As fellow co-blogger Pete Abel pointed out, former Democratic vice-president candidate Geraldine Ferraro thinks that Senator Obama is where he is in this nomination process simply because he’s a black dude (courtesy of The Daily Breeze):
When the subject turned to Obama, Clinton’s rival for the Democratic Party nomination, Ferraro’s comments took on a decidedly bitter edge.
“I think what America feels about a woman becoming president takes a very secondary place to Obama’s campaign – to a kind of campaign that it would be hard for anyone to run against,” she said. “For one thing, you have the press, which has been uniquely hard on her. It’s been a very sexist media. Some just don’t like her. The others have gotten caught up in the Obama campaign.
“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position,” she continued. “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.” Ferraro does not buy the notion of Obama as the great reconciler.
What I see here is very sick stupidity with a dollop of “Hillary is my candidate and Barack, you’re no Hillary”-itis. Ms. Ferraro, he’s a black man whose full name is Barack Hussein Obama. He still has to shake off stereotypes about his race along with being associated with radical Islamists and Wahhabism because of his middle name. Senator Barack Hussein Obama (I think his full name sounds spiffy) has received 13+ million votes this season by majority white Americans. So are you saying that all those wonderful white folks (no disrespect to all the other races that voted for him) just gave Senator Obama a pass and voted for him out of sympathy? That’s asinine. Obviously they support Senator Obama’s candidacy because he’s connected with them (just like Senator Clinton has connected with her supporters). That’s not sympathy. That’s support, dear Geraldine.
Ferraro’s comments rubbed me the wrong way since I’ve had several experiences as an information technology manager where some white co-workers felt I only achieved manager since I was black. In fact I overheard one conversation where one guy said that “management doesn’t want black people to sue so they caved in and hired him”. Just diminishing my degree and six professional IT certifications. I swallowed my anger and proceeded to treat them with respect without letting my bitterness show. After a year of tense situations where I led my team through layoffs and customer escalations, I noticed that those same folks looked at me much different. They didn’t have to say anything. It was a look of respect. While I appreciate their respect, I didn’t appreciate being diminished because of my race.
Geraldine Ferraro should know better being a woman. I’ve seen subtle and blatant sexism. It stinks. And if you can’t support your exceptional candidate, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, without diminishing her opponent with the “he’s lucky to be a black dude” spin, then maybe your support isn’t worth a pot to piss in.
UPDATE #1
It’s obvious that the emotion from Senator Clinton and Senator Obama supporters is at a very high level. And among my family, we predicted that this could happen since you have two groups in America that has never been this close to presidency. That being said, supporters from both sides need to take a planet-sized CHILL PILL. But knowing human nature, I expect more stupidity flying from the mouths of some Clinton and Obama supporters.
UPDATE #2
Doing a little more thinking about this situation, I’m seeing the humor in all of this. Black man has it easy in running for POTUS? If that was the case, Minister Louis Farrakhan should have just walked into the White House and asked President Clinton for the keys during the Million Man March.
Wait! President Clinton was our first black president! And it was so hard for him he had to turn into a white dude to win! I can have too much fun with this now.
UPDATE #3
Thanks to fellow co-blogger Elrod for Geraldine Ferraro’s clarification of her remarks:
“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?”
Wow! That response is just rich. Now she’s the victim of racism because people are calling her out about her comments? Wow squared. Here’s how wrong Ferraro is: the Clinton Campaign tore Senator Obama a new nostril before the Ohio and Texas primaries. And that plan of attack was successful and DID NOT INVOLVE RACE. Senator Obama then proceeded to whine a little about the increased press coverage, but never complained that RACE WAS THE FACTOR. So what in Mount Olympus is Geraldine Ferraro talking about? Where’s the “Obama the Slinger of Racist Tags” during arguably his toughest test this campaign season? Sorry. No dice.
You’re right Elrod. She’s jumped the shark and is a liability to Senator Clinton. It isn’t fair to Senator Clinton but Senator Obama had to distance himself with extreme prejudice from the Minister Louis Farrakhan even though Farrakhan isn’t contributing a feather to Campaign Obama. Ol’ Geraldine’s contributing much more than a feather to Campaign Clinton. Rules are rules.
I’m not complex. Don’t have time for all that. And all that complex stuff bad for the stomach. Just color me simple and plain with a twist.