The columnist Michael Kinsley once defined a "gaffe" as an occasion when a politician accidentally tells the truth. In our age of political correctness, some would place Geraldine Ferraro's remarks into this category. Long known for speaking candidly, Ferraro recently remarked that "if Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position."
There's a molecule of truth in this. Obama's appeal is that he is an African American who doesn't sound one bit like Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton. Blacks are inspired to see one of their own have a serious shot at the presidency. Whites are relieved that Obama doesn't seem to be motivated by the kind of chronic resentment that seems all too prevalent in black America.
Taken this way, Ferraro is stating the obvious. It's equally obvious, by the way, that if Hillary was male--and not married to Bill Clinton--she wouldn't be in her position. Hillary came to national prominence not through her own efforts but through the success of her husband. Virtually all her "experience" prior to being elected Senator is in fact Bill Clinton's experience. She wouldn't even have been elected to the Senate without Bill. So she too owes a great deal to her gender and her "first wife" position.
In a deeper sense, though, Ferraro's insinuation is completely wrong. In reality Obama's political success is due to far more than race. He brings some unique and very attractive qualities at a time when the country wants and needs them. Obama is a man of unquestionable intelligence and grace, and this is why the affirmative action label seems especially unjust when applied to him.
To me Ferraro's comments illustrate two things. First, they show the depths to which Hillary flacks are willing to go. It's typical of the Hillary camp that a sidekick like Ferraro attempts to plunge the knife into Obama while Hillary feigns ignorance and plays nice. Second, Ferraro's attack illustrates how some prominent liberals deep down think that all blacks are only capable of advancing because they are black.
In a way liberal support for racial preferences can be understood as an attempt to cope with this situation. We often hear liberal activists say, "If it wasn't for affirmative action there would be virtually no blacks in top universities." The implication of course is that blacks on their own merits are incapable of getting into Harvard and Berkeley.
The cruel irony of affirmative action is that it reinforces and strengthens liberal perceptions of black inferiority. Athough Obama seems smart enough to have gotten into Harvard, it's quite possible that affirmative action policies were partly responsible for his admission. Consequently policies of racial preference have the effect of placing an invisible question mark alongside the achievements of all persons of color.
When Clarence Thomas was nominated to the Supreme Court, it wasn't the Ku Klux Klan or the skinheads who said, "He's just there because he's black." It was the liberal Senators and activist groups that said this. Now Ferraro is saying the same thing about Obama.
Perhaps the day is not far when African Americans will wake up and start asking, "Do these politices of racial preferences actually hurt more than they help?" and "Isn't it time we stopped assuming that liberal Democrats like Ferraro and Hillary are our natural allies?"
Reader Comments ( Page 11 of 12)
151. Jerry....Here's how twisted your thinking really is:
"Most important of this education happens by the age of 5 or 6. The old idea is how a twig is bent so will the tree grow....Your argument that the black man should do better reminds me of the argument the educators use as an excuse of not being able to better educate our children regardless of the race. The educators blame the parents because of the way children are raised, and if that does not work, blames the children."
So...which is it?
Is the child set for life by the age of 5 or 6 (coincidentally BEFORE they enter school); or are parents really not that much of an influence over their children during those first six years, and the schools are to blame?
Okay...you've backed yourself in too far at this point. I see no reason to continue.
Check. And mate. I can't expect rationality from someone who contradicts their self all in one paragraph.
Paul at 2:51PM on Mar 16th 2008
152. Absolutely - the African American population have been so rapped up in voting in the bi-racial (not African American) president, they have been thinking what is best for the country.
BGZ at 12:28PM on Mar 18th 2008
153. @ post #138, Hope and change isn't much worse than 'I feel your pain'. Let's face it, the elections are reduced to advertising jingles and sound bites. Just as Reagan, Clinton and Bush; Obama is refreshingly new as a political outsider.
JefFlyingV at 5:12PM on Mar 16th 2008
154. Obama has brought too much dissention in to he Democratic party against Hillary.
Barack has forgotten that his mother is white woman, he is at the height of politics because his white mother made a scholar out of him, where his African Muslim father deserted him in childhood. Those Black superdelegates are switching the support from Hillary To Barack because he is making personal phone calls to redirect those votes towards him because the Black Brothers got stay together. For example calling Paterson Senator/Governor of New York to pretend to congratulate him but the purpose was to stiil the superdelegate vote from Clinton. This is not so right for all Black superdelegates to switch from Hillary to Obama for being Black. Chenk this is a nice way for Barack to steal the presidence from Hillary, and all Barack thinks it is all about Barack winning the presidency 2008 and forget the Democratic party being demised.Barack, will cry racism from Hillary to support his weakening campaing. Wake up Chenk and Obama it is time to start fighting Mccain for presidency because the Republicans are smarter than Barack. McCain is the true rival not Hillary, she is your compromise ticket to vicepresident or else consider your self a looser. You have diminished Hillary's character(including Gerraldine Ferraro) in public with Black this and Black that to get a preferential candidature and not by competition and achievement. Hurra for Hillary 2008 !!!!
