<p>but it is not racist to suggest that a particular public figure only got where he is because he is black.</p>
<p>What?</p>
<p>It would be more accurate to suggest that Clinton got to her position by who she slept with.</p>
<p>I agree with JHS in post #11. </p>
<p>GF stated the obvious — Obama’s ethnicity, not just his charisma, intelligence and eloquence, contributed to the meteoric rise he has had since appearing on the national political scene at the DNC in 2004. It contribued to the magnetism that drew thousands to his rallies, fuels the inspirational quality of his words, and places him where he is now: poised to make history as a presidential nominee. Watch the DNC speech again — can anyone imagine it having the same power if delivered by a white junior senator describing the dreams of his German-Irish parents? Doubt it.
[American</a> Rhetoric: Barack Obama – 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address](<a href=“http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/convention2004/barackobama2004dnc.htm]American”>Barack Obama 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address - American Rhetoric)</p>
<p>I can’t link to it, but google and watch the youtube “yes we can” video again. Would that electrifying, spontaneous effort have been made on behalf of a white politician? More to the point, could a white politician even have written and delivered the “yes we can” speech that inspired the video? Really doubt it. </p>
<p>I quote “Gwen” of Tucson, AZ, who commented on the Daily Breeze of Torrance blog. </p>
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<p>If a black person says “…if he (Obama) were white, he wouldn’t be as popular or in the position he is now” does that mean it’s not racist? Is it only racist if GF or someone white says so? This blog comment cheers me because I think it’s great that if I were so inclined, I could argue with Gwen about her opinion, her point of view, her statement about whether a black man has a leg up on a white woman for election to our nation’s highest office. But I would just disagree with her; I wouldn’t need to call her a racist.</p>
<p>Well you may not be able to prevent what your staff says, but how you respond then becomes everything. Hilary’s response has essentially been wishy washy at best and the director of the campaign has issued a statement merely attacking Obama for taking issue with this.</p>
<p>And I will agree it unprofessional to have called Senator Clinton a monster but Ms. Ferraro’s comments are nothing less than vile and saying he is where he is because he is black is certainly an opinion, a racist opinion.</p>
<p>Quote: “one of those crazy old aunts you don’t really want to hang out with but have to because they are family.”</p>
<p>Funny, that’s the impression I get from Bill when he is with Hillary. :D</p>
<p>
Geraldine Ferraro’s response.</p>
<p>[Ferraro</a> ‘absolutely not’ apologetic on Obama remarks - Los Angeles Times](<a href=“http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-ferraro13mar13,1,4732563.story]Ferraro”>Ferraro quits Clinton campaign after Obama remarks)</p>
<p>I don’t think HE is lucky that he is who he is.</p>
<p>I think WE are lucky that he is who he is.</p>
<p>1sokkermom in #24 -lol</p>
<p>I think Geraldine has some kind of traumatic stress syndrome from the 1984 run and just snarls at everyone. But maybe Hillary was able to learn from Geraldine’s experience what to do and what not to do.</p>
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<p>I am a big Obama supporter, but I would say that a) there is a kernel of truth in what Ferraro said and b) either she and/or the Clinton campaign were incredibly naive in making this statement with it implications, and Clinton would do wise to disavow it and her completely. Or it was done on purpose, as part of a strategy. I’ll go with it being part of a strategy until Clinton fires her from her finance committee.</p>
<p>The fact is HRC, like Obama, is a very sharp and capable person (and I can say this while at the same time believing she is unelectable as president), but she would be where she was unless she was married to Bill Clinton. Affirmative action by marriage? </p>
<p>Frankly, I’d rather have somebody that started his way from the ground up than someone who was socially promoted to be a Senator because of being married to a famous spouse. It’s rather like owing one’s position to having a father as a former president. Certainly HRC is a lot smarter than GWB, but still, it makes me queasy to think we are moving toward institutionalizing the plutocracy.</p>
<p>All the things that went into making JFK a successful candidate against Nixon – his youth, good looks, etc. – were part of his offering. One could just have easily have said, “well, if JFK wasn’t so young, he wouldn’t have been elected.” Obama has proven himself to a lot of people and will continue to be tested by the process. He’s a really smart guy and he’s got a campaign staff that does really well. And he’s black. And apparently that may make him more electable. Isn’t that a good thing?</p>
<p>I think if Obama was white, he’d be President NOW.</p>
<p>I agree with what she said in principle but she said it in a horrible way. I think the fact that Obama is the first young, articulate, good looking (or as biden would say, clean) black man that has ever ran for president makes a big difference.</p>
<p>I voted for HC in the primary, but if I had voted for Obama, it would be because I think he’s cute.</p>
<p>Obama is a once in a lifetime candidate.
