Compare this quote by Clinton surrogate and former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferarro:
"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. 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."
with this one by former Obama foreign policy adviser Samantha Power:
“[Clinton] is a monster, too — that is off the record — she is stooping to anything. You just look at her and think ‘Ergh.’”
The media pounced on Power's comment, citing it as evidence of Obama's inability to run a tight, disciplined organization, and she resigned to quell the controversy. Ferarro on the other hand has gotten a free pass on her statement (thanks in part to the Spitzer scandal).
Personally, I don't think the Power comment was that bad. Take out the term "monster," and she's simply describing the kitchen sink strategy that the Clinton team publicly boasts about. But I'll accept that in this tight race even the smallest gaffe is going to prove costly, as long as it holds true for both campaigns.
Ferarro's comment was much more offensive and derogatory than Power's. It's downright racist. So why isn't this evidence of Clinton's inability to run a tight, disciplined organization? Ferarro is on Clinton's finance committee; why isn't she being asked to step down?
UPDATE: The Obama campaign is hitting back.
"When you wink and nod, you're sending a signal to your supporters that anything goes," Obama chief strategist David Axelrod said, referring to the Clinton campaign's tepid response. Noting that Ferraro was a member of Clinton's campaign finance committee and had raised money for her presidential campaign, Axelrod said she "ought to be removed from those positions."Axelrod said Ferrarro's comments were part of a "pattern" of negative attacks aimed at Obama. He pointed to Clinton's former New Hampshire co-chairman Bill Shaheen, who questioned whether Obama ever sold drugs; supporter Rober Johnsen, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, who raised the specter of Obama's past drug use; and Clinton's own "unwillingness" to "definitively" shoot down rumors that Obama was Muslim in an interview this month.
This is going to get ugly.
UPDATE II: Ferarro has responded. Apparently, she's the victim here:
"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. Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?"
Again, I want to point out that my issue here is not so much what was said but how the media, and the two campaigns, have handled these incidents. The Clinton campaign tried to score a few cheap political points with the Power comment, and now they deserve to reap what they've sewn.
UPDATE III: Ferarro apparently has a history of making these comments. From 1988:
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."
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Comments (18)
I'd ask for contact information to let the Clinton campaign know that this is absolutely intolerable,
but joke's on us Democrats, she doesn't give a damn about what you think. Popular elections are for losers.
Posted by anonymous | March 11, 2008 9:56 AM
The Clintons are disgusting. They epitomize everything that is wrong with the old-line Democratic Party. I cannot vote for this shameless, egotistical woman. Even if elected, she will not represent anyone but herself, and her greed. Just disgusting. Go away.
Posted by Tico | March 11, 2008 11:37 AM
I agree with anonymous.
Posted by Deb Shaw | March 11, 2008 12:10 PM
Piss on both of em. Black/white. Man/Crazy Bitch.
Neither of these candidates are truly revolutionary.
Both of these bitches will cave to Israel, fight for Israel, and make people lose family and land for Israel.
Not a single candidate raises and eyebrow to this. Except...
RON PAUL!!!
Posted by Roach | March 11, 2008 12:14 PM
Actually, THAT Powers comment wasn't what got her fired. In an interview with the BBC, she alleged that Obama wouldn't be able to hold onto his promise to return US troops from Iraq within 18 months. Obama's people freaked coz she's not high enough up the food chain to make allegations like that, and for basically showing a chink in Obama's (most excellent) stand on the Iraq debacle.
And dats dat.
Posted by jb | March 11, 2008 12:26 PM
@Deb Shaw
I am in total agreement with you. It is ashame he got shafted. He was our only hope.
I still drive around with his name proudly spray-painted on the hood of my car.
Posted by LiberalsVSConservativesDOTcom | March 11, 2008 12:57 PM
Neither comment was that bad. What are people getting their undies all in a bunch about?
Bunch of babies.
Posted by John | March 11, 2008 1:12 PM
The problem is that Ferraro's statement implies that Obama is in a position of priivalege because of his race. This is absolutely preposterous. Her presumption is that his race is the source of his appeal and I think that most people would agree that this simply is not true. The fact that he is of a darker complexion should have no relevance whatsoever and it certainly should not be seen as a privalge given the history of lynching, slavery and emasculation of black men in America. Ferraro's statement has the unspoken moral code of "no black man should be equal to this pure, virtuous and superior white woman." But in the end, Ferraro's position is that "if he wasn't a nigger he wouldn't even be here" its designed to ignite white anger and indignation to support the idea that black people have no business running for president, being executives or even speaking articulately and sharing the stage with white america. Its designed to make people angry that Obama is doing all those things and cite his race as the reason why he should not be where he is.
Posted by Anon | March 11, 2008 3:57 PM
There is a certain type of Democrat that will give money to Unicef, but clutches their purse and covers their breast when a black man enters an elevator. Surprisingly, no actually shockingly - Ferarro is one of those kind of racists. I suggest that the Democratic leadership pull their heads out and have a "come to Jesus" meeting and settle this stupid, self-destructive primary before the party implodes.
