Obama Says Ferraro Race Comments Are ‘Patently Absurd,’ Campaign Calls for Ouster
Barack Obama speaks at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., Monday. His campaign called on a prominent Hillary Clinton supporter to step down Tuesday for saying Obama wouldn't be enjoying positive attention if he were white. (AP Photo)
Barack Obama on Tuesday lashed out at Geraldine Ferraro, a prominent Hillary Clinton supporter who says Obama has been helped politically by his race. The former Democratic vice presidential candidate responded that she stands by her remarks.
Ferraro first made the controversial remarks to the Los Angeles-area newspaper The Daily Breeze last week, saying Obama would not be enjoying such positive media attention if he were white.
“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position,” Ferraro said during an assessment of Obama’s treatment by the press that she attributes to an infatuation with the racial implications of his candidacy.
“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.”
Ferraro added that Clinton has suffered from a “sexist media.”
Obama labeled the comments as “patently absurd” after his campaign demanded Ferraro leave her post on Clinton’s finance committee. The Democratic presidential candidate told the Allentown Morning Call Tuesday: “I don’t think that Geraldine Ferraro’s comments have any place in our politics or the Democratic Party. … I think they were divisive.”
He added: “I think that anybody who understands the history of this country knows they are patently absurd. I would expect that the same way those comments don’t have a place in my campaign, they shouldn’t have a place in Senator Clinton’s.”
Ferraro told FOX News Tuesday that she’s “sorry that people thought it was racist.” But she quickly turned the tables on Obama, claiming his supporters are too eager to cry race when faced with criticism.
“What I find is offensive is every time anybody says something about the campaign, you’re accused of being racist,” she said.
She then told The Daily Breeze on Tuesday: “Racism works in two different directions. I really think they’re attacking me because I’m white. How’s that?”
Clinton said in Pennsylvania Tuesday that she doesn’t agree with Ferraro’s remarks, but did not say anything about removing her from the campaign.
“I think it’s important we stay focused on the issues that matter to the American people. Both of us have had supporters and staff that have gone over the line and we’ve both had to rein them in,” she said.
The Clinton campaign also released a statement accusing Obama of trying to renege on an apparent pledge to leave the race issue alone.
“We reject these false, personal and politically calculated attacks on the eve of a primary,” said campaign manager Maggie Williams.
Voters headed to the polls in the Mississippi on Tuesday. The state offers 33 pledged delegates and the largest black electorate of any state. Polls there consistently favor the Illinois senator.
The race comments set off a back-and-forth similar to the one the campaigns shared last week, when former foreign policy adviser Samantha Power left the Obama campaign after calling Clinton a “monster” in an interview with a Scottish newspaper.
Obama chief strategist David Axelrod suggested the emphasis on race is part of an underlying effort that has continued for months. He noted other allegedly insensitive comments by Clinton supporters BET founder Bob Johnson and New Hampshire co-chairman Bill Shaheen.
“All this is part of an insidious pattern that needs to be addressed,” Axelrod told reporters on a conference call Tuesday. “When you wink and nod at offensive statements, you’re really sending a signal to your supporters that anything goes.”
Axelrod said the Obama camp has been “very firm” in dealing with such wayward comments — a reference to the campaign’s handling of Power’s remarks. He said Ferraro should be removed from her campaign positions.
Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky said that Clinton should call on her advisers to “change the tone” of the campaign.
“Any and all remarks that diminish Senator Obama’s candidacy because of his race are completely out of line,” she said. “We need to stop tearing each other down with personal attacks and focus on defeating Senator McCain in November.”
The issue of Obama’s race surfaces periodically, often when a southern state, rich in black voters, is on the line. Bill Clinton raised it in South Carolina, which went heavily for Obama with the help of black voters. Clinton suggested Obama only won because of his race by raising the point that Jesse Jackson also won there when he ran for president.
Click here to read the Ferraro interview in The Daily Breeze.
has anyone noticed that there is rash of young white women who are being kidnapped, raped, carjacked, murdred, and atm cards stolen by blacks?
my question is obama’s idea of ‘change’ going to address this problem or will he put his head in the sand and pretend that this is non-existant problem.
so race is an issue, and obama has a responsiblity to speak out about black on white crime and a mindset that condones it.
What GF said was right on. there is no way he would get a free ride from reporters otherwise. Their positions are nearly identical and she gets slammed all the time. Of course, on the other hand MRS. Clinton would not be where she is except who she married. The Democrats have an interesting choice to make.
Hey, Geraldine, I’ve got some news for you: Hillary Clinton wouldn’t be where she is if she weren’t married to Bill. At least Barack Obama got his senate seat under his own steam, not because of who his spouse happened to be.
I am shocked at Geraldine Ferrara’s remarks and Senator Clinton’s weak response. It was a cold and calculated maneover to remind voters that Obama is black and to hit the hot button that he is a token black. Both women are totally wrong. Obama’s appeal is much broader than being black. He is well educated, an amazing communicator and from what I have observed, works well with people. I have read about and been impressed by his wife. His time has come. Deservedly so. I believe this will backfire on Senator Clinton.
