Ferraro: Time to move on

Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:22 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Geraldine Ferraro is hoping to put the controversy over her comments about Obama to bed, but puts the blame over the flare up squarely on the Obama campaign.

"I do think this was a mistake on part of the Obama campaign," she said in an interview with NBC affiliate WJAR in Providence, RI. "They didn't have to do this, and they did it to hurt Hillary. I just think that's bad. I think it's bad business, and I think it's bad politics. I was accused of being divisive. I think those tactics are divisive."

Saying she "was talking to the facts," Ferraro stressed she did not make a mistake and was not the one who brought up race in this primary fight. Instead, she continued to state her motivations behind her statements. "The enthusiasm that you get from the black community on this black candidate is wonderful, and I don't think you can deny it."

Ferraro went as far to say she was picked in 1984 because she was a woman. "If in 1984, my name were Gerard Ferraro -- instead of Geraldine -- I would have never have been the candidate... I was chosen because Fritz Mondale wanted to pull off that men-only sign from the door to the White House. He wanted to open doors of opportunity for women. There was a reason I was on that campaign."

"Does that mean because I was the woman and I was chosen because I was a woman that I was any less competent?" she continued. "If I had been chosen and I didn't feel I could do the job, I wouldn't have accepted the nomination. And I assume if Sen.. Obama is elected, he is going to be able to do the job, no matter why people vote for him."

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Comments

I don't get it -- if Gerry thinks it's "time to move on" -- why is she coming out and repeating what everyone (in all camps) agree should not have been said to begin with> Heh Gerry -- if you just close your mouth, then we can move on. What a joke.

Ed G (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:28 PM)

Did anyone see the classy Samantha Power interview where she admitted she was wrong and took a life lesson from it?

Maybe Gerry is too old to learn some new tricks?

Ron Hussein (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:29 PM)

More doubletalk from the new Queen of Mean. If she really wants it to end, then she should just drop it, period.

dr puma, los angeles, calif. (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:29 PM)

To Keith Olberman: update--

I WOULD LIKE MY COMMENTS TO BE SENT TO PRESIDENT OF MSNBC!!!

How come Keith Olbermann didn't do a "Special Comment" about the horrible remarks that Jesse Jackson Jr made about Hillary on THEIR NETWORK?

Jesse Jackson Jr comments about Hillary not crying over DEAD Katrina victims should have gotten a "Special Comment" from Keith Olberman.

Also, there was racial overtone in his remarks. Jackson implied that because she was WHITE she didn't cry or cared about the DEAD Katrina victims.

Obama never denounce these comments and Jackson is still a high level staff member in the Obama's camp

As matter of fact, the media rarely even mention Jackson comments.

Also, did Keith do a "Special Comment" about David Axelrod indirectly accusing Hillary Clinton of Bhutto's Murder? How come David Axelrod (Obama's chief strategist) didn't get fired?

I think even Norah O'Donnell found Jackson comments outrageous.

scbrown (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:29 PM)

"They didn't have to do this??" Ferraro is the one who made the stupid comments. She didn't have to do this?

Enrique, Chicago (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:30 PM)

Please! No more comments from this lady

Fed Up (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:30 PM)

Let me get this straight. Her making racial remarks about Obama is NOE Obama's fault? My, my, it IS a political machine that can spin ANYTHING, isn't it? And the media keeps it going. Crawl back under your rock Gerry and stay there for another 25 years or until Hillary needs you to say something else degrading. This this wasn't so pitiful I could almost see humor in it.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:32 PM)

Ya Right.. Move on and blame Obama eh! Is that today's tactic?

McCain is hiring.

New Wave (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:32 PM)

This lady is a piece of work. Please, go quietly into the night. You are obviously not going to take responsibility for what you said. It's so much easier to blame your enemy for your problems instead of admiting that you said what you said, isn't it?

Don't be fooled! Hillary is a Republican in Democrat clothes!

A. Mason, South Bend, IN (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:32 PM)

She is not even worth a comment. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, then it must be a duck. Spin all want Geraldine! Your comments WERE offensive in 84 and again in 08. I am a white man, are you going to now say I am a racist against you as well. How's That?

Richard from KC, MO (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:33 PM)

Why are there no stories regarding how the McCain campaign can use this to court minority voters?

