Geraldine Ferraro: Wright a “racist bigot”
posted at 4:00 pm on March 20, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Turnabout is fair play, as Barack Obama and his campaign found out today. Ten days after demanding the resignation of Geraldine Ferraro for her “divisive” comments on race, Ferraro launched another broadside at the Obama campaign. Calling Wright a “racist bigot,” she criticized Obama for his own failure to address divisiveness:
Former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro said today that she objected to the comparison Sen. Barack Obama drew between her and his former pastor in his speech on race relations Tuesday.
In the speech, Obama sought to place the inflammatory remarks of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright in a broader context, in part by placing them on a continuum with Ferraro’s recent remark to the Daily Breeze that Obama is “lucky” to be black.
“To equate what I said with what this racist bigot has said from the pulpit is unbelievable,” Ferraro said today. “He gave a very good speech on race relations, but he did not address the fact that this man is up there spewing hatred.”
On Tuesday, I pointed out the hypocrisy of Obama’s speech when it came to how it handled Ferraro’s comments. While not exactly exhibiting political sense, nothing of what Ferraro said came close to the volcanic demagoguery of Jeremiah Wright. Yet Obama chose to have his campaign go into hyperventilating outrage over Ferraro while excusing the racist and anti-American rhetoric of his pastor, spiritual mentor, and political adviser.
Obama may wish that he hadn’t chased Ferraro out of the Hillary Clinton campaign for another reason other than the obvious hypocrisy. She no longer has to worry about how her speech reflects on Hillary, and so Ferraro is much freer to speak her mind on this issue. Calling Wright a racist bigot may just be the opening stanza for Ferraro, who clearly is not in the mood for reconciliation. Ferraro will keep this story alive in the headlines until Obama backs off of the comparisons and apologizes, or until he winds up losing the nomination for this and other missteps in the controversy.
This isn’t going away. If Ferraro doesn’t get appeased, it may have only just started. (via The Politico)
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Ya gotta love even an ex-politician who has finally decided to tell the truth.
corona on March 20, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Dare I allow myself to…cheer for Geraldine Ferraro? The SS Obama better start bailing water faster.
Flyover Country on March 20, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Considering that Obama himself made precisely the same observation that Ferraro did–that if he weren’t black he would be just another freshman senator–it was chutzpah of gargantuan proportions for him to tar her with that brush, and he deserves everything he’s got coming to him. Seems the Emperor really isn’t wearing any clothes.
smellthecoffee on March 20, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Glad to see she’s not going quietly. Mr. Unity doesn’t yet realize what he’s stepped into. Awesome.
Sir Loin on March 20, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Dems accusing Dems of being racist bigots. LOVE it.
My popcorn bill’s gonna hit the roof by the time the Denver
RiotConvention is over.Cicero43 on March 20, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Got my heavily buttered popcorn in the microwave now. This might be worth watching.
Torch on March 20, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Is it too much to hope that this causes further resentment between black voters and the Clinton campaign? Ferraro may no longer ‘officially’ be with the campaign, but there’s no question who she’s supporting.
These sorts of comments may have short-term gain in terms of Clinton getting the nomination, but it’s only going to exacerbate her problems with voters who see Obama as not just a candidate, but a vehicle to empowerment.
Slublog on March 20, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Wow. Of course, look for Kos and the MSM to say Ferraro was actaully a crazed Republican.
Personally, I always thought she was an idiot, but as the saying goes, even a clock that’s stopped, is right twice a day.
doufree on March 20, 2008 at 4:10 PM
I would also say that there’s nobody on my staff who would still be working for me if they made a comment like that about anybody of any ethnic group.
ninjapirate on March 20, 2008 at 4:11 PM
It’s not nice to make a woman mad, we know how to deal and it’s not gonna be nice, and bho did the grand daddy of making her mad. You go girl, you make my gender proud.
L
letget on March 20, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Ferraro would be a better nominee than either Dem. Go get’em girl.
tommylotto on March 20, 2008 at 4:12 PM
My God this is so beautiful.
Chuck Schick on March 20, 2008 at 4:12 PM
are we living in South Africa?
ninjapirate on March 20, 2008 at 4:13 PM
I’m glad someone finally said it. Having been branded a racist herself, it’s not as if she has anything to lose by doing it.
The Dems are reaping what they have sown with identity politics. Hopefully the electorate will realize how pointless this kind of posturing is and McCain will emerge as the grown-up candidate.
landshark on March 20, 2008 at 4:13 PM
I’m stockpiling beer and planning a week of vacation.
