Olbermann calls on Clinton to denounce Ferraro

Ferraro actually has a point. While Sen. Clinton receives a ton of daily bad press with plenty of sexist remarks, one feels that 'holy' Obama's camp is untouchable. There's this that you just don't talk about or simply are taboo to tal about, like his heritage. It reminds me to the early stages of the Venezuelan Bolivarian Revolution. Scary!

I'm just curious why Keith Olbermann, or any other guy sitting around shooting the breeze at MSNBC, didn't find the time to defend white women last November, against this surrogate for Barack Obama:

Nov. 30, 2007

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., hosted a fundraiser Thursday night at the famed Apollo Theater, a venue with historic and symbolic significance to the black community.

Obama was introduced by comedian and actor Chris Rock, who told the audience they'd regret and be embarassed if they voted for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

"You'd say, 'I had that white lady! What was I thinking?" Rock said.

Haha?????

Olberman nailed it. The Clinton campaign has been using dog whistle politics sinc it lost Iowa, it is about time somebody called them on it.

Actually, a pretty good strategy by team Clinton - raise the raise issue just before Mississipi to see how it works (it did - she got the overwhelming majority of the redneck vote) so she can fine tune it in Pennsylvania.

Obama never plaid the race card, she is the one that used the word "Racist". She herself accused Obama and his campaign of being racist and she said they accused her; In-fact when Obama was asked in an interview, he said she personally and her comments was not racist. His campaign never said it was racist either. She is the one injecting race and racism into the campaign.

"Clinton's advisers said Wednesday that they were concerned about her standing among blacks, once a core constituency for her and her husband, but that they also believed black support for Obama was a foregone conclusion at this point."

I love it - looking more & more like whoever gets the nomination is going to PO the others constituency so much that McCain will look very attractive.

If Hillary's last name wasn't Clinton, she wouldn't be where she is.

Keith raises good points that Hillary voters won't address. Unfortunately, they'd rather give the Republican party another four years than to give anyone else a chance.

I think the Clinton's over-playing the race card and the skirt card is self defeating to the democrat's chance to win this race. Obama should stay away from such childish fray. The racist wounds should not be opened again. Such cheap shots, from both sides, play well in the hands of the conservative right.

Bravo Keith Olbermann! You said what needed to be said.

Democrats need to come together quick and this type of campaign Hillary is running is NOT helping whatsoever.

Hillary Clinton needs to be reminded that she had a national approval rating of what, 49%? There are a lot of people now that would most-likely move that number to over 55% maybe 60%.

Win at all costs, or winning ugly should not be a strategy. Hillary, for your party's sake, stop now, take command of your campaign, or leave the race.

Olbermann has a point because there have been numerous high profile Clinton supporters taking swipes at Obama because he is black or has a middle name "Hussein" or is a Muslim. If Hillary was not behind her campaign would not be acting so despaately. It is disgusting to watch the "kitchen sink" policy whose only HOPE in her campaign is that something will stick-so Rovian.
Ferraro, on the other hand, must not respect Hillary very much because she continues her rant even though informed Senator Clinton has regretted and rejected it.

Obama hasn't claimed Ferraro's remarks were 'racist,' just kind of dumb.

Olbermann's right about one thing: Clinton has run a desperate, petty, negative, disingenuous, and highly insincere campaign. She's not fit to be the President of anything that I want any part of. "It's my turn! It's my turn!" Let me get my violin. Hey, still lots of time to unleash a whole new boatload of Rovian smear tactics before PA, though, so get to work doing the only thing you know how -- attacking hope, optimism, and the intelligence of the voters of every state you lose.

Chris Rock is a comedian, what he says is purely for the entertainment of masses and its consequences are far less destructive than a serious political racist statement

Ferrarro did her damage and now all the poor, poor white people can nurse their grudges into a vote against Obama, for being such a lucky black man.

Meantime, I still wait for the realease of the Clinton tax returns. Curious to see how many pairs of boxers they donated last year.

I still wait for the list of donors to the Clinton Library.

I still wait for the release of Mrs. Clinton's records from the White House Archives.

When is that going to happen?

There is only one way for Hillary Rove Clinton to win and that is to convince super delegates that Obama is supported primarily by blacks and not electable. She is wrong and her tactics are wrong. I can not support her anymore. This is my 3a.m. call to her. Goodnight.

Ms. Ferraro's racist comments were not some random, "off-the-reservation" event. She is much too experienced, much to savvy a politician, and much too high in the Clinton campaign to make such comments without the prior approval of the campaign.

