-suit looks like she will do or say anything to achieve power.
Kudzu @ 356:
I always thought that in a democracy, you voted for the candidate that best represented your interests, and not the one whose endorsements met your satisfaction.
When i er gave the, uh athorization, I er didn't think it uh would be used.?. Sorry sitemoniter being facetious.
Racebaiting sucks!!! No more manufactured "Sista Soulja moments"!!!!
Bluesage @ 367:
If Obama wasn't in the race, then John Edwards would be the leading contender against Hillary. What questions would Edwards have to answer that Obama hasn't been asked other than his vote for the war which he has apologized for on numerous occasions?
Edwards would not be running on experience. He would be running on compassion. Would Ferraro say that Edwards would get a free pass because he's a hot looking young white man and is lucky to have the Patrick Swayze has cancer-guilt vote?
poor lady clinton. another nail in the coffin... which will be last?
abob @ 343:
Note to abob: Obama is winning. If Hillary and her minions can't stand up to the tactics of Obama, how in the hell can we trust her to win in economic negotiations with the hardball playing Russians, Chinese, and OPEC?
bmw H. 528 @ 361:
Bloviation appears to be the name of your game, however that has little to do with Obama losing Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, sorry if that sours your milk.
Kudzu @ 360:
Note to monitor, Nobody is declaring war here, you missed part of the thread........carry on Charles....
Site Monitor: Note to Kudzu...my statement stands. Stop hijacking this thread and keep the comments on topic.
Kudzu @ 377:
Be gone troll, even if Obama lost all the upcoming primaries by a margin of 10% he would still be ahead in delegates. Go pollute someone elses site with your clueless garbage.
they forgot to install a garbge disposal inside the kitchen sink
QSE#@ @ 364:
But little states don't count! Neither does the popular vote.
Sorry, the devil made me do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCruefYl3FI
Great work benefits though.
Has there ever been a commenatator more full of himself than Keith Olbermann? He makes Bill O'Reilly seem modest in comparison. Sometimes he voices good political points but he always exudes a disturbing level of pomposity and arrogance that is palpable. When Keith starts to blather about his newest special comment, I envision him delivering his remarks while riding a short yellow school bus reserved for special pontificating jackasses like him.
[Kiva, since you won't give it a rest, I'm resting it for you. Drop us a line when you want to come back-Sitemonitor]
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 9:
brilliant
abob @ 383:
LMAO! WHAT?! I tire of saying this...Olbermann/facts...BOR/BS propaganda.
And like Olbermann's so-called pomposity and arrogance can hold a candle to BOR's...
Paul @ 371:
hillary was originally a noxin supporter! At some point, she changed affiliations, but apparently not leanings. noxin's 'silent majority' was the most blatant race-baiting ever and mainstreamed the idea of marginalizing minorities by playing to or outright manufacturing white fears.
CoIntelPro - against Divisive Democrats @ 381:
Not quite, the popular vote determines the proportionality of the delegate allocation. Right now Obama leads in the delegate count, but not by much. An earlier poster had it about right, Pennsylvania might settle this.
However, it's the superdelegates that will decide if neither candidate cinches the required delegate count. Hillary leads right now with the superdelegates.
Just put Hillary in a starry thong, cape, and thigh boots. You'd have to have super powers to fight in that outfit.
CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG.
I just saw Geraldine Ferraro on CNN and she said "Now I know how what Rosa Parks went through." ....Nope, I totally made that up, but she's stupid enough to say it by the end of the day. Hillary baby, a campaign is like a lifeboat: the infirm, the aged, the batshit-insane racists - over the side, baby, over the side.
CoIntelPro - against Divisive Democrats @ 386:
No, actually Hubert Humphrey was considered too far left, George Wallace too far right, and Nixon as a moderate.
The silent majority reference were to those not protesting in the streets.
Shrill sounds coming from the Obama fan club.....did they think that race was not gonna raise its ugly head? Do they think that the republicans will give him a pass on this subject now and in the fall? This is hardball politics......he is young and green....starting his US Senate job about the same time as the Terry Schiavo polemic hit the national stage early 2005........This is no sin...but a fair review of his history gets you no great treasure...so his ememies will trash him with this lack of product. The purpose of the democratic primary is to elect a DEMOCRAT who can fucking win against the republican..............if you build hate in your heart against Hillary...you are hating on some 14 million democrats.........his numbers have many more independents and republicans...than hers.......problem there for me is this....do I want an independent or republican deciding who the democratic nominee is? fuck no.....this is not the general election......the republicans in their primaries exclude cross-overs for this very reason.....the media has built a Cartoon of Hillary that is easy to hate...the Clinton Machine does it all...all evil.....she will do or say anything to win.....etc....from the comments above....you know what she is thinking and planning....she does shit but where is the proof...Ferraro is not her mouth piece.....and just because David Alexelrod says it ......my last point is this....this kind of animus and vitriolic speech is the republican dream.....and from my seat the Obama folk are falling into this hole...When I heard Bill Clinton speak in Januray....he told the audience to respect the Obama team....that we would need them in the fall to get Hillary elected....or that we would be working on the ground to get him elected....we are in this together or we fucking lose. And calls for Hillary to get out now......he is not the winner yet and neither is she...and they are spending our money to get there.........let it play itself out and grow a thicker skin...THE REPUBLICANS ARE COMING AND THEY DO NOT PLAY FAIR.........THE SWIFT-BOATERS ARE A'COMIN
Mister Anderson @ 374:
Well, for one thing he would have had to answer a whole lot of questions about a 17yr. relationship with a character like Resko. He would have had to answer many more questions about the questionable real estate deal on his mansion. He probably would have been asked a few questions in the debates before Hillary and have to give his own answers rather than just agree with hers. He would have had to answer about many of his votes or non-votes in the Ill. State House and his votes in the Senate which is almost identical to Hillary's. He might would have had to answer for calling Lieberman his mentor. C'mon Mr. Anderson, unless you have blinders on you know that Obama has been given a pretty easy ride so far. I have no problem with him and will vote for him if he is our nominee but I know that he will have a much tougher time when the repugs have a go at him and it would be to his advantage if he was walking thru a little fire now and handling it. And, I also know that the press made a whole lot about Elizabeth Edwards being so vocal but have said virtually nothing about many questionable comments made by Michelle Obama.
