Ferrarro 1988: "If Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race"

[knowledgeispwr]

Hat-tip Ben Smith at politico

"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."

I guess this is nothing new.

[Mike03]

1. Oh my god. This is even more shocking and disappointing than the Spitzer story.

I can't believe I'm suddenly just now realizing this person, who was on the first ticket I was legally able to vote for, has said such hateful, ignorant things.

[VolcanoJen]

48. Holy F'n Crap.

Wow. Jesus. Great Catch.

So Ferraro has always had issues, it's not just the last few days? Fascinating.

[KittyWampus]

99. it's the stuff we have down deep in our subconscious.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

178. but Ferarro makes sure you know they are very Black

like the ads making O'Bama's photos blacker

[BREMPRO]

182. Ferraro is a surrogate for the "monster's" attempts to divide and conquer .

Just as Bill did in SC, explicitly playing the race card through a surrogate. With the message control of the Clinton's, who doesn't believe that this was planned? disgraceful. And the fact that Clinton has not severed her ties with Ferraro says it all. They don't seem to care how many bridges they burn, and don't care how they inflame the race issue and prejudice in this country- as long as they bring down Obama- either to win the nomination, or ruin it for him so McCain will win and give here a chance in 4 years. FUHRC!

[hendo]

211. It is disgusting

but they just siad on CBS nightly news that Ferraro quit her position on the Clinton campaign.

It is very dissapointing for her to come out and say something like this even thogh it may be exactly what HRC wanted to say herself.

Whether Obama recieved 98% of the black vote in Miss. or not, that does not necessarily mean that Obama is only winning because of the black vote. There are plenty of states where the black vote is so miniscule that winning the black vote alone is not enough to guarantee a victory.

To suggest that black people are only voting for Obama because he is black is a racist statement. Just like saying that some women only vote for Clinton because they are female is a sexist statement.

It is a shame that democrats are attacking eachother in such a manner. Is Ferraro really just a DINO?

[ekwhite]

120. I really don't care about Spitzer

Ferraro's comments are just plain vile. She should be ashamed of herself, but she never has been one for shame, apparently.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

2. so she was brought in just specifically for this

filthy.

[burythehatchet]

21. you got it.

filthy.

[Coexist]

40. WTF is her problem?

she wants to be the official race-baiter?

[Glimmer of Hope]

43. - It is all a little obvious. I am disgusted.

[VolcanoJen]

55. Absolutely.

I've pointed this out in threads throughout the day... nothing that awful escapes the mouth of an historic, seasoned politico like Geraldine Ferraro by accident.

No matter how many times James Carville tells me I'm nuts, I'm not. I'm right. We're right.

Amazing how the last seven Bush years have honed our "cutting through the bullshit" skills, eh?

[awoke_in_2003]

139. "No matter how many times James Carville tells me I'm nuts,...

...I'm not". He is such a slime, and is sleeping with the enemy.

[cottonseed]

111. Took the words out of my mouth.

[NYDem Observer]

207. Bingo!

[high density]

3. Geraldine A. Ferraro's Greatest Racist Hits

Wow.

[angie_love]

4. so she has a history of being a racist bitch.

[Medusa]

18. Apparently

there are no words left to describe how hideous this woman is.

[Bucky]

22. There's plenty of words. It's just that the trolls don't have good vocabularies

[ecstatic]

62. You know? Sometimes you just gotta call 'em like you see 'em

That title fits her well.

[noamnety]

174. That doesn't excuse your sexist slur here.

Two sides of the same coin.

[iaviate1]

204. Thank you... I tried making that point elsewhere. n/t

[Johnny Battleground]

196. She's not racist

In fact I think she's right about Obama.
Let's face it, he's a pretty good orator, far better than Hillary, and better than Bill.
But his experience is thin. Those are the facts.
If her were white he wouldn't be where he is.
I'm no racist either.
He's had it pretty easy, and he won't have it easy after the convention.
Unfortunately the press has done us no favors, just as they didn't dig deep with Kerry.

[Catherine Vincent]

5. Was there outcry back then for what she said? nt

[goclark]

41. I worked on the Jesse Jackson campaign in San Francisco

and I don't remember it ~ but then , we were all so excited to go backstage, meet all the candidates and be there at the convention hall to hear him give his speech!

It was thrilling and I don't recall anyone even caring about what she was saying, we were blowing up balloons,going to parties and seeing first hand what a campaign was like.

Jesse Jackson inspired all of us to DREAM and to work to make this world a better place for all people.

[annie1]

124. i love him so much. he's one of the few that back barack that i really look up to...

and say to myself, if he's good enough for JJ, he'll be good enough for me (if he wins the nom).

