President Obama: Ferraro blazed trail for all Americans

[cal04]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110326/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_ferraro

President Barack Obama calls Geraldine Ferraro a political trailblazer who broke down barriers for women and Americans of all backgrounds.

Obama says his daughters — Sasha and Malia — will grow up in a more equal country because of Ferraro's career and her ideals.

(snip)
Obama says Ferraro "fought to uphold American's founding ideals of equality, justice and opportunity for all."

[vroomvroom]

1. I doubt Ferraro would have been as kind about Obama.

But her's to some of her remaining good qualities she still had.

[old mark]

10. She told the truth as she saw it, something almost NO politicians, including

Mr. Obama, have much experience with.
It is entirely possible she was right.


mark

[ClarkUSA]

13. Geraldine Ferraro: 'If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position.'

<< It's entirely possible she was right. >>

Rubbish.

“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," Ferraro told the newspaper... Susan Rice, a senior adviser for the Obama camapign, said today that the Clinton campaign should disavow Ferraro’s comments. “It is the sort of comment that we have heard repeatedly, I’m afraid, from some of the Clinton surrogates,” she said on MSNBC's Morning Joe.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/geraldine_ferraro_if_obama_was.html

Good riddance.

[Beacool]

26. Well, now Rice and the one who called Hillary a "monster" have to work with her.

Politics makes strange bedfellows. As for Gerry's comments, she called it as she saw it.

:eyes:

[ClarkUSA]

29. And now Hillary has to work for the man she implied didn't cross the CIC threshold.

I could also say that sexism is a matter of interpretation. I could say that Chris Matthews calls it as he sees it, too.

<< As for Gerry's comments, she called it as she saw it. >>

Yeah, she saw things through the eyes of a racist. Good riddance.

[Beacool]

38. You are repeating yourself.

:eyes:

[ClarkUSA]

43. Not at all.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. Obama is one classy guy.

[Kaylee]

3. +1

Because as an African American I've been torn over giving her praise or shaking my head in disappointment. I always looked up to her, but her statements from 2008 really hurt.

[Arugula Latte]

49. Yeah, I could never feel the same about her after '08.

Rest in peace, Geraldine, but you shouldn't have tarnished your legacy.

[JoePhilly]

4. +1

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. +1

[CakeGrrl]

8. Very. +1

Always gracious no matter what is said about him.

[AtomicKitten]

46. + a really big number

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[butterfly77]

6. And...

Americans of all backgrounds,except...Barack Hussein Obama.:hi:

[Beacool]

9. So........

Geraldine Ferraro passes away and the responses are about Obama being "classy"?

Typical.......

:eyes:

[ClarkUSA]

14. This is why he's being classy: 'Ferraro's comments about Obama were racist. Why can't we say that?'

"The racist card is textbook strawmanship.": http://www.slate.com/id/2186553

[Beacool]

20. Because "racist" is a matter of interpretation.

She meant that no one should be sent to the back of the bus due to their gender, race or religion. But, by the same token, no one should get ahead of the bus due to these same qualifiers.

[ClarkUSA]

28. Wrong. You just proved the point the author was making.

[Beacool]

36. Wrong my a$$

I'm sick and tired of people who didn't support Obama being accused of "racism". What experience and gravitas did Obama have in 2008 to warrant the presidency? That he had been a state senator? That he was a US senator with barely 2 years under his belt? Prefer Obama all you like, but other than being able to give a good speech, his qualifications were quite minimal.

[ClarkUSA]

42. Ferraro's comments are clear as a dog whistle to anyone who has ever faced racism. We know her type.

[Beacool]

45. What's this "we" kimosabe?

:7

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Beacool]

52. I'll refrain from responding in kind.

But let me suggest that RW talk on a Democratic board is shameful. If you're not aware of Hillary's accomplishments, I suggest you do some research.

This board is getting worse by the day, might as well be at the Freepers' site.

;(

[TheBigotBasher]

56. Such irony.

Must be because I am not a hard working white American that I do not get it.

[TheBigotBasher]

60. Wow she got elected in New York as a Senator

who then tried to ban video games and flag burning. Much better for hard working white Americans.

Hillary is the best Secretary of State since the last one. That is all that needs to be said and my objection to her predecessor is not the same as that made by a rather useless candidate. Condi wasn't a failure because she wasn't a hard working white American, she was a failure because she did not get the diplomatic service.

[TheBigotBasher]

50. "racist" is a matter of interpretation.

Wow.

Hard working white America.