bmw H. 528 @ 379:
Sugah' I hate to spoil your puddin', but these primaries will get him the Democratic nomination, it's winning Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio in November that will be his Waterloo. I'll admitt he win's the Democratic nomination but come November, well, that's another story...........
A question for C&L. Why will you not endorse a candidate? Surely you have an opinion, and if yes what is the harm in expressing it? I think you owe it to your readers to be open about your views. The last thing we need is something like the traditional media where their biases are in full view and yet they call themselves fair and balanced. Transparency and openness are the reasons why people prefer online sources of information.
By the way before everyone jumps down my throat I was not comparing C&L to Fox news! That was the first and most obvious example I could think of.
The idea that women are less privileged in today's society than african-americans is patently absurd. These kinds of comments are the very reason the feminist movement fails to gain the broad-based support it constantly lobbies for from progressive young people who would be otherwise sympathetic to the cause. You don't advance the cause of feminism by belittling the long and unacceptable history of racism in this country.
As for the Clinton campaign, this comes as no surprise. These are clearly the tactics that Hillary and her advisers feel are necessary in order for her to have any chance at winning the nomination. She will appeal to racism, play on sypmathies, lob dishonest claims and accusations, engage in fallacious arguments, gladly invite republicans who have no intention of going democrat in the general to vote for her in the primary to skew the results, marginalize or ignore the states in which she loses while playing up the importance of those she wins, or whatever other gross and power-hungry tactic she feels will assist her in any way on the road to what she must consider her birthright.
Clinton and her team have convinced themselves that she has a RIGHT to be president and are thus able to rationalize whatever cheap tactics it takes to get her there. Thank you C&L for finally pointing out the vileness of Clinton's tactics. It's admirable that you choose to stay neutral in the race, but as such, you must act as a referee on behalf of the democratic party in general, pointing out when one side goes grossly over the line.
If Obama was a white man, Clinton would be finished by now. That he's black and, sadly, America has not even reached the threshold of colorblindness is a testament to how terrific a candidate he actually is. This independent sees The Clinton Campaign as officially in the gutter.
McSame/Clinton in '08.
Watusi @ 3:
Haha... I found a great response on another blog to ridiculous comments like that one:
The fact that people are dismissive, resentful or suspect of Obama's current political celebrity based on his bi-racial genes is telling. It tells the rest of us that despite the random anglo/caucasian's insistence that race is not an issue in America or that it is not caucasians who make race an issue, RACE IS AN ISSUE FOR A WHOLE LOT OF THEM!!
BigHurt @ 27:
__________________________________________________________________________
I don't think of Obama as black. I think of him as our best hope.
How can Hillary not fire someone who makes overtly racist comments about her opponent? Anyone who says Clinton is not hurting the Democratic Party is insane. This is disgusting.
I think it's funny that one group thinks Obama will lose because he's black and a different side of the same crew thinks the only reason he'll win is because he's black. Both like to prequel their comments with amusing statements like "I'm not racist but..."
The very fact that they feel the need to prequel remarks with such a notation would suggest otherwise.
Meanwhile the rest of us try to stay focused on issues and facts although finding the latter is much like a treasure hunt these days.
Hillary's mission seems to be to throw as much dirt and contempt at Obama as she can. She's over the top with anger at him because he interferred with her ambition. She's behaving as some bi-polar creature who has a smartassed (and rehearsed) retort for every issue posed to her . For the sake of the party and the nation she needs to bow out. She's proving what a sore loser she is.
Robert Lockwood Mills @ 35:
91% of Mississippi blacks voted for Obama. That's identity politics.
15:
I agree. I was ambivalent about both candidates before and I voted for Obama here in VT simply because Hillary's campaign was starting to go nuclear and it was turning me off. But I was still ambivalent. This shit keeps up like this, and she still get the nomination? I'll still vote for her in November, but I'll have to take a real hot shower afterwards.
WTF is her campaign doing??? She's pretty much rushing into the middle of the Democratic party, strapped with dynamite, and screaming, "It's me or nobody!"