This is also at least the FIFTH instance of the Clinton campaign attacking Senator Obama's race. Each time, it has been a carefully choreographed event -- the racial remark, a weak distancing reply from Mrs. Clinton, sometimes a resignation from an unpaid position after their work is finished, and then followed by days of denials of playing the race card.

The days of denial, of course, are not true denials. The denials are designed exclusively to keep the race issue alive and a topic of media discussion. They're reinforcement.

These are not isolated events -- this is a campaign stragegy by Mrs. Clinton. This is who she is.

just think how refreshing it would be if the Clintons (both of 'em)would just disappear from the american political scene. And, as for Ferraro, I tremble when I'm reminded that it's mostly retrogrades and air heads like her who have had so much influence over this country. Whew...!

Ferraro was clearly out of line. Obama would have gotten ninety percent of the black vote anyway --- even if he were white --- based on his policies and positions alone. Right?

"And he closed with a sardonic signoff, a riff on the icon of all broadcast commentators: 'Good night and good luck.'"

Mark:

Keith signs off EVERY night with "Good night and good luck" as a tribute to one of the greatest journalists of our time - Edward R. Murrow.

In Mississippi, 27 percent of the votes for Hillary came from Rush Limbaugh Republicans. In Texas, more than 700,000 Rush Limbaugh Republicans voted for Hillary. What does this mean? That the Republicans think Hillary would be easier to beat. If you subtract these Republican crossover voters from these totals, that means Obama creamed Hillary. In the November election, those Rush Limbaugh Republicans are going to vote for McCain. Analysis has to be based on the facts, which are not only the votes, but who those voters are and who they are likely to vote for in a general election.

Hello Americans:
Don't prove to the world once again that you are stupids.
Superdelegates - come out of the hole and save democratic party.
character is what needed.
inaction supports injustice.

Obama is playing the race card. A darky will never be president of these United States. Dirty white liberals are destroying this country.

The Clintons have long since been called on their race politics. It even has a special name: blackification. Every now and then you have an operative get up and say, "Yo, White folks, Obama be a ------", then be fired or fall on his or her sword. It works, because for every voter who thinks, there are ten or twenty who are suckers for race politics.

Keith who?

Do you think that if New Orleans had been populated by a majority of white women the government would have let them rot for several days before sending help? This insane argument that white women have had it as tough as the black community is outrageous.
Angry white women and Archie Bunker Democrats will never vote for Obama, and half the party will never vote for the Monster.
Looks like President McCain.

The problem with all of this is how it makes it near impossible to imagine Hillary getting support from Obama supporters now -- unless he's on the ticket. That's bad, not just because he probably won't bite, but also because she can't really pick anyone else who can solve the problem. Here's a thread that talks about how the VP should be selected:
http://digits.hrblock.com/ssDigits/digits.php?rType=1&sPath=1140&sNode=1140&uId=198

What a whiny bi%ch - this is a 'play date' compared to what will be in store for BHO IF he gets the nomination - time to man up!

Give me a break, the Obama camp has been playing the race card all along. Remember the comment,"For the first time in my life I am really proud of my country"

Totally agree with comment by CTA above. Hillary is softly floating enough stuff about race to try and destroy Obama's chances in PA. If she truly were the better candidate, she would have had this wrapped up a long, long time ago. I blame the DNC and the party elite for harboring and encouraging Hillary's fantasies that she's actually a winning candidate. If the nomination is hers in August, she will lose handily in the General. Giving her a Senate seat for not throwing all of Bill's stuff all over the White House lawn after the Monica affair was more than enough party payback.

Why does Ferraro have a point? Because America has so much lower standards for blacks and women than for white men? What woman or black who talked English as horribly as GWB, and had his mediocre resume, could ever become president in the next 100 yrs? The USA is still very much a gigantic affirmative action program for stupid white men. Anyone who denies this is an idiot, and Ferraro who i used to respect and admire has definitely put her foot badly in her racist and sexist mouth on this one. She's even claiming she's inferior to Alzheimers Ronnie and King Bush I, her opponents in 84. What the heck is she thinking?

