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 12 of 12)
166. Paul,
Fine with me.
Jerry Brown at 11:14PM on Mar 16th 2008
167. Dinesh,
Of course she was telling the truth about Obama....
More to the point, is why do you think it matters more than asking your readers how they feel about living in a country that has EVERY politician AND network newscaster telling us we live in a democracy, when we have been and still are a FEDERAL REPUBLIC (same form of gov't in Russia, China, Panama, ect.,ect.ect.) ???
Propaganda agents (like yourself) want us to BELIEVE we are free and democratic.....no more BS, why don't you remind your readers their votes are MEANINGLESS.....the 'electoral college' will decide the next president as they have for the last 232 years ? We are indeed "A Nation of Sheep"
Real_Eyes at 10:46PM on Oct 26th 2008
168. I think Hillary Clinton is true blue to her character...while everyone else is playing house and being fake, she is for real...She doesn't seem to hide anything, good or bad, she puts herself out there for all to see...I was all set to vote for Obama, when all of a sudden, I saw how he threw his pastor to the wind...now it looks like Hillary is getting my vote for now...I have until November, Hillary Clinton is getting my vote for now
Bridget at 1:46AM on Mar 17th 2008
169. I have been a hard core Republican all of my life, so that was a real hard turn for me to decide to do that..
Bridget at 1:50AM on Mar 17th 2008
170. Paul. with that thinking, Lady Bird Johnson should have ran for the presidency.
JefFlyingV at 4:31AM on Mar 17th 2008
171. #150
"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."
Some would say that the above comment is typical of a liberal democrat in that it shows a certain level of condescension, no offense to liberals.
What this really shows is the "arrogance" of the Clinton crew and many of its ardent loyalists. It reads as if someone said "HOW DARE SOMEBODY OPPOSE OUT ANOINTED LEADER". It is and always has been a given the Hillary Clinton was to succeed George Bush.".
Fortunately, some people have gotten a radical concept, that "The People" select their candidate, not that candidates are assigned to "The People" and they MUST be voted for them.
This primary may give the Democratic party the chance to regain its mis-placed integrity. If the DNC can once and for all silence the DLC and its $$$$ backers. Then the Democratic party can return to being what it was origianlly, instead of liberal variation of republican party.
M2D5 at 11:32AM on Mar 17th 2008
172. This is getting out of hand the 2008 campaign has been redirected by the Black Brotherhood as a racial issue to promise Barack Obama a preferential nomination for Barack to win presidency. It is time for Barack to get his nomination on the right gear focusing on foreign and national policy for the benefit of our country. Barakc better stop acting like he is so sorry to be so Black by accusing the Clinton's of racism just to strengthen his campaign and drawing more White people to vote for him. Baracks should focus on tomorrows 3/18/08 press not on racism but what his significant change is about. Barack should start acting like a real "politico democratico" Hillary has presented many positive proposal for our economy but no one is listening because Hillary is a woman but if she were a man than the nation would listen and choose her as the next president. Casino time because the table's will turn around racism will abide and who kowns what will happent to the other minoroties and whites.
Former president Bill Clinton does not have to apologize to no Jesse Jackson.
What is wrong with this picture Blacks do not apoligize but Whites must apologize???? Talk about racism at its highest phenomena by Black getting away with major racism. Barack if you can not handle it do not get involved in politics, remove yourself.
jeannepai at 9:30PM on Mar 17th 2008
173. #168
jeannepai at 9:25PM on Mar 17th 2008
Why are you repeatedly "cutting and pasting" the same post(s) from one blog to another? Are you working for the Clinton campaign? You are beginning to seem like one Davidg who works there.
Maybe you know each other. Probably work in the same Clinton campaign office or do you work from your home, thus sparing overhead cost for the campaign? Oh, well just another "Tooey Type" I guess.