RedWinged Blackbird on March 20, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Geraldine’s lips, Hellary’s words. And if they aren’t Hellary’s words, they might as well be.
Geraldine will serve in any capacity, even after
supposedlyquitting the campaign.Akzed on March 20, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Rush the vote!!!
Akzed on March 20, 2008 at 4:15 PM
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again -
I’m likin’ this knife-fight between Stalin and Trotsky. I hope that they are both bled white.
Oops, was that racist of me?
OhEssYouCowboys on March 20, 2008 at 4:17 PM
I’m laughing so hard I had to close my office door.
Snort.
Anton on March 20, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Sean Hannity pointed that out last night on his show.
ArmyAunt on March 20, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Sweet! Are we headed for a Democratic fight of epic proportions, a fully-mobilized death-struggle between two titanic egos leading two mass movements of identity-warriors? A liberal Stalingrad? Obamagrad?
This is better than any movie or sport. I almost can’t believe it’s happening.
Vote Sauron 08 on March 20, 2008 at 4:17 PM
That would be a real shame, wouldn’t it?
I swear, it just breaks my heart to see the Democrats tear themselves apart over racial resentments.
Well you reap what you sow I guess.
Reap what you sow.
billy on March 20, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Excellent story.
Excellent comments on this page.
And for anyone who hasn’t see this yet – a compare and contrast of how some democrats see this issue:
Keith Olbermann: A Tale of Two Controversies
wise_man on March 20, 2008 at 4:18 PM
(With best Springer audience chanting)
Go Geri!, Go Geri!, Go Geri!
:D
Scott_T on March 20, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
You’re spot on, Ed. Obama better make this right.
BacaDog on March 20, 2008 at 4:20 PM
I know I’m broken up about it.
*snicker*
Slublog on March 20, 2008 at 4:21 PM
I cannot stand Olberman!
ArmyAunt on March 20, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Hell hath no fury…
Damn this campaign is getting interesting!
JohnAGJ on March 20, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Landshark sez–
That is the absolute truth. With any luck more African Americans will realize the Democrats have done nothing but tax them and use them for generations.
doufree on March 20, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Breaking on Hannity: John Zogby says there is Dem talk of Obama turning over all his delegates to Gore and Gore making him the VP.
Zogby and Rasmussen on Hannity: Obama’s in free-fall and it isn’t going to be fixed. McCain will beat either of them because of all the animosity that’s developed…
TheBigOldDog on March 20, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Wow, a white woman calling a black man a racist/bigot. Even more amazing…she’s right! This is good stuff. We must have all passed through a worm hole. The Democrats are imploding!
orlandocajun on March 20, 2008 at 4:24 PM
don’t mess with those italian broads…
D2Boston on March 20, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Are you freakin’ kidding me???
OMG I am laughing my ass off!
If I had ever been in the service, I would be ducking right now because of all the explosions~
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHH!
ArmyAunt on March 20, 2008 at 4:27 PM
I’ve tried to understand how other people think, to understand my own views and to test them against the views and though processes of others, especially those who disagree with me.
I keep coming back to the same conclusion: “Liberalism is a mental disorder.”
Olbermann and the people who are his fans think differently than we. If you go to The Politico link and read the comments on that page … you’ll see a frightening disconnect of logic where they are complaining to the author of that page that Ferraro is more hateful than the reverend ….
It really is hard to fathom. It’s hard to follow the dots and understand the ‘logic’ that is in play. I don’t like Olbermann at all, but it is a window into how the people who disagree with us – think.
wise_man on March 20, 2008 at 4:28 PM
this race thing is out of control, they say the toilet flushes one way in the north (EQUATOR) and the other way in the south,,,,,,lets have some fun ,,, IF OBAMMA came out of the womb with a typical white look and all theses things were going on then we would be seeing the same shit except msnbc and fox and us would be arguing the same shit from different view of the same toilet
rico101 on March 20, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Oh man! Follow the link to the Politico story and read some of the user comments. These people are freakin’ clueless.
My favorite is the deep thinker who says that Ferraro’s comments were far more racist than anything Wright had to say. LMAO
landshark on March 20, 2008 at 4:30 PM
I suspect someone from the Obama camp will approach Geraldine privately and ask her politely to knock it off for the good of the party or some crap like that. But, will she do it?
Blake on March 20, 2008 at 4:31 PM
You are a better person than me. I am not trying to “understand” him.
I simply think he is an opportunist and a really bad actor lol. His dramatic screed over Geri was so over the top that I laughed out loud at him.
He will try to save Obama because he stupidly threw Hillary to the wolves.