I think race and sex are always in issue. From exit polls, Obama won 85%-90% of Black votes may not good for Black people. It is understandable for Blacks to race their candidate, but it may be even better off in long run to vote for Clinton. First, it will show to Whites that Blacks are on issues not on races themselves. This will bring the country together. This will heal race issues if there ARE those issues. If they one-sidedly voted for Obama, at least it will leave the impression on Whites that Blacks are voted racially, not the Whites. This is certainly not beneficial to heal race issues. Second, to vote by objectively and consciously for the best candidate will be better to the country, it, in turn, beneficial to Blacks also. That to believe that 90% of Blacks think Obama is better candidate than Clinton is subjective is less-supportive. Third, Clintons had good relations to Blacks in history. It is time for Black to show their support to Clintons, too. If someone did some favor to you, you shall certainly do the same. Last, in my view, it is better for Clinton to be elected for Blacks than Obama, because Clinton can implement policies that is good for Blacks without being charged with racist while Obama may have problems for such policies that maybe charged as race issues from his opposition. So my view is that it is not wise and not good for Blacks to overwhelmingly vote for Obama. I am an Asian-American and I am not racist. And I hope my opinion can be viewed as positive to Blacks.

I think race and sex are always in issue. From exit polls, Obama won 85%-90% of Black votes may not good for Black people. It is understandable for Blacks to race their candidate, but it may be even better off in long run to vote for Clinton. First, it will show to Whites that Blacks are on issues not on races themselves. This will bring the country together. This will heal race issues if there ARE those issues. If they one-sidedly voted for Obama, at least it will leave the impression on Whites that Blacks are voted racially, not the Whites. This is certainly not beneficial to heal race issues. Second, to vote by objectively and consciously for the best candidate will be better to the country, it, in turn, beneficial to Blacks also. That to believe that 90% of Blacks think Obama is better candidate than Clinton is subjective is less-supportive. Third, Clintons had good relations to Blacks in history. It is time for Black to show their support to Clintons, too. If someone did some favor to you, you shall certainly do the same. Last, in my view, it is better for Clinton to be elected for Blacks than Obama, because Clinton can implement policies that is good for Blacks without being charged with racist while Obama may have problems for such policies that maybe charged as race issues from his opposition. So my view is that it is not wise and not good for Blacks to overwhelmingly vote for Obama. I am an Asian-American and I am not racist. And I hope my opinion can be viewed as positive to Blacks.

Everyone knows that Olberman and Chris Mathews are huge Obama supporters and since when are "journalists" suppose to infuse themselves into the story. THis is just another talking head trying to make the story about him. Funny I dont remember him calling for an apology from Chris Rock when he chastised Hillary and called her the "white lady" at an Obama event. SHUT UP KIETH.

Gerry being half white wont make your statement half right.Its that spring cookout at Desperation Yacht Club Lots of red faces feigning composure and control of the moment Shrill voices; soiled hands; grasping at flotsam in a place called Status Quo.

hillary is where she is because of (1)being a woman (2) having the name Clinton, and (3)divisive, dishonest, and deceptive campaign tactics. Does she represent the "best" female candidate America has to offer? Obama is where he is because (1) he represents the cream of the crop among African-AMericans, (2)he is talented and fresh, (3)he is gracious, dignified, articulate, refined, and brilliant. Go figure, voters!

Kevin D., exactly. Very succinct as well.

These last few months of Hillary's campaign have reminded me more and more of the "fiction" that was the film Primary Colors. When faced with a choice about using the dirt on the other candidate they don't even hesitate. It is about winning - at any cost. At first I didn't care which one of them won, as long as they gave us a change from the Republican mess of the last 8 years. But now I see that there may be no change at all with another President Clinton.

Of course she was right! But am I also right when I say that Hillary Clinton would not be where she is if she weren’t a woman and her husband hadn’t been a 2-term President? So she has no brain or experience on her own? That’s what my comments could imply. That’s also what Ferraro’s comments implied. The real question is are we going to continue on with roiling in such deep-cutting, divisive statements, or are we going to quit playing all of these “cards” and just move into the future? Trust me, this is a well thought out strategy that “advisors” come up with to distract from larger, true issues. This is true on ALL sides and it needs to stop. We all need to stop buying into the hype. All 3 Presidential candidates are smart, experienced, capable, and ready to lead. What we all have to consider is which one best represents our future goals, current ideals, and vote for that person. Easy enough. Everything else is B.S.

Keith Olbermannic commentary? - This is exactly what we mean when we say the press is biased against the Clinton campaign. Ferraro didn't say anything that wasn't factual.

The black vote is out in droves for one reason and one reason alone. If it takes a black candidate to get them out to vote, wonderful, but let's be honest about it and Ferraro was when she said that Senator Obama is lucky to be whom he is, i.e. a black man running against a woman. Yes, Senator Obama is qualified to run. Not enough for me to support though; I think he needs more experience than two years at the national level. Is he awesomely charismatic, the press obviously thinks so, but I don't, but then I have had the privilege of seeing and hearing the truly charismatic, for me, anyway. Should the Clinton camp denounce Ferraro, I don't think so.

