Obama needs to let the Ferraro mess go and just let the story fade away

[Frank Booth]

The Obama campaign should not press Clinton or her campaign on Ferraro's remarks.

It is now abundantly clear that Ferraro's remarks were intentional and were meant to make race the number one issue in the run-up to Pennsylvania. At first, I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt for making one stupid comment, but now that she has made the same remarks multiple times -- in a deliberate fashion -- it's clear that there's a concerted plan by the Clinton campaign to cause a media storm on this issue. Maggie Williams' comments make this even more clear.

Ferraro, a Clinton surrogate, is baiting the Obama campaign to respond. Clinton's campaign knows this issue will get a ton of play in the media. The media loves hyping this crap. Obama does not benefit from this, especially in a state like Pennsylvania. If asked about it, the Obama campaign should say that the comments were unfortunate but that they've moved on.

[tyne]

1. Obama needs to

ignore Hillary and go after McCain.

[ExtraGriz]

5. he goes after mccain and forgets about hillary

and the pennsylvania brickwall is going to smack him right in the face... :P

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I agree

The next move on this needs to be from Hillary. Obama needs to move away from this story.

[JI7]

3. Obama surrogates need to respond

[Frank Booth]

6. Why? How does this possibly help Obama?

Geraldine Ferraro is exposed as a racist? How many votes is that going to get Obama?

The much bigger danger is turning the story of this campaign into one based on race -- which is exactly what Hillary wants. She wins that one, especially in a state like Pennsylvania (which she will win anyway, but there's no point in letting the margin get any bigger).

[JI7]

7. it allows Obama to keep his distance while reminding people

what the Clinton campaign is about.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

4. Obama isn't making an issue of this

It's the media that is pushing it. I disagree that it should be dropped, though - I think Clinton needs to answer for comments her surrogates make in public. Obama has quickly responded twice in the past week for things his people have said, and those people are no longer working for him.

[Frank Booth]

9. Ethically, I agree with you.

I think she should have to answer for it. But politically, I don't think this issue has any chance of helping Obama, while it has a very good chance of hurting him. Hillary benefits by being the victim. Obama does not. And if his campaign makes too big an issue out of it, like it or not, it's going to drive people away, especially poor whites.

Like I said, if Axelrod or anyone else in the campaign is asked about it they should just say they've moved on.

[John Q. Citizen]

10. The issue needs to be raised if racism in her campaign disqualifies Hillary from the

job of Democratic Nominee.

[Frank Booth]

13. Unfortunately, the Clinton campaign knows very well that racism

does not disqualify her from getting the nomination. She realizes she's lost the black vote anyway. She needs to take away more of his white and Latino vote. She thinks (unfortunately, probably correctly) that if she can turn this campaign into a white vs. black matchup, she'll come out ahead.

[John Q. Citizen]

15. Can the Democrats win a national election without the black vote? No to mention

the liberal vote, or the youth vote?

I don't think so.

[Frank Booth]

16. I agree.

But I don't think Hillary cares about winning the national election right now. It's all about getting the nomination, and if that fails, it's all about ensuring Obama doesn't win in 2008, so she has another shot in 2012.

[quantass]

8. MSM is making it an issue not Obama -- They love the drama!

[Frank Booth]

11. Precisely. Which is why these calculated remarks were made in the first place.

The media loves non-stories like this, especially when it involves Democrats fighting amongst themselves.

It's very telling that Clinton's campaign won't explicitly reject the comments and disassociate themselves from Ferraro. They want the story to keep going.

[XemaSab]

14. It's the Southern Strategy

It's a time-honored tradition for her ilk. :(

[gore_as_a_compromise]

12. Agreed. *NT*

[TheZug]

17. You're right. I usually advocate fighting back but he should stay above this.