Geraldine Ferraro digs in, engages in more flagrant race-baiting.

We all know about Geraldine Ferraro's first stab at race-baiting:

If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.

We also know that the Clinton campaign has refused to even reject her remarks or separate her from the campaign, instead opting for a meek expression of mere disagreement.

Well, Geraldine has decided to fan the flames even further.  

Of course, her race-baiting was met with a storm of strongly-stated criticism from everywhere but Camp Clinton.

Geraldine's response?  Play the white victim of an angry black mob.

No, really.

"Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up," Ferraro said. "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?"

You're either a shameless race-baiter or a dyed-in-the-wool racist, you pathetic has-been-who-only-was-because-someone-else-wanted-to-make-history.  

That's how it is.

See also her spreading the love on the show of her 'pal,' John "Obama is a Muslim" Gibson:

•  Thank you Walter Mondale. eom

  by Geekesque on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 02:54:06 PM PDT

  •  There's more Geek

    Maggie Williams has all but accused Obama of playing the race card.  

    Got that?  Obama played the race card.  My head just exploded.

    by dansac on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 02:55:57 PM PDT

    •  The hypocrisy is astounding

      This from the campaign of cocaine, Bob Johnson, and "Jesse Jackson won it, too!" fame. What a bunch of stupid assholes!

      by scimitar on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 02:57:24 PM PDT

      •  No Doubt About it

        They're proving why they Deserve to Lose...

        Hillary's campaign invented the Cry Wolf/ Cry Fire Victimology...

        Obama responds to unproductive stuff by firing staff... Clinton's push the point to be twisted into a victimhood.

        SICK

        by kubla000 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:05:26 PM PDT

        •  They are proving

          why they must lose.

          by chuckvw on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:13:18 PM PDT

          •  one word: entitlement

            by CaptUnderpants on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:15:18 PM PDT

            •  The acid test: WHO GETS BUSTED FOR LYING ?

              What if Obama lied about setting up a gang peace meeting in Chicago ???

              What if Obama said he invited family from Blackstone Rangers, Crips, Bloods ? Got them together for the first time ????

              What if Obama invented such a meeting, complete with made-up quotes from fictional participants ???

              Dem white folk git to do it. Here's Hillary Clinton speaking words in New Hampshire, January 6th 2008::::

              -- I remember a meeting that I pulled together in Belfast, in the Town Hall there, bringing together for the first time Catholics and Protestants from both traditions, having them sitting a room where they had never been before with each other because they don’t go to school together, they don’t live together and it was only... because I asked them to come that they were there..."

              Hillary Clinton is quite specific about what happened. She has a Protestant woman and a Catholic woman speak out perfectly.

              -- "And I wasn’t sure it was going to be very successful and finally a Catholic woman on one side of the table said, You know, every time my husband leaves for work in the morning I worry he won’t come home at night.

              -- "And then a Protestant woman on the other side said, Every time my son tries to go out at night I worry he won’t come home again. And suddenly instead of seeing each other as caricatures and stereotypes they saw each other as human beings and the slow, hard work of peace-making could move forward."

              A Perfect Moment. A complete and dishonorable fabrication.

              A lie. A lie that would sink the black man Obama in a day.

              Hillary addressed a Women in Democracy conference in Belfast. Three feminist leaders spoke briefly ahead of her. She gave her standard 40-minute pro-women speech, same as Moscow, South America and worldwide. There was no "table" and no "a Catholic woman" and "a Protectant woman."

              No other event in Ireland came anywhere close to matching her fantasy of changing peoples' lives. Hillary is not Jean D'Arc.

              This Belfast PERFECT MOMENT is like Hillary Clinton's pet book Dear Socks, Dear Buddy

              She admonishes pet owners everywhere that their pets are "members of the family." "Not investments."

              For themselves, the Clintons dumped 10-year old Socks the Cat. And they had been worse on their dogs.  They were careless with the dogs -- three of the dogs got hit by cars over the years because the Clintons didn't pay bother with leashes.

              Great at preaching down to others.