Is the Democratic Party losing it? Probably, but not because of the candidates; but because of the biased press.

Ridiculous, Obama calls Ferraro's statements. I don't think so, I think they are fact, and I think he should own up to the fact, that he knows it. That is what is truly ridiculous, and I think Obama's camp and Clinton's camp and the 'unbiased' Press owe Ferraro an apology.

The fact that the black vote is out in droves and Obama’s camp is getting in the high 90 percentile of their commitment makes Ferraro’s statement a fact; Senator Obama is lucky to be whom he is. Please be honest about it, but you can’t, because you will be labeled as giving out a racist comment by the ‘biased fueling’ Press, the ‘pro- black racist beneficiary’ Obama camp, and be ignored and denounced by the ‘ sex, race and age’ discriminated Clinton camp.

Yet, not all voters are voting for either ‘just because of race or gender, that is true, that’s not the only reason, just one of the top reasons.

Are you telling me that the Clinton camp doesn’t deserve a huge part of that 95 to 98 percent black vote, or for that matter, Ferraro in her day? Let’s call a ‘Spade a Spade’ or ‘It is, what it is’.

For the Obama camp to fault Geraldine Ferraro as the reason for the Democratic Party losing the 1984 race in 49 states, is truly abhorrent on the part of a Democratic Candidate’s camp.

It had nothing to do with Reagan and Iran Hostage Crisis, did it? It had nothing to do with a handicapped candidate, did it? It had nothing to do with sexism, did it?

Oh, I see, it’s all right to fault Ferroro for losing the race because she is a woman, but don’t say anything about Obama’s camp, right. No, that didn't say she lost the race because she was a woman is a sexist society, they didn't have to. Ferroro was 'unlucky to be who she was in that campaign.'

However, that wasn’t a racist-sexist remark, was it?

The Democratic Party in general and the Clinton camp, in particularly, has almost lost my vote for not coming to Ferraro defense.

Obama's camp accuses Clinton's camp of back knifing the Democratic Party when Clinton states McCain has more experience in national security than Obama, and supporting a Republican with that statement and yet, it's okay for the Obama camp to get out their is their sexist attitude, covered up by their racist indignation, and hit one of the Democratic Party's best efforts for woman rights. Nice, really nice. Oh sure, it's just ridiculous. Obama pushing his pseudo – racial naiveness and above-it-all attitude, is what is really ridiculous.

The American people are still waiting for the TAX RETURNS... the same question Ms. Clinton asked of her rival when she was running for senator. Her rival was "heckled" by her campaign staff and dressed up in Uncle Sam's costume outfits! Her apology is SUSPECT and it is a LITTLE TOO LATE because she has run a consistently, negative campaign that now defines who she is.

On the other hand, Sen. Obama continues to try to run a fair campaign.
Sen. Obama for President 2008

If you don't like Spitzer, what do you think about CLINTON. Republicans know the deal and they are voting for her with other whites. Its a strategy.

Barack is on life support. This is all up to white America, and they are going to make their choice. I will not believe in Barak until I see it with my own eyes. He is clearly the BEST candidate for President including Mccain, but guess what...Black folks better turn to Tiger Woods, because it aint never gonna happen.

Congratulations Keith Olbermannic for giving a frank evaluation of Geraldine Ferarro's comments. Fact is comments were said. Fact is they were racial. M. Ferarro could have displayed diplomacy, and apologized for any news release misunderstandings immediately. Subject would have disappeared quickly. She did not. She instead claims she is being attacked by Barck Obama Campaign. Fact is her past reveals additional racial comments. Ms. Ferarro is an experienced politican and knew exactly what she was saying.

Ms. Feraaro is connected to Hilary Clinton Campaign. She was involved with fundraising campaign. Hilary Clinton Campaign manager Maggie Williams was interviewed and did not denounce Ms. Ferrarro. Instead Maggie Williams blamed it all on the Barack Obama Campaign too. Hilary Clinton did not make a strong statements either. Hilary soft pedaled the issues. This was not wise.

I am evaluating all candidates. I do plan to vote and will casting my vote for the Presidential Democrat if Barack Obama is candidate. Hilary Clinton has sadly disappointed me over the course of her campaign. I do not support John McCain, but am considering voting for him if Hilary Clinton is candidate.

Race or gender bias has no place in the campaign. This is 2008!! I was so excited Hilary Clinton was running. I was excited Barack Obama was running. These are two strong candidates. Hilary Clinton has taken too many distasteful political actions and stances over the course of her campaign for my vote.