[woolldog]

148. I love the quote by JJ in this story

"some people are making hysteria, while I'm making history."

lol, classic Jesse Jackson.

[awoke_in_2003]

140. "Was there outcry back then for what she said?"

I don't think so, at least I don't remember it. But, we didn't have the rapid availability to information that we do today.

[eeyore]

6. Amazing...

You think you know and respect someone, and then BAM! I don't remember this at all, but I guess we should have know all along. Sad.

[ContinentalOp]

Wow. Unbelievable.

Interesting point he makes about the south vs. new york.

[More Than A Feeling]

7. ...

:grr:

[libnnc]

8. Ferraro has a problem.

And this has become Clinton's problem.


Put an end to this, Senator Clinton. Please.

This has gotten unnecessarily ugly.


Time to face the music.

[Bright Eyes]

9. So, does she still represent the Clinton Campaign?

The fact that she hasn't been fired seems to imply just that.

[babylonsister]

81. Yes, and the Clintons are giddy; they're

trying to influence the middle of PA, called 'white' Alabama (per Carville?), between Pittsburgh and Philly. :crazy: Did I get that right? Heard it on tee vee, swear!

[mod mom]

100. Where the hell is GORE or EDWARDS or DEAN TO BRING AN END TO THIS MADDNESS?

Have we travelled back to the 50's? This is beyond insulting. I thought the Democratic Party was above this. That Green Party Platform that embraces tolerance, diversity and social justice is starting to look real appealing. Do they really want to destroy the party for the ambitions of one candidate?

[babylonsister]

103. GREAT questions. Maybe this current bit of racist crap might inspire

them. :grr:

[ekwhite]

126. When I was living there, we called it 'Pennsyltucky'

Some truly beautiful country inhabited by some truly backwards people. Places where you are more likely to see a bear than a black man.

[CaliforniaDreaming]

150. I don't know - if you visit uselectionatlas.org you will see that...

Lynn Swann actually carried this area quite substantially. I think the backwards people are actually in the northeast and northwest areas of the state.

[woolldog]

10. I guess she feels blacks shouldn't run for president?

[Quixote1818]

11. This is stunning! She needs to go! nt

[burythehatchet]

25. Why? She's a perfect tool for this campaign.

[Quixote1818]

33. Actually that's a good point. She is a walking disaster right now. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

90. Exactly, let her stay and finish the job doing Hillary's dirty work.

[John Q. Citizen]

12. Hmm. She's a piece of work, that Ferraro. 'People of color only run because they aren't white'

[HeraldSquare212]

13. Apparently she copyrighted it and only she can use it now, so they had to bring her in.

[Bucky]

26. On the plus side, at least we won't be accused of plagiarizing that

:)

[Not the Only One]

98. She's batting at DH-- Designated (Race) Hater

Maybe she has a Klan card in her purse.

[Kaylee]

14. Oh, so we've been down this tainted road with her before...........(nt)

[Bucky]

15. contest: Top that Ferraro quote!

Ferrarro, 1896: "If William Jennings Bryan were not a bimetallist, no one would take this populist ne'er do well seriously!"

Ferraro, 1928: "If Al Smith were not a Catholic..."

etc, etc...

[woolldog]

42. lol

good one, bucky...

[DarienComp]

If Franklin Delano Roosevelt were not stricken with polio...

well you know the rest.

[FredScuttle]

71. Ferraro 1904:

If Helen Keller weren't deaf and blind, no one would care that she graduated from Radcliffe

[Leopolds Ghost]

106. OMG, that one deserves its own post!

[CreekDog]

116. If Martin Luther King were not black...

:banghead:

[alphafemale]

157. OMG! How is it we nominate a post for a DUZY?

:rofl: :yourock:

[NOLALady]

177. If Ronald RayGun wasn't an actor.....

[yardwork]

80. LOL! I didn't think that I could laugh while reading this thread.

Thank you for making a very bleak moment a little more tolerable.

I'm just appalled at Ferraro. Hillary needs to fire her now!

[Strawman]

132. Ferraro in 1977: "If the jawas weren't black, they'd never be in Star Wars"

[Roland99]

16. What a bitter hag. STFU Ferraro.

[billbuckhead]

24. Yep, one bigotry replaced with many others

The sad legacy of Hillary's opponent's doomed candidacy.

[NJSecularist]

36. If Hillary told you to jump off a bridge, would you jump?

[JVS]

168. If yes, she told me to pass on the message that she wants him to do that

[cbayer]

17. Clinton has distanced herself from Ferraro and I think we should too.

I wish we could agree to let this one die. Other than a couple of really out there Clinton fans, no one is speaking up for Ms. Ferraro.

