Ferraro's comments to Breeze reporter launch controversy

As usual the media is making something out of nothing. Miss Ferraro has a right to her opinion, especially when statements are true. I am a black woman. I like Barrack, but I like Hillary more. Stop treating Barrack like he's some kind of glass doll. You treat Hilary like she is a monster when she is a very classy, intelligent lady.

This is still America, and Ferraro has a right to say what she thinks. The fact is, her comment is correct.
The Obama camp keeps saying this campaign is not about race. If that's the case, why have black voters gotten out in record numbers to vote for the man? It must be his political achievements, right? By the way, what are his political achievements?
If black voters are voting for him because they're proud a black man is running, why not just say so? It's a lot more honest than pretending to be unaffected by that fact.

And, if the Obama camp is so thin-skinned that they get offended by everything the Hillary camp says, what the heck are they going to do when the Republicans get a hold of him? You can only cry racism for so long...After that, you're going to have to take responsibility for your shortcomings.

This is America, so Ms. Ferraro has a right to free speech. She should not be dismissed from the Clinton campaign for voicing her views. Personally, I think it's the citizens who are very lucky Mr. Obama "is who he is."

Ferraro's comments are totally absurd. If Clinton does not come out and distance herself from Ferraro it is a huge blemish on her campaign. These comments are racist. Obama is popular because he has a message that resonates with Democratic voters. No matter what Clinton or Ferraro toss his way, they cannot make up for the fact that he is a visionary and she is a career politician. The country wants change and she does not represent that, neither does Ferraro. Her comments are totally unprofessional.

I'm not surprised Ms. Ferraro, as VP, lost the presidential election in the worst defeat for the democrats in the 20th century--Mondale won the primary that year using the superdelegates over the popular vote and look what happened.

In the Youtube video above she repeatedly lies about Barack Obama's record, in particular his pro choice voting record, which was endorsed by Illinois NOW.

The media is just being "the media". Hillary would not be in her position if she had not shared the bed with an ex-president, just as Bush would not be were he is now if he had not been the son of an ex-president. Obama has not had the misfortune /privilege/of either. So if class or intelligence needs to be mentioned in terms of this race, Obama wins, hands down.

What Ferraro says about the gender-bias media and its treatment of Sen Clinton are true. The backlash, if any, should be women across the U.S. demanding equal treatment in the media. Maybe then it will trickle down to politics, biz, & everyday life.

I agree with Geraldine for different reasons: Barack is acting like a girl(whinning) and being praised for it..Hillary is doing what we would expect of a man(diplomacy) and she's condemned; not to mention that Being of more than one race has proven to be Barack's leverage--he's white when it benefits his agenda and he uses the black card when it suits his goal as well. I do like him however, I don't like the head games and the typical suit attitude...we don't need another four years.

Gosh! As an African American woman of 68 yrs, I KNOW why you wrote that Aunt Jane post. Well, you have a LOT in common with Gerry and Hill. ALL: rich and well connected. You wouldn't be where you are if you weren't black. Grow up honey

Finally the truth.
Black people and guilt ridden white people are only voting for Barack Hussein Obama only because he is black.

Marissa, You certainly don't speak for anyone but yourself. As an American, regardless of my race and gender, I find Ferraro's comments racist and degrading. Obama is a Harvard-educated lawyer, former state senator from Illinois and U.S. Senator from Illinois. He is much more qualified to be President than Ferraro was when she ran as a U.S. Congresswoman, for Vice President in 1984. For her to reduce Obama's achievements and success to his race is ridiculous. There is only 1 black U.S. Senator and 1 black governor in this country. If being a black male is such an advantage in politics, why aren't there far more?

I want to express my opinion on this, and will do so on my blog, www.stop-obama.org

I'm an independent African-American male. I am not a fan of Ferraro. However, I did not find her statement to be racist. She expressed her opinion which a lot of people happen to agree with, but are afraid to say it.