M2D5 at 9:12AM on Mar 18th 2008
174. FERRARO IS A WRINKLED OLD PRUNE WHO RAN FOR VP ON THE DUKAKIS TICKET--DUKAKIS, FOR CHRISTS SAKE. SHE'S 25 YEARS BEHIND THE TIMES. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT SHE'S WRONG. IF SHE'S WRONG, SO IS OBAMA WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT HIS "..BLACK EXPERIENCE.". 99% OF AMERICAN WHITES WISH THEY HAD HAD THAT KIND OF "..BLACK EPERIENCE." A $1.9 MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE; WORTH MORE THAN THE AVERAGE WHITE FAMILY EARNS IN 2 LIFETIMES. EARNING OVER $1 MILLION PER YEAR; 20 TIMES THE EARNINGS OF THE AVERAGE WHITE FAMILY; 2 IVY LEAGUE DEGREES AND 2 MORE FOR HIS "..BLACK EXPERIENCE" WIFE; MORE IVY LEAGUE DEGREES THAN 99.99% OF WHITE FAMILIES BECAUSE OF "AFFIRMATIVE ACTION."; LIVING HIGH OF THE HOG IN 5 STAR RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS ON CAMPAIGN EXPENSE ACCOUNTS. WOW. SOME BLACK EXPERIENCES. CAN HE HONESTLY SAY HE DIDN'T GET ALL THIS BECAUSE HE IS BLACK? DO YOU THINK HE WOULD HAVE ACHIEVED ALL THIS IN A "BLACK" COUNTRY LIKE ETHIOPIA; KENYA; DARFU; GHANA; UGANDA? YEAH. WHEN PIGS FLY. AND MY APOLOGY TO OBAMA FOR MENTIONING PORK AND HIS NAME IN THE SAME SENTENCE. THE ONLY THING OBAMA HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED IS THE TASTEFUL PLEASURE OF EATING A PLAIN OLD "HAM" SANDWICH ON RYE WITH MUSTARD.
Strong at 12:02AM on Mar 19th 2008
175. GUESS WHAT EVERYONE!
I TRIED TO POST THE DATE AND PUT THE LINK TO THE HATE SERMON THAT
OBAMA SAID HE WASN'T AT...AND GUESS WHAT...THEY KEEP DELETING IT!
WOW... THAT MUST MEAN THAT THE HUFFINGTON POST... IS FOR OBAMA AND
CENSORING THE MEDIA !!!!
___________
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK AND KEEP ENTERING IT...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barack-obama/on-my-faith-and-my-church_b_91623.html#postComment
Here is the sermon that he said he didn't attend... we see you
nodding your head... in agreement... I guess this is just a ghost,
not you/??
_________________________________________________"
BREAKING NEWS: Obama LIED, Obama did Attended Hate America Sermon
http://newsmax.com/kessler/Obama_hate_America_sermon/2008/03/16/80870.html
Contrary to Senator Barack ObamaÃ?â??â??s claim that he
never heard his pastor Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. preach hatred of
America, Obama was in the pews last July 22 when the minister blamed
the Ã?â??Å"white arroganceÃ?â??Â" of
AmericaÃ?â??â??s Caucasian majority for the
worldÃ?â??â??s suffering, especially the oppression of
blacks.
Senator Obama has sought to separate himself from his
pastorÃ?â??â??s incendiary remarks, issuing a statement
Friday rejecting them as Ã?â??Å"inflammatory and
appallingÃ?â??Â" but failing to renounce Wright hims
Lisa at 10:00PM on May 22nd 2008
176.
Went to one church during college once... this is so funny. My
girlfriend and I went in and we started looking for a place to sit.
When we entere the pew area... the right side was full, there was no
place to sit and on the left there were only about 15 people. We
asked a lady standing there if there was something special going on
that we should know about since we were trying to find a church.
Do you know what she said? lol
She said, oh you probably don't want to sit on the left, that side is
only for sinners!
AND WHAT SHOULD THE MORAL BE: HUMMM
WELL, OF COURSE, SINCE WE DIDN'T AGREE WITH THIS, AFTER THE
SERMON...WE JUST HAD TO STAY AND SEE WHAT THEY DID NEXT! Come on we
were college girls... Almost the entire sermon when talking about
sinning and this and that the preacher directed to the left side...
(we stood in the back...lol)
Okay, so if I was Obama... I would have just stayed.. But I wasn't
and I knew this was wrong and we never went back. And we told as
many people as we could!
---------------------------------------
OBAMA STAYED FOR 20 YEARS AND GAVE A DECLARED $25,000 LAST YEAR
ALONE!
Lisa at 10:00PM on May 22nd 2008
177.
Have you seen this video...
watch the entire thing... you'll see during God Bless America...