[Beacool]

53. You had to go back how many decades to find that pic?

:eyes:

[jenmito]

57. If what you're implying about Obama is true, why didn't Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton

"get ahead of the bus" when THEY ran for president? How 'bout Carol Moseley-Braun? :eyes:

[Beacool]

63. Moseley Braun wasn't even a good senator.

As for Jackson and Sharpton, their style was more combative and it scared some people. I was having a conversation during the primaries with an AA co-worker who is also an attorney, we were discussing Obama. He said that white people were more accepting of Obama because, just like Oprah, he was not threatening to whites. That he didn't get in their face. Obama may be bi-racial, but he's quite waspy in his demeanor. Ivy League undergrad degree, ditto for law school. It's not a race thing, it's a class thing. The elites recognized one of their own. It's no small coincidence that early on one of his biggest demographics were those making over $150K. In my very yuppie town (home of then governor Corzine and senator Menendez) Obama was very popular.

[jenmito]

66. WOW!!! "It's not a race thing, it's a class thing."

Really? Then why are you always saying it IS? Including the post I first replied to where you said, "She meant that no one should be sent to the back of the bus due to their gender, race or religion. But, by the same token, no one should get ahead of the bus due to these same qualifiers."

Funny how in your attempt to exempt 3 past Black candidates from your original post/theory, you disproved your own point (that you've made too many times to count). So I hope you'll stop from now on implying that the only reason Obama beat Hillary was because he's Black.

[CakeGrrl]

15. This thread is about the President's comment about Ferarro's passing.

If you want an Obama-free zone, visit another thread dedicated solely to Ms. Ferraro. Somewhere outside of GD: P I'd guess.

[Beacool]

21. Comment after comment about Obama's "class", but no one word about Ferraro's passing?

:eyes:

[ClarkUSA]

30. Here's two words: Good riddance. I'm glad I won't have to hear her Faux drivel in 2012.

What were your words after Ted Kennedy died? Hmm?

[Beacool]

37. I never said good riddance when Teddy passed.

Did I like Ted? Not particularly, I saw enough of him and the Kennedy brood in Palm Beach and in Hyannis to know better. Unlike you who probably never even met Gerry.

[ClarkUSA]

40. You said worse. And one did not have to meet Ferraro to know she was an unapologetic racist.

Good riddance.

[treestar]

17. the thread is about what Obama did in response

which was classy.

[PatGund]

58. Well, yes....

Geraldine Ferraro passes away. President Obama, whom Ferraro had attacked, belittled and demeaned during 2008, is classy and gracious enough to overlook her racist attacks on him and speaks well of the positive things she did in her life.

That happens to be classy.

Next question?

[Forkboy]

67. His comments are classy after the shit she said.

I think she's great, but it was Grade A stupid fucking stuff. Obama could easily have not said a damned thing about her, and then you would have been pissed at that too. Your hate for the guy borders on rabid, Bea.

[Beacool]

69. Hi, Forky!!

How's the healing going? I hope that you're feeling better.

Nah, I don't hate the guy. I don't like him one little bit, but I don't hate him.

:hi:

[Forkboy]

70. I'm fine, thanks, but your words betray you on Obama.

Sorry, there's no way you'll convince me that you don't hate him. You've been one of the most consistently hateful people towards him here since before he was even elected. If he walked on water you'd accuse him of not being able to swim. The fact that you tell me otherwise suggests you're either lying to me, or to yourself.

He was next to last on my list in the primaries, so I'm hardly a fan, but you make me look like a Obama booster club member. :shrug:

[Beacool]

71. I am glad that you're better.

Hate is too strong of a word. I don't hate anyone, particularly someone I don't personally know. I readily admit that I don't like him, but I don't wish him any harm or personal unhappiness. He appears to be a good husband and father.

:shrug:

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

11. R.I.P. Gerry. She was one helluva trailblazer.

[aaaaaa5a]

12. She showed her true "colors" in 2008.

Obama's is very classy and gracious (as always) despite all she did to try and stop him and thus… wreck her own historic cause and our party's chances in 2008.

I know this will be unpopular, but personally, I think she's way, way, way, overrated historically. She was a terrible VP choice. Her work, (and the lack of background check) actually dragged her doomed ticket down further. She was basically a "hail marry" attempt by Walter Mondale who knew he was going to lose. And once nominated for the post, she did herself no favors. And she had the nerve to go on FOX news and claim "Obama was only winning the nomination because he was black." Are you serious? With her history. She is the last person on earth who should be making such claims! (Plus she was wrong in that Obama earned his standing/she NEVER earned hers)

After her nomination, it would sadly be 24 years (6 Presidential races) before another woman was nominated for VP again. And coincidentally, Palin was nominated the same way Ferraro was. (An unknown, poorly qualified candidate ushered into the spotlight to try to save a ticket they knew was going to lose).


A true trailblazer and a person to be admired is Hillary Clinton. She is braking down barriers in the modern political world. It is going to be an honor to campaign for her in 2016!

As for Ferraro , she was a hateful old woman, with very questionable views in regard to the diversity of our country. She was poorly qualified and terrible in the public spotlight when she got her chance. And then later in life, instead of trying to help our cause of advancement for all people, she instead used her personal vengeance and bitterness to try and prevent it.