I guess nobody gives a fuck to read the whole piece by Ferraro. When I read it I didn't take away a racist angle since it seemed to me that she was responding to the question of media treatment of the candidates. Her point seemed to be that since Obama is black the media went very light on him so that they didn't get an accusation of racism. Her point further seemed to be that the media finds being sexist to be tolerable and that is where she was coming from when she said a woman of any color would not be in this position. I took the phrase "this position" to mean where one is media treatment-wise. You can certainly argue against her assertions, however I certainly didn't see her comments the way so many others do. Maybe it's because I received an education in my life and I actually read the whole thing in context. I am curious why those attacking Ferraro are not similarly outraged over the racist comments of Michelle Obama. One of her videos on YouTube has her answering that even though Obama was behind early on with people of color, that black people would "come around" and vote for the black candidate. That is as racist as anything can possibly be. For the record I can't stand any of these candidates and most of you bastards who display so much ignorance and hypocrisy.
More pertinent than her family's troubles, according to Ben Smith at Politico she made similar comments about Jesse Jackson back in 1998. I'd say she's got a long-standing race problem. As one of the commenters on the linked post below said, "Wow, an Italian-American from the Hudson Valley is a crypto-racist? Who would imagine it?"
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/A_Ferraro_flashback.html
ysbaddaden @ 387:
a should have put a *snark* in my comment, but your point is well made, except for the superdelegates. I don't think sHillary has a significant lead in that area, though the entire DLC contingent has not been accounted for.
Thank you, C&L, for covering this story. I have truly appreciated how you've stayed neutral throughout this primary, and have kept the focus clearly trained on the media and the Repubs. But this Clinton campaign is spiraling out of control, and the Ferraro comments are definitely unacceptable. A strong message has to be sent to Hillary and to the nation that we won't stand for it. I will not accept such comments, or the candidate who allows them -- if my objections help divide the party, so be it. If Hillary wants to make the Democratic party as nasty and unprincipled as the Republicans, then I don't want to play.
Troy @ 388:
Didn't the siege at Troy last ten years?
Of course that could've just been a party at Troy Donohue's.
Or did you mean this TroI?
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.geocities.com/Area51/8...
Boy-troi
[deleted--off topic.]
ysbaddaden @ 390:
so who WAS protesting in the streets?
douglas in oklahoma @ 391:
As Wile E. Coyete slowly disappears over the cliff...................poof of dust. Holds up sign: Go Hillary! (all caps, of course)
Gary @ 342:
Hahahahaha! Good one, Gary!
douglas in oklahoma @ 391:
that pretension of 'thicker skin' is what fucked gore and kerry. Obama responded yesterday, but has that hit the media or the blogs? people have to fight back against bullshit, NOT sit and contemplate the thickness of their skin or the depth of their navel. let's not equate what Obama has done with what Hillary is doing. Obama supporters ahve every right to rail against the destruction of their party by the jealous DLC.
Besides, sHillary has been a repug all along. She's just not hiding it as well anymore.
Kudzu @ 31:
Whether or not he benefits from being black is a non-issue. The reason is that even if he is benefitting from being black, there really isn't anything wrong with that.
Okay, didn't race play a part in the US having all white, male presidents up to this point. So, race played a part in their nomination, on both sides, and their eventual election. Wouldn't you say? Let's just assume that Barack's race is now helping him. Okay. His race influenced the life experiences that make him who he is today, which is a good presidential candidate. Given the history of race helping white people in this country, now that race happens to be helping a black person, is their anything wrong with this? I believe this is a moot point. The only people who see something wrong with it are those who aren't enjoying this benefit, if it exists. Sure, in an ideal world, we wouldn't identify or not identify with someone because of race. Hopefully we'll get their someday. We all should play a part in that, but I don't believe it is up to the historically repressed group to lead the way by disavowing any benefit.
Bluesage @ 392:
Easy ride? Bush didn't have to answer for his decades of drug & alcohol abuse, but I'm certain BO will have to answer for his experimentation. Bush didn't have to answer for his lack of business acumen (failed business ventures one & all), but I'm sure BO will have to answer again for Rezko. McCain isn't derided for his admitted lack of economic knowledge, but I'm certain BO will be further framed as not having experience. Speaking of which, Hillary claimed experience includes being the wife of the president and brokering peace in Ireland (which they DENY), but no one in the media calls her on it.
Blacks in America have normally sided with candidates who espouse more egalitarian points of view; Obama is a candidate who does that. He's not as desirable in that regard as Kucinich or even Edwards, but neither of them is in the race.
Michelle's comments may seem questionable to the clueless, but they're not questionable to others. The scrutiny will come if, or when, he becomes the nominee.
Instead of being so blinded by BO and his supporters' racial identity and basing your conclusions about the vote on that, all of you need to look at the historical voting record and learn from it.
It is increasingly obvious that race is an issue with Clinton supporters (and rethuglican bigots). If nothing else, after this is over I would hope that Democrats as a whole stop pretending that racism, however soft, bigotry and prejudice are NOT things of the past.
thank you for saying "racial" and not "racist" remarks......
because they are certainly not the latter.