              If Obama lied about a Peace Meeting or mistreated animals, it would be front-page news. He is black.

              It is as simple as that. As plain dumb race-based as can be. Anybody here believe that Gore or Edwards wouldn't get this full attention ???

              by vets74 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:17:07 PM PDT

              •  Not a Hillary fan, but I wouldn't say they

                "dumped" Socks the cat. I know they found another home for him when it wasn't working out at the White House.

                As far as the other dogs.... I hadn't heard that 3 of them were hit by cars. I know where the Clinton's house is in Chappaqua. Its  a dead end street and I can't imagine there is much traffic.  I have always found the circumstances of Buddy's death curious.... but I don't want to be called a conspiracy theorist.

                by CTMET on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:50:08 PM PDT

                •  The Clintons moved. Didn't take the cat.

                  Later on, Bill Clinton said that Socks and Buddy didn't get along.

                  Bill was lying. Big, big surprise.

                  Socks had been housed in the White House basement and Hillary didn't want him.

                  The dogs died in Arkansas and in New York. People who don't use leashes get their dogs killed. Never seemed to bother the Clintons all that much. They kept doing it.

                  by vets74 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:59:59 PM PDT

                  •  Well thats IT FOR ME DAMMIT!!!!!

                    Hillary doesn't like cats. Forget about it. She's toast...

                    by CTMET on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:36:32 PM PDT

                    •  A President who hates POOTIES?

                      Now you've got me.

                      by Fonsia on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:46:14 PM PDT

                      •  This really deserves a diary all to itself.

                        by CTMET on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 06:15:01 PM PDT

                      •  Oh bill likes pussy cats all right....

                        by HomeBrew on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 06:39:45 PM PDT

                        •  It's 3am...Where is Bill?

                          the cathouse

                          by CWalter on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 08:49:53 PM PDT

                  •  I thought they gave Socks to Bill's secretary

                    Although that sucks major putty balls anyway.  My husband and I adopt elderly shelter cats, just because we like the old guys and they're harder to find homes for, and it's pretty traumatic for an animal that age to lose their people.

                    I'd hate to think that their animals were nothing more to them than window dressing while they were in the WH, but . . .

                    by Catatonia on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 06:43:43 PM PDT

                    •  They did.

                      Getting the 3 dogs killed is what ticked me off.

                      Too self-centered to use a leash.

                      by vets74 on Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 09:49:01 AM PDT

            •  That's why she pushes things past the limit

              by Lefty Coaster on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:05:09 PM PDT

            •  two words:

              echo chamber!

              by Tom P on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:27:54 PM PDT

          •  They are proving the wisdom

            of the first law of holes...

            When you're in one, stop digging.

            by MadScientist on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:32:03 PM PDT

            •  Well, it is perfectly timed

              Guess what every racist in Pennsylvania is thinking, when seeing how well Obama did in Mississippi?  This is a deliberate calculated race-baiting tactic by the Clintons.

              It's time to end this thing.  It's time to kneecap the Clintons' status in the Democratic party.

              by Aquaman on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:56:19 PM PDT

              •  oooh, and she pushes the not-present meme!

                friendly fire, indeed

                by Great Uncle Bulgaria on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:15:39 PM PDT

              •  Most of the racists vote Republican anyway

                by MadScientist on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:06:04 PM PDT

                •  Apparently not. eom

                  by Chi on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:34:44 PM PDT

            •  Speechless.

              There simply are no words.

              by leawood on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:28:17 PM PDT

            •  yup

              

              by FireCrow on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:45:36 PM PDT

        •  Because she's a woman, and the media hates

          her, and the unfair caucus system, and ....., and ...., and......, because Geraldine Ferraro is white, and they ask her the first questions in debates, and .... and .... and....     That's why!

          by nowness on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:18:16 PM PDT

          •  it's okay to object to sexist remarks

            racists remarks not so much.

            Clinton Rule 3

            by byteb on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:00:39 PM PDT

            •  I am still trying....