ArmyAunt on March 20, 2008 at 4:32 PM
This is the political equivalent of those nature videos where the cheetah takes down the zebra.
highhopes on March 20, 2008 at 4:33 PM
HAHA.
Theworldisnotenough on March 20, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Uh oh! That would really put the cat among the pigeons. I wonder how Hillary supporters would feel about switching to Gore in the general. Lots of global warming disciples in her camp, I suppose. If it comes to anything, this could be a bit painful for us.
a capella on March 20, 2008 at 4:35 PM
The clash of the Democrats victim groups.
It had to happen some day. I’m just glad I lived to see it.
/29Victor munches popcorn
29Victor on March 20, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Hillary/Ferraro in ‘08!……… since Ferraro has the experience to run as a Vice President nominee from day one.
Seven Percent Solution on March 20, 2008 at 4:35 PM
I wonder how much of this Operation Chaos can lay claim to.
Since a lot of it would not have happened had the Messiah already dispatched Hillary, perhaps Rush can claim it as eventuating from his statrategem.
pseudonominus on March 20, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Blake
I hope she doesn’t do it. SHE had to publically resigns for her remarks, he should have to publically apologize.
L
letget on March 20, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Lovely, just lovely!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHxiRITUQuM&feature=related
BobUSMC on March 20, 2008 at 4:36 PM
It’s pretty hypocritical of Ferraro to be launching this attack against Wright at this time, calling him a “bigot” and whatnot.
Ferraro has been in the Democratic Party for a long, long time and she has to have heard this kind of speech from black leaders before. I would assume that she has heard it several times before. She’s been paling around with people like Wright for decades. Yet, she never felt the need to point the racism until now.
She was willing to abide the racism as long as it got the Democratic party black votes, but now that the racist is baking her opponent, she feels compelled to show her distain for the pastor.
29Victor on March 20, 2008 at 4:40 PM
That zebra remark is half racist. I’m confused how but it’s racist for sure, maybe. The cheetah reference is still being vetted by our expert panel.
2Tru2Tru on March 20, 2008 at 4:42 PM
IOW, it will never happen.
Blake on March 20, 2008 at 4:43 PM
She’s been paling around with people like Wright for decades.[citation needed]
The only thing I can guess you are referring to his if she never spoke up when Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton made racist comments. I don’t get the “paling around” claim. So if she was a ‘good democrat’ and practiced her version of Reagan’s 11th commandment, and never spoke ill of democrats – why does this have to be hypocritical?
wise_man on March 20, 2008 at 4:45 PM
He’s dead serious. He said he was “breaking news.”
The Dems he said, see this as the only way out…
TheBigOldDog on March 20, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Identity politics at its finest. This R is loving the fight on the other side.
cs89 on March 20, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Obams showed how small he was comparing Ferraro and his white grandmother to Wright. I am glad Ferraro is fighting back.
davod on March 20, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Check out the comments on this story at Politico. The Obama-naunts have gone insane over Ferraro.
But don’t forget, BHO is about bringing us together.
I can’t believe how ugly this is getting.
Vote Sauron 08 on March 20, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Winner!!
omnipotent on March 20, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Oh how the mighty have fallen!
You think that the Goracle can win????
NOT!
ArmyAunt on March 20, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Both he and Scott said their numbers show too many of each camps supporters (like 25% I think they both agreed) won’t vote for the other and that basically means they have no hope in the general. Who ever these people are that are talking to John see this as the only way out. Maybe Hannity will say something about it tonight. It sure caught him by surprise. Hannity asked him what he had been smoking but Zogby assured him he’s dead serious….
TheBigOldDog on March 20, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Any legs to this Aaron Klein story?
Connie on March 20, 2008 at 4:52 PM
Does anyone beside me see a great deal of similarity and just a slight touch of hypocrisy in what Obama said yesterday:
…compared to Ferraro’s initial comments?
I think it’s weird.
tree hugging sister on March 20, 2008 at 4:52 PM
I cannot express sufficiently how much I’m loving this. Maybe some “moderates” or fence sitters will come to realize how much of a joke Liberalism is and that it’s an ideology built on jealousy, grievance, anger, and identity. Nothing positive at all.
DerKrieger on March 20, 2008 at 4:55 PM
McCain needs to go all out in promoting his agenda and leave Clinton and Obama to destry each other. I wouldn’t go near either of them until one is nominated.
DerKrieger on March 20, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Yes it’s a happy day. But no kudos to Ferraro. She merely is saying that she will not support racial affirmative action and give the nomination to a black ahead of a woman. If she were black, she would argue the opposite. She’s a genderwhore before a racewhore. Still, nice that she trashed his I have a Scheme speech.