Bluesage @ 392:
Rezko is on trial. To date, Obama hasn't been charged, tried or implicated in any crimes in connection with Rezko. If facts should come out in the future, then he should be handled accordingly. If we're going to start the "guilt by association" claims with politicians, then the Clintons would be on the top of the list with the rest of Washington to follow, don't you think? Rezko, like Whitewater and dead people in Arkansas, is little more than a campaign ploy that is unknown and irrelevant to the American people.
Their campaign platforms are EXACTLY the same. Why would he waste a debate performance and come off sounding like Al Gore or John Kerry trying to explain the difference between mandates for all and mandates for children as far as healthcare? Or, I'll talk to enemies directly or I'll send 100 surrogates for 10 years before I meet with them?
He called Liberman his mentor. Wow! Shocking news! Is that any worse than Clinton endorsing John McCain over Obama on two separate occasions during the primary so it will be replayed repeatedly during the general?
Sorry, I don't see where he has had this "easy time". This ENTIRE campaign process has been about perception. It's like we all have the perception that Hillary has 35 years of experience. When you actually read her bullet points, you actually find out that she has 35 years of "involvement" in politics, but being involved doesn't quantify into actual experience.
For every argument you can make about Obama getting it easy, I can make two about Hillary. That's why I say this ENTIRE argument is stupid because when you cut through the perceptions and straight to the facts, they both have the same advantages and disadvantages.
The ONLY problem I see is that Obama is the front-runner and Hillary believes that it is some media and white-regret conspiracy that she is not winning. That is not uncommon in politicis. Bush still doesn't understand why the American people don't support the War in Iraq either and believes that its the media fault for only reporting the "bad news". And if the coverage was balanced, then 70% of the American people would not only support the war, but believe that we were winning by a landslide and we should sacrifice all of our blood and treasure to achieve victory for however long it takes.
I believe Hillary has the same mindset when it comes to this Democratic nomination. She believes the longer she stays in the race, the more opportunities she'll have to earn the votes of super delegates who she believe will magically vote against their own people in a election year.
How sad....how sad indeed....
in obama the republicans have nothing on. in fact, obama seems to be an inclusive figure, so inclusive that he actually brings in republicans and independants who will vote for him.
in clinton, the republicans have a warehouse on. in fact, clinton seems to be a divisive, polarizing figure, so polarizing that democrats won't vote for her in an election tailor made for democrats against a weak republican.
so what does the democratic leadership do? encourage this to go on by not telling clinton to end her campaign.
i believe that this race would be as divisive and polarizing and ugly if it were john edwards still in the race instead of barack obama. and hilbots need to get off of this meme that the reason that people are so negative against her is because she's a female. that is nothing close to the case. people are so negative against her is because she is hillary clinton. she brings a lot of baggage and deviciveness around her and we don't like that.
i decided long ago that i could not in good conscience vote for clinton because her attitude disgusts me, so i'm for obama pretty much by default. hillary supporters need to know that even though they both share the vast majority of positions, attitude is everything. her attitude turns off a lot more people than she turns on. she feels like the world owes her something. well the world owes katrina victims something. the world owes the people in darfur something. the world owes all of those repressed by some force something. when those who are actually in need get that which the world has denied them, then she can claim to be owed the presidency. have some humility, something that both obama and mccain have.
bmw H. 528 @ 379:
But he still wouldn't have 2025 committed delegates and that number decides victory. Furthermore, in such a case, he would be behind in the popular vote which makes the superdelegate question even more divisive.
You know Obama only won Wyoming because he carried the black vote.
/sarcasm
slippy hussein toad @ 16:
Your "three kinds" distinction is impressive! As my good friend Bertrand Russell would say of works he admired, "I should like to have written it myself!" It sounds a lot like the letter I wrote to Rep. King of IA yesterday pertaining to his comments about terrorists dancing in the street upon hearing the news (if) Obama was elected. It's really an expression of an underdeveloped intellect and not really an expression of an argument, as the 'adult' kind would see it. The same goes for our friend above.
ggg @ 298:
and Amen! KO's institutional and professional pettiness allows him to redicule young people on a singing show simply because they are on a competitor station. He's been a disappointment.
BTW yesterday Solada O'Brian was covering the Mississippi race and for historical perspective mentioned how Jesse Jackson did. Does anybody think she was being racist? Just wondering?
fiver @ 399:
Hahahaha! What a funny mental image you've conjured up:I can see it clearly. Great response
Just as a note, I used to watch Keith Olbermann religiously. In fact Olbermann actually used two comments I left at the Crooks & Liars blog for segments on his show. The one about how to punk O' Reilly's producers when they try to mug you and the one on giving the Frost family airtime to talk about all the death threats they received from right wingers. So I hope you are reading this too, Keith.
That being said, if you look at Olbermann's professional career, he always flames out spectacularly everywhere he works because his enormous ego and sense of grandiosity always forces him to burn bridges and eventually tick all those around him off.