Her support has wained, not because she is a woman. It is because of the person - cold, calculating, controlling, win at all costs mindset. This latest calculated attempt to derail Obama by playing the race card proves it. They both underestimate the American people. They underestimate Obama’s ability to connect with people. It isn’t sexist press either. The problem Hillary is having is Hillary herself. She is not presidential material. Never will be.
I am a life-long conservative Republican. I’ll probably vote for John McCain and hope he is wise about picking a running mate. But I sure am impressed with Barack Obama - for all the right reasons. If he wins, I trust him to lead us well.
Absurd? What’s absurd is that he’s disputing the truth. There was nothing offensive by her statement. Women of any race are treated differently. Have you seen the comment by his campaign “she’s throwing the kitchen sink..” Now ask yourself, would he say that of a man? The truth is that if he were of a different race he wouldn’t have the overwhelming support from the african american community. I believe all are created equal but Please people do we really have to be that politically correct? The fact is that he has minimal experience and that there are many other qualified candidates who can run. The fact is that John Edwards was more qualified but lost to both candidates. The fact is that he’s gotten a pass from the media. Who is he? Don’t you all want to know? It’s like the pied piper out there I ask any Obama supporter what has he done besides saying “that’s not nice you can’t talk to me like that” Stop whining it’s the presidency.. that won’t fly with foreign diplomats!
It’s True!!!! The only reason OBAMA is winning is because all the blacks are voting for him. They don’t care about change. They just want to see they’re own color leading this great nation.
1. IF ANY OF OUR PAST PRESIDENT’S WERE BORN BLACK WOULD THEY HAVE BEEN AFFORDED THE OPPURTUNITY TO BECOME PRESIDENT? MAYBE IF HILLARY WASN’T A WHITE WOMAN WHO HAPPENED TO BE THE ONE WOMAN SLICK WILLIE DECIDED TO MARRY SHE WOULDN’T BE WHERE SHE’S AT?
2. BLACKS OUR VOTING FOR HIM AT THIS RATE BECAUSE -THE CLINTONS KEEP PLAYING THE RACE CARD AGAINST BLACKS!!!!!-THAT’S WHY THEY GET LESS EVERYTIME THEY PLAY IT. IF OBAMA HAD PLAYED THE RACE CARD AGAINST WHITES 5-6 TIMES-HE WOULD BE GETTING ABOUT 10% OF THE VOTE.
3. MAYBE IF HE WAS BORN WHITE…..OH THAT’S RIGHT-BY THE WAY-HE’S HALF WHITE!!!!!!!!
4.MAYBE IF HE WAS FULLY WHITE THE RACE WOULD BE OVER? DO YOU HEAR ANY BLACKS SAYING THAT?
5.MAYBE IF HE LOST 12 STRAIGHT STATES HE WOULD’VE BEEN OUT OF THE RACE?
I’m tired of the race card being thrown out whenever it is convenient. Vote for the candidate who will serve us best. In my opinion, lets vote for the best candidate, who in my opinion, is best prepared to run our country.
Hillary has been a victim of a sexist media giving Obama the upper hand and a free pass.
LOL! Wow….this is coming from a highly respected politician????????????? She has the thinking process of a child who is totally clueless to the reality of our world today. We are human beings with different skin tones. Yes, yes seems so elementary however, unfortunately we still have people that use the race card and MOST OF THEM ARE FROM THE “OLD SCHOOL” or OLD GUARD whatever you want to call it.
FERRARO mentioned that she is being called racist because she’s criticizing Obama….SHE’S THE ONE BRINGING UP THE RACE CARD LOL! What an idiot! HOW IN THE WORLD DO WE GET THESE PEOPLE IN POWER????
If African-American voters aren’t voting for Obama because he’s black, then why is 98% of them voting for Obama. This is an overwhelming % and I don’t believe, not one second, that is any other reason than his race. Don’t get me wrong, who am I to say that one cannot vote for someone because they are of the same race, but just don’t deny it! I am a republican man and I am voting for Hillary because she is the best of the three.
My vote is with Hillary because she has been a strong voice, nationally, for those of us who are unable to speak for ourselves. Inspite of the media bias and bashing, she has shown more courage and strength than both Obama and McCain together. She brings hope and change with substance. Her vision for our country will prevail because she has her agenda well planned. Her understanding of our economy, Iraq war, universal health care and foreign policy and our polictical system is head and shoulders above Obama’s. She will not be pushed around and will represent our country with dignity. Obama and Michelle scare me. On the night of Super Tuesday II when he lost to Hillary, his face was full of hatred and his voice militant. Michelle is on record making anti-American statements. Obama went behind our backs to Canada about NAFTA and don’t think we are nieve enough to believe his “signature statement” that he was against the war. Is this the calibur of President and First Lady that you want representing us here and abroad? I hope not! First of all, he wasn’t in the US Senate when the vote for or against war counted. Hillary as well as other senators joined Bush to united our Country and yes they were misled by Bush. Why hasn’t anyone defended her on this issue!!! Exposure of Obama’s relationships with Weather Underground, Louis Farrakhan and Rezko will be the end of our winning back the Whitehouse. Help Hillary win this nomination if you really want the Whitehouse. Believe me, more democrats than you think will abandon ship and vote for McCain, if she is not at the top of the ticket