Geraldine Ferrarro the racist steps down

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

Her words speak volumes.

The only people who don't see the racism in her words are those blinded by their own racism.

The only people who think her words were racist are those that think the world owes them a living because of their skin color.

I'm white and I found her remarks racist.

[no name 1]

(CNN) – Geraldine Ferraro has stepped down from her role as a member of Hillary Clinton's finance committee.

In a letter to Clinton obtained by CNN's Suzanne Malveaux — who spoke with the former vice presidential candidate shortly after she sent it to Clinton — Ferraro said she is stepping down so, "I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what is at stake in this campaign."

In a phone conversation with Malveaux, Ferraro said she was not asked to step down by Senator Clinton or her campaign.

Ferraro said thousands of people are part of the finance committee, saying it is not a staff position, but a voluntary one for those who raise money for the campaign. She also said she has raised $125,000 for Senator Clinton.

When asked if she had any regrets about what she said, Ferraro replied, "absolutely not."

"I am who I am and I will continue to speak up." She added that she thought it was a shame that the Obama campaign was trying to block her First Amendment rights, and that she felt that was no way to conduct a campaign.

She said, "it's not me slicing and dicing," a reference to Obama's comments earlier in the day accusing Ferraro of dividing the party.

Ferraro said David Axelrod, Obama's campaign manager and an acquaintance, should have called her to ask her the intention of her remarks, which she says the Obama campaign used to hurt Clinton.

When asked how she felt about Hillary Clinton distancing herself from her remarks, Ferraro replied, "I am perfectly fine," and that there were no hard feelings. She said she understands what Clinton is going through, and understands that being part of a presidential campaign is "very hard."

(Updated 6 p.m. ET with additional reporting.)

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[HAL 9000 96]

Always blame someone else for opening yer trapper... that's not mature...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I wouldn't say she was exactly racist - but her comments certainly were a bit stupid; and (given her experience) she should have known better rather than to inject race into the debate in such a way as to suggest that its a primary motivating factor in Obama's success. I don't think she had any business doing that IMO, nor did she make a point that had any factual (or authoritative) substance.

On one hand she suggested that BO reaching this point in the campaign race is to do with his race and media exposure, is a tad insulting - not only to BO, but to the voters who actually support his candidacy on policy issues.

On the other she undermined herself, and her own qualifications by suggesting that the only reason she was selected as a Vice-presidential candidate was because she is a woman. Does that strike anyone else as a bit weird?

Always blame someone else for opening yer trapper... that's not mature...

She's also overstating the importance, honesty or intelligence of her statements. Statements which were neither important, honest or intelligent.

[no name 1]

I wouldn't say she was exactly racist - but her comments certainly were a bit stupid; and (given her experience) she should have known better rather than to inject race into the debate in such a way as to suggest that its a primary motivating factor in Obama's success. I don't think she had any business doing that IMO, nor did she make a point that had any factual (or authoritative) substance.

On one hand she suggested that BO reaching this point in the campaign race is to do with his race and media exposure, is a tad insulting - not only to BO, but to the voters who actually support his candidacy on policy issues.

On the other she undermined herself, and her own qualifications by suggesting that the only reason she was selected as a Vice-presidential candidate was because she is a woman. Does that strike anyone else as a bit weird?

She interjected the sexism thing as well but no one seems to care about that.....

BO got to where h was by writing a bestseller & later courting the press (after talking to insiders about it all), it's not hard to see that.

Edited March 12, 2008 by illumine

[HAL 9000 96]

I wouldn't say she was exactly racist - but her comments certainly were a bit stupid; and (given her experience) she should have known better rather than to inject race into the debate in such a way as to suggest that its a primary motivating factor in Obama's success. I don't think she had any business doing that IMO, nor did she make a point that had any factual (or authoritative) substance.

On one hand she suggested that BO reaching this point in the campaign race is to do with his race and media exposure, is a tad insulting - not only to BO, but to the voters who actually support his candidacy on policy issues.

On the other she undermined herself, and her own qualifications by suggesting that the only reason she was selected as a Vice-presidential candidate was because she is a woman. Does that strike anyone else as a bit weird?

Always blame someone else for opening yer trapper... that's not mature...

She's also overstating the importance, honesty or intelligence of her statements. Statements which were neither important, honest or intelligent.

Yes... Someone of so much stature and experience should have known so much better.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I wouldn't say she was exactly racist - but her comments certainly were a bit stupid; and (given her experience) she should have known better rather than to inject race into the debate in such a way as to suggest that its a primary motivating factor in Obama's success. I don't think she had any business doing that IMO, nor did she make a point that had any factual (or authoritative) substance.

On one hand she suggested that BO reaching this point in the campaign race is to do with his race and media exposure, is a tad insulting - not only to BO, but to the voters who actually support his candidacy on policy issues.

On the other she undermined herself, and her own qualifications by suggesting that the only reason she was selected as a Vice-presidential candidate was because she is a woman. Does that strike anyone else as a bit weird?

She interjected the sexism thing as well but no one seems to care about that......

Who doesn't care?

She simply had no business doing what she did. A journalist can comment on these things - but someone who is politically exposed and attached to a campaign really should know better. Race and gender are clearly very sensitive issues in this country. I think that's self-evident without making stupid statements attributing one candidates success to his race.

Race and gender do play a part in voting decisions, but to suggest that one candidate is winning largely, or solely because of that is grotesque overstatement.

Edited March 12, 2008 by Number 6

[no name 1]

I wouldn't say she was exactly racist - but her comments certainly were a bit stupid; and (given her experience) she should have known better rather than to inject race into the debate in such a way as to suggest that its a primary motivating factor in Obama's success. I don't think she had any business doing that IMO, nor did she make a point that had any factual (or authoritative) substance.