FYI - I am caucasian, conservative, midwestern raised, college educated professional,and registered Republican. This has been an exciting primary and have been researching and evaluating primary race closely. I live in Mill Valley, California five minutes. from San Francisco.

Kay

Ferraro just said what many of us Illinoisans are thinking about the 3-year Senator from Illinois. It boggles the mind how arrogant Obama is and how many people -- probably due to liberal guilt -- are feeding his ego. On paper there's no way a woman of any race or age or a hispanic, Asian or white man would be taken seriously as a Presidential campaign if they had the scant record of public or private service that Obama has. Hillary doesn't have stellar qualifications to be President but she does have some sort of a professional track record. People may not like nor agree with her track record but at least she's got something to attack or defend.

Obama has almost nothing --no big blunders but no big accomplishments. And it is the black community claiming "he's one of ours" who continues to push his race into everyone's face. I believe Obama himself isn't preoccupied with his race but his black campaign staff and supporters are.

In this race we need to stick to the issues and not get bogged down by this other stuff. The Republicans are sitting by watching the Democratic Party slowly implode.

Keith, I love you. You speak the truth. If Hillary doesn't stop this insanity McCain will win.

Since when is racist to tell the truth? If Barach Obama were a white freshman Senator he would have been steamrollered byt he Clinton machine long since.

John Kerry was getting 85% of the black vote against Edwards in the south in the last election (was John black??). Do your research and understand media is playing the race card as is HRC.
This is the only entertainment news and strategy they have.

Why do people keep insisting that Obama is Muslim. He is a Christian. And I agree that quiet Super Delegates lead to back door politics, what I sure don't want to happen. It is time to fix the Democrat Party and the time is now.

Sigh, tired of all the whiners who cry racism anytime Hillary wins a state and try to bring her down.

Truth is yes Obama is black, and yes hillary is a woman. Those are facts indisputable. If bring up either bothers you move to another planet.

Congratulations Keith Olbermannic for giving a frank evaluation of Geraldine Ferarro's comments. Fact is comments were said. Fact is they were racial. M. Ferarro could have displayed diplomacy, and apologized for any news release misunderstandings immediately. Subject would have disappeared quickly. She did not. She instead claims she is being attacked by Barck Obama Campaign. Fact is her past reveals additional racial comments. Ms. Ferarro is an experienced politican and knew exactly what she was saying.

Ms. Feraaro is connected to Hilary Clinton Campaign. She was involved with fundraising campaign. Hilary Clinton Campaign manager Maggie Williams was interviewed and did not denounce Ms. Ferrarro. Instead Maggie Williams blamed it all on the Barack Obama Campaign too. Hilary Clinton did not make a strong statements either. Hilary soft pedaled the issues. This was not wise.

I am evaluating all candidates. I do plan to vote and will casting my vote for the Presidential Democrat if Barack Obama is candidate. Hilary Clinton has sadly disappointed me over the course of her campaign. I do not support John McCain, but am considering voting for him if Hilary Clinton is candidate.

Race or gender bias has no place in the campaign. This is 2008!! I was so excited Hilary Clinton was running. I was excited Barack Obama was running. These are two strong candidates. Hilary Clinton has taken too many distasteful political actions and stances over the course of her campaign for my vote.

FYI - I am caucasian, conservative, midwestern raised, college educated professional,and registered Republican. This has been an exciting primary and have been researching and evaluating primary race closely. I live in Mill Valley, California five minutes. from San Francisco.

Kay

Anyone with a clue knows Keith Olberidiot and NBC News have been in the tank for Obama since Fall. This comes as no surprise.

If Hillary had Obama's abilities she would have already locked up the nomination. Any white candidate with his character, command of issues,and charisma would have an easier time. It should be noted that Hillary and John McCain have the same firm, Burson Marsteller managing their campaigns. For me this is explanation enough for the racist attacks on Obama.

Olbermann needs to be quiet, he has never scolded Obama for has tatics either, I'm African who believes that Ferrao was right on the money when she made that statement, Obama is becoming the Black President, just look at the Black community voting for Obama just because he's Black, and not truly on the issues, experience, or the substance of his message.

Hillary does not need to scold Ferrao for her statements about Obama in anyway. I see that Olbermann and other gender-biased news, anchors have been very hard on Hillary, but not on Obama, this not fair at all, here we are trying to elect a man who has little experience as compared to Hillary or McCain to tackle the problems of the Bush mess that requires somone with a little more experience to achieve this goal, it seems like to me that Obama should be challenged and scrutinized more to see whether he is even quailfied enough to be President in the first place, being a inspirational and motivational on hope and change does not make one quailfied and experienced enough to be President.