This time around, Olbermann carved out a niche audience by attracting those of us who felt disaffected by the current politics and the media. Now he is going to alienate permanently half of his audience with his constant Hillary bashing. I haven't watched him for weeks, when I noticed that he had gone overboard and insane from Obama-itis. Even some of his guests were looking at him kind of strange when he made some truly bizarre comments.
Olbermann has now become exactly what he has been assailing these past years. A partisan propagandist who has to twist the truth and tell lies in order to enact his agenda. Keith, you are Fixed Noise. Congratulations on becoming a propagandist and for destroying your latest career!
CoIntelPro - against Divisive Democrats @ 381:
But it's HER turn. She has the big states. She has Bill. It must be her!! *tears welling up in eyes*
Mister Anderson @ 405:
Isome Hussein @ 403:
TWO INSIGHTFUL COMMENTS
Kudzu @ 377:
Obama lost Florida? I was unaware that the election there was considered valid. So there were no campaign visits, no campaign, and therefore nothing to lose.
Obama has however won 30 of the 44 contests that have been held so far, and is ahead in delegates and popular votes.
He's also raised more money than any other candidate in the race, is head and shoulders above both Clinton and McCain.
Yeah. He looks like he's blowing it for sure. I guess I'd better give him another $25 to help him out. Thanks for the hint!
sf @ 410:
Mississippi is a historically racist state. Trying to have a intelligent discussion about its racial dynamics in relation to how they vote and using Jesse Jackson as a example is not racist.
Bill Clinton going out of his way to dismiss Obama's victory by bringing up Jesse Jackson when John Edwards was a better example was not racist, but very offensive and insulting. Bill Clinton is very smart as I watched him give a speech yesterday where he rattled off all of the remaining contests after Pennsylvania from the top of his head.
For him to mention Jesse Jackson before John Edwards was intentional and it blew up in his face.
Zeitgeist @ 408:
On a serious note, Wyoming is interesting because it's so un-Mississippi like. (I live in Wyo) Because I was traveling on Saturday, I got to see multiple overflowing caucus sites. While HRC as some loyal followers here and everyone (mostly older white women), the number of new, mostly younger dems attracted to these caucuses is truly surprising to see.
I'm voting for Nader! A real American.
He never complains about delegates.
Kudzu @ 269:
Eh? Olbermann does the best job (along Charlie Rose) of discussing the real issue ignored or misrepresented by the MSM hacks.
Besides, sometimes (albeit not often enough) he features the esteemed John Amato. What's not to love!
Kudzu @ 393:
So the lukewarm turnout of voters on the R side of the aisle, and the fact that voters have been defecting D in record numbers, and the record-breaking fundraising and donors to the Obama campaign . . . just doom him.
I'm fascinated with your logic. It's almost Rovian. He's so drastically far ahead that he's just GOT to lose in November. He's failed to commit the ridiculous errors of the Kerry and Gore campaigns, he's failed to hire Bob Shrum to shipwreck his campaign . . . yep. He's screwed. Standing up to Republicans is what will doom him, I'm sure. Hitting back when he's smeared . . . that's a huge mistake. Doing so while at all times maintaining a tactful, even classy, public image . . . yep. Got him there too. In the meantime his opponents have fear-mongering and race-baiting, party apathy, low fundraising numbers, and the fact that the public is actually tuning out an increasingly sycophantic and useless mass media and getting personally involved. It looks hopeless.
OxyCon @ 412:
You guys can't have it both ways. You can't say that Fox News isn't fair and balanced and then complain when left-leaning media attacks a Democrat just because it's one that you support.
Olbermann's appeal to me, just like Bill Maher, is that they're left-leaning outsiders and not insiders. They are loyal to no one but their values and convictions and refuse to compromise either for anyone.
Olbermann is a outsider. Hillary is a insider. So naturally he would not support her. For her to go out of her way to tear down Obama using the Republican playbook needs to be addressed not only by Mr. Olbermann, but by anyone who wants a Democrat to take back the White House in 2008. This is a change election. No one is saying "I want a Democratic version of George W. Bush", they are saying "I want ANYONE who will repeal the Bush administration and the culture of Washignton where nothing gets done."
So yes, Olbermann might lose those diehard blue Democrats who loved him for attacking Bush when no one else would a few years ago. But he will earn a whole new audience of left-leaning Independents that support people like Colbert, Stewart and Bill Maher because he's willing to stand up to anything he finds disgusting and dispicable in politics....regardless of if it is trademarked by a R, D or I.
Don't get me wrong because Olbermann is not in the same league as Martin Luther King. But everyone told MLK to stick to civil rights and not speak out against the Vietnam War since it was started by Lyndon Johnson who was a strong ally of the Civil Rights movement. But King did, he was called unpatriotic and left many of his supporters scratching their heads. But not too long after, he was completely vindicated for taking that stance when no one else was willing to risk it all by speaking their beliefs.
I believe Olbermann has and always should speak up for what he believes and if he has to throw a popular Democrat under the bus to do it, then I think that takes more courage than stupidity. And he will be vindicated in the end.
Blue Lensmadinejad @ 417:
Gee, did Hillary carry any states cause she got the women vote? Naaah. I'll bet she scored equally amongst all races, genders and religions. What a candidate!!