              ... to get my head around the concept that gender is somehow more of a disqualification than race...  16 women in the Senate, 1 African American by my last count by the way.

              Let's face it, I'm white.  I'm never going to know personally what racism is like.  But I am female, so I have experienced sexism.  I have also seen racism in action.  Of the two, one I have personally experienced and one I have witnessed, I think racism is the worst of the two.  Having studied the history of racist terrorism in this country by the KKK and the neo-nazis, I cannot believe these supposedly smart women can continue making such idoitic remarks.

              But worst still is that this woman is a Democrat...   I mean, I am watching Hardball right now and Pat Buchanan thinks it's much ado about nothing...  Gee, Pat Buchanan is with you Geraldine...  As a note, that is not a good thing.

              by Jen K in FLA on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:48:05 PM PDT

              •  Nice to know I'm not the only one...

                I was able to attend to college because a special admissions program -- primarily inner city minorities participated(for the record I'm white, female and 40+ now).  I saw more racism in action when it came to my fellow students more than I personally experienced sexism.

                What really comes to my mind right now is that we are witnessing angry women who fought hard for women's rights (BTW an off shoot of the Civil Rights Movement) not getting what they want, they see the presidency as being owed to them.  The result is that they are going to throw out any ugly commentary or nastiness they can - they have nothing else.

                and for what it's worth, I think that Hillary has also been playing the "age card" too... BO just isn't experienced enough = isn't old enough.

                Peace :)

                by BirderWitch on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:04:43 PM PDT

              •  What I also find

                appalling is that Powers resigned within hours after her first remark.  Yet here Clinton says "she disagrees", but makes no move for her to resign.  Disgusting.

                by Philoguy on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:13:28 PM PDT

        •  & don't forget about Ellen Chesler

          Here are some offensive remarks made by yet another Clinton surrogate during the post Iowa caucus edition of Democracy Now!:

          Barack Obama placed first. He is the neighboring boy. He had a huge bump up in eastern Iowa on the border of Illinois in Springfield, where he served as a legislator. Hillary Clinton placed second. It was a tie for second. They split with 29.5% of the vote each. This is a tiny vote in Iowa.

          — Ellen Chesler
          Distinguished Lecturer at the City University of New York
          January 4, 2008

          Chesler is a long-time friend and fundraiser for Hillary Clinton.  I think that the remarks made by Chesler, Ferraro, Johnson, The Big Dog, et al contribute to the long-term, corrosive effects about which Bob Herbert wrote in his his January 26th column.  The slurs and smears against Senator Obama appear to be deliberate and orchestrated.  They have also led me to ask the very same questions about the Clintons and their surrogates.  What kind of people are they?

          
          
          ````
          peace
          
          

          by peace voter on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:21:44 PM PDT

          •  Oh, come on.

            Ferraro is race baiting. But this is silly.

            "Boy" is very racist as a term of address, but accompanied by "neighboring" it is totally innocuous. "Neighboring man"? Sounds stupid. Same for woman/girl, by the way.

            by homunq on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:01:46 PM PDT

            •  if chesler

              was such a drain, why did obama bury her in february and basically pull even in march after the so called kitchen sink strategy?

              by MFL on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:08:25 PM PDT

            •  Not So Sure

              If it's said in a friendly manner, sure.  But in this context, where the goal is to dismiss and diminish, my Southern ears hear a dog whistle.

              by deminva on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:13:37 PM PDT

              •  Guess I'm *too* far south

                14 degrees north... two borders south of Texas. It sounds OK to me but I believe you.

                by homunq on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 08:19:35 PM PDT

            •  you are totally clueless about that

              if you don't "get" the generational systematic use of the word "boy" when referring to a black man. Any politician knows this and would avoid that at all costs unless it were intentional.

              by FireCrow on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:49:43 PM PDT

              •  Honestly...growing up in South Dakota

                I was in my late 20's (not long ago) before I knew 'boy' was a derogative reference to a black male.