I'm a little worried about the environment that is being created as a result of this campaign. It's getting to the point where people are afraid to say anything negative about Obama because they do not want to be called racist.

-www.unfilteredopinion.com

I applaud Geraldine Ferraro for having the courage to speak the truth. Interesting how white people cannot criticize a black person without it being made into a world-class felony while a black person can say whatever without any fear of being criticised.

By not firing Ferraro from her fundraising position on the spot, and by not denouncing Ferraro's racist comments without condition, the Clinton campaign has crossed the line. This is Hillary's Lewinski moment, and for at least the black community there will be no reconciliation with the Democratic Party if Hillary is nominated and Ferraro remains legitimate. I can't believe this Party and the Hillary campaign have alowed this racist and, yes, sexist campaign to evolve. Clearly the Democratic Party is not ready, yet again, to rule. Given McCain as an option, radically new leadership is essential. It might be Obama and eventually a new party. But it sure isn't Hillary and the Democrats.

She sounds like a bitter old lady who is jealous because her political career didn't take off as Sen. Obama's did. He didn't create himself, he didn't choose his color. America will never let him forget the fact that he is AA. Why can't he be considered bi-racial, afterall he is. I'am
an AA woman who was very proud of you when you were a VP nominee. During this interview when your comments were made there was so much venum coming from you. America is watching, so is the world.

That statement was racist from any angle you want to look at it, noone twisted her words. She is cleary racist and shame on her. And to say/complain Obama is whining about it is just plain absurd. Didnt Clinton "whine" when she was called a monster and demand Obama deals with it? why should it be different when Obama cries foul too. And if Obama had said the only reason why Clinton is so popular is coz she is a woman, would Hillary not have "whined". Bottom line is this is politics, your evry statement comes under scrutiny and you should be careful what you say and should accept responsibilty when it comes to bite them in the ass.

It seems that Geraldine has been practicing her reality based racism for a long time. Please see below for her 1988 really racist comments:

"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."

IF OBAMA WHITE=NOT IN SUCH POSITION?? NO OTHER CAN CHOOSE, WORK, DO AND REACH SUCH !!?...WHAT, FERRARO?, IS AMERICA, LAND OF THE FREE, FREEDOM OF CHOICE, A LIE??? MANY WOMAN OF "ANY COLOR" ARE IN HIGH POSITION, JUST DIDN'T CHOOSE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT !!! MAYBE THIS WAS SAID CAUSE SHE NEVER MADE IT TO PRESIDENCY, with her campaign's big loss!??! 200 Years of what???... How many hard working Americans have lost their homes, homeless and lives under a national doom and gloom?? SPARE US AMERICANS, your book of such, your outlook of such, the deep rooted bitterness of such comments.
'IS THE MEDIA SEXIST' AS COMMENTED?, MAYBE, JUST THAT WE'RE ALL SICK OF NEGATIVE CRAP.?! MAYBE THEY CHOSE TO GIVIE AMERICANS THE VIEW OF 'HOPE' FOR CHANGE FROM SUCH CRAP, TO HEAR AND SEE A DIFFERENT KIND OF STYLE FOR CAMPAIGNING, A TASTE OF HONOR, REAL CLASS, TRUTHS, INTELLIGENCE, RESPECT & INTEGRITY FOR + OF FAMILY, and SELF RESPECT.
'Divide and Conquer', well, her comment(s) and all those alike, didn't build up Clinton, nor meet their objective to tear down more and more, Obama ... IT REFLECTS ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND DEMOCRATIC AMERICANS, REPUBLICANS, ... ON AMERICA!! SHOWS HOW DESPERATELY WE NEED TO BREAK-THE-ICE OF FEARS AND IGNORANCE IMBEDDED IN SUCH A SOUL(S)!!!
VOTING FOR OBAMA IS BETTER THEN THIS 'CRAP' CARRYING AMERICA FURTHER INTO 'DARKNESS' !!! CRAP THAT SEEKS TO PROVOKE ANOTHER OR OTHERS TO ENTER INTO THEIR SPIRIT TO WAR, FEARS AND TEAR-DOWN !!