Worth a repost, imo:
From Ben Smith's Blog - http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/
"A Ferraro flashback
"If Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race," she said.
Really. The cite is an April 15, 1988 Washington Post story (byline: Howard Kurtz), available only on Nexis.
Here's the full context:
Placid of demeanor but pointed in his rhetoric, Jackson struck out repeatedly today against those who suggest his race has been an asset in the campaign. President Reagan suggested Tuesday that people don't ask Jackson tough questions because of his race. And former representative Geraldine A. Ferraro (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that because of his "radical" views, "if Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race."
Asked about this at a campaign stop in Buffalo, Jackson at first seemed ready to pounce fiercely on his critics. But then he stopped, took a breath, and said quietly, "Millions of Americans have a point of view different from" Ferraro's.
Discussing the same point in Washington, Jackson said, "We campaigned across the South . . . without a single catcall or boo. It was not until we got North to New York that we began to hear this from Koch, President Reagan and then Mrs. Ferraro . . . . Some people are making hysteria while I'm making history."
Think of John Edward's situation. Around the time Elizabeth Edwards was taking Matthews and the rest to task for not covering her husband; Matthews as much as admitted that because Edward's is a white man and not different like the other candidates (Hillary and Barack) he was not getting the coverage.
Basically Edwards was....kind of boring for the pundits. They were able to gather up enough enthusiam to accuse Edwards of using his wife's cancer for his political gain. For a short time, a wife with cancer was interesting enough for the sorry media....but they soon focused solely on Hillary and Barack!
Much more exciting, unfortunately, for Hillary, was to cover her differences from the norm in an obviously biased and often nasty ways. Juxtapose how Obama's differences were treated by the media and, if one were honest, you could understand what Ferrero was getting at if your goal wasn't to twist her words for a much needed outrage fix.
The latest news week I read is framing the media bias and toughness on Hillary as contributing to her successes because it drew her supporters out. If they were better critical thinkers, the might surmise that their needlessly, self-serving biased coverage has been the catalyst to the current situation that they are enjoying self-serving outrage.
How pathetic it's so difficult to have an honest conversation.
I just love the free pass Obama gets when he cribs lines from a movie which are racist and anti-White, and uses them in front of audiences that are mostly black.
Here is the speech from the movie "Malcolm X" which I am talking about, with the lines Obama uses highlighted:
So I have to stand here today as what I was when I was born: A black man.
Before there was any such thing as a Republican or a Democrat, we were black.
Before there was any such thing as a Mason or an Elk, we were black.
Before there was any such thing as a Jew or a Christian, we were black people!
In fact, before there was any such place as America, we were black!
And after America has long passed from the scene, there will still be black people.
I'm gonna tell you like it really is. Every election year these politicians are sent up here to pacify us! They're sent here and setup here by the White Man!
This is what they do!
They send drugs in Harlem down here to pacify us!
They send alcohol down here to pacify us!
They send prostitution down here to pacify us!
Why you can't even get drugs in Harlem without the White Man's permission!
You can't get prostitution in Harlem without the White Man's permission!
You can't get gambling in Harlem without the White Man's permission!
Every time you break the seal on that liquor bottle, that's a Government seal you're breaking!
Oh, I say and I say it again, ya been had!
Ya been took!
Ya been hoodwinked!
Bamboozled!
Led astray!
Run amok!
This is what He does....
[deleted - wrong. there has been no extreme bias here. sitemonitor]
Has anyone noticed that besides Ferraro's comments, all we're doing is arguing "horse-race" figures, but no issues?
That's how the corporate owned, concentrated media, with it's infotainment wants it.
Is Brittany doing her dad?
sf @ 424:
So...are the MSM pieces on "Is Barack Obama too black to be President" and "Is Hillary Clinton to bitchy to be President" being held back until the general election?
sf @ 424:
Richardson wasn't white, and he didn't get any coverage. Mosely-Braun and Sharpton wasn't white in 2004, they didn't get any coverage. Keyes wasn't white in 2000, and he didn't get any coverage. Wesley Clark was had war experience just like John Kerry, why didn't he get more coverage than Kerry? Was it because Kerry was taller?
So either our country has made more racial strides in the last 4 years than in the previous 40, or maybe Obama and Hillary has the same "it" qualities that one or two candidates have every election cycle over the 10 to 15 or so that actually start off in the contest.
The reason Obama got more coverage than Edwards is because of Obama's war argument and change is a "inclusive" platform and "two Americas" is not. A candidate that represents "hope" has a higher ceiling than a candidate that represents "compassion".
The reason Hillary got more coverage is the reason she's still in this race. Not because she's a woman. But because she has name recognition stretching back almost 20 years in conjunction with the most famous living politician.
I have been, and remain so, an Obama supporter. He is capable of uniting the country if we are wise enough to follow his lead. I am not at all certain there is a country here to lead anymore, or that Americans are willing to assume that their President has the ability to lead after what we have been through with Bush. However, I am absolutely certain that G. Ferraro is not a racist and am sickened at the way this is being handled. She has placed her remarks in context and they were impolitic, but historically correct. She even stated that she knows she could not have been the VP candidate that she was had she not been a woman. A man with the experience she had at the time would not have qualified for the shot. Clever as he is, a part of why he is in the position he is in now involves the color of his skin and, for me, his non European name. I want a black person with a non European name to express the true values of my country to the world, and to bring us back from the edge that GWB and his cabal have dragged us to. I am ashamed of the way Clinton is handling her campaign and wish she would just fade away. If this keeps up, we are going to elect JM. He is not a bad choice, absent his advanced state of decay, and his temper.
