In response to this great diary entry calling on the leaders of the Democratic party to denounce Geraldin Ferraro's comments, I would like to suggest (and I'm sorry if I missed someone's else's suggestion that we do so), that we start a letter writing campaign to all of our elected officials, particularly local congressmen and congresswomen, that these comments are patently false, indefensible, and have no place in modern American political discourse.
This is what I wrote to my Congresswoman, Anne Eshoo:
Congresswoman Eshoo,
Geraldine Ferraro's comments about presidential contender Barack Obama have no place in the Democratic party or American discourse today:
"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position."
The implication that success by a member of a disadvantaged minority is due to reverse discrimination is the common face of racism in America today. In one stroke, such comments simultaneously demean the hard work and talents of minority individuals while implying there are more qualified individuals of historically advantaged races that are being left out due to his or her success. Defending those comments by describing them as "a fact" have as much place in our national discourse as describing the "inherent inferiority of non-white races" as objective fact.
The facts are that both Senators Obama and Clinton are where they are today because they are talented and capable individuals. Anything attributing their success solely to their race or gender has no place in this campaign or this party. I ask that you state forcefully and publicly your opposition to these comments by Geraldine Ferraro.
Thank you very much.