Just because someone is the "first" to do something, That doesn't mean they deserve praise. Especially when she was picked (out of the blue) for the position, and it wasn't really earned. I think that summarizes Ferraro.


Given her track record, Obama is once again, proving who the better person was all along.

[Nedsdag]

16. I also remember it was between her and Dianne Feinstein for the VP spot.

Ironically, Feinstein's finances were the reason why Ferraro was chosen.

I also remember at one point, Mondale was thinking about choosing someone else and rumor has it Ferraro broke down in tears and Mondale fearing a backlash from women's group chose her.

[aaaaaa5a]

19. Wow, I wasn't aware of that story...

but if Feinstein was in the running, she clearly would have been the better choice.

Ferraro was a terrible VP candidate.

Her post VP career wasn't much better.

And what she did in 2008 was almost unforgivable.


Sure, she was all about women's rights in 1984, but her "life long cause" took a quick back seat to her own bitterness, vengeance and prejudice when "she" was no longer the one seeking public office, or one of "her" candidates could no longer win.


I wonder if Ferraro honestly believes the rights of women would be better served without 2 more left leaning women on the Supreme Court, the equal pay for equal work act, etc. etc. etc. none of which would have happened had Obama and the Democrats lost in 2008.

[Beacool]

24. It was not bitterness, prejudice or vengeance.

It was anger at all the sexist crap thrown at Hillary by the media and the silence of a party leadership who had decided that Obama was a more historical choice.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Beacool]

34. Yeah right, because there was no sexism...........

Very interesting how the left chose to ignore it because Hillary wasn't their chosen candidate.

As for Palin, as much as I disagree with the woman's politics, there was plenty of sexism thrown at her too.

:eyes:

[TheBigotBasher]

54. Name one Hillary site that has not used sexism or racism,

especially against Michelle Obama.

Just one. Go on, set one up now and create three years of history.

Sexism to PUMA/Birthers was only an issue when used against the hard working white Americans.

[StevieM]

27. Geraldine Ferraro supported President Obama in the 2008 General Election (eom)

[ClarkUSA]

31. "This time Ferraro came out and wrote that she might not support Obama in the general election..."

"This time Ferraro came out and wrote that she might not support Obama in the general election when he is nominated."
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/775213/geraldine_ferraro_reopens_obamas_wound.html

[Beacool]

18. Her comments to a small newspaper in CA were misinterpreted.

Gerry Ferraro was no racist and she had decades of work on civil rights to back her.

As for 2008, far too many people who did not support Obama were labeled racists, including the Clintons themselves. If you did not support Obama you HAD to be a racist. Why else not support the least experienced candidate in 99 years?

Please........

:eyes:

[aaaaaa5a]

22. Ferraro's issue in 2008 wasn't that she was a racist.

Who cares if she is or not. That's her choice. The problem was she had no problem using her dog whistle. And she blew that whistle for as long and as loud as she could, even if it meant possibly damaging the causes she pretend to care so deeply about. (All reasonable and objective people know what I mean, and they know I'm right.)

[Beacool]

25. All reasonable people?

Or mostly Obama supporters........

:shrug:

[aaaaaa5a]

44. Um… I don't think I'm the one lacking objectivity here. NT

[Forkboy]

68. All reasonable people.

[ClarkUSA]

32. Well-said, although I would say being a racist was part and parcel of her blowing the dog-whistle.

<< The problem was she had no problem using her dog whistle. And she blew that whistle for as long and as loud as she could, even if it meant possibly damaging the causes she pretend to care so deeply about. (All reasonable and objective people know what I mean, and they know I'm right.) >>

True. It was shameful. Clintonians did that repeatedly... right up to the top.

[Beacool]

35. She was NOT a racist.

She thought that Obama was not ready to be president in 2008 and she was far from being the only one who thought similarly.

[ClarkUSA]

41. ROFL! Of course she was. Her on-the-record comments were appalling, to say the least.

[AtomicKitten]

47. DU's own Geraldine Ferraro wannabe --

[aaaaaa5a]

59. Its a good thing Beacool is real objective on such matters LOL! NT

[SpartanDem]

62. +1000

[Beacool]

65. My, my, my, you have been a very busy kitty.

You must have plenty of free time.

I stand by my comments. I don't hide behind a keyboard. I would have the same conversation face to face with you or anyone else.

:7

[CakeGrrl]

39. Ferraro in 2008: "Barack Obama would not have made it this far if he was a white man."

I know some can't get past the 2008 primary, but I wanted to put this reminder out there while Ferarro's part of the subject of this thread.

Lest anyone forget, FERRARO blew the race whistle by implying that Obama's color, not his qualifications, got him this far.

It's telling who supports her position.