To read this below only 'proves' the inner truth of wickedness...= has there 'ever' been a President of color for America ??!! It's not Obama that bothers those against, it's who ever don't look, talk, think, do as they want or see things to be done!... 'their way- or no way', as usual !!
Thorne wrote: "Hillary Clinton is a disaster for the democratic party. Now she prefers McCain to Obama. Now we know it was SHE who told the Canadian government that her railings against NAFTA were political posturing. It was not Barack's campaign!
"We cannot tolerate her lies and stolen election.
"Time for all of us democratics to wake up to this disgusting turn. As democratics this should affirm the end of her campaign.
WAKE-UP AMERICA, OPEN YOUR EYES-HEART AND SOULS... VOTE FOR THE CHANGE... OBAMA WILL BE BETTER THEN CONTINUATION OF REPEATED NONSENSE-IN-SHEEPS-CLOTHING!!! Democrat or not !

I happen to agree with Geraldine. This country is in alot of trouble and we need someone who has experience in charge.
When Hilliary stepped up and announced her entering the Presidential Race, she imediately began being attacked by the media. Reasons for the attack perhaps her name Clinton? Perhaps being a woman is a challenge to some American's? No one can deny she has been shredded by the media.. Why hasn't the media gone after Obama with the same vindictiveness?
Could it be a gender or race factor?
Let us all forget about their genders, their color of skin and vote for the person who has the experience and knowledge to bring our great country to a better place than it is now. We are all hurting and we have alot of work ahead of us to get back on track. Come on my fellow Americans stop voting for color and gender and pay attention to our Country's needs. There is really only one choice. Mc Cain is a wonderful man and a great American Hero, but I feel he is not the best qualified. Obama would make a great choice for VP. He has to be a little closer to the Presidency to understand how to make the changes he wants to make in the future. Right now we need experience and there is only one person. That person happens to be a white woman with more guts than any black or white or any other race man I have ever known or heard about. All of us need to stop voting on a color or gender issue and vote for the most qualified. I am for a Dream Ticket and my reasons are as I stated. Clinton/Obama. They would be great together. Her knowledge , his energy and new ideas. Get with it America.

At first, I was excited about Obama. Then when I heard his continual whining (and I think he sort of has a fat head; he really thinks he's a rock star) I am increasingly thinking I don't want to see this guy on TV every night saying 'yes we can.' He seems like a con man to me. I think Geraldine Ferraro is actually (quite cleverly) using a ploy to express outrage at the way his campaign and himself think nobody should be allowed to say anything about him that isn't high praise. Any time you do you are jumped on (ask Hillary Clinton, who also is not my favorite). He certainly has the media charmed. I call it 'drinking the koolaid.'

For 7 years nobody could say anything to George bush,now everyone is so sensitive. The truth is obama is interesting, but no body has seen anything serious from him in form of a plan, serious talk..etc lets face it.

Ferraro's comments are absured! Right, Black people have all the advanges she had in life and that is why Obama is able to run for President. It is Ok as a woman to want another woman to be president, but it is another thing to engage in pure racism or any other of the dirty tricks that Hillary's camp will engage in to win. Sorry Hillary you lost Texas with Obama taking 99 delegates and you taking 94. But you spin that as a victory. The facts are you have lost mores states you are bhind in delegates and you are behind in the overall votes from all states. The fat lady is getting ready to sing for you Hillary

This shouldn't even have made a small time local newspaper let alone into the main stream media! Geraldine has the right to her opinion as does everyone else in America. The Obama camp calling for Hillary to apologize is a bunch of bull and childish! Hillary Clinton didn't make the comment, Hillary Clinton didn't tell her to say it, Hillary Clinton didn't tell her to go public with it so why should she have to apologize for someone else’s comments! Does that mean that every single time someone who supports Hillary or Obama has to apologize because they have opinions of their own? This is all ridiculous and in America we have the right to our own views rather or not other's agree!

