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.
the clintons have become so much more arrogant then i remember them being in the past–having voted for Bill–after they have done everything possible to bring race issues to the contest although in a slick underhanded manner she would of course try to turn it back on him. This goes to show the GREAT commander in chief she will be–she cant even control her own people!!! not that at this stage i think that she even cares–and again the negativity she brings is just so old and tired. i truly expected better from her.
Sorry, she is correct. Obama is a complete joke. His wife is totally un-American. This is all based on race, and all the stations including FOX are giving the Prince free press time. All of you are scared of Al Sharpton and his tongue. The Princes supporters-the youth of America-are out of town this week, however, in the Bahamas on Spring Break! That is what is important to the youth of today-just today. When the voters hit the finals in November-someone had better wake up and shape up this country. Race is the issue with this guy-but not with Condi Rice. She is professional, polished and knows her stuff-what experience does a 3 year Senator have? Disgusting-and his big mouth wife.
Geraldine Ferarro is absolutely on target here. If Barack Hussein Obama were white, he would have dropped out a long time ago.
He has practically zero political experience and zero credibility. He is just a political messiah that the liberal media is building up in hope of preventing a Republican presidency.
Monica Lewinski’s ex-boyfriend’s wife also has no credibility. Wake up voters.
I now know who the world’s stupidest person is. Her statement is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. But, then again, it did come from a no-brain Clinton supporter, didn’t it. Has it EVER occurred to Geraldine that we vote for Obama because we really believe he is the best person for the job????
As long as the media is working for her, she’s silent but if she starts loosing or gets uncomfortable, Hilary always plays the ‘victim’ card. Race has nothing to do with it, it’s all about character. Isn’t it funny how Hillary is always catering and encouraging to the “black” community with her “say anything” to win policy which she applies to every aspect of her career but when someone of color steps out to make a difference in the world - her true feelings are revealed. Keep the cameras rolling - she’ll be exposed sooner or later.
Nobody made Obama’s volunteer resign except Obama’s people. If she had not, then Obama would have had to spend time fielding questions about this. And this would have taken precious time away from his empty rhetoric speeches. Obama IS running on a reverse discrimination wave. Geraldine Ferraro is very much correct. Look at the division this has created. And they say Obama can unite people? The lines of division are clearer than ever and run deep.
What delusional state do you people live in? When has being black benefited people? A comedian once said that white people are claiming they are losing everything . . . . If you’re losing, who is winning? It isn’t us! A poster on her said if 91% of white people voted for a white candidate black people would cry racism . . . . What have you been doing for 42 presidential races? When Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton ran how much of the white vote did they get? It is ignorant to say that Obama is getting support just because he is black, when Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton got almost no support from the black community when they ran. If it was just about being black, then why did they not get 90% of the black vote? I will agree that his race plays a part, but woman overwhelmingly chose Hillary . . . why is there no uproar about that? Isn’t that being gender bias? It is funny how Ferrara stated if he was a woman he would not get that support. Why do you say that, because your candidate doesn’t get that support? What empirical evidence or study or even one pole that shows that as fact? This is why people don’t think the U.S is ready for a black candidate. People constantly bring up race, but then become offended when you counter their comment. Obama was criticized for bringing up race in South Carolina, but then it is ok for Clinton’s people to do it?
The bottom line is that the Clinton’s thought there was no way black people would not vote for Hillary, and now that they have left her, Hillary needs to focus on angering white males and white woman to counterbalance the loss of that block of voters. With Bill being the so called “First Black President”, they never imagined they would not have black support.
Finally white America please stop bashing black people for supporting a black candidate. You claim we are destructive in our communities, drug dealers, unwed teenage moms, we only get where we are at do to affirmative action, etc . . .yet when we actually pull together and help to get elected a person that looks like us (which you have been doing for how many years?) we are being racist. There is nothing wrong with having pride in having someone who looks like you in charge of something. And don’t worry; we still are almost non existent in the senate, small minority in the house, small minority percentage of governors and mayors, small minority of CEO’s . . . . . . You’re not losing America to Blacks . . . . As much as some of you actually think you are.
What kind of response did you expect from a Wigger. If the Shoe was on the other Foot, poor would be lamgasted by the Black of the USA. we in Europe can only hope for the best, that a questionable candidate who was born a Muslim does not reach the Presidency of the USA.
It goes unsaid that Obama does well among blacks because he is black. Duh! Ferraro is the only person I’ve seen who has the intestinal fortitude to state the obvious. Shut up and leave her alone.
I think G. Ferraro is rigth, everytime that someone says something about Obama, he comes back with racial issues. Also, I’m still waiting for Obama’s “CHANGE”, where is it? I don’t understand how people are falling for that “CHANGE”, remember that words get out of your mouth and very soon dissapear, people forget very soon, again “CHANGE”, where is it? People, realize this OBAMA, is not ready to be Commader in chief for this nation, what’s going on, he has no experience, he’s only 46, he doesn’t know about values, the only thing he knows is the word “CHANGE”