Dem’s needed a black Hillary.
Michelle Obama in 2012
JiangxiDad on March 20, 2008 at 4:59 PM
It’s Civil War time. Magnificent to watch!!
geminicontender on March 20, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Sing it Sister!
That Convention is going to be must watch TV. I’m stocking up on Danish Beer and popcorn right now.
andysdick on March 20, 2008 at 5:09 PM
Heh, you got that right, hell hath no fury as the saying goes!
Liberty or Death on March 20, 2008 at 5:16 PM
Nice try. But it still won’t be enough to convince the super delegates to give Hillary the nomination.
NuclearPhysicist on March 20, 2008 at 5:21 PM
Who got the bigger shaft, Geraldine or Obama’s grandmother?
petefrt on March 20, 2008 at 5:23 PM
And so they are stuck with Mr. God Damn America.
Ohhh boo hoo!
Bwahahahahahah!
ArmyAunt on March 20, 2008 at 5:29 PM
That’ll be fine. The ticket will be Gore/Obama, with Gore being carried high on a gilded throne, being fanned with palm leaves, and Barry trotting along behind carrying the water jug. That scenario ought to really set the groupies’ hair on fire.
a capella on March 20, 2008 at 5:33 PM
I’ve said over the past few days that I’ve not ever agreed with Geraldine on anything, until now. She was spot on and Obama lashed out without realizing she’s been in politics since before he has born. He failed to realize he was being led down the primrose path by a pro, and I doubt she’ll let this drop. Nice to see them eating their young!
24K lady on March 20, 2008 at 5:40 PM
Wow, I wish I had re-registered as a Democrat, and been a delegate so I could to up to Denver for the Convention. Gonna be a party!
kirkill on March 20, 2008 at 5:40 PM
I’ve never been an admirer of Geraldine, and I agree she’s being a bit hypocritical. But I gotta tell you, when I read that quote I got a funny tingle. Up my leg.
OK I’m really getting concerned now.
Bugler on March 20, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Good for ol’ Geraldine. (Met her at the 74th St train station in Queens one morning during what I think was her last campaign.) Ya know, Barry, Chicago women may be tough, but you don’t screw with City girls. As long as Geraldine keeps this in the news front, or not so front, and center, the less chance of a Hillary/Obama ticket at the convention. Which is a good thing. I would think Geraldine does have somewhat of a senior stateswoman aspect to her and one that is taken seriously within the Democratic party, so her views and opinions on the ‘the trouble with Obama’ topic matter.
Again, good for her. Let her be that unfunny typical uppity white woman that haunts Obama’s nightmares.
RickZ on March 20, 2008 at 5:47 PM
I am enjoying this so much….
d1carter on March 20, 2008 at 5:49 PM
The only comparison that can honestly be made between Funked-Out Ferraro and Wrong-Way Wright is that they both got thrown under the bus; Ferraro by Shillary, and Wright by B.O.
pilamaye on March 20, 2008 at 5:53 PM
NuclearPhysicist – it’ll be even more interesting to see how the super delegates make the decision to nominate Obama knowing he can’t win with his approval rating tanking more every day. We all wondered when the Clinton Machine would kick in, perhaps it has? There are more shoes to fall, more things in Obama’s past that will magically surface, and the ultimate pro, Hillary, is not going to go quietly. In my own distorted way, I’m going to enjoy watching her get even with those that threw their weight behind Obama. Delicious irony.
24K lady on March 20, 2008 at 5:53 PM
At this rate Mav could just keep on touring the world until his inauguration day in ‘09.
CK MacLeod on March 20, 2008 at 5:54 PM
TheBigOldDog says:
Remember, in a true fight things happen fast, the results tend to be unpredictable, and previously-verbotten-strategies erupt as suddenly acceptable.
As fun as this is, we’re in for a long Spring and possibly even longer Summer as the Dems fight it out.
Gore’s Global Warming cred plays to an unfortunate majority right now. However, McCain’s already played that card, too.
Exit Q: If the Dem ticket gets settled through Delegate force, are we in for late Summer or Fall political/street riots?
Perfesser on March 20, 2008 at 5:57 PM
I’d like to see Ted Osama Obama Kennedy, and John Kerry feel Hillary’s wrath.
JiangxiDad on March 20, 2008 at 5:58 PM
I’ve never been a fan of Geri’s either, but I have to admit that I’m starting to like her. She got a bum deal for her initial remarks. Everybody knows that Obama was selected to give the keynote address in the 2004 Democratic convention because he was black. (Just like everybody also knows, as Geri herself admitted, that if she had been Gerald instead of Geraldine, she never would have been offered Mondale’s VP spot). Many of Obama’s supporters, when questioned about why they’ve been voting for him in the primaries, have admitted that it’s because he’s black. But Ferraro gets lambasted for pointing out that Obama’s race has been an advantage in this race, and saying that he’s lucky to be black? Since when is stating the obvious taken as evidence of racism?
