Geraldine Ferraro, the Democratic 1984 Vice Presidential Candidate and a major supporter of Hillary Clinton in this election, has said some very ugly things about Barack Obama. She is quoted as saying:
“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.”
Now, I certainly find her comments pretty outrageous because they smack of bigotry and partisanship. But, I also find them disturbing for reasons I am only now beginning to understand. It is the similarity of her argument to the argument against affirmative action that is strikingly clear.
In effect, her argument is the following: ‘If Barack Obama were a white man like, say John Edwards, or if he were a woman like, say Hillary Clinton, he would not get the free pass to the Democratic nomination from the media and from the Democratic base he is presently getting. Being a black man in the U.S. is great.’
Now imagine Obama were a Law School applicant. The analogous argument goes as follows: If Barack Obama were a white man like, say John Edwards, or if he were a woman like, say Hillary Clinton, he would not get the free pass into Law School from the admissions committees he is presently getting. Being a black man in the U.S. is great.’
So, this self-proclaimed liberal — pro-abortion, pro-affirmative action, pro-gun control, pro-civil liberties — is using the right wing argument of minorities getting preferential treatment to denigrate her party colleague. From where I stand, this doesn’t make sense on a number of levels.
First, if anyone got a free pass in politics, it was Geraldine Ferraro. In 1984, when Walter Mondale picked her as a running mate, everyone outside of the NYC area was asking “Geraldine Who?” This is like the pot calling the tea kettle black (pun very much intended).
Second, Ferraro is using right wing arguments to bash an undeniable political comrade on the left of center side of the spectrum. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Last, I continue to be astounded at the lengths the Democrats will go to destroy one another in this primary race. This comment is damaging to Ferraro, Obama, Clinton and the Democratic party.
And Hillary Clinton has yet to distance herself from Ferraro. Yes, she has repudiated the comment. Yet, unlike Obama, who got rid of Samantha Power for an obviously less destructive invective hurled at Clinton, the former First Lady is finding it difficult to separate herself from her political fundraiser and supporter. And I am finding it difficult to respect Hillary Clinton regardless of whether she is sticking with Ferraro out of loyalty or what have you.
I continue to watch this sideshow in awe.
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