I believe the news media is making a big mistake by promoting an inexperienced candidate like Obama given the peril America is in at this day and time, Hillary has faced racism and gender discrimination from the Obama campaign as well, who in the media standing up for Hillary? So if olbermann wants to be fair and balanced he needs to also be having special comments challenging and scutinzing Obama's slick campaign tactics against hillary as well, and also scurtinizing and challenging his ability to be Presiendent.

Olbermann isn't endorsing Obama? Yeah, right. He and Matthews have spent months trashing Clinton on everything...and I'll never forget how disappointed they were she didn't lose in NH.
This is all nonsense, and what Ferraro said needed to be said. But I see the Obama crowd is taking a page from the Sharpton/Jackson playbook where any mention of race (from a white person) is branded "racist," but it's fine for blacks.
This attitude is not unnoticed, and will result in a McCain victory.

Kristine, back on your meds please.

I run a blog that is aimed at the urban crowd and as a black man I'd like to go on record saying I don't think Geraldine Ferraro is racist at all. At least not in the way we generally think of a racist. She see Barack being black as an advantage and not a disadvantage. In a way she is right. His race does get him noticed but in all honesty it is not going to help him get elected at all. One of the other writers over at Highbrid Nation says Geraldine Ferraro is evil not racist, lol. He might not be too far off.

Ferraro actually has a point. While Sen. Clinton receives a ton of daily bad press with plenty of sexist remarks, one feels that 'holy' Obama's camp is untouchable. There's this that you just don't talk about or simply are taboo to tal about, like his heritage. It reminds me to the early stages of the . Scary!

Posted by: Alex Marin | March 13, 2008 8:03 AM

The scary thing Alex is that you really don't get it!!! Then again maybe you do because you're suggesting that Barack is like Hugo Chávez. Your an un-American dirtbag!!!

I don't always agree with Keith's comments but he's definately right on this one and it took guts for him to come out so strongly, given the support he has received from the Clintons in the past.

The Clinton campaign is based on an arrogant and manipulative spirit of entitlement and the desire for raw power. This is by its nature divisive and selfish. I sense a continual willingness to sacrifice the common good to achieve their ends. The underlying message that she will be "ready on day 1" is fear-mongering.

I feel safer and more hopeful about my country's capacity to renew itself with a leader like Obama who possesses courage and vision, yet who has the character to be informed by humility and an openness to learn from experience and from others. I believe Barack Obama's leadership will bring a new sense of possibility when it comes to issues like the economy and justice, peace and security. He will help us remember our founding spirit at the same time we learn to explore new ideas which can help us, working together, towards greater tolerance as an American community and the tremendous capacity to make a healing difference in the world.

As a woman, I am really tired of this fake race affirmative action card that Hillary and her supporters are playing, because the gender affirmative action card is at least as big.

Hillary is pretty lucky to be who she is--an older woman with the same name as a 2-term president, who has hitched a pretty good ride to his star power. Let's face it, Ferraro and other older women are only voting for Hillary because she's also an older woman. Older women are her base. The sisters are out in force for her in every single primary. Should we call them out on their gender bias?

What the demographic experts know is that Obama has attracted a lot of white men to his campaign, (mainly those who are affluent) and Hillary knows she can't win without their support. White men are now the key demographic in play. So Hillary plays the race card to peel off as many scared (and less affluent) white men as she can from Obama, all the while playing the gender card with women, and whining about how "unfair" everyone is to her because she's a woman.

This, of course, comes from the candidate who less than 4 months ago was the "inevitable" nominee and front-runner.

Anyone who thinks the press is biased on this issue needs a reality check. You can't spin the ugliness of her actions away with lame arguments about press bias. Hillary's actions are exactly as they seem.

Olbermann is right to call her out on her tactics. Does Hillary really want to be the David Duke of the Democratic party?

The atrocious race-baiting that Clinton's campaign has done subtlely over the last couple months has annoyed me. Ferraro's comments, and the Clinton campaign's inability to distance itself from them immediately disgusts me.

I would have frustratingly voted for Clinton to keep a Republican out of office had she shown any sort of moral integrity. I will instead write Obama's name in during the general election if he does not receive the nomination. I refuse to vote for someone who has outed herself as being racist. As Democrats, we are supposed to be fighting against this.

olberman is right. bill (monica scandal)cost us just enough votes in 2000 to get the election stolen. now hillary's divisive campaign will cost us an even more important election. pennsylvania please bail us out and vote obama. the sooner this all ends the better.