The comments by Ferraro are ignorant and racist...she can't "unspin" them to be anything other than what they are. With only 2 Black Senators and 2 Black Governors in our nation's history...being a black male is clearly not an advantage...Count the women members in the Senate and in the Governor's seats nationwide; it is tough to be female, but not the same as for African Americans. Hillary's respone is not strong enough; but does point out the Clinton's ruthless approach to power. They would rather bloody the water and cost the Democrats a chance to win in November than recognize Obama's obvious grip on the nomination and back off gracefully before the convention.

Ferraro has a right to her opinion, I just don't care to hear about because it absolutely ridiculous to state he is where he is because he is black. Yeah right! As a black woman, I am sick an tired of hearing that black people are only voting for him because he is black. I find that more insulting than anything else, as if blacks cannot choose a person who they honestly feel is well qualified for the job. I am supporter of Barack Obama because of who is he is. If I wanted to select a candidate because of their race, I would have support Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, which I never did because of their political views, qualifications, etc. Are people forgetting, that even if every black person voted for Obama, he still would not win since blacks are a minority (11%). He can't win with the black vote...idiots!!!

I am very disappointed in Ms. Ferraro's remarks. I Actually admired her when she ran for Vice Presidency.
Now I find myself disliking her. In the year 2008, there is no place for racial remarks or gender remarks. That was the era of our fathers and grandfathers. Let our children see a new and more evolved way of thinking.

I never thought I'd be on the side of a left-wing feminist democrat. Sounds like she's more old-school democrat than the politically correct socialists who have taken over the party. Good for her, for stating the obvious truth and sticking to it.

Anyone who argues with her just sounds ridiculous. Right below the article about her statement is an article entitled "Black vote lifts Obama in Mississippi." She's just pointing out what's already known. Obama would not be on the pedastal that he is if he were not a black man. For her to be attacked for pointing out the obvious fact is ridiculous. People don't like truth very much !

Sounds like Geraldine is at an age and fighting a health condition so that she no longer cares for politically correct games and just likes to state the truth. I like that !! I'd never vote for Hillary but I admire Ferraro sticking to her statements. Voting for someone mainly because of his or her race or gender is just as racist or sexist as not voting for them because of their race or gender. I think a lot of voters are doing that without really researching what's behind the candidate (in Obama's case, pure socialism and possibly worse).

Geraldine Ferraro may have deliberately forgotten to include in her comments that Barack Obama started the race with more than seven white men. Where Obama is now should not be attributed to luck. Ferraro is probably in deep denial of the achievements of Obama and to admit may be too painful for her.

Ms. Ferraro started this discussion with her original remark. So, I say stop whinning.

Obama got where he is in spite of being Black. Hillary got where she is because she is Mrs. Bill Clinton.

Enough of these race baiting tactics. Enough of the woman as the victim. If either candidate has to resort to such tactics to win it means, to me, that they have lost the discussion on issues that matter to average American. Move on sisters Hillary, Geraldine and Gloria...the torch has passed.

Geraldine is right when she says Obama is where he is because he is Black, because if he were a white man, or a woman he would already be the Democratic nominee.

If you have someone who wins 12 straight races (some by huge margins) in different parts of the country, the powers that be would ask the challenger to step aside for the sake of the party. But because the Dem establishment is Clinton built and paid for, you get people trying to allow FL and MI to re-vote, superdelegates voting contrary to the people, etc.

Hillary and her minions are throwing all kinds of caca at Obama hoping something will stick and insulting Obama voters' intelligence along the way, black and white. I tell you this. If she continues, she will not get their support if she becomes the nominee! Why support someone who only governs 40% of the population? Don't we have someone like that in the White House already? Isn't that why things do not get done in Washington?