Swashbuckler @ 44:
The majority of blacks were for Clinton before she started race baiting.
Kudzu @ 31:
Fuck you! Read the quote! She doesn't say that being black contributed to Obama's success in certain circumstances. She says he wouldn't be where he is today if he was white or if he was a woman and that he's lucky to be black. As though things have just been handed to him because he is black. We all know that the truth is just the opposite! Even forgetting how blatantly stupid and racist that comment is, it is complete conjecture! Where the hell does she get off?
Hillary is not a racist (as far as I know)
Swashbuckler @ 33:
Really? Remind me again how many black senators there have been in the history of the senate.
I think everyone's forgetting about the 28th amendment to the constitution, which says that all black male presidential candidates shall be rewarded with 1.5 votes for every one he receives from voters. Known unofficially as the "Presidential Elections Equal Opportunity Amendment," this is what Ms. Ferraro was referring to.
Seriously, Ferraro's comments are insulting not just to Obama, but to the voters that all supported him without being coerced or compelled by some kind of affirmative action.
What is racism? Its hating people for the color of their skin. Just talking about it doesnt mean racism.
"Ferraro’s comments were over the line offensive and absurd on the face of it"
I love the fact that this comment comes right after the article on the breakdown of votes by age, gender and RACE in Miss. Anyone notice 90% of blacks voted for Obama? Yes, Ferraro's comments were clearly over the line, even though the data says they were probably correct. But then, the data is clearly racist, right?
Chimichurri @ 49:
The majority of blacks were for Clinton because they didn't know Obama at all. It's called NAME RECOGNITION.
Please post Gerry Ferraro's performance on GMA this morning. I'm not sure shouting down Diane Sawyer is the right way to go. She would NOT take back her statements. I really wish Diane would have brought up Ferraro's statements from back in '88 against Jesse Jackson. They are nearly identical. WTF? I loved this woman. http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/A_Ferraro_flashback.html
RMHK @ 40:
Sorry, 1988.
JW @ 54:
Yes, the people of 97% white Iowa prove that don't they. Oh wait, Obama won there too. Ooooooooooooopppppppppppppssssssssssss.
Watusi @ 3:
1. Does anyone truly believe that had there been two white candidates in yesterday's Mississippi primary that either one of them would have garnered 92% of the black vote?
2. Does anyone truly believe that those 92% of blacks voted for Senator Obama because of his message of "hope" and "change"?
3. Does anyone truly believe that the press would be treating Senator Obama with kid's gloves were he white?
4. Does anyone truly believe that if the press took off the kid's gloves and went after Senator Obama as they have Senator Clinton that charges of "racism" wouldn't be flying around?
Answer 1: No, if two white candidates had been in yesterday's primary you would have seen a more even split of the black vote.
Answer 2: No, those numbers, to me, prove that blacks weren't voting for Senator Obama's message, they were voting for the color of his skin.
Answer 3 & 4: No, Senator Obama's supporters would be crying foul and "racism" if the press went after him as they did Senator's Clinton and Edwards (anyone remember that $400 haircut?).
Kudzu @ 31:
Yeah, right.
I had two choices in the New York primary - HRC and Obama. She's my Senator. I voted for Obama. Tell me where race comes into this scenario?
Swashbuckler @ 44:
How about the 72% who voted for Clinton? Is that NOT identity politics? How about Wyoming? Does anyone have the numbers for Wyoming?
Identity politics is a bad thing when the OTHER GUY is suspected of it. It's just politics/smart/thinking in your best interests when it's you!!
So essentially, since that damn n****r (I'm sure that word's been thrown about the Clinton campaign) ruined Shillary's coronation, she's going to stay in the "race", playing her Southern and 12-state strategy and go scorched earth on the Democrats.
Thank you for showing us who you really are, Hildo and Geraldine -- sure makes that Reagan vote much more palatable.
Ryan @ 15:
The point you made is lost on too many.
Barack rejects the "VP offer" and accepts the resignation of Ms. Power and this is equated to what sHillary and her minions are doing.
It is a false equivalence.
Swashbuckler @ 33:
JFK was still in his 40's when he was elected President.
JW @ 54:
They weren't over the line. She was just saying what independent minded people already knew.
This is being so overblown. BO is where he is today partly because he's black. HC is where she is today partly because she's a woman and because she is married to BC. So what? They are who they are. Just accept it and move on.
vrk @ 59:
Not with 91% of the white vote he didn't.
Well, taken from a comparative standpoint, being a Black man in America and running for president is CERTAINLY a lot better than being a white woman with legs like these.
Lowdown dirty politics, I know, but it's a trick I learned from Karl Rove, even if I HAVEN'T had special tutoring by him.