It truly amazes me! The media continuously, since South Caroline state the type of voters both candidates attract. Obama the African-American, white men , higher education and the young. Clinton Latinos, white women, lower educated and older generation. The American public have been discussing race, gender and age factors amongst themselves though out this campaign. Farraro point out what the public is saying and of course she is racist. If you thing like Obama and Al Sharton that this is not spoken of by Americans, then you must be living on another planet.

Just curious... hasn't the black population always voted overwhelmingly for the Democratic candidate in previous elections And weren't these candidates white? But there were no accusations then of blacks being "racist" in their voting patterns. This year they're voting overwhelmingly for Obama - in similar fashion as they voted overwhelmingly for Clinton, Gore and Kerry... over their opponents. Guess they were being racist then too!

Olbermann was a bit bombastic and righteous, but he had a clear point. He just didn't need to repeat it for 10 minutes. Everyone knows what the Hillary campaign is doing- they learned it from the GOP playbook. Very "what, are you saying race could possibly be an issue, I'm just trying to be fair and balanced!". And then right after saying Obama is being indirectly sexist. Amazing.
Perhaps some of the GOP smear job in the 90s rubbed off on Los Clintones

These last few months of Hillary's campaign have reminded me more and more of the "fiction" that was the film Primary Colors. When faced with a choice about using the dirt on the other candidate they don't even hesitate. It is about winning - at any cost. At first I didn't care which one of them won, as long as they gave us a change from the Republican mess of the last 8 years. But now I see that there may be no change at all with another President Clinton.

Posted by: The Misanthrope | March 13, 2008 10:02 AM

Well put! Obama 2008.

Geraldine Ferraro is wrong about one thing: when she was running for vice- president many people did NOT patronize her. I thought she was terrific--better than Mondale. I also remember a prominent columnist at the time, having watched her press conference defending her finances, saying he thought she'd be more than capable as commander-in-chief and delighting in the prospect of Brezhnev having to face her over a negotiating table, Gerry glaring at him over her glasses. Maybe she's forgotten, but I haven't! As far as Obama goes, I like him, but he probably gets off easy on tough questions SO FAR, but I seem to recall that Reagan never had to answer a tough question...

bravo keith! summed it all up very well...

Keith needs to report the news--not MAKE IT.  This quasi-manic guy in the Capone-striped suits has become too full of himself.   I really don't think Olberman heard the entire conversation involving Ms. Ferraro--a MUST for good journalism.  Ferraro made an interesting  point, actually.  I understood it to be about novelty--something John Edwards did not benefit from--ever.  And, the MSM did not help.  I didn't hear BHO say he thought Ferraro's words were racist--I've only heard others supporting BHO say it--kind of like when BHO's camp says HRC doesn't say things but her camp does.  It is all the same food fight.  Haven't Blacks  made the election about race as much as they say HRC has?  Why have most Blacks voted for first-time Black prez candidate BHO?  It is not clear that they are running on issues. I don't want to be muzzled if BHO is ever in office and he does a sh!!!tty, harmful, unAmerican job--like Bush. All protest--or intolerance of a bad administration--may be construed as bigotry. No thanks.  WOULDN"T WANT BHO HIDING BEHIND THE RACE CARD often times, as BUSH HIDES BEHIND THE TROOPS.  Bad.  Bad.   I would like to hear, now, that BHO would never do this.  And, I would like to hear, one way or the other, if BHO will make certain nations in Africa his pet project (and USA taxpayers' new money pit)--as Cheney/Bush have made of Iraq.  Interceding in nations is a UN project, not a USA or USA prez's project.

Keith Olbermann had every right to make the comments he made last night.

This wasn't an isolated event but a series of events and a concerted effort by the Clinton campaign to paint Obama as an under-achiever who was lucky to be judged by a lower, i.e. "Black" or "affirmative action" standard.

The insidious racism running through the Clinton campaign, started w/ the MLK statements, then the Jesse Jackson statements, then the "he's not a Muslim, as far as I know" statements, and now the tepid response to Ferraro's statements, and Hillary's willingness to allow this is stunning!

Her campaign has allowed all of these events to go on without real rebukes, which only confirms what we already know:

Hillary will say and do whatever to get elected and she has essentially decided that if she can't have the presidency, Obama certainly won't have it.

It's a sickness, really. . .

tony,

You're mostly right, but I would point out that Mr. Obama is the cream of the crop of ALL Americans, and that is why he is where he is.