Let's just let her go. Or at least take it out of the primaries forum.

[Quixote1818]

27. The sad thing is that Hannity and O'Reailly will be using this now

and they can fucking quote a Democrat! This is really disgusting!

[babylonsister]

34. Disagree. Clinton should have fired her; anything less is compounding

the race issue that Clinton seems to welcome and to be actively encouraging. You keep apologizing for her. This just isn't right.

[cbayer]

47. Clinton will do what she wants with her.

Isn't this similar to demands that one of Obama's staffers be fired? Neither side has the right to demand that the opposing candidate fire someone. That's their business and they can deal with the consequences either way.

I am not apologizing for anyone. And I challenge Hillary supporters all the time when I feel they are slinging mud.

The woman made a very stupid statement. So what?

Did you see the Germaine Greer statements about Clinton? Equally stupid. So what?

[Flabbergasted]

60. She made the same comment about the only two viable AA candidates in US history.

[cbayer]

68. I am not defending Ferraro.

Let's be very clear about that.

[jgraz]

69. But she hasn't mentioned Lee Mercer yet

I say we give the old gal the benefit of the doubt (all three).

[cbayer]

70. I am being driven into the arms of Lee Mercer by gd:p

All three.

[CreekDog]

141. Is Lee Mercer where he is because he is black?

Oh my. i'm all up in my house with disease. I apologize.

[truedelphi]

152. _1_Lee's linguistic skills _1_have_1_ brought

Him to the pinnacle of Mercer-ness.

[ekwhite]

127. Who in the name of Odin is Lee Mercer? N/T

[yardwork]

83. Is Germaine Greer Obama's chief financial advisor?

This shows poor management skills on Hillary's part. Obama fired Stephanie Powers for calling Hillary a "monster." Now Hillary's chief financial adviser has made an indefensible statement, followed it up with worst comments, and is revealed to have said similiar things about the only other black candidate for president in U.S. history.

That is a public relations disaster, and Hillary is not reacting.

[cbayer]

88. So, don't vote for her.

That's the say you get.

I doubt that if she did what people on this board want her to do, she would win the hearts, minds and votes of those people.

And I suspect that everyone posting her is just reveling in this public relations disaster. Their wish for her to correct it is most insincere.

Just as the zealous Clinton fans do every time there is a problem with his campaign.

[dansolo]

39. Clinton has NOT distanced herself from Ferraro

She is still part of her campaign, and they are actively defending her.

[slinkerwink]

57. exactly. As long as she's on the campaign, we will bring this up

[sniffa]

156. Yes, and as long as she's going on FNC to repeat herself and up the ante

That's not quite, "letting it go" or "distancing" or whatever. :hi:

[cbayer]

58. I have seen nothing that actively defends her. I have seen this:

“I do not agree with that and you know it’s regrettable that any of our supporters on both sides say things that veer off into the personal. We ought to keep this focused on the issues. That’s what this campaign should be about.” from Clinton.

http://thepage.time.com/2008/03/11/obama-aide-calls-ferraro-remarks-far-worse-than-power-comments/

[eeyore]

44. HRC needs to let her go before anyone else will let it go...

If she is not let go from the campaign, then I have no choice but to believe that Samantha Powers was right in her assessment of HRC.

[woolldog]

45. Why doesn't she fire Ferraro from the campaign?

cbayer, do you think Clinton needs to fire Ferraro from her campaign?

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cbayer]

64. I think Clinton has to make that decision

and deal with the consequences of either doing it or not.

It's not my decision to make, it's hers.

I wouldn't demand that Obama fire anyone either. That's his decision.

These are not children. So where in the world would I get off saying either should do anything? I just get to vote.

[John Q. Citizen]

73. If you can't bring yourself to call out racisim when it's plain as day, that's OK.

Just look away.

[cbayer]

77. I am not defending Ferraro. nt.

[knowledgeispwr]

50. Ferraro is on Clinton's finance committee and an active fundraiser...

I don't see that quite as "distancing."

I thought that Clinton's statement/reaction was weak considering the reaction to the "monster" comment out of the Obama campaign.

[cbayer]

72. That's right

She sits on the finance committee. She is not an advisor and has nothing to do with policy.

And it is Clinton's decision to say whatever she wants. Then the voters get to decided if they agree with her or not. Then they vote.

That's the way it works. We don't get to decide who stays and goes in their campaign.

[ExPatLeftist]

161. "We just get to vote"

Yes, ultimately, that is our final say.

