Clinton-backer Ferraro: Obama Where He Is Because He's Black

The democrats never yelled racism when 75-80% of "Black" people supported Bill Clinton and other "Democratic Canidates". Bill Clinton would have never been elected President in the 92 and 96 elections if not for the "Black" support. In both he got greater than 80% of the vote. From my perspective "Blacks" have been and remains the unifying force in several areas of our society. That is why I am suprise that the Clintons and their surrogates are attempting to make the "What" in this election seasons the fact that Seanator "Obama" happens to be considered a "Black" man. I suspect that "Blacks" are supporting him for the same reason that I am. Simply stated he is a man for the the times we are living in to help make the world a better place. He demonstrates wisdom beyond his years. This is clearly why he has not taken the bait and attacked the Senator on several of the key issues she attacks him on. He knows they are attempting to create a racial backlash. You are indeed wise Senator Obama. Keep the high ground and "God" will get you home.

Has BHO ever even mentioned his white roots...you know, his entire youth when his white mother raised him?

So, I just want to be clear: has Hillary "rejected and denounced" Geraldine Ferraro yet?

Ms. Ferraroh, What was the purpose of your remarks? What good do you think would come from them? You were oki-doked into the mud slinging the Clintons promised. If you are mad you should take your anger out on the Hilary because she is using you to help salvage her faltering presidential campaign. Your comment on race and gender are in bad taste and is helping destroy the unity of the Democratic Party. If you are a true Democrat, then you should apologize to those you offended, and help stop the party implosion, which you have precipitated, much to Senator McCain’s pleasure

When Ms. Ferraro says "Barack Obama is only in this position because he is black" or "Jesse Jackson is only running because he is black" (back a few years ago) she is NOT "simply stating a fact".

It IS a fact that these two candidates (in different election cycles) DID benefit from the black vote. But there are a lot of other big factors at play. Obama is disadvantaged by not being married to a former president and by not being a woman, and by not being white in this race.

The fact Ms. Ferraro is that Obama's success is primarily due to his intelligence, character and political skills in interpreting the public mood.

Geraldine Ferraro's comments yesterday and today are the most blatant kind of cynical race baiting. She is simply engaging in a carefully calculated strategy to bring the campaign down to the lowest level without directly publicly involving Clinton because of the Clinton campaign's belief that it will work to their advantage. They believe that they can appeal to an underlying racial resentment within the remaining non-black primary voters. They are trying to convince people who aren't racist that they "play the fool" by allowing the blacks to take advantage of them somehow, and thereby convince them to vote for Clinton instead. So far, the democratic voter has been, for the most part, immune to this very unfortunate retrogressive message.

Just consider Ferraro's comments as though they have come directly from Bill and Hillary Clinton and you will have the accurate picture.

Clinton supporters have been quick to paint the Mississippi win as "defined by race". This is exactly the same thing Bill Clinton did immediately after the South Carolina win. To try to denigrate, belittle, and dismiss.

In fact, it is like there are two elections going on simultaneously. Obviously Obama is benefiting from overwhelming black support.... and in those states with a large black Democratic population, the vote is strongly affected by race. But to emphasize that point and pretend... therefore... that Obama is just winning because of race... is totally ridiculous. He was won many almost completely white states by larger margins than he has won largely black states and has he done very well in the largest states where the proportion of blacks is relatively small.

The Clinton campaign is proudly and unapologetically using any and all sly tricks, no matter how dirty and misleading, to try to mold public perception. Apparently to them this is "just politics" and to them the ends justify the means.

Sadly, as this type of thinking has become more the norm, the country is worse off for it because it works against productively dealing with the issues of concern to the public. It would seem ... for those who enthusiastically engage in such tactics... that "the issues of concern for the public" are not that big a priority.

rationalpsychic, I agree with you. That is precisely why there so many folks always are looking for 3rd party candidates. I suspect if Blomberg decided to run he would probably do at least as well as Perot did in 1992. Heck, if Perot can garner 18% of the vote any reasonable 3rd party candidate could do much better. I think the majority of Americans are tired of the Democrats vs. Republicans nasty campaigns. And Hillary\Bill vs. Republicans would be the epitome of nasty campaigns demonstrated by her tactics recently. It will turn people completely off.

Mrs. Ferraro is out of touch with the public. Otherwise she would not make such a belittling statement.

Wow! Being a black man is a plus now? I didn't get the memo.

What garbage?

Obama is where he is...because of his intelligence and ability to bring groups together that have very different interests.

