March 11, 2008
DOUBLING DOWN ON IDENTITY
Ferraro defends controversial comments on Barack Obama (Gene Maddaus, 03/11/2008, LA Daily Breeze)
In a follow-up interview today, Ferraro said her company had been deluged with vicious e-mail messages accusing her of racism.But far from backing off from her initial remark, Ferraro defended it and elaborated on it.
"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," Ferraro said. "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?" [...]
Ferraro said she was not trying to diminish Obama's candidacy, and acknowledged up front that she would not have been the vice presidential nominee in 1984 if she had been a man.
But she also echoed remarks of feminist leaders like Gloria Steinem, who argued in the New York Times that Obama would not have succeeded if he were a woman because gender is "the most restricting force in American life."
"Sexism is a bigger problem," Ferraro argued. "It's OK to be sexist in some people's minds. It's not OK to be racist."
Genius! I'll see your "racist" and raise you a "sexist." Hopefully, we approach the apogee of political correctness at which these people will be rendered silent lest anyone anywhere ever be offended. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 11, 2008 5:27 PM
Wow! Why, yes, I would like a large slice of awesome pie to go with those two scoops of awesomeness with extra awesome on top!
I remember a guy in my high school Spanish class who was greatly disappointed to find out that due to the grading forms the teachers filled out he couldn't achieve his goal of actually getting a 0 for the term and could only get a 9. I think that Clinton, Steinem, and Ferraro are trying to see if they can get an even lower fraction than that of the male vote against Sen. "Actually, I can think of a few more restricting forces than gender" McCain...
Posted by: b at March 11, 2008 6:14 PMIf only there existed a successful black Republican woman who could laugh at these jokers and say "Ms. Ferraro is right. Obama would never have succeeded if he were a woman. He's just not good enough. And by the way, Hillary would be nothing without her husband. But look at me--completely on my own qualifications and despite facing the combined weight of the crushing burdens that each of these two poor souls have overcome, I have risen to the highest levels of my profession (let's say something like provost at Stanford and Secretary of State)." If only there were such a person...
Posted by: b at March 11, 2008 6:40 PMAs I age, my comprehension seems to decline.
That said, I really don't comprehend the points the previous commenters were attempting to make?
Ms. Ferraro's comments regarding Obama being considered Black as his only electability quotient were indisputably accurate. A white Obama would run well behind now gone Edwards.
Why would a stated fact be controversial? Only if you were a Democrat!
I really think they're attacking me because I'm white.
Could it be that they're attacking her because she's an idiot?
But hold on. Obama seems to have a soft spot for strong, assertive women (that is, of the non-monstrous variety), and Ferraro might just be angling for another VP slot (arguing, irrefutably, that she has more experience at running for VP than most of the other potential candidates).
Posted by: Barry Meislin at March 12, 2008 3:27 AM