But we can also express ourselves along the way, so voting is not our only say.

We do not get to choose what she does with Ferraro, or anything else, obviously.

But we can say how we feel and make some noise. (This can be both good and bad for most everyone...)

A wise campaign would listen before making a decision.

I'm not saying that it would change anything, just pointing out that democracy is more than just voting.

[Diane R]

114. No she hasn't. She hasn't 'denounced her, or rejected her'.

[JVS]

165. link?

[Quixote1818]

19. It's time for her to go! We need to demand it! This is out of control! nt

[Georgie_92]

20. How can one have a racist on their staff unless you are one yourself?

[billbuckhead]

35. How about marrying one?

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESsaVSTSYxQ>

[Georgie_92]

46. Michelle is not racist, nice try though.

She speaks the truth.

[billbuckhead]

66. What if Bill Clinton said "White America will wake up"?

[billbuckhead]

67. What if Bill Clinton said "White America will wake up"?

[ekwhite]

137. Listen here Mr. Buckhead

I didn't grow up in a fancy suburb like Buckhead. I grew up poor white trash in the south in the 50s (that was one step above blacks in the racist south). I listened to that clip and the only racist thing I heard was the smug white commentator on the Scarborough show.

Blacks and poor white trash were constantly told, subtly and not so subtly, that they weren't good enough. What Michelle was saying is that blacks would wake up and realize Obama could win, that his campaign WASN'T hopeless. I understand exactly what she was saying because I have been there. You obviously haven't.

[billbuckhead]

162. I'm from a western Pennsylvania steel town and grew up with very poor people

You heard what you wanted, it was an obvious appeal to race. If you can't admit the truth, there's not much to talk about.

[ekwhite]

181. I noticed you said you grew up WITH poor people

I grew up poor. Big difference

[ContinentalOp]

144. That's a great clip. You posted that as an attack against Obama?

:crazy:

[billbuckhead]

213. Yep, it was playing the race card big time

[ekwhite]

131. That's not fair

She might not have vetted Ferraro sufficiently. But now that Ms. Ferraro has made her racist comments, it is time for her to go.

[NJSecularist]

23. So she's got a history of uttering racist filth?

She's a disgrace.

[Drunken Irishman]

28. Change Jackson to Obama, Reagan to Bill Clinton and Koch to Rendell and it's right out of today.

[grannylib]

52. *lol* I love your button!

[lvx35]

29. heheh! Looks like her point is disproved.

I heard she said Obama was winning BECAUSE he was black, like its this great asset. How well did that turn out for Jackson?

[K Gardner]

30. And the HIllary Hits Just Keep on Comin. Surrounding herself with the Most Divisive, Most

Treacherous and the Most Expensive ASSHOLES America has to offer.

Fuck all of them, especially Hillary.

[anigbrowl]

31. Kudos to Ben Smith...

that settles that argument. Excuse me, I'm going to be sick now...

:puke:

[Renew Deal]

32. That's disappointing.

Using the same old tricks.

[HeraldSquare212]

37. She's from Queens: Geraldine Bunker?

[pdxmom]

38. Now we know why she fits in so well at Faux News and is adored by

Pat Buchanan.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

49. If being black was such an asset to Jackson

why wasn't he chosen by Dukakis as the VP running mate instead of Lloyd Bentsen? Why have we still not had a black person chosen as a VP running mate by any party if being black was so advantageous? I think Jesse Jackson had to be doubly good to get anywhere in his campaign, because he was black and because of continuing racism in this country. And in fact, when he was young, Jackson was one of the most powerful speakers I have ever heard, Barack Obama included.

[knowledgeispwr]

56. Someone could ask the same question about others...

Why weren't people like Carol Mosely Braun, Al Sharpton, and even Alan Keyes not more successful?

This whole situation is sad and depressing to me.

[yardwork]

87. I remember when Jesse Jackson ran for president and was ignored and dismissed.

Newsweek ran a cover story on his campaign. It said, "What Does Jesse Want?" Well, duh. The man was running for president! What they hell did they think he wanted?!

My mother called me up and observed that nobody was taking him seriously, that nobody would allow a black person to be president, that even liberals thought the whole idea was "cute." My mother was very discouraged by the racism. That was in the late 1980s. Twenty years later Obama is only the second person to get this far to being president, and we still have crap like this being spewn.

I'm just shaking my head.

[slinkerwink]

51. I was about to post this. Ferraro's a plain ol' racist.

[David Zephyr]

53. Holy shit! This nails her racist coffin shut. Hillary must fire her now.

Ferraro must be fired.

