Dear Geraldine Ferraro: Good riddance

And please commence immediately to shut the fuc* up.

If you're new to this story, Geraldine Ferraro, who was Walter Mondale's running mate in the 1984 Presidential election--making her the first woman to ever run in Presidential election, and also someone who SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO MAKE THESE KIND OF COMMENTS--recently said of Barack Obama:

"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position [front-runner in the Democratic candidacy race]. 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."

Yes, you read that right. Listen carefully. Hear that? It's the sound of a deeply revered trailblazer for feminism and American politics evaporating into a reviled punchline. Just the latest chapter in what has turned out to be a truly stomach-turning campaign.

Ferraro characterized her comments as "just being honest," and said that she's the only one willing to speak the truth. Which amazing considering that, sside from being incredibly, transparently racist, it also implies that we Americans are a bunch of idiots. The majority of us haven't supported Obama because we've made an informed decision we believe in. Nope, we're such a bunch of morons drinking the Obama Kool-Aid.

Ferraro's comments were, interestingly, timed just before the Wyoming and Mississippi primaries. Not that it made a difference. Obama still won.

Well, as if she hasn't dug herself in a deep enough hole, Ferraro has been all over the telly actually defending her comments. It's astounding.

Oooh, but not as astounding as this one!

Obama should be THANKING YOU?! Is she serious? This woman can't see sense because her ego is in the way. What an arrogant shill.

And Geraldine? If being called racist offends you? THEN DON'T MAKE RACIST COMMENTS.

And what attacks from Obama? He made a statement basically saying he thinks her comments were inappropriate. THAT'S an attack? And who does she think she is issuing campaign donation THREATS? It's unbelievable.

The Clinton campaign's response has been relatively light. First it was a simple statement--"We disagree with her"--then a more elaborate but equally weak-kneed restatement. You can read the Obama and Clinton campaigns responses here and here and get a nice summation of all of the above here.

The Clinton campaign's weak response is interesting, given the criticism Hillary heaped on Obama for merely "rejecting" the endorsement of anti-Semitic Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, instead of "denouncing" it.

Surprisingly, given her vehement defense of her unconscionable comments, Ferraro stepped down from the Clinton campaign today (even though she used her unpaid status as grounds to claim not to be part of her campaign in the first place). She issued the following statement:

Dear Hillary--

I am stepping down from your finance committee so I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what it at stake in this campaign.
    
The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you. I won't let that happen.

Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to make this a better world for my children and grandchildren.

You have my deep admiration and respect.

Gerry

Gosh, isn't that moving?! Just gets ya right here *pounds chest* doesn't it? What a martyr! What a selfless ally in Hillary's fight. So touching.

But what do I know? I'm just an idiot "caught up in the concept" of a black President.

Well, Geraldine, you were "honest," so I'll be "honest."

Do you know why people support Hillary? Either because she reminds them of their mommies, or because they identify with her because, like Hillary herself, they're bitter, middle-aged women with chips on their shoulders and feminist axes to grind. If she were a man, she'd be gone right now, but she's coasted on the sympathy of overly emotional, dried-up menopausal women. They support her because she cried in New Hampshire and they're "caught up in the concept."

And that's not sexism. It's simply honesty.

So, there you have it Geraldine. Call it even?

Additional sources: Crooks and Liars, DailyKos, Towleroad, CNN Political Ticker   

Comments

[Margaret]

Love the Blog - I know you know that - But baby gotta tell you, don't love this post...

Last time I checked I was neither middle-aged...nor bitter (but for the exception of having to deal with really stupid people on occasion). Oh and yes darling - I am a feminist - but my guess is you are too.

Let's not rush to judge Hillary supporters, shall we darling. They might just be as well informed as you are.

Certainly not all, but some. And my guess is the same could be said of Obama supporters.

[Margaret]

ok my comment was cut off. ..here it continues.

Now I get Gerry was an idiot- and the last comment was to be as ridiculous as hers and so I commend you.

But for fear that some would take it literally...had to comment.

[John the Craptist]

I'm hesitant to issue a clarification, because if people can't discern between the literal and the satirical, then they probably shouldn't be reading this particular blog in the first place!

However, what offended me most--racism aside of course--about Ferraro's comments was the insinuation that Obama supporters are as such not out of genuine conviction or thoughtful analysis, but out of drunk-on-idealism ignorance. That sort of sentiment is divisive and alienating.

So, for the record:

While I have made clear that I vehemently disagree with Clinton and her supporters, I don't presume that that support is the result of embittered stupidity. Reasons are reasons, regardless of what I think of them.

Many thanks to Margaret for voicing her dissenting opinions and support of Clinton. The point/counterpoint exchange of ideas is what the blogosphere is all about!

Well, that and insinuating that Hollywood figures are robots.

--John the Craptist