                Personally I think it is a dog whistle, but I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt per my own experience.

                by CWalter on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 08:54:25 PM PDT

          •  so, let's Chesler's

            ignoring of the fact that John Edwards was 2nd in Iowa 'sexism' instead of just wilfull ignorance then as well...

            by itsbenj on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:45:14 PM PDT

        •  We Are Drowning In A Sea Of Our Own Avarice,Folks

          The Clinton's have gotten by with this crap for YEARS, because WE let them. WE created these monsters (Do I have to resign now?), and even helped to finance thier Outside-the-Party's-Control Organization.

          Whenever the right tried to hold thier feet to fire on any of thier B.S., most folks here ran screaming to thier defense because they were "our Guys"..

          It was "Right-Wing Hatred" or the "Right-Wing Noise Machine", or some other excuse.

          And you wouldn't believe the abuse those of us still in the Party, out here in the hinterlands have taken for trying to stand up for WHAT'S RIGHT, instead of what is politicly correct.

          As long as they were "Our Guys", they could do no wrong. Division, victim politics, OUTRIGHT LIES, none of it mattered.

          And sadly, the seeds for the coming November Defeat were laid way back in the mid-90's....

          by IndianaDemocrat on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:54:11 PM PDT

          •  You've got that right...

            When was all went along and did as we were told (especially after the 1994 debacle), supporting Bubba even though his major achievement was to turn on us and pass Republican-inspired bills such as NAFTA, the "Personal Responsibility" Act and DoMA, because "who else are you going to go to?"  We allowed the Democratic Party to be turned into the House of Clinton.  If we're to win, this year or any other, it will only be by leaving our Clinton-submission behind.

            by regnaDkciN on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:18:26 PM PDT

          •  It's funny and sad at the same time....

            .... and I will get flamed I'm sure by the following comparison, but bear with me...

            Media Matters did an excellent piece on the GOP's alarm at statements made by Rush Limbuagh regarding John McCain.  The funny thing is that his remarks were actually tame compared to what he normally says about Democrats, but therein lies the difference...  it was the equivalent of friendly fire...  he was turning on one of their own, so they got alarmed.

            We are in a similar situation now.  These people, the former President included, are turning on one of their own, so we are alarmed...  we have no problem when their vitriol is trained on the Republicans...    that's where it was honed...  but now it is being aimed at another (arguably very popular) Democrat.

            Personally, I am still holding out hope that a sage voice from within the Democratic party puts an old-fashioned smackdown on this very soon.

            by Jen K in FLA on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:00:34 PM PDT

            •  Like who?

              No one has that kind of authority or respect.

              by HomeBrew on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 06:42:05 PM PDT

      •  Also remember the whining from Ferraro's camp

        during the VP candidate debate when George Bush treated her like any other VP candidate?

        She and her camp whined for weeks about how Bush was mean to a female candidate.

        by shigeru on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:13:23 PM PDT

        •  She's still sore at having hitched her wagon

          to Fritz "Milquetoast" Mondale, and is living vicariously through Hillary's candidacy.

          by Dem In VA on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:18:32 PM PDT

          •  I was a tween

            for Mondale/Ferraro

            I know he lost miserably, but what was the deal with Ferraro?  Was she a rising star?

            by MFL on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:09:51 PM PDT

            •  Political calculus for Mondale

              Figured he'd attract the female vote by picking FerrarOAF.  I remember her son getting popped for drugs right around or just after the election.

              by Dem In VA on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:11:57 PM PDT

            •  Not rising enough, apparently

              I was 12 too.  I don't remember Ferraro being portrayed as having done anything especially memorable or noteworthy.  Happy to be corrected by others though.

              by mattfwood on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:16:11 PM PDT

            •  Not much of a rising star...

              Mondale was way behind, and needed a "game-changing" event to even have a prayer of getting back in the race.  Being the first candidate with a female running-mate was the gimmick chosen, and the relatively-obscure Ferraro was picked because she was a "tough on crime" former prosecutor (and thus could appeal to the more-conservative mood among the electorate).  However, as a candidate, she was a disaster.  