On one hand she suggested that BO reaching this point in the campaign race is to do with his race and media exposure, is a tad insulting - not only to BO, but to the voters who actually support his candidacy on policy issues.

On the other she undermined herself, and her own qualifications by suggesting that the only reason she was selected as a Vice-presidential candidate was because she is a woman. Does that strike anyone else as a bit weird?

She interjected the sexism thing as well but no one seems to care about that......

Who doesn't care?

She simply had no business doing what she did. A journalist can comment on these things - but someone who is politically exposed and attached to a campaign really should know better. Race and gender are clearly very sensitive issues in this country. I think that's self-evident without making stupid statements attributing one candidates success to his race.

Race and gender do play a part in voting decisions, but to suggest that one candidate is winning largely, or solely because of that is grotesque overstatement.

She said he got to where he was because of several reasons & she said the media is sexist but everyone jumped on hey, let's just call her a racist - it's got more drama.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

BO got to where h was by writing a bestseller & later courting the press (after talking to insiders about it all), it's not hard to see that.

That is of course - your opinion. But you are making a vast (unfair IMO) assumption about the people who are supporting BO.

HC has wrote a NYT bestselling book not too long ago as well I believe.. Does she also not court the press?

[no name 1]

BO got to where h was by writing a bestseller & later courting the press (after talking to insiders about it all), it's not hard to see that.

That is of course - your opinion. But you are making a vast (unfair IMO) assumption about the people who are supporting BO.

HC has wrote a NYT bestselling book not too long ago as well I believe.. Does she also not court the press?

totally different circumstances.

PS: She was also First Lady.

Edited March 12, 2008 by illumine

[Lansbury 19]

Her words speak volumes.

The only people who don't see the racism in her words are those blinded by their own racism.

The only people who think her words were racist are those that think the world owes them a living because of their skin color.

I'm white and I found her remarks racist.

Then I guess I should add and those that think any critical comment about a person of an ethnic minority can only be based on racism and are unable to understand it might be that persons opinion held for other reasons.

If you really think Obama would be where he is today if he was white middle class then you must have lead a very sheltered life.

[HAL 9000 96]

Where be Charles and his waaaambulance when you clearly see a need ? ...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I wouldn't say she was exactly racist - but her comments certainly were a bit stupid; and (given her experience) she should have known better rather than to inject race into the debate in such a way as to suggest that its a primary motivating factor in Obama's success. I don't think she had any business doing that IMO, nor did she make a point that had any factual (or authoritative) substance.

On one hand she suggested that BO reaching this point in the campaign race is to do with his race and media exposure, is a tad insulting - not only to BO, but to the voters who actually support his candidacy on policy issues.

On the other she undermined herself, and her own qualifications by suggesting that the only reason she was selected as a Vice-presidential candidate was because she is a woman. Does that strike anyone else as a bit weird?

She interjected the sexism thing as well but no one seems to care about that......

Who doesn't care?

She simply had no business doing what she did. A journalist can comment on these things - but someone who is politically exposed and attached to a campaign really should know better. Race and gender are clearly very sensitive issues in this country. I think that's self-evident without making stupid statements attributing one candidates success to his race.

Race and gender do play a part in voting decisions, but to suggest that one candidate is winning largely, or solely because of that is grotesque overstatement.

She said he got to where he was because of several reasons & she said the media is sexist but everyone jumped on hey, let's just call her a racist - it's got more drama.

I didn't say she was a racist.

She said that if her name had been Gerald, rather than Geraldine that she wouldn't have been nominated.

I am saying that her comments are rather less profound than she's making out. Saying the media is sexist is one thing - does anyone really have any evidence for that?

BO got to where h was by writing a bestseller & later courting the press (after talking to insiders about it all), it's not hard to see that.

That is of course - your opinion. But you are making a vast (unfair IMO) assumption about the people who are supporting BO.

HC has wrote a NYT bestselling book not too long ago as well I believe.. Does she also not court the press?

totally different circumstances.

PS: She was also First Lady.

So what? Is BO really doing something that HC isn't or can't?

Seriously this sounds like nothing more than sour grapes to me. He's winning because... Unfair!

[no name 1]

I didn't say she was a racist.

She said that if her name had been Gerald, rather than Geraldine that she wouldn't have been nominated.

I am saying that her comments are rather less profound than she's making out. Saying the media is sexist is one thing - does anyone really have any evidence for that?

You didn,t but plenty of VJers have (and O's camp & the media, etc) . And anyone who doesn't disagree with Gerry is as well. Talk about jumping on the bandwagon....

Does anyone have evidence she's racist other then a gut feeling?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I didn't say she was a racist.

She said that if her name had been Gerald, rather than Geraldine that she wouldn't have been nominated.

I am saying that her comments are rather less profound than she's making out. Saying the media is sexist is one thing - does anyone really have any evidence for that?

You didn,t but plenty of VJers have (and O's camp & the media, etc) . And anyone who doesn't disagree with Gerry is as well. Talk about jumping on the bandwagon....

Does anyone have evidence she's racist other then a gut feeling?

Well there is a difference between saying that she is personally racist, Vs. saying that those particular comments were.

That whole

"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?"

line of argument is an old one that has been over-used by right-wing talk-radio commentators and some Republican politicians who are too stupid and stubborn to admit that their comments were, at best, ill-advised. I didn't buy it when they said it - and I don't buy it now she's wheeling it out of the closet. Edited March 12, 2008 by Number 6