On media bias: would even the Hillary supporters acknowledge that if the tables were turned, and Barrack Obama has LOST 11 states in a row, trailed Hillary in the total vote count, states won and pledged delegates, that the cry for Obama to drop out would have been COMPLETELY OVERWHELMING. Why does Mrs. Clinton NOT have to answer the obvious, pertinent question: how are you going to win the nomination?

Even with your "big win" in Texas, you lost delegates on account of the caucus. You're at the point where you need to win every state by about 65%. That is, to say the least, EXTREMELY UNLIKELY to happen. So how are you going to win? Are you going to try to cajole the superdelegates to OVERRULE the will of the Democratic Party to which you ostensibly belong? Are you going to attempt to drag down and destroy the man that the majority of Democratic voters have supported throughout this primary campaign? Is there anything you WOULDN'T say or do to destroy Barrack Obama?

How else can you win, Mrs. Clinton? When's the last time this "victim" of tough media treatment had to answer a question like that, eh? Do you really think Mr. Obama would not have been compelled to withdraw from this race if the tables were turned?

-------------------------

It wasn't that long ago that the question was if Barrack Obama was "black enough" and it was CLINTON who was claiming the majority of black support in the early primaries.

I guess they were voting for Hillary back then because they thought she was a better candidate.

Then Bill Clinton flew off the handle and basically called South Carolina out as racist fools because, ya know, they'd also voted for Jesse Jackson in 1988.

Ever since then the overwhelming majority of blacks have voted for Obama. Of course, now they're simply practicing racial solidarity instead of voting for the candidate they thought would represent them best. Try not to forget, folks, Mrs. Clinton WAS that candidate less than 3 months ago.

The cynical side of says this is exactly what the Clinton campaign wants. I remember cringing on Super Tuesday when some states that Obama was winning were in part because of overwhelming African American support. That would be the deathknell of his candidacy.

What has sustained his momentum is his believable pledge to move towards a post-racial future. If blacks prefer Obama 4:1 and whites prefer Clinton 3:1 (and let's not forget that WOMEN have been supporting Hillary 2:1 also, but I'm sure THEY are just voting their conscience and not their gender), that disparity will likely lead on-the-fence voters to view Obama with much greater suspicion.

Hillary, you are a soulless, craven trainwreck. You cannot defeat Barrack Obama without OVERRULING the will of the people. You have turned your campaign into an absolute horror show. And of course your opponent, Senator Obama, has run just about the best upstart political campaign in modern history.

You have lost. Withdraw to the Senate and lead Congressional Democrats for the next generation. Sounds like a pretty good gig to me, and FAR better than what you deserve for the damage you insist upon doing to the Democratic Party to which you ostensibly belong.

Why didnt anyone have a problem a few months ago when Michelle Obama said

The Huffington Post

Michelle Obama: "Black America Will Wake Up And Get It"

Please someone who is a Barak supporter tell me why its OK for her to say these kinds of things but not the otherway around. And yes i am serious and no I dont see a different between this and what Gerald Ferraro said.

RE: R. Payne, please put the Michelle Obama thing to rest. It has just been brought to my attention since the Gerri F. comment that this is a country based on freedom of speech. That said, WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE... If Gerri F. has the right to HER opinion, Michelle has the right to hers. So let's all dismiss the Michelle Obama comment as FREEDOM OF SPEECH, unless of course, only WHITE women are allowed freedom of speech in AMERICA and BLACK women are NOT.

I totally agree with the posting by VoteConsciously and I am black. I have been saying what he/she said for a long time. Wake up black people! Good post VoteConsciously....

Posted by: VoteConsciously | March 13, 2008 9:28 AM

So when its the Obama campaign it is freedom of speech when it Clitnon it is racist. That is what I thought

I guess the thousands (millions?) of black
Americans who are quietly proud and jubilant over this self-confidant young man who qualifies to run for the nomination for President of the United States had better just quit being proud. Can it be that he really is not black? Or just ashamed of it?
I had the impression that some of the excitement is precisely because they are proud of one of their own.
But Senator Obama calls that slice and dice.

Is Barack Obama the first black Presidential candidate? No, I do not believe he is....so, if he is where he is only because he's black...then he should thank the previous black Presidents that paved the way for him...oh, there's no one to thank. You mean to tell me that blacks that only make up 13% of the population in America are the only ones that are voting for Barack and he's winning...hmmm, that's interesting!! So, who are the other 87% of the population voting for??

Sure, Barack may have increased the attention of black America to the nominating process...but by no means is the fact he is black, the reason he is winning (which,is where he is). Jesse Jackson didn't make it this far...nor did Al Sharpton...and they were both black. Barack is where he is because people are