              Right off the bat, there were some ugly rumors about her husband's business dealings.  Once the American public got over a day or two of "oh, a woman VP candidate...what will they think of next?," she became as invisible as most running mates.  The final insult came in the vice-presidential debate (just after a superior performance by Mondale in the first presidential debate helped him get a foothold back in the race), where she acted sedated while G.H.W. Bush pummeled her and Mondale with a string of zingers right out of the Karl Rove playbook.  Following the debate, she acted all offended when Bush, speaking to reporters, boasted about having "kicked a little ass."  Sorry, Geraldine, but he was right -- he did kick your ass.  

              I think it's instructive that, following their landslide loss, Ferraro essentially disappeared from public view (except for a couple of cola ads) for twenty-four years, until she was called in to be Clinton's hatchet-woman this time around.

              by regnaDkciN on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:28:10 PM PDT

            •  Mondale Ferraro for a better tomorrow

              well, it's tomorrow now, and she's not making things better...

              by TrueBlueMajority on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:21:24 PM PDT

              •  I remember that!

                my best friend growing up, her dad was  HUGE texas dem supporter.  and I mean rabid.

                He went through a mid-life crisis thing and bought a camaro and had that bumper sticker on there.

                hilarious - thanks for the memories.

                by MFL on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:27:29 PM PDT

            •  She was an Italian woman which by her logic

              disqualifies her other qualifications.

              I can't believe the Democratic Party has gone this low.  

              by Karma for All on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:25:02 PM PDT

              •  If the Clinton campaign had any ovaries

                they would have forced her to make an apology and then would have fired her.

                by shigeru on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 09:45:06 PM PDT

      •  hypocrisy indeed

        hillary asks that MSNBC stop its sexism but she allows ferraro to continue with race baiting!

        by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:16:21 PM PDT

        •  After Powers made her "monster" remark...

          a number of Obama supporters here called her on it.  Where are the Clinton supporters on this race baiting?  

          by mayan on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:21:09 PM PDT

          •  They are pacifers

            of this racist crap.

            I am mad as hell

            by BlackBox on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:54:49 PM PDT

            •  Many brave people...

              black and white, innocent and activist were killed to bring racial equality to this country.  Many more were beaten and humiliated.  It is unthinkable to me that individuals calling themselves "progressives" would fail to be outraged by these statements and by a campaign that tacitly approves of the spread of this poison.

              by mayan on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:09:59 PM PDT

              •  Amen

                Sister or brother.

                I told my mom, who is a baby boomer about the remarks made by GF. My mother was not shocked. It is like she is desensitized, or immune to racism because she came of age in the sixties and it is almost regular to her.

                She told me to brace myself because it will only get worst as Obama's success increases.

                I can not accept it. I will not accept it. I will not brace myself.

                by BlackBox on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:14:59 PM PDT

        •  And

          Gives in against her convictions and debates on the damned network!

          Si se DAMN WELL puede!

          by T B J on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:58:42 PM PDT

      •  Mastered the Art of

        Projecting onto their opponent what they in fact, are doing!

        Rovian "brilliance".

        They just sent out an email, accusing Obama of "using words" to denigrate HRC's "experience"------forgetting that the email USED WORDS.

        Psycho.

        by Zulia on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:24:32 PM PDT

      •  PA GOV. ED RENDEL DOESN'T THINK OBAMA IS LUCKY

        He said people in his state wouldn't vote for a black.

        Gee- see any common themes among Hillary surrogates?
        Like, uh, the race card.

        by newyorknewyork on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:26:30 PM PDT

        •  Hey, yeah, so which is it?

          Is he winning votes because he's black, or is he losing votes because he's black?

          Hard to keep up with the Clinton spin.

          by teyigdhk on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:31:49 PM PDT

          •  Both are true.

            And that's a fact.  Not spin.

            by Lying eyes on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:39:03 PM PDT

            •  Yes

              He is losing some votes because he is black, and gaining some because he is black, but it's around the margins.