I have been for Barack Obama only since January when I began to compare what he is offering compared to what Clinton is offering. I started to see the same old divisive rhetoric and a real inability to connect with people except when she was feeling sorry for herself (crying at the diner because it's just so tough).

What I see in Obama that I really like is his consistent behavior (no one's perfect) and his slowness to anger. He doesn't react--he thinks about consequences before he opens his mouth. I see self-centeredness in Clinton's campaign and a willingness to sacrifice the national good for her own aggrandizement.

That Geraldine Ferraro (who I once admired) would make such statements--not just a slip but a complete line of reasoning by her--is almost inexcusable for a person of her standing and supposed understanding of how her statements will be taken. I say "almost inexcusable" because I'd like to see her apologize.

Obama gives people hope! How can a man turn hope in to a trivial argument into a burden. Synics laugh and say "he talks about fairytales of hope" they say it as if hope is a bad thing these are the real fools. I say if you think hope is a joke...the jokes on you...to hope is American! Barack obama for change for hope in 08'

When Ferraro ran for VP she was very sensitive about being singled out for scrutiny because of her Italian ancestry, especially when it came to an investigation of her campaign finances.

Funny, Hillary still hasn't released her financial statement has she?

Is it because he is black that Mr. Obama has no trouble raising millions over the internet and can be transparent about his finances?

No, it is because he is a true leader.

Is it because there is indeed a latent racism in the Clinton campaign that Mrs. Clinton cannot only officially disavow and repudiate Mrs. Ferraro's comments but also distance herself from Mrs. Ferraro completely?

Perhaps.

Has anyone really inquired as to what made the Arkansas Grifter/Governor so qualified to be President of the United States in 1992? When you compare his then experience with that of President George Herbert Walker Bush's experience at that time, there was absolutely no contest. Billy Jeff had been a governor of a Hillbilly state whose primary export was and is Chicken manure and who cornerstone business is Wal-Mart, and whose involvement with various schemes stink of scandal. Indeed, Billy Jeff was unknown until he gave a tedious speech at the democratic convention in 1988.

Its quite notable that all of these democratic big-wigs who are alleged champions of racial equality are ever so subtly rearing their racist heads.

If the Clinton mafia steals the nomination, an entire generation of idealistic young white voters will be completely disillusioned with the democratic party and a huge plurality of African Americans will feel disenfranchised because a former First Lady, who made a mess of her Health Care legislation in 1993 and who carpet - bagged her way to the Senate and has served 6.5 years "pork barreling" is deemed by the White big wigs to be the "Great Veteran of National crisis."

Sen. Obama is the best nominee for the McCain campaign. He is the weakest candidate the Democrats could possibly nominate. Obamamania will start to peter out as Americans find out more about Chicago politics. Sen. Clinton would be a lot harder to beat because she knows how to use hatred and envy better than anybody else, except for her husband.

After reading countless comments here, it looks as if our country is in serious trouble. We need to choose a leader who knows how to lead, who is moral, who is above enticing people with the empty rhetoric of "change" and "hope"--empty that is of any operational definition. And we need to look beyond such craziness as skin pigment in selecting a U.S. President. May God have mercy on our country this election year. The Democratic candidates have exposed their rival's many flaws. That leaves McCain standing (Ron Paul did not have the support of large numbers of people). I hope McCain will bring what this country needs. Kyrie Eleison. LORD, have mercy upon these United States.

I can see that the people will have to have the well run dry before they realize their mistakes in voting in this up coming election. to put a no experience in that position is tantamount to being on a fringe that is destructive to say the least. would someone in the audience ask him a straight up question and lets see how he answers that , its going to happen if he is the choice because McCain will ask some pretty hard things of him and I wonder if Obama can come off of the same ole same ole and ask McCain some hard questions also . we will see when the vote is counted and when either one that wins it, we will see if they have the salt to run this great country . But remember your choice is there for four or more years and we have to live with it , Impeachment is out of the question that is harder to do then you think

Clarence,

Obama is not now in the same position as John Edwards- Obama is likely to win the primary. Your vitriolic reaction proves my point that the mere mention of race has become so taboo that the health and vitality of public discourse has suffered.

"For those of you hollering that Ferraro is a racist, please back it up with reasoned arguments that support the position that Obama would be in the same position were he a white male with absolutely no experience."

John Freakin Edwards!!!

He had no experience...finished second was nominated for VP. There's your argument right there.

BTW Blacks were with Bill Clinton...a majority of them never cared for Hillary..research it! But you know blacks so much!!!!

We are facing a national nightmare,if Al Sharpton and his mail order reverend
certificate in hand ,is indeed our next vice president,God help us as we slip into a civil war !!!!!!!