[Barack_America]

54. Goodbye, Geraldine. Your services are no longer required by the Democratic Party.

Buchanan and O'Reilly seem awfully smitten by your comments, perhaps they have a spot for you within their party?

[fascisthunter]

94. .

[Bullet1987]

61. So she has a history of being a racist bigot?

WOW! Can't wait until this breaks.

[David Zephyr]

65. Olbermann and the entire media will run with this. Holy shit.

She's finished.

[Thrill]

63. LOL. wow just wow

[maddiejoan]

74. She also said

the same thing about herself as a woman back in 1984.

And frankly you are ALL missing her point.

[SoonerPride]

76. No, we got her point just fine.

"I have a dream. Judge a man by the color of his skin, not the content of his character."

Yeah, Ms. Ferraro, we hear ya loud and clear.

[maddiejoan]

82. to borrow a phrase I hear repeatedly on DU

spare me your faux outrage.

[ekwhite]

138. No we aren't missing her point at all

You seem to be missing her point. That was a flatly racist comment. It was a racist comment against Jesse Jackson back in 1984. The qualifier about her only being picked because she was a woman doesn't make it better. It only adds a little sexism to the bubbling brew.

[HughMoran]

75. Wow

Just wow.

[Window]

78. Well, damn Gerry. Just damn.

[meow mix]

79. history of more racism, huge shocker..

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

84. And Ferraro called his views "radical"

It gives some insight into Geraldine's state of mind. Jackson's platform in 1988 called for homes for the homeless, comparable worth and day care for working women, a higher minimum wage, a commitment to the family farm, and an all-out war on drugs. Is Ferraro even a Democrat for calling these campaign proposals "radical"?

"When we form a great quilt of unity and common ground" Jackson told delegates at the party convention on July 19, 1988, "we'll have the power to bring about health care and housing and jobs and education and hope to our nation".

When he didn't win, Jackson campaigned for the VP spot at the Democratic National Convention. He wasn't chosen. I guess no one else besides Geraldine Ferraro thought that being black was an asset and an advantage.

[MADem]

183. Those views were a bit out there, back then. But they did resonate.

The one he had the hardest time with was the drug business--America wasn't ready for that. And of course, there wasn't 'welfare to work' or any of the more creative assistance programs there are these days. Remember, Reagan's anecdotal "Welfare Queen" with the Caddy and the ten checks in different names, living large in public housing, was still a 'talking point.'

People forget that Jackson ran in 1984, too. He got a fifth of the popular vote in that contest, but less than ten percent of the delegates because of the way that votes were weighted (see, even back then, as now, it isn't really one voter, one vote).

[XemaSab]

85. She's a little racist, isn't she?

:shrug:

[Occam Bandage]

86. So basically, she's always been a race-baiter.

[knowledgeispwr]

89. Yep, apparently the said similar things to John Gibson THIS YEAR

In February. Hear the audio here, at dailykos.

[mckeown1128]

91. Kick and Rec... and wow...that is disapointing...n/t

[fascisthunter]

92. HOLY SHIT!

She's done.

[TheZug]

93. I'm sure she has lots of colored friends.

[nxylas]

193. And owns a Bob Marley CD

Legend.

[Splinter Cell]

95. HA

I guess Barbara Bush was right about her after all.

[tammywammy]

96. That's quite disgusting

[walldude]

97. Oops... busted. n/t

[marshall]

101. It's sad to see the once greats tarnish their image

She was great in her day--now she's just a racist.

[Colobo]

102. Geraldine Ferraro can go suck a black... you know...

[Colobo]

104. Kickin so that the Ferraro backers can see it.

[fishwax]

105. wow

:wow:

[Umbram]

107. Kick. nt.

[bhikkhu]

108. K&R....sad, but puts things in perspective.

[Politicalboi]

109. You mean to tell me

That Bill or Hillary didn't know what she said about Jackson in 88. This is inexcusable on behalf of the Clinton campaign. I think they knew and they needed a new messenger. Is David Duke working for Hillary too?

[Oslo]

110. Dispicable! Hope Keith is all over this n/t

[Bette Noir]

170. Yes.

Keith has promised a Special Comment tonight.

[cottonseed]

112. Hillary's Kitchen Stink Strategy

Duke available?

[gore_as_a_compromise]

113. Hey check out this 2nd video of Geraldine defending Obama's patriotism against Rethug onslaught....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5029857&mesg_id=5032085

[IamyourTVandIownyou]

115. "Can't shake the devil's hand and say you're only kidding"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHxEnQZi3Ow

[saltpoint]

117. Geraldine. Geraldine.

Shame on ya.