DISCLAIMER - Although I despise Hillary, I'm still officially undecided. I just hate politicians and their stupid infantile tricks that the sheep fall so easily for.

We can't rely on Hillary Clinton to fire Ferraro, Clinton couldn't run a pop corn stand, much less a presidential campaign. We the people demand that Ferraro leave. Get out of here. You are unfit for public position of any kind. Go
YES WE CAN!

Yes, Ms. Ferraro does have a right to her opinion, but everything in your mind doesn't have to come out of your mouth. What galls me the most is that many black people have been so brainwashed with a plantation mentality, that they can't even recognize racism when its staring them in the face. Then they bend and contort the truth to defend their masters and mistresses. It's sad that even white people can see what black people refuse to. How many times does the Clinton campaign have to be dismissive of the black vote and treat us as irrelevant before your eyes are opened? I, for one, am tired of the code words and vague references. And I'm tired of the Clinton campaign trying to pit blacks against whites, blacks against Latinos and now, blacks against blacks.

If Barack Obama is where he is because he's black, why didn't Jessie Jackson get there?

Flashback: Geraldine Ferraro in 1998:

"If Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race," she said.

She is obviously a person who is focused on a person's color (i.e., a racist).

Geraldine Ferraro's comments are simply ridiculous. She wasn't really qualified to be a VP candidate back when Mondale included her, so she needs to put things in perspective. For her to deny Obama's gifts and political service and claim race is the main factor for why he's where he is tells us more about her limited intelligence than about him.

This recent incident underscores the reality that Hillary Clinton is in fact getting desperate. The fact that she and her husband ignore the results of the voting public and suggest that Obama consider the VP spot is crazy, given that he's the front-runner. I don't think Hillary cares about the plight of the American people as much as she cares about winning a place in history. I think she's a politician, but not a visionary. At this point, I wouldn't vote for her even if she became the nominee. I don't want the Clintons back in the White House. I'm tired of both Bill and Hillary. Their obvious hidden racism has come to the surface since a black man like Obama is a real competitor, not someone they can feel superior to. Hillary strikes me more as someone who feels entitled to the presidency. I am a woman myself, and I don't think Hillary has been roughed up by the media due to gender as much as some of her supporters suggest. She simply is not the right person for the job. America eventually will have its first female Commander-in-Chief, but Hillary isn't the one.

people keep noting that blacks are coming out in record numbers for Obama. Blacks are a core democratic constituency an they have voted in record numbers for Bill Clinton, Al Gore and John Kerry. Obama is the democrat of choice, for his judgement, poise, vision and his prior accomplishments

Ferraro got one thing right. If Obama were white, he would not be in the position he is now. He would have already won the 2,025 delgates needed to win the nomination!

It's refreshing to see we still have american hero's like Geraline Ferraro amongst us. Altho Louis Farakhan has announced that Hussein Obama is the "Herald of the Messiah" and that when Obama speaks "the Messiah is surely speaking"...some of us find this all a pathetic attempt to railroad the american public. How many Harvard Law School Magna cum Lauda graduates could we get to replace him for the Presidency....thousands upon thousands and many of them are even Black Americans Obama is Kenya America and belongs for over 20 years to a church that is considered by any standards to be a black racist seperatist cult!
Check it out on the web anywhere you look the truth is screaming but the media is stiffling all attempts for the truth to be heard!

These remarks and the defense of these remarks should be the last straw of the Clinton campaign. Her actions are going to lead to John McCain being nominated. Everyone that hates these tactics should go to the Democratic National Committee website and send them a message letting them know that this cannot be tolerate.