I was not really old enough to remember Kennedy- and I have my doubts about how effective he was- but he was charismatic enough to cast a golden glow on his memory and to inspire both Republicians and Democrats to reference him in their speeches.</p>
<p>Even though Obama comes from a completely different family background than the Kennedys- he is equally inspiring- no- he is * more* inspiring because he had obstacles where JFK had supports.</p>
<p>No one said that anyone was where they are in LIFE because of their skin color, sex, etc… Just that Obama’s presidential candidacy where it is today, wouldn’t be such if not for his race. That is 100% accurate. Same goes with Hillary being a woman; same with McCain being a POW/War Hero; etc… It is that combination of everything they are that has them where they are today.</p>
<p>The fact is; If Hillary was a White Man; and Obama was a White Man; and if all the democrat candidates who were running for the primary were all White Men; then I am sure that the outcome would probably be much different than the Obama/Clinton campaign you see today. There are plenty of people that gave these 2 a chance because of their race and gender. Those are facts. It’s not racist. It doesn’t matter if you want to believe it or not. </p>
<p>GF admitted that being a woman helped put her into certain political ventures. That’s not sexist. Problem is there are too many “politically correct” people commenting on this thread. The truth is here but too many people don’t want to see it. Instead they want to believe that certain people are ignorant, racist, that there’s political machinery in progress, etc… What she said is 100% factual. If it wasn’t, and if it wasn’t such an issue, then why is the press ALWAYS reporting the percentage of whites, or women, or men, or blacks, or hispanics, etc… that the too candidates are getting? Sorry, but we don’t live in a color blind; can’t we all just get along world. If Obama was a white man; Hillary would no doubt be getting the majority of the Black vote instead of Him. That is a fact, not an opinion.</p>
<p>If Clinton and Obama were “white men” they would be different people. Different experiences, different lives, and such.</p>
<p>I like GF- but this was just not very smart and it was a pretty shallow statement.</p>
<p>I think it’s unlikely to the point of being ludicrous to imply that the Clinton campaign was in cahoots with Ferraro about these comments. GF is on a money-raising committee not involved in the candidate’s daily campaign. I’m sure she really rung Hillary up to ask, “hey, I’ve got an interview with a reporter from the Daily Breeze of Torrance …what should I say?” :rolleyes: </p>
<p>Hillary has stated flatly that she disagrees with GF’s comments. There’s no tacit approval. </p>
<p>It would not be smart move for Hillary to denounce and disavow a Democratic fundraiser with Ferraro’s level of name recognition and contacts. As Ferraro points out in the L.A. Times, it doesn’t make sense for the Obama campaign to totally alienate her either. If he gets the nomination, his campaign will want to turn to her for fundraising as well.</p>
<p>Quote: “If Obama was a white man; Hillary would no doubt be getting the majority of the Black vote instead of Him. That is a fact, not an opinion.”</p>
<p>Why is that a fact? Because she is named Clinton, and is married to an ex-president who claimed to be the first black president?</p>
<p>Or because she is a woman?</p>
<p>Either way, I’m not sure that is not just another opinion. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>“If Clinton and Obama were “white men” they would be different people. Different experiences, different lives, and such. I like GF- but this was just not very smart and it was a pretty shallow statement.”</p>
<p>Men earn more than women for the same work, men aren’t perceived as risky employees (hiring, promotions) during their childbearing and child rearing years, and men don’t have to be as concerned about their safety (rape, car jacking) when out after dark.</p>
<p>White skin appears more fiscally reliable when writing checks, white skinned accomplishments dominate elementary and secondary school textbooks, and white skinned individuals are not perceived to have gotten their position (job, college admission) because of their race.</p>
<p>It seems entirely accurate to claim, “If Clinton and Obama were “white men” they would be different people. Different experiences, different lives, and such.”</p>
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<p>Correct…</p>
<p>Yep, so unfair that an actual black person would come along and take all those black votes that were supposed to be for Hilary! How “lucky” for him!</p>
<p>“married to an ex-president who claimed to be the first black president?”</p>
<p>Just for the record (it wouldn’t matter to you anyway). Clinton didn’t 'claim;. He was ‘awarded’ that title by some black politician.</p>