[David__77]

118. Sick, sick lady...

I hope she makes amends and corrects her behavior.

[CreekDog]

119. If Ferraro wasn't a dumbfuck she wouldn't have said what she said

and kept justifying it later.

I hate swearing, but I'm gonna call a spade a shovel here and say what I think.

[ekwhite]

121. While we're at it, a little more about Ferraro

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/9835,barrett,3396,1.html

[malik flavors]

122. : O That's so crazy

[annie1]

123. She is a real freak

[Tom Joad]

125. old racist bastard.

[Catherina]

143. Ditto but old racist female version of bastard n/t

[ingac70]

128. If Ferraro didn't have a vagina...

she would have never been offered the VP slot.... wonder if she'd like such nonsense thrown in her face?

:eyes:

[Infinite Hope]

129. THIS NEEDS TO BE SENT REPEATEDLY TO CNN AND MSNBC! n/t

[David Zephyr]

153. Yes, it does.

It does.

[Colobo]

130. Those who are defending Ferraro are avoiding this thread...

[ingac70]

134. Whenever they defend her on other threads..

throw this in their faces.

[saltpoint]

136. I don't blame them.

Geraldine Ferraro owes the nation an apology.

Her race-baiting bullshit on FOX News, plus this little gem from 88 really puts the frame on the photo.

[katty]

191. agree-she does & her obvious bitterness is just so negative

[Mme. Defarge]

133. The good news is ...

Randi R. was right last Friday when she emphasized the fact that they have absolutely nothing substantial that they can use against Obama.

But Geraldine Ferraro. After the way the Republican attack machine accused her of Mafia connections. HOW COULD SHE? Of all people.

[malik flavors]

135. I emailed this story to Abrams and KO, hopefully she gets called out for this.

[anamandujano]

142. There is a parallel in that no one is asking Obama any hard questions.

Did you notice that over the years Jackson has become the laughing stock of the MSM. (I used to defend him, no more.)

During this primary, Obama will skate. If he gets the nom, you will see what real racism is, not this pretend stuff that you jump up and down about if anyone dares call him out on this lies or if anyone refers to the fact that he is black.

He is black, OK?

His campaign has been playing the race card when they thought it would help, like South Carolina, like tonight.

It a very nasty game they're playing, and it's a loser for everyone.

Ferraro said nothing wrong.

[malik flavors]

145. You're F*&%^ing Pathetic. That's all I'm going to say to you..

[CaliforniaDreaming]

151. Yes and the media are really challenging Hillary on her

patriotism and religion and ethnicity. God people like you just slay me. You are totally delusional.

[Alcibiades]

171. WTF?

I've never actually used the ignore function before. Congratulations.

Senator Clinton uses a surrogate to launch a racist attack on her opponent, and now Obama is the one playing a nasty game? She didn't simply "refer to" Obama's being black--she said he would be insignificant without it, implying he has no ideas, no attractive policy positions, and nothing else that would appeal to voters.

Since we're bringing up south Carolina, what about all the walking around money the Clinton campaign threw at folks in the primary there? Just because it didn't work doesn't mean it's not corrupt as hell.

Like many balloons the Clinton campaign has floated, this one just doesn't make any sense. If being black were such a big advantage in running for president, you think we would have seen at least one black president by now.

I hope you know better. You really should do some soul-searching before you defend this kind of cheap political trick.

[DevonRex]

197. OMG...

I cannot, absolutely CANNOT believe you said that. Any of it.

[NOLALady]

209. Jackson has become the laughing stock of the MSM.

He had to be ridiculed and marginalized.

They will attempt the same with Obama by playing the race card...the two of diamonds.

[Frank Booth]

146. Jackson responded very well to the attack.

Point out that it's ridiculous and then move on.

I hope the Obama campaign takes his lead.

No point in getting riled-up about stupid comments made by some has-been who's taking her marching orders directly from Wolfson or Penn.

[Zambero]

147. Ironic that much the same was said about Ferraro back in '84

That she was only on the ticket because she was a woman. Having been through that type of scrutiny herself, one would think Ferraro might not be so open to using the race card as a means to trivialize the candidacy of an individual she does not support.

[CaliforniaDreaming]

149. If Geraldine Ferraro were not dumb, she would be in Obama's

campaign. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

[happygoluckytoyou]

154. IF OBAMA WERE NOT BLACK HE'D BE EDWARDS...AND STILL KICKING ASS

[ralbertson]

155. The less things change, the more they stay insane.

Where is the denunciation? Where is the rejection?

"I don't agree with her" is hardly a ringing repudiation of someone's pointedly public racist hate-mongering.