I agree with Geraldine Ferraro about Barack being a man and Black, this why white men as well as white women Americas are prefering a Black man because America is not ready to accept a Whit Woman as president. This is called racism against a white woman.
Hillary's purpose of proposing foreign and internal nationl affairs,unification our country has been diverted to a racial issue by Barack Obama and his pebliscite. Barack for being a man unlike Hillary who's forte is concentrating on America's international and natioanl interest.
jeannepai at 9:25PM on Mar 17th 2008
155. Obama has brought too much dissention in to he Democratic party against Hillary.
Barack has forgotten that his mother is white woman, he is at the height of politics because his white mother made a scholar out of him, where his African Muslim father deserted him in childhood. Those Black superdelegates are switching the support from Hillary To Barack because he is making personal phone calls to redirect those votes towards him because the Black Brothers got stay together. For example calling Paterson Senator/Governor of New York to pretend to congratulate him but the purpose was to stiil the superdelegate vote from Clinton. This is not so right for all Black superdelegates to switch from Hillary to Obama for being Black. Chenk this is a nice way for Barack to steal the presidence from Hillary, and all Barack thinks it is all about Barack winning the presidency 2008 and forget the Democratic party being demised.Barack, will cry racism from Hillary to support his weakening campaing. Wake up Chenk and Obama it is time to start fighting Mccain for presidency because the Republicans are smarter than Barack. McCain is the true rival not Hillary, she is your compromise ticket to vicepresident or else consider your self a looser. You have diminished Hillary's character(including Gerraldine Ferraro) in public with Black this and Black that to get a preferential candidature and not by competition and achievement. Hurra for Hillary 2008 !!!!
I agree with Geraldine Ferraro about Barack being a man and Black, this why white men as well as white women Americas are prefering a Black man because America is not ready to accept a Whit Woman as president. This is called racism against a white woman.
Hillary's purpose of proposing foreign and internal nationl affairs,unification our country has been diverted to a racial issue by Barack Obama and his pebliscite. Barack for being a man unlike Hillary who's forte is concentrating on America's international and natioanl interest.
jeannepai at 5:23PM on Mar 16th 2008
156. Or, is Hillary more interested in concentrating on her own interests? Once again, I ask, what experience does Hillary bring to the Whitehouse?
JefFlyingV at 5:53PM on Mar 16th 2008
157. A little piece of paper called a marriage license says that she brings at least eight years of Oval Office experience with her in the form of her husband. She also brings personal White House savvy just from being in the White House (even as First Lady) for eight years. Does she have any real diplomatic experience? Well, yes...nothing really substantial, but at least she knows the protocol for meeting foreign heads of state. Hell, Barack Obama can't even remember the protocol (as required by United States Code Chapter 36) for placing one's hand over one's heart during any rendition of The Spangled Banner. Hillary might not have the most experience, but she damn sure has much more experience in the White House than Obama has.
Paul at 6:02PM on Mar 16th 2008
158. Paul,
I did not catch it before as I was talking on the phone, but for your info I am not black. I do think it is OK that we quit the conversation, however if you did not understand what I said which was not contradictory you could have asked for clarification instead of using that for an excuse to quite a conversation. As far as check mate you were on the losing end.
Jerry Brown at 6:25PM on Mar 16th 2008
159. That is one way to look at it. Remember in the beginning the blacks ( those that were on television) were saying they were behind Hillary. Giving the meaning of the backing as "electability", code for " the U.S. was not ready for a black president". Obama being black was not good for him. Until they saw white people wanting a change from the usual politics which Hillary and Bill showed that it would be a status quo, this and the comments by Bill, Hillary and Ferraro galvanized the black vote for Obama. People that were originally for Hillary white and black are now for Obama, he acts more presidential than Hillary. Obama has remained cool, calm and collected, while Hillary has morphed into many different characters and cried! With so many downsides for Hillary Whether Obama was white or black, would still be looked on more favorably.
Nick at 3:59PM on Mar 17th 2008
160. Okay, Jerry...you win. I have no excuse for quitting the discussion. I just can't fairly expect rational thought from someone who says at the beginning of the part of their paragraph that the most important part of a child's education comes...