Farraro's comment that Obama is only successful because he is black (vield affirmative action reference) and PA's governor's suggestion that primary voters should consider the racist attitude of voters in the general election who would never vote for an African American can be used by the GOP to court minority voters to show the hypocrisy of the Democratic party. I know many minority voters that are offended by the attitudes displayed by prominent Democrats like Ferraro and PA's governor, so why not use it against the Democrats generally?

Who doesn't doubt that the other Democratic candidates wouldn't be encouraging anti-Hispanic sentiment if Bill Richardson was in the race?

I am surprised that the GOP is not laying the ground work to appeal to indpendent minority voters who are turned off by the hypocrisy of the Democratic party.

John, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:34 PM)

Obama brings up race and NO ONE even mentions it!!!!
After the Texas primary, in his speech he said ‘only in America would a Kenyan black man be fortunate enough to get and education and marry a white girl’.

a) is that what black men aspire to do?
b) is he trying to point out that he is only half black, in order to win the white vote?

Ferraro stands up and says he is lucky to be who he is - bad bad bad.
He stands up and says his father was lucky to marry a white girl.

What is wrong with this picture. Forget the Clintons - put the spotlight on him…………..

Angela, Canada (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:34 PM)

I think that these statements are right on. She is right to say that YES, the fact that he is African-American gives him a unique perspective and validates his cries for change and hope. He cites the struggles of the African-American people and of his parents who he claims met in the trenches of the war against segregation and prejudism in his inspirational and troop rallying speeches. I am disheartened to see him portray this as negative when it is brought to light by a white woman when he uses it to validate his vision of hope!

Dirty politics with a beautiful smile and inspirational rhetoric IS STILL DIRTY POLITICS!

Dirty politics with a beautiful smile and

Kathryn in Bham (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:34 PM)

What to see some real racist remarks? Won't find this on MSNBC. It's not only Fox News that will print the truth.

Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11 To see Obama's paster go here:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4443788&page=1

Dan G. (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:34 PM)

Angela, Canada (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:34 PM)

Couldn't have said it better myself! Put this crap behind us. All this name calling doesn't do anything for our country. Monster, Race, come on wake up there are REAL problems facing this country.

Michael, Miami Beach, FL (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:34 PM)

Time for this serial rascist to move on:

"If Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race," she said.

April 15, 1988 Washington Post story (byline: Howard Kurtz)

Ferraro is a rascist (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:34 PM)

She is just like Hillary...They both refuse to take responsibility for their actions.....

“Lets play the victim”

Enough playing the Susan Smith Card…it didn’t work for her then and it won’t work for you both now.

Justwaitandsee (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:34 PM)

Brilliant Baghdad Bob references in the last set of postings in regards to the latest Clinton spinstravaganza.

Add the Penn & Wolfson show to Dick Cheney's "last throes" comment, Bush's "Mission Accomplished," and Baghdad Bob's infamous foot stamping. They're all the same.

Laughing at Them, Not With Them (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:35 PM)

Time for this serial rascist to move on:

"If Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race," she said.

April 15, 1988 Washington Post story (byline: Howard Kurtz)

Ferraro is a rascist (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:35 PM)

She really, really does not get it. Very sad to hear this from her esp the ongoing lack of insight as she digs a deeper and deeper hole. Wow.

Amy, TX (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:35 PM)

If Obama insist on being black enough to be the black Candidate, then he will never win the general election. People want someone who will represent all ethic groups and not just a select minority. If he insist on using this issue it will be a wedge issue that will divide the democrat party and steer independents to the republican side. At one point I really thought Obama would be elected as the next president, but now he has become a big cry baby like Clinton. I have to say that if Obama and Hillary keep following this road, then I will have to adjust to thinking that McCain may not be all that bad.

TEC-spring-TX (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:35 PM)

Well, this is a fair attempt at turning around a host of much more negative comments over the past several days, even if she continues to blame the Obama campaign for calling out her comments, and ignores the damage she did to the Clinton campaign.

Jack Tracey, Roseville, CA (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:35 PM)

Sen.. Obama is elected, he is going to be able to do the job, no matter why people vote for him."
--------------------------------------------------

Talk about petty. If Jesse Jackson was a nominee because he's black and Obama is the same, then would there ever be a black candidate that's a nominee based on anything else?
I always wondered who set the glass ceiling.