So, after Ferraro said that about President Obama, and he makes the statement he did after her passing? Nothing but class from him - and being the better person for it.

[AtomicKitten]

48. Pres O is classy especially under the circumstances --

"Hillary struggled against sexism but regularly played the race card" -- http://www.alternet.org/election08/84150/

[aaaaaa5a]

23. Ferraro's issue in 2008 wasn't that she was a racist.

Who cares if she is or not. That's her choice. The problem was she had no problem using her dog whistle. And she blew that whistle for as long and as loud as she could, even if it meant possibly damaging the causes she pretend to care so deeply about. (All reasonable and objective people know what I mean, and they know I'm right.)

[DemocratAholic]

55. sad

Whatever you may think of Ferraro, it is very sad and unfortunate that the first female VP candidate passes away, and we are discussing those comments from the 2008 election. Ultimately what is disturbing for me is that she didn't seem to care enough about her legacy...and what she represented to the party and the country, to take great care and use the most tact in everything she said. She ended her career as a Fox News Channel employee. She soiled her reputation with many people who appreciated her the most.

I guess the same thing can be said about her as can be said about many politicians. She was a flawed person. Perhaps she was not really the person we thought she was, or wished her to be. We have a habit of trying to elevate politicians to a status they don't deserve.

[aaaaaa5a]

61. Very well said!

DemocratAholic wrote…


"Whatever you may think of Ferraro, it is very sad and unfortunate that the first female VP candidate passes away, and we are discussing those comments from the 2008 election. Ultimately what is disturbing for me is that she didn't seem to care enough about her legacy...and what she represented to the party and the country, to take great care and use the most tact in everything she said. She ended her career as a Fox News Channel employee. She soiled her reputation with many people who appreciated her the most.

I guess the same thing can be said about her as can be said about many politicians. She was a flawed person. Perhaps she was not really the person we thought she was, or wished her to be. We have a habit of trying to elevate politicians to a status they don't deserve."





That sums up the career of Geraldine Ferraro perfectly.

I would only add, that not only did she not care about her legacy, she ultimately didn't care about what was suppose to be her" life long cause" either.

[Beacool]

64. So her comments to some newspaper in San Francisco obliterate a lifetime of work?

She may not have expressed herself well, but Gerry Ferraro was no racist. She was deeply hurt by the accusation. Regardless, it figures that around here that's all some people will bring up. When Obama ran in the GE she supported the party's nominee.

[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

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[DemocratAholic]

74. I was only speaking for myself

On a personal note, 1984 was the first presidential election I ever voted in. I had been raised in a very Republican family, but that election really turned me into a lifetime Democrat. There is a lot of emotion attached to that particular election for me.

In 1984 I had tremendous respect for Ferraro, and liked her personally. I found her quite impressive. In 2008, I saw another side of her. She was obviously very unhappy with the fact that Hillary Clinton was not going to win the nomination. Her remarks were, in my opinion, inappropriate and based in anger or disappointment. I expected better coming from her. I felt the same kind of disappointment as I felt about Joe Lieberman. I simply can not understand, or forgive, someone who represents the top (or near-top) of our ticket, ultimately doing something to hurt our party. Once you represent our party at the top of the ticket, you are historically significant. I do not think any politician is more important than the values we espouse...which can only be advanced by winning elections. I was not trying to suggest that she was a racist. The only thing that I said was that she did not take care in choosing her words, or...didn't care about the effect they had...with regard to the way it reflected on her, her legacy, what she represented to the party.

The final straw was when she became a political consultant for Fox News Channel. If I remember correctly, they hired her right on the heels of her provocative statements about Obama. She was obviously being used as a tool for the right. Perhaps she was desperately in need of money, had never seen Fox News, didn't realize they were the Republican news channel...I have no idea what was going through her mind.

Here was the someone on the first presidential ticket I had ever voted for...and it was like a one-two punch in my gut. I don't think I'm saying anything that is not true, and I'm not trying to diminish her in the eyes of anyone else. These are my personal feelings based on my own experiences and observations.

She was not the person I once believed her to be. I never believed she would say something tactless out of anger or disappointment. I never imagined she would accept paychecks (or consulting fees, whatever she was) signed by Rupert Murdoch. But, that's just me. Maybe some Democrats don't think working for Fox News is such a bad thing. There is no joy in this for me. This is all disappointment about someone who I once admired. If other people can still admire her after that, I say more power to you. The disappointment I feel about her is nothing I would wish on anyone else. Ferraro gave me one more reason to be cynical about politicians, as if I didn't have enough already. The saddest part is, she did it at the end of her life. It didn't have to end that way. Those were the "choices" she made.

Remember those Pepsi commercials? "Choice." Bit of irony in that. She made some bad choices at the end. SHE chose her words. SHE chose to work for Fox News. You can blame people "around here" who bring it up. The reason people bring it up is because she hurt them with her choices.