Obama refuses to put his hand on his chest....
hummmmmmmmmmmm WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS MEANS AMERICA...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5N-1-g90bW0
Posted at March 17, 2008 4:45 AM in response to I want to hear why
you support Clinton (really)
Have you seen this video...
watch the entire thing... you'll see during God Bless America...
Obama refuses to put his hand on his chest....
hummmmmmmmmmmm WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS MEANS AMERICA...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5N-1-g90bW0
Posted at March 17, 2008 4:40 AM in response to Source: Obama Tells
Donors That Losing Pennsylvania By Less Than 10 Points Will Be
"Victory"
Google either quote....
“I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievanc and
animosity against my mother's race.”
“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in
an ugly direction.”
BREAKING NEWS: Obama LIED, Obama did Attended Hate America Sermon
http://newsmax.com/kessler/Obama_hate_America_sermon/2008/03/16/80870.html
Contrary to Senator Barack Obama’s claim that he
never heard his pastor Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. preach hatred of
America, Obama was in the pews last July 22 when the minister blamed
the “white arrogance†of
America’s Caucasian majority for the
world’s suffering, especially the oppression of
blacks.
Senator Obama has sought to separate himself from his
pastor’s incendiary remarks, issuing a statement
Friday rejecting them as “inflammatory and
appalling†but failing to renounce Wright himself for
his venomous and paranoid denunciations of America.
Posted at March 17, 2008 2:15 AM in response to Source: Obama Tells
Donors That Losing Pennsylvania By Less Than 10 Points Will Be
"Victory"
Need more?
ed2:10AMMar 17th 2008
Google either quote....
“I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievanc and
animosity against my mother's race.”
“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in
an ugly direction.”
__________
Peter2:09AMMar 17th 2008
BREAKING NEWS: Obama LIED, Obama
Posted at March 17, 2008 2:12 AM in response to Source: Obama Tells
Donors That Losing Pennsylvania By Less Than 10 Points Will Be
"Victory"
ALSO, PLEASE EMAIL AND REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS OFFICER AT
The United States Marine Corp. INSPECTOR GENERAL!
Try the hotline link or just call... send a copy of the comments if
you can!
http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/ig/Miscellaneous%20Pages/IGMC%20Contact%20Page.htmIL
My husband just returned from Iraq... he told me ridiculous
stories... but there was no proof!... Until .... lol
Posted at March 17, 2008 1:57 AM in response to Source: Obama Tells
Donors That Losing Pennsylvania By Less Than 10 Points Will Be
"Victory"
Check out this prejudice military man's comments.
Please everyone go to this site and email your congressmen to ask
them that this member be investigated. I personally know what goes
on, and a staff sargant the makes comments like these, abuses the
whites the worst and if he is making comments like this publically,
then just imagine his actions against our young men that leave their
homes to defend our country... they don't deserve to be abused by
prejudice people like this!
Please, follow this link and email as many of your congressmen as you
can and ask that investigations be brought against this individual
immediately!
http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html
HERE ARE HIS COMMENTS!
ssbilko3:39PMMar 14th 2008
Yo foo's we gettin' Rice ! WE gonna win. WE gonna kick yo honky asses
back to da souff !
The only, one that can run RICE ! (can caught to)
Ahhh HUH n' you THOUGHT what ?
90% of the blacks gonna vote, that 25% of you gerrymandered
mugarutzes areas not yet figured , but it be 53% of da peoples, an
datz mozt have the vote !
ADD em up n' divide by brothers and sistas keepers !
And please remember that the view comments and expressions here do
not reflect anyone here but Staff Sergeant H.I. Bilko IV Esquire here
on AOL not its advertisers or its sponsors, donors, givers, or takers.
You heard the TRUTH from the GRAPE VINE ! ! !
hE POSTED THIS ON AOL!
Posted at March 17, 2008 1:27 AM in response to Source: Obama Tells
Donors That Losing Pennsylvania By Less Than 10 Points Will Be
"Victory"
Not to mention all the facts, but how in the world could you allow
this person to even run ... did you not know as well because he lied
so well?
Can't you find a candidate that would bring some REAL INTEGRITY back
into our country and move us forwards not in reverse?
Or is this part of a secret plan... or have you guys had your pockets
lined... by all the groups the Rev. Manning speaks of.
Becareful, because those investigation are going on right now,
because for an individual as deceptive as this Obama, he had to have
help and it would make you look bad to not have done a thorough
investigation on him.