Dr.Strangedog, MI (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:35 PM)

Go away Geraldine. WE were done with this yesterday. Stop trying to play it for more points for the Clinton side. You're disgusting.

We're done with you Ferraro (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:36 PM)

Lets hope MSNBC and Oberman give this the proper coverage. This is Obama's mentor and inspiration for his book "The Audacity of Hope". Obama has been a member of this church fo 20 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPjVp3PLnVs

anton b, st. cloud, mn (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:36 PM)

You are history, Ferraro!! Give way to the new generation. Stop this nonsense and let's move on.

NN (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:36 PM)

Back pedaling. She said nothing about "enthusiasm of the black community, etc." in her initial statement. What she said is that he is where he is because he is black. Period. It was just an incredibly dumb thing to say, and being the politician that she is, in this "sensitive" day and age, (and especially in this campaign!) she should have been keenly aware of the repercussions and not have said it.

Kaye,NC (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:36 PM)

I agree with Ferraro, it's o.k. if the Obama camp throws out racist comments, but shame on everyone else if they state the obvious.

FREE AND THE BRAVE USA (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:37 PM)

Geraldine, thanks for playing. Please leave us. You make as much sense as the Penn & Wolfson team.

All Voters Everywhere (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:37 PM)

"And I assume if Sen.. Obama is elected, he is going to be able to do the job, no matter why people vote for him." Geraldine Ferraro

Ah, Ferraro. Was it not your idol Hilllary Clinton who has stated that Obama was not qualified and could not do the job. Now you are saying if elected he is going to be able to do the job.

It's best you just shut up Ferraro and yes, it is time for you to move on ..... and out.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:37 PM)

Wow. She's like the Energizer Bunny. She just won't shut up. Who does she think she's helping? Is she just to prideful to see how foolish she looks, and how foolish she makes Hillary look?

Joe Walsh (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:38 PM)

I was expecting more what I got from the title. What all of us are thinking, Ferraro it is time for you to move on. Just because you've had to fight sexism and were a trailblazer, doesn't make your comment immune to racist undertones. Can America get past the fact that Yes, you can say something that is UNDENIABLY Racist, yet that doesn't mean that you are a racist, it means that you were insensitive, and defending yourself really doesn't help your case. Just accept you were wrong, (Appologizing ISN'T the worst thing Clinton Campaign), and move on.

Gabe (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:38 PM)

It's so obvious that this was all a political stunt. And the fact she keeps at it, especially with the "those mean men are just trying to hurt Hillary," is demeaning to women everywhere.

Stop Demeaning Women Geraldine (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:38 PM)

Could someone please tape her mouth....thank you.

Andy, NY (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:39 PM)

An ABC News review of dozens of Rev. Wright's (Obama's Pastor) sermons, offered for sale by the church, found repeated denunciations of the U.S. based on what he described as his reading of the Gospels and the treatment of black Americans.

"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people," he said in a 2003 sermon. "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

In addition to damning America, he told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001 that the United States had brought on al Qaeda's attacks because of its own terrorism.

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost," he told his congregation.

Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11

This man hates America, and Obama has sat under him for 20 yrs. as his friend, pastor and mentor.

John Doe (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:40 PM)

I do not know why we gave this crazy women air time. She just wanted anextra 15mins of political fame b/c her time is up!!!Obama in 08!! Enuff said!

Kris STL (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:40 PM)

Well, if I ever need a grave digger, I'll call on Geraldine.

Keep shoveling Geraldine. Six feet is not enough.

Simon, Salem, Oregon (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:40 PM)

Who's trying to deny that African Americans are supporting Obama? Blacks have always voted for white candidates. Why is it a problem that we are supporting someone who is black? You act as though we owe you our votes because you are white. We like was Obama is bringing to the table. We like his policies, his honesty, his stance on the Iraq war, his experience, and most of all his judgement. The fact that he is black is just an added bonus, not the main factor. Obama will make an excellent CIC. For those of you who insist that he has no experience, why don't you take time out to research his voting record and his accomplishments for yourselves? Don't let Hillary and the media lead you around like sheep. Be Active; Be Intelligent; and most of all, Be Informed!

Andrea (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:41 PM)

Boy did Hillary do the right thing, everytime she opens her mouth she digs a deeper hole!