I've supported Obama from the start. I think he will make a GREAT President. I also believe that he would not be as successful as he is if he were not African-American.
Ferraro is not a racist. But the absurdity of all of you Clinton haters, claiming that Obama is as successful as he has been would have been the same if he were not black, is just too much.
Maybe in the general I would not mind calling McSame a racist if he pointed out that Obama was successful because he is black - but I would only do that because I hate McCain.
Thus, you Clinton haters are always willing to cast her in the worst light, and Ferraro by extension.
Call a spade a spade. What's the big fucking deal? The man is drawing 85% of black voters in every state. How would THAT be possible if he were White? Duh. It wouldn't.
And frankly, ONE of the many reasons I like Obama - yes, one of many - is that he is BLACK.
I want a black man as president, for many, many reasons. Maybe I would vote for him anyway if he was white, or maybe not. No way to tell for sure, but I am not alone in believing that America will benefit from having a black man as president. Why is that such a bad thing - wanting a black man for president over yet another priviledged white man? And if THAT is ok, what is wrong with saying it?
QuestionGirl @ 51:
Exactly! She married the first Black President! :lol:
Dr. Acula @ 65:
BINGO!!!!
I think Ferraro is right. I've said it before, and I'll say it now that if Barrack Obama were White with the same qualifications and experience, he'd either be on Edward's team or he'd be on some political track to gain additional seasoning.
I don't think that Barrack's past achievements are based on race. I think he fought and struggled just like, if not more, than his White counterparts. Regardless of race, Obama's successes are outstanding.
But when it comes to this election, his race played a part in getting him noticed and tapped as a candidate. With his abilities I'm not saying he wouldn't have ended up running for President at some point, but not right now. He's a little too fresh faced in the political game, and given American's last 8 years with someone who believed very strongly (and wrongly) in order to compensate for a lack of experience, Obama isn't that attractive a presidential candidate. Also considering the dire straits this country is in, its surprising that Americans are willing to gamble on warm fuzzies.
As a Black female in America I know racism and sexism. I know its shades. I know how it walks, talks, and spits in my face. I like Barrack and his family and his message. But there's a difference between liking a person personally and trusting them to know and do a job. And there's a difference between noting a racial fact and being a racist.
So making Ferraro out to be racist because she's voicing what everyone knows and thinks is wrong! That's the problem with a society that doesn't take the time to think and uses short cuts to form opinions. Obama's claim to fame was that he is a stand out human being who happened to be Black and charismatic. While his run isn't based solely on his race, it did play a part in getting him tapped, and has played a part in his success.
Frankly, it's about time a Black person got something based on race. It's been happening to rich people and White people for years!
ysbaddaden @ 427:
I don't know if Brit is doin' her dad, but she IS making a guest appearance on "How I Met Your Mother".
ysbaddaden @ 427:
WADR, I (would like to) think that we ARE talking about issues. A BIG issue: RACISM.
Sadly, it still is very prevalent, and unless there is a "nappy headed ho" moment, or a Mel Gibson tirade, it hides just below radar and as such, seems to be acceptable.
I'm glad this is front and center now. Just like an addict/alcoholic must first acknowledge that a problem exists in order to be helped, so too must we confront what otherwise may go unnoticed and therefore allowed to fester.
Swashbuckler @ 33:
George W Bush
Seelieme @ 17:
Thank you, thank you, thank you. you are so right and farraro was correct. she is not speaking about all blacks but in OBAMA's case specifically. where do you people come from. you do not know the black experience how we look at anything and it is tiresome listening to you act as you do. many blacks ARE voting for him cuz he's black. many women are voting for her cuz she's a woman. as a black woamn i am voting for hilliary is because i feel she is better qualified. many whites are voting for him to feel better about themselves. many feel he is the better candidate. fro folks here to deny the truth is silly. also, OBAMA's suuregates were the first to play the race card when jesse jackson went on television when hilliary cried. his national response was hilliary did not show tears for the katrina people. HE PULLED the race cards. the other black professor clay started the race talk so do not say it was hilliary and bill. it is sad that folks are trying to say OBAMA has not played a significant roll in race baiting. if you do not see just ask a black person who is willing to be honest in this discussion. we all know what is going on here.
Dr. Acula @ 431:
I bet Brittany Did His Mother.
Obama is getting as bad as Rudy (Mr. 9-11) Julianna:
Reporter: Mr. Obama what would you do to correct the Nation's over-worked electrical grid, crumbling infrastructure, and onerous gas prices?
Obama: Well at least I didn't vote to go to war with Iraq!
(Neither did I, but neither one of us was in Congress at the time.)
Reporter: And Mrs. Clinton, same question.
Clinton: I invite Mr. Obama to run as my vice-president, but he'll have to supply his own Air Jordans.
Verdillac @ 433:
Let me clarify...
Bush was not in his 40's...
Bush is a retard who has held on to his Presidency...
Why would we give Obama a hard time?
Hillary earned our scorn...she worked very hard to piss us off...she worked overtime to fuck things up for herself...
But the end of the argument is George W Bush is President...do not throw any sort of standards up in this argument. They are moot while a retard Legacy like George W Bush can get into the White House.
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