If that's the Clinton campaign's response to Ferraro's continued (and, it seems, historically consistent) attempts to define and defend default blatant racist viewpoints on politics, then it speaks volumes about the candidate herself...

...none of them positive. And this sort of statements from a surrogate is not even remotely defensible no matter how passionate her partisan apologists might be.

[km1550]

158. Clinton's toast

Ferrarro should be barefoot, and in the kitchen.

She's a vile pig.

[writes3000]

166. Sexist slaps don't make it any better.

Ferraro clearly has a way of thinking that screams racist though.

She should take a long hard look in the mirror.

Today is going to be an ugly day for her.

[MagickMuffin]

159. I didn't know about this in '88, didn't have access to WaPo back then

Sheesh, Gerri what's the matter with you:shrug:

[AzDar]

160. Kick...

For visibility.

:kick:

[goodhue]

163. good find

[Divine Discontent]

164. Ferraro - The WhiteBread Church Look (put the extra R in her name for her being a closet Rethug?)

"those colored people just do NOT belong!" - Geraldine Ferraro

[Divine Discontent]

167. to think that she would go down in history......

as the first major ticket female for the office of Vice President, who also said that the first two black candidates who had strong campaigns, were just there because they were BLACK - is jaw-dropping.

What a horrible embarrassment. I think it's safe to say progressive will never mention her again with kind words. To do this to both Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama just speaks about her deep seeded racism.

[natrat]

169. hmmm...everything associated w/ the hrc campaign seems to be a pos

[madrchsod]

172. she is there for a purpose

since hillary can not say this racist shit she lets others do it for her. hillary is so fucking pissed off because obama had the audacity to run for her presidency that the facade of her great empathy with the african americans is crumbling before our eyes...yes hillary your racism was never exposed till now...

[book_worm]

173. she's a serial racist.

[rndmprsn]

175. K&R so the truth about the clintons racist so called campaign people gets out!

[Colobo]

176. It's very sad to see how Hillarites over here still defend Ferraro.

[Colobo]

179. Hey! Hillarites? Why don't you comment on this thread?

[katty]

188. i just did

[noamnety]

180. I think she's got her cause and effects mixed up

"because of his "radical" views, "if Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race."

----------------
maybe he has those "radical" views because he knows what it is to be black in America.

[katty]

184. Ferrarro should go-now

the comments are bad enough but the righteous, high & mighty attitude is just as egregious and only serves to weaken the Democrats.

[BattyDem]

185. Apparently I'm uninformed ... what "radical" views does Jackson have?

Are civil rights radical? :shrug:

So ... she has a history of doing this and she's part of the Clinton campaign. Will Hillary "denounce and reject" her?

Will someone please explain to me why "monster" was worse than this racist shit?





edited: typo :blush:

[Tom Joad]

186. yeah, who has been more oppressed in this nation more than obscenely wealthy White people like GF?

[Vinca]

187. Has Hillary dumped her overboard yet? nt

[Blu Dahlia]

189. Isn't amazing? Obama was forced to denounce and reject a man who had nothing to do with his campaign

(Farrakhan). Meanwhile, Hypocrillary's surrogates are making racist statements left and right with impunity!

[bonnieS]

194. Who is more oppressed?

The response to Ferraro's history of seemingly racist remarks seems to be to hate Gerry Ferraro (see above) However, I think her comments , made during her life in politics, are symptommatic of the "Who Has Suffered More?" syndrome, which I used to think, till this election, was limited to a Jewish/Black dynamic, which long ago split those two natural allies. However, the gender/race dynamic goes back at least as far as the time women helped get the vote for Black men, while beng told they themselves had to "wait" for the vote. Their great granddaughters in the sixties worked for racial progress but when they demanded their own rights they were told by Stokeley Carmichael and others that their role in the movement was "prone" and to "wait" for rights. Thus did resentment and antagonism amd a feeling of thwarted ambition simmer under the natural alliance of these two oppressed groups. Obviously Ferraro's anger and missplaced feeling of competition is a manifestation of this hidden feeling of deprivation while always being a smiling "prone" helper (to all men of all races). The use of the word "hag" and "bitch" to describe her (and Clinton) are also a manifestation of something.

We have never had a national conversation about the various oppressed groups, their histories, current status/does any of it matter? Etc. Instead we have been offered the simplistic happy kumbaya talk that race is now not an issue, all are one, or at the other end, hatred. We have never had and will NEVER have a real conversation about oppression of various groups in our society because the ruling elite class (we are not allowed to talk about class either--Edwards was pretty much shut up on that score) and their talking heads on TV benefit from the oppressed groups fighting each other. As the MSM breathlessly announces the historic "movement" of Obama, originally meaning and stating "racial," they also (and not unintentionally) inflamed women (mostly of a certain age and menmory).