Jeff, Niantic CT (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:41 PM)

Please, Geraldine, spare us your further comments.

John Mehan, San Francisco, CA (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:41 PM)

Just what did the Obama campaign do? They can't respond??? He called it wrong-headed and ridiculous. It was. It is. Beyond that, the press has moved the story forward, not the Obama campaign. It clearly of interest to the electorate as it has exceeded the one day news cycle. The quotes are the quotes - no one is taking her out of context using sound bites. Further, Ms. Ferraro herself keeps stirring the pot. Gerry, be quiet already if you want it to die down!!!

Oh, I'm a white, middle aged, business exec and female. Not part of the "boys club" being blamed. I am embarassed at the tone of this conversation and that Ms. Ferraro doesn't see why her comments are disturbing is the worst of it.

Cindy, Kansas City (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:41 PM)

I, for one, will regret not having my eyes opened to such revelations as how "lucky" Obama is to be a black man raised by a single parent.

Somewhere Ferraro has to know that she's the one that started this and blaming the Obama campaign for her own lack of judgement is unfair.

Gary, Toronto, Ontario (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:42 PM)

Olbermann on Ferraro uproar

March 12: Keith Olbermann gives a special comment on the presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y and Geraldine Ferraro connection.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23601329#23601329

Independent Voter Who Will Never Vote Hillary Pasadena, CA (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:42 PM)

The damage is already done with the democractic party in flames and divided against itself. The only thing left is for the remaining superdelegates to find their honor and their courage and tell Hillary Clinton enough is enough. The party can start healing sooner rather than later and turn its sights to what matters: fixing a receding economy, ending the Iraq war, rebuilding education and providing affordable health care.

SKG from Towanda, PA (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:42 PM)

Just a side note why does it take hours for these posts to pop up!!

Kris Stl (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:42 PM)

Yes, Geraldine, it is Obama's fault you made stupid, racially charged comments that could only be taken in a negative light given all the negative comments that have come from Clinton surrogates already. Maybe you would be better off saying "the Devil made me do it" like another famous Geraldine once said. It certainly would be more logical. And lets get to the the natural converse of your statement. Would Hillary have won the senate race and be running for president if she never married Bill Clinton? Now THERE is an unlikely longshot! Gee, I guess I'll just sit back and sip my 'Latte" now and watch the revolution I helped to create.....

Vern Smith, Fremont, CA (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:43 PM)

"I do think this was a mistake on part of the Obama campaign," she said in an interview with NBC affiliate WJAR in Providence, RI. "They didn't have to do this, and they did it to hurt Hillary."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What did they DO???? NO ONE was talking about race until SHE brought it up!!!! Then when they respond by saying it's "ridiculous" and that it has no place in politics, she calls it an "attack"??? This woman is delusional. Obama better not try to ever shake her hand or she'll scream out "rape!"....

Linda, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:43 PM)

I cannot believe Ferraro is making the Obama camp out to be the bad guys here. Wasn't it the Clinton campaign last week who made a big deal about Samantha Power calling Hillary Clinton a monster? What is worse? Calling a woman a monster, immediately apologizing for it and resigning; or saying that a black man is lucky because he is black, standing by it time and time again, and then in your resignation letter blaming him for it?

Wow.

These people are very, very backwards. Like Keith said last night, Clinton needs to distance herself from these types of actions or she is in bigger trouble than being down around 100 delegates.

Brent Smith, Charlotte NC (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:43 PM)

Geraldine just can't stop talking, can she? It's just amazing...remember Gerri, if you find yourself in a hole, just stop digging. Forget about the enthusiasm from the black community for Barack! What about the enthusiasm from the white community?...from young people?...from people with higher education?

The Hillary people want to continue to trap Barack into a box as being a candidate only for AA's. Total bullsh*t! Obama is the candidate for people who think! That includes whites as well as blacks and women as well as men. I'm so sick of the racist 'dog whistles' that the Clintons continue to toot (and Bill started this in South Carolina and he demeans us by thinking that we're not onto the game). I just can't believe that this is the same couple who were in the White House in the 90's but maybe this is who they really are. It's amazing what ambition does to the character of people. I do believe they'd throw anyone under a train to get back into the White House. They disgust me!
Obama '08

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:43 PM)

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