AZCoyote on March 20, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Add Blinky Pelosi to that list.
JiangxiDad on March 20, 2008 at 5:58 PM
JiangxiDad on March 20, 2008.
Ferraro made some valid, if not PC commentary about Obama and Democratic politics. The immediate call for her resignation was an indication of a conscious effort to shut down any critics of his campaign.
Obama’s effort at moral equivelence by comparing Ferraro and his grandmother to Wright was unconscionable.
Ferraro should continue to attack Obama for his slanderous accusation.
I should say, I do not care what Ferraro’s motives are in continuing to attack Obama but he brought it on himself and he should apologize.
davod on March 20, 2008 at 6:05 PM
I think hell just froze over. A washed up, former VP candidate and I agree on something. “Reverand” Wright is a bigot. Wow, and to think I thought the bridge between the Dhimocraptic Party and myself was so wide, there would never be common ground. Wow.
Mooseman on March 20, 2008 at 6:06 PM
I downloaded Wright’s Christmas sermon from the Trinity website and watched it. He was singing about Gedah. I didn’t think he was singing about Geri D Ferraro, but maybe I should go back and listen.
If you want to see more of the rev, just log no and you can see whole sermons. Pretty interesting stuff.
USBB on March 20, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Geraldine sez: ‘Here comes the judge, here comes the judge!’ OR ‘Chris gonna find Ray Charles, honey’.
For those to young to remember Flip Wilson this translates to: You go, Ferraro!
Christine on March 20, 2008 at 6:09 PM
Boy, talk about chickens coming home to roost.
TooTall on March 20, 2008 at 6:09 PM
Do wish she’d added a “and sexist to boot” there.
I mean, Wright did call Rice “Condoskeeza” and she has far more melanin than he, so he wasn’t being racist.
What’s that you say?
Oh, he was just being a jerk? Gotcha.
Uncle Pinky on March 20, 2008 at 6:15 PM
And I believe many of those chickens will be travelin’ to Denver this summer. Can’t wait :o)
rtsidedragon on March 20, 2008 at 6:15 PM
Interesting question. Where do we date the beginning of “political correctness”? I’m thinking ’60s radicalism and the infection of mainstream liberal politics with Marxist-Leninist self-criticism – which itself depends on the notion that perceptions of reality are themselves class constructs, and that the correct political line must be held superior to any individual’s or class enemy’s perceptions or beliefs.
CK MacLeod on March 20, 2008 at 6:20 PM
Operation Chaos gets lots of credit. Plus, it avenges Fred, Mitt, and Rudy.
RushBaby on March 20, 2008 at 6:25 PM
I keep thinking I woke up in The Twilight Zone. This is Dem on Dem skullduggery. Nobody’s even concerned about McCain yet they’re too intent on gutting each other. Oh! This is classic.
This Gore thing could become unintended fallout from Limbaugh’s operation chaos. As unlikely as it sounds I think it might actually be real. I’m expecting Dorothy and Toto to pop up any time, it’s getting strange. I’m loving it. I can’t wait for the next chapter and at the same time I’m having difficulty keeping up with the plot shifts. It’s a good thing the Dems have Howard Dean, that master tactician, working diligently to solve this problem for them.
Oldnuke on March 20, 2008 at 6:28 PM
That’ll be ugly if it’s true
RushBaby on March 20, 2008 at 6:29 PM
My sister and I have already taken days off for the Democratic convention. We are going to stock up on plenty of goodies, sit in our jammies and enjoy the floor show.
It is going to be like a combination of a train wreck, a building implosion and a three ring circus complete with the “Recreate ‘68″ freak show. You can not help but watch it.
Nahanni on March 20, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Karl Rove is brilliant.
Niko on March 20, 2008 at 6:35 PM
RushBaby
Here is what was published in Trinity Church of Christ’s bulletin on Rev. Jeremiah Wrights ‘Pastors Page’.
Nahanni on March 20, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Helps if I put the link on there!
http://avideditor.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/rev-wright-reprints-hamas-stand-in-church-bulletin/
Nahanni on March 20, 2008 at 6:42 PM
OH, how I wish I had Geraldine’s email address!!!!
This is interesting…On Obama’s own website I found this juicy little quote:
JustTruth101 on March 20, 2008 at 6:44 PM
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