What Geraldine Ferraro really needs to do is examine the real reasons *why* she's upset over Sen. Obama's growing popularity among black and white voters in this country. 1. He's intelligent 2. He's exciting and has an undeniable appeal 3. He's sincere & honest 4. He's down-to-earth 5. Doesn't think the White House is owed to him 6. Highly qualified to be president of the United States. 7. Doesn't have baggage (scandals, investigations, unfaithful spouse, and a padded resume) like Hillary Clinton. 8. An accomplished politician with fresh ideas 9. Runs a well-managed campaign 10. Has raised millions more than Hillary. 11. Able to reach and connect with a broad spectrum of the American population.

Try to wrap your mind around this list, Geraldine, and go get a life! Who told you Hillary *has* to be our next president?

NOTE: The way this comment page is designed, with the line after comments -- it looks like you wrote the comment AFTER yours instead of the comment you actually wrote !!

Although I am a supporter of Obama, as a middle-age Caucasian woman, I know from experience that Ms. Ferraro speaks the truth. It is just a fact of life and has been ever since the EEO laws were passed (or, at least, enforced and complied with). I hold no ill will toward American CITIZENS of color for taking advantage of the politics of their race to better their lives. Likewise, I support Ms. Ferraro in her right, as a public person or private citizen of the United States of America, to speak freely.

This is nothing new. Feminists who believe that they are somehow "more" deserving of getting there first. This is all that Ferraro is about. It's the same thing that was around in 1865 and on when the women's suffrage movement was all bent out of shape because the black man would be enfranshised FIRST. Here's a quote from Elizabeth Cady Stanton at the time:
"The black man is still, in a political point of view, far above the educated white women in this country. The representative women of the nation have done their uttermost for the last thirty years to secure freedom for the negro; and as long as he was lowest in the scale of being, we we willing to press his claims; but now, as the celestial gates to civil rights is slowly moving on its hinges, it becomes a serious question whether we had better stand aside and see 'Sambo' walk in the kingdom first."
Enough said! Get over it feminists. You are NOT the most oppressed...you are NOT more deserving of becoming a history making president before an African American man.

Pity that so much energy is
being wasted on wornout biases. Will we ever see a
serious discussion about the issues that realy need to be addressed : education
poverty, unemployment, a string of undeclared wars
etc

The laws are made for men, by men, judged in the court of law by men,written in the media by men,in the interest of men, and therein lies the whole story. It wouldn't matter if Barack were pink, he's still a man and given a free pass. What more can Hillary do? She's a woman and woman aren't supposed to be in power in this country---they can reach only so far and then the brakes are put on. Uppity woman are frowned upon. It's no wonder women across this country are uniting for Hillary whether they are Republicans, Indipendents, Democrats , black, white, yellow. They can see what is happening. And women who slam Hillary, make derogatory remarks about Hillary and in general denigrate Hillary are just as at fault and should be ashamed. I will never defame Barack, but will defend Hillary to the end. Enough of men running this country, getting us into immoral wars, attempting to control us through legislating against contraceptives, etc. and trying to keep us barefoot and pregnant and in the kitchen to respond at their every whim. Go Hillary! Women unite!

With regards to credentials,experience, substance, depth of perception, knowledge, decision-making abilities, solutions, and accomplishments Senator Clinton is far superior to Obama. There is no question that if both candidates were white males Senator Clinton would be acknowledged as the superior candidate. To say that race and gender are not in play is to deny reality. To denounce someone as a racist for implying that race in this campaign is an asset in the Democratic primary is to engage in fictional truth.
To fail to acknowledge the validity and merits of Senator Clinton's vast experience on the issues and domestic and international players as First Lady for eight years is sexist. I have not heard any commentator chastise the Obama camp for being sexist. This race to date has affirmed the observations of the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm that being female was more of a liability than being black. It is important to discuss the insidiousness of sexism in addition to the denouncing of racism.

I think ms Ferraro was almost correct. As a white
man he wouldn't be as far as he is but in reality he
is a white man with a black
skin. He professes his back
ground as part white but uses the black to cross over.