I have personally experienced prejudice from black while living in
Stroudsburg, PA. I know what it is like to have a cart ripped out of
your hands because a black woman said she saw it first, when she
walked in a store then went to the customer service counter to be
waited on... and on the bus commute to NY. I know what it feels
like. And someone needs to bring our country together and stop
tearing it apart.
If at all possible, please address the media shows that breed
anomosity and false integrity...so called Reality..shows... they
encourage and reward it.
Have you ever read Steven Covey's 7 Habits of Hightly Effective
People? Please read at least the first 25% of the book.
Posted at March 16, 2008 3:11 AM in response to Source: Obama Tells
Donors That Losing Pennsylvania By Less Than 10 Points Will Be
"Victory"
Listen to these two videos... Rev. Manning of Harlem.. is absolutely
right!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khuu-RhOBDU and what about this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygWExq7g2F0&NR=1
_____________
AMERICA WAKE UP. . .
MUSLIMS ARE A SERIOUS THREAT. . .
WWW.USAWAKEUP.ORG
WWW.NUMBERSUSA.COM
OBAMA IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. . .
WAKE UP BEFORE ITS TO LATE
Posted at March 16, 2008 3:07 AM in response to Source: Obama Tells
Donors That Losing Pennsylvania By Less Than 10 Points Will Be
"Victory"
Here are two things for you to go and work on then come back here and
write another article telling us how you think that someone with
these
connections and his lying background... should be America's
President:
++++++++++++++++++++++++
1. The fact that Obama had attended mengaji classes is well known in
Indonesia and has left many there wondering just when Obama is going
to come out of the closet...you don't take these classes unless
you're muslim...this is what obamas friend in high school has told on
him..why did obama go to school in jakarta under the name of BARRY
SOETORO
2. C'mon people - Obama Baracks cousin, Raila Odinga, is running for
a political spot in Kenya. There is much mass murder related to this
election - please check out the facts - google raila odinga. Is this
the person that we want to be the next US President????
Intellectually, I know that BO will not be president, but it scares
me as to how close he came. America - what are you thinking????
_____________________________-
They're trying to delete the Reverend Wright's "Riding Dirty Attack
Upon the Clintons" that was on YouTube, but it's still on this
link...
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?storyid=40295
or Google... "Jeremiah Wright, Obama's Former Pastor, Calls Out
Clinton"
Look carefully at the man that comes into view as Wright talks about
"riding dirty"...isn't that Obama's new spiritual advisor, Reverend
Otis Moss III.
BTW...If it's Moss, he's trying to "high five" Wright after his
"riding dirty remark." Oh...I forgot to tell you that this was the
December 25, 2007 "Christmas Sermon" at Trinity United Church of
Christ.
_____________
Posted at March 16, 2008 3:05 AM in response to Source: Obama Tells
Donors That Losing Pennsylvania By Less Than 10 Points Will Be
"Victory"
(my wife's story)
Went to one church during college once... this is so funny. My
girlfriend and I went in and we started looking for a place to sit.
When we entere the pew area... the right side was full, there was no
place to sit and on the left there were only about 15 people. We
asked a lady standing there if there was something special going on
that we should know about since we were trying to find a church.
Do you know what she said? lol
She said, oh you probably don't want to sit on the left, that side is
only for sinners!
AND WHAT SHOULD THE MORAL BE: HUMMM
WELL, OF COURSE, SINCE WE DIDN'T AGREE WITH THIS, AFTER THE
SERMON...WE JUST HAD TO STAY AND SEE WHAT THEY DID NEXT! Come on we
were college girls... Almost the entire sermon when talking about
sinning and this and that the preacher directed to the left side...
(we stood in the back...lol)
Okay, so if I was Obama... I would have just stayed.. But I wasn't
and I knew this was wrong and we never went back. And we told as
many people as we could!
---------------------------------------
OBAMA STAYED FOR 20 YEARS AND GAVE A DECLARED $25,000 LAST YEAR
ALONE!
Posted at March 16, 2008 2:54 AM in response to Source: Obama Tells
Donors That Losing Pennsylvania By Less Than 10 Points Will Be
"Victory"
Lisa at 3:52AM on Mar 25th 2008
178. Dinesh opined "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" but Dinesh pretends that this does not happen amongst the majority and it is OK because they are!
Good job Dinesh! You did it again!
edouard at 2:43PM on Mar 19th 2008