Except for certain people taking certain college courses, like Women's Studies or Black Studies, there is no historical knowedge or understanding in this country. They don't even teach civics anymore. People only know about last week. The MSM talks about and encourages 24 hour news cycles.

So as we all become more and more inflamed and not-so-old resentments are encouraged , we are looking at the very real possiblity of an old white man named McCain as our next President. They win. We all lose--again.

[Finite]

190. Unbelievable..

There's nothing more depressing that seeing so-called Liberals, in desperation, playing the race card.

Perhaps proof that Hilary and her supporters know they've lost this.

[jobycom]

192. I remember somebody responding "If Jesse were white, he'd be the incumbent."

Can't remember who. I'd forgotten that Ferraro had been the one to make the accusation in the first place, but I do remember a lot of argument about that issue.

I don't know much about Ferraro other than that she was Mondale's running mate, so she was the first VP I voted for, when I was 20. I remember her slamming Bush for his condescending attitude during the debates. I don't think her comments were racist either time, I think they are just wrong. Whether she's a racist, or just a cynical politician trying to score points, or just dumb, or even just mean, I don't know. Don't care, either. Ferraro is an interesting answer to a trivia question for most Americans, and I doubt anyone's opinion of Obama or Clinton changed over this comment. My first thought when I read of her comment was "I thought she died." So at least I know she's still alive, but not much else about her.

Still, Obama shouldn't have to put up with this crap, nor should anyone. Just my thoughts. And I don't even like Obama.

[MadHound]

195. Hmmm, looks like the Clinton campaign decided to bring in a professional attack bigot n/t

Put her in a position where they could have a hint of plausible deniability and then turn her loose to do her thing. Disgusting. Even worse, the Clinton campaign isn't going to get rid of Ferraro, probably so that she can do the same thing again here in a few weeks.

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

198. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5041827&mesg_id=5041827

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

199. and the media is enjoying fomenting the racial discord

if they can get some riots stirred up, it will give them
more to report on and bump up ratings.

[Baby Snooks]

200. And of course she is endorsing HIllary Clinton....

And playing the race card like quite a few of the people who have endorsed Hillary Clinton. Including the governor of Pennsylvania. I guess we know who will win Pennsylvania. After the governor said it's okay for whites to be racist and vote for Hillary because the other candidate is black. Not his exact words. But what he meant.

The racism of the Hillary Clinton campaign should be sufficient reason to not vote for her. But then there are lots of racist Democrats. As the governor of Pennsylvania and now Geraldine Ferraro have pointed out.

[David Zephyr]

201. Kicking this back up until the media begin to report this.

Why has this not been reported by any of the large media outlets?

knowledgeispwr, I thank you for posting this here. This is not going to go away.

[happygoluckytoyou]

202. ATTENTION PENN VOTERS.......---->

YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT HILLARY OUT OF OUR MISERY...
....TO END THIS THING....

VOTE OBAMA.... BE PART OF THE HEALING....

YOU WILL FOREVER BE ADMIRED AS THE LITTLE STATE WHO COULD .....

------- OR VOTE HILLARY, AND LET THIS INFIGHTING CONTINUE....

IT IS A SIMPLE CHOICE...
VOTE FOR THE BLACK MAN
VOTE FOR THE WHITE WOMAN

IT IS A LOT LIKE VOTING FOR THE MICHAEL JACKSON POSTAGE STAME.... BEFORE OR AFTER...

[IamyourTVandIownyou]

203. Obama is just as much white as he is black.

All this race speak is bs.

[NOLALady]

210. It's a wedge issue.

[Political Heretic]

205. Sorta makes you think she's just a bitter woman who sees "race" and "gender" as fighting over same

...resources, as if they battle with each other for which is more important.

"Damn those black people, they're hogging women's spotlight - they have it so easy, we have it so hard."

I personally don't see it as the either/or she apparently does.

[malik flavors]

206. I called into the Randi Rhodes show and got her to mention this.

she only briefly mentioned, and I would have liked for her to have given it more time, but atleast somebody said something about it. I don't know why people aren't picking up on this yet.

I also emailed Ben from Politico. He said he was first to report on it, and I gave him credit for that, but then requested that he take it further than just a blog post. He didn't get back to me on the request though, unfortunetly.

[Texas Hill Country]

208. OMG - you people ignore reality.

[Rowdyboy]

212. It was the final straw in my decision to vote for Obama in Mississippi's primary yesterday

Good work Gerrie.