Posted by Kmuzu | March 11, 2008 4:40 PM
Ferraro's statement is delusional. I hate stooping to the lowest common denominator but look no further than to the ascension of Dubya (and a few senators) to prove that monied white men don't need much else to qualify them for leadership positions.
If I may amplify Ferraro's statement though...Obama is very lucky to be who he is IN THIS TIME. Obama's skin color and bi-racial heritage in this moment in the country's development absolutely plays a part in his appeal. There was a perfect storm a'brewing--despondency over Iraq, 2 terms of fearmongering and divisiveness, low morale, hunger for a new America, loss of confidence in authority, continued racial problems like Katrina, etc--and Obama stepped right into the middle of it. He is the embodiment of change. Who can compete with that? He is "lucky" because of our time--not because his skin color is black. Only a white person who lacks the ability to empathize would suggest such nonsense anyways.
What Ferraro's statement demonstrates is overappreciation of Obama's physicality and an underappreciation of his traits. No other black man but Barack Obama could be doing what he's doing right now. Yes, his race appeals... but only in combination with his character.
Posted by Carla | March 12, 2008 1:34 AM
It's the same old condescension from PC people.
They're not only racist, they're also dishonest about it.
Posted by Ugly American | March 12, 2008 2:08 AM
She is not racist, for crying out loud. Black people say the same things about white people and nobody is outraged. White people are now officially over-sensitized to everything black. The double standard is just too much at this point, people are slowly seeing that.
The woman was saying, in her opinion, that if he were Caucasian he would have less backers. I think it is fair to say he would have fewer black votes. Observations on racial trends are not racist. She didn't say that she didn't like black people, or he shouldn't be a leader because of his color, she made an observation.
Watch this:
Black males make up 6% of the population in the United States.
Black males commit 47% of the murders in the United States.
These number are easily researchable.
All I did was type facts and you better believe many of you are thinking I am a racist right now.
I am not.
Posted by reason | March 12, 2008 3:44 AM
Reason: Maybe if he were white he'd have fewer black votes, but he might also have more Hispanic votes and votes from older whites. To play up the advantages and ignore the disadvantages of his race is dishonest.
Posted by Elyas | March 12, 2008 7:10 AM
Ferarro is EXACTLY right. Thankfully someone said it. Obama has absolutely no experience to be running the country, and every time someone points that out, his camp screams racism! He's a lucky guy - when he ineviably fails as a president due to his lack of experience, maybe in the NEXT election we can focus on on the REAL issues, instead of giving someone a free pass in the name of political correctness.
Posted by Annabel | March 12, 2008 7:32 AM
IT IS A SHAME THAT WE HAVE SUCH PEOPLE STILL EXISTING IN THIS SOCIETY. A COUNTRY THAT PROMOTES UNITY AND EQUALITY TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD. THE WORLD IS WATCHIING US.
HILLARY CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN TEAM DO THIS INTENTIONALLY TO TICK OFF THE BLACK VOTERS SO AS TO VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY FOR OBAMA TO DRIVE WHITE VOTERS AWAY FROM OBAMA. IT IS A SHAMEFUL TACTICS.
Posted by Allison | March 12, 2008 7:38 AM
When Jesse Jackson ran for president he didn't receive the same amount of support from the African American community or the European American community as Sen Obama has received.
The same happened when Rev Al Sharpton ran in 2003/04.
So, there is something outstanding about Sen Obama.
Something that has made states where the majority of citizens are European Americans supported him over Sen Clinton.
If Ms Ferraro was correct in her statement, then Rev Jackson and Rev Sharpton should have been just as successful as Sen Obama.
Her statement was totally ridiculous.
African American have supported almost 100% every Democratic candidate for president over the past 40 years. All of those candidates have been European Americans.
Now that they, for the first time is giving their support to a candidate of African descent, we see the RACISTS in the Democratic party showing their true colors.
I hope African Americans are learning from these recent revelations.
The Independent and Republican ranks should see more African American joining them in the
Posted by Amin | March 12, 2008 8:20 AM
HILLARY AND GERALDINE: Ready, willing and able to bring down the democratic party.
Geraldine did it when she ran for veep and it was the largest demise ever in the history of the democratic party. Now she is helping her twin Hillary do the same.
Posted by David | March 12, 2008 8:38 AM
i am so sick of black -oops- african americans constantly whining about racism.they want to act like we are still in the days of slavery or the days of jim crow laws.we're not people.quit blaming "whitey" for all YOUR problems, and start concerning yourselves with black on black crime,so many black babies born out of wedlock in this country- (70% versus 29% for caucasians).ugly american is right,why do black men so disproportionately commit so many murders and other crimes? i guess that is our fault too!
Posted by sean | March 12, 2008 8:47 AM