Aw, crap. Forget it. You're not worth my time.
Go back and read your own confusion.
Paul at 7:08PM on Mar 16th 2008
161. Paul,
Your usual way of dealing with people, saying I am not worth your time. I doubt that, but you could be right. By the way I did not enter the conversation, but I agree with your take on the distasteful remark on the bad humor concerning aids the other day.
Jerry Brown at 7:32PM on Mar 16th 2008
162. Jerry...
Look, I'm sorry that you talked your way into a corner, but that doesn't make me a bad person.
I really can't waste my time on someone who says one thing at the beginning of a paragraph and then says the complete opposite at the end of a paragraph.
I'm sorry if the truth of your complete and utter confusion hurts you, but find out where you made your mistake and then rethink your world view.
You cannot say that a child's most important education comes before their sixth birthday and then turn right around and say that educators erroneously blame parents for not doing a better job of providing that most important part of a child's education.
You just can't have it both ways. And I don't have time for someone who wants it both ways. Discussing ANYTHING with a mind like that amounts to a supreme waste of time.
Paul at 7:55PM on Mar 16th 2008
163. a molecule of truth in this. Obama's appeal is that YOU SAY: He is an African American who doesn't sound one bit like Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton. Blacks are inspired to see one of their own have a serious shot at the presidency. Whites are relieved that Obama doesn't seem to be motivated by the kind of chronic resentment that seems all too prevalent in black America.
I SAY: Oh, really?????
20 years he is COUNSELED by that racist Wright who spews forth NOTHING BUT HATRED and RACISM.
Obama ORIGINALLY HAD HIM ready to speak at his announcment to run for President, but then "mysteriously" removed him from the list of speakers???????Hmm...........gee, why is that?
Too controversial======?????? Yet Obama CLAIMS he never heard the rhetoric that ALL OF US have now seen in more than just a few speeches by this "religious" man.
Please. If it looks like a (black) duck and it walks like a (black)duck, even if it doesn't always sound like a (black) duck, it's still a (black) duck.
Obama is being discovered for who he really is.
I just hope it's not too late for the rest of White America who have to vote yet, as well as Latinos, Asian and THINKING Black people-------hopefully there are a few left------------to realize he is as divisive as he claims to be unifying.
God help the----Obama-nation of his becoming President.
That's "God" help us, not Allah.
r at 8:56PM on Mar 16th 2008
164. Paul,
I understand what you said, but you ignored the lead in sentence. I did not blame the educators for the raising of the child. I said your argument that the black man should do better REMINDS me of the argument the educators use as an excuse of not being able to better educate our children regardless of the race. I apologize for the lack of clarity as the idea was poorly presented, and did to a certain degree changed the subject. A child's basic training happens before the child goes to school at the age of 5 or 6. The educators have nothing DIRECTLY to do with that. I was trying to make the point that the educators fail to do their job of educating the child after they start to school, and try to blame it on the parent who raised the child, because the parent fails to get the child ready for school. Your argument to me sounds the same in that some of the black people do not take advantage of what is available to them. While I do agree with that idea I say, due to the way human beings learn how to conduct themselves is a taught behavior, and many poor children both black, and white are not taught by their parents how to be. This is mainly due to the ignorance (not stupidity or caring) of the parents. The educators approach the child of today with the attitude that the child should take advantage of what is available to them. The rub comes when the child is unable to do so, and the educators instead of realizing the problem, starts blaming the parent, teacher, and the child instead of overcoming the problem, and doing what is necessary to educate the child. It is really outrageous to think a person with a PHD cannot educate a small child unless it can be done on terms that has been proven over a long period of time not to work. Without an education most of the poor children, both black, and white, will remain poor, and have poor social skills. Of course the children that are raised in certain ways that fit the mold the educators want, the education system works fairly well. The problem is the children of today, regardless of their back ground, can be educated if the educators are capable of figuring out how to do it, and instead of blaming the parent, child or the teacher, would increase their box of understanding enough to do the job. All normal children at the age of 5 or 6 have a natural curiosity for knowledge, but as long as we stay with the present system, and the people who are running the education system the end product is not going to change. I believe the quickest way to end affirmative action is education, and I would like to see it made unnecessary, however I do not think it is going to happen with people like Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton leading the parade instead of the education system.
Jerry Brown at 9:12PM on Mar 16th 2008
165. I'm sorry, Jerry...
No matter how you couch it, you simply cannot make what you're trying to say any clearer. And now I've lost complete interest in anything you've got to say. I don't have time for anyone who can't make their point clearly and succinctly. I don't have time for revisions. Sorry.
Good luck.
Paul at 9:21PM on Mar 16th 2008