              Meanwhile though, back here on planet earth, Ferraro's suggestion that he has been successful because he is black, or even primarily because or in no small part because, is just plain foolish -- largely because, as you point out, he both loses and gains some votes from people still inlcined to vote their skin color.

              by mattfwood on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:20:22 PM PDT

        •  Rendell is trash

          As an AA, I was offended by his remark and his gesture to preach racism.

          I didn't see HRC reject and denounce his statement or his support as a super delegate.

          by kdee on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:41:20 PM PDT

          •  I'm with you

            I just remember him telling Al Gore to give it up in 2000 on day 3. He's the other end of the donkey.

            by never forget 2000 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:44:25 PM PDT

            •  Rendell the useless

              I notice that among all of the comments about Rendell, I hadn't seen any mention of his disgraceful performance during the 2000 long-count. He was absolutely smarmy.

              It was during that time that I became alarmed at the state of the Democratic party. I kept thinking: where the hell are they? Then I saw Rendell. Useless.

              by Donna Z on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:16:28 PM PDT

          •  Here, here

            I am with you.

            by BlackBox on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:00:50 PM PDT

          •  Well...

            ... that is the beautiful thing about being the candidate of old, so to speak, the old politics...  you really are held to a different standard...  

            Obama, running a positive campaign is under much more pressure to keep things that way.  Clinton, not really giving a shit (come on, does she??) can easily not care what her surrogates say...

            by Jen K in FLA on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:05:15 PM PDT

          •  she didn't. see any patterns here? nt

            by newyorknewyork on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 08:47:42 PM PDT

            •  In the debate

              She made sure Obama rejected and denounced Farrakan, who doesn't even have a working relationship with Obama.

              The Obama supporter called her a monster, she was gone the next day.

              HRC works with Rendell, Ferraro, etc. and not only does she not reject and denounce them and their words, she continues to work with them and continues to accept their support.

              I'm not liking the fact how easily HRC embraces these type of people and what they say.  

              It seems to me, she has accepted the fact she no longer has the AA support and is okay with that because now she is focused on the latino and rural white voters and in the process is willing to put up with the inappropriate remarks her surrogates are making because of that.

              How did Al Gore word it? "The Assault on Reason."

              I can't wait until this shit is all over.  

              It seems like everyday we play "What will they say offensive today?"  It's getting a bit ridiculous.

              by kdee on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 09:39:58 PM PDT

              •  birds of a feather

                flock together right?

                the fact that she's surrounded herself with so many people like this, not to mention the darkening of obama's face in the ad....

                you add it all up and there's NO WAY IN HELL that this is not intentional.  THIS is her strategy!

                by newyorknewyork on Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 05:34:01 PM PDT

        •  HRC 08 likes to have it both ways:

          1. Obama's going to lose the GE because people are racist and bigoted against blacks--he's fighting a headwind you can't see.

          2. Obama's doing so well only because people are so thrilled to vote for a black man--he has the wind at his back, he's not qualified.

          Whatever.  HRC 08 will prospect for the votes of anyone reaching EITHER conclusion.

          by Inland on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:48:16 PM PDT

          •  corollary to your argument

            1. Even though people are too racist to vote for Obama, they are not too sexist to vote for me, a woman.

            2. Sexism is a far more difficult, intransigent problem in America, more so than racism (via Gloria Steinem, another campaign surrogate).

            by blzabub8 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 06:28:26 PM PDT

        •  Don't speak for me, Ed. Just don't. n/t

          by jayjaybear on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:40:56 PM PDT

      •  This certainly illustrates the difference

        between the two campaigns, doesn't it?  Saintly Samantha Power says something untoward and instantly resigns; Ferraro pulls her racist bit and then not only digs in her heels, the Clinton campaign declines to get rid of her.

        Duly noted.

        by Dinclusin on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:41:24 PM PDT

    •  His Campaign

      Has been playing that card since New Hampshire.  And very heavily, too.  Shame on you, Obama.  THIS MUST STOP OH MY GAWD THIS MUST STOP!

      by bink on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 02:57:49 PM PDT

      •  so you agree

        that Geraldine is getting attacked because she is white?

        by gobacktotexas on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:04:04 PM PDT

        •  No

          She's being facetious.  She's trying to demonstrate how easy it is to call someone a racist based on, well, nothing.

          I'm called a racist here about five times a minute.

          But someone go back in time and find a single remark that I made that is a racist remark.  Go ahead ... go ahead ...  Someone.

          Yeah.

          Everyone who opposes Obama is now officially a racist.  This will not win Obama any votes.  It will not.  Even a front pager has gotten in the act, immediately coming into an anti-Obama diary entry that was -- well, kind of sad and not at all provocative -- comparing the diarist with French racist leader Le Pen.

          For what?

          For not supporting Obama.

          This is not going to work out for any of us.  At all.

          One of the weird things about "how life is in America" is that white people, especially white males, actually have more racial grievances than black people do.

          Of course, this is totally undeserved.

          But the people whom society most favors according to race actually feel like they are slighted most by it.

          You will not be able to shame any of these people into voting for Obama by calling them racists.  This is a very dangerous tactic.  Can we please just pull the plug on the whole thing?

          Just stop it.

          by bink on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:08:37 PM PDT

          •  Saying someone is winning based on race

            is just as bad as saying someone can't win because of their race.

            Making race an issue is in and of itself counterproductive and racist.

            It's the clinton camp that is making it an issue here.  Obama legitimately wants to discuss the issues and go against McCain.

            what the heck is wrong with you???

            by kubla000 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:10:51 PM PDT

            •  I think this is a huge kerfuffle over nothing

              I think Gerry has correctly pointed out that Obama's being black has helped him to some extent, because, yes- some people do indeed vote for him because of his race. Maybe it's overstated, and comes across that way in her saying it, but it is certainly also true that Hillary's being a woman also helps her for similar reasons. So Gerry is also wrong to suggest that if BHO was a woman he wouldn't be here. But is any of this hurting Obama?  NO.  He continues to roll along, and looks more amd more like the ultimate nominee, which is why I see this as a big kerfuffle.

              by NYFM on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:25:47 PM PDT

              •  voting on race

                How many people vote for Obama because of race and how many people vote against? Ferraro is making an issue that it is a net positive for Obama. Yep. Look at OH.

                Maybe people are voting for Obama because he represents change instead and not voting for Clinton because they don't do dynasties.

                by musicsleuth on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 03:36:57 PM PDT

                •  Obama's

                  black?

                  by Philoguy on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 05:17:14 PM PDT

                •  He represents change

                  simply because he comes from a marginalised group.  Just as Hillary represents change because she comes from a marginalised group.  To think that Obama is different than other politicians only proves how naive some people are.  He is saying things that people are hungry to hear:  They want to believe in their own personal strength again.  They want to believe in this country again.  We got the shit scared out of us on 9/11, and we want to feel great and powerful and safe again.  Obama is using language to empower all of us.  But what he's NOT doing is talking specifics.  Problems need answers.  Unless each person in this country is going to individually stop the economic crisis, or make the oil prices go down, or balance the budget, or improve education, or stop outsourcing, etc. etc.  As individuals we can't solve those problems EXCEPT by voting for someone who WILL work to solve those problems.

                  by Izarradar on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 08:30:58 PM PDT

              •  Rediculous

                Really?  It hasn't helped a black man become one of the first 43 presidents, but it helps him now?  The reason that he's in this position is because of who he is.

                by nwgates on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:04:23 PM PDT

              •  kerfuffle? try circumspection

                Geraldine Ferraro needs to learn how to be circumspect in her choice of conversation if nothing else.

                How exactly is this a constructive part of the election conversation?

                It's so unseemly to see a former first lady and former vice presidential candidate "going there" for absolutely NO REASON.

                I for one, never knew or cared about Ferraro, but really now... That's the behavior we should expect?  "Im rubber and your glue?"

                by MFL on Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 04:14:21 PM PDT

                •  words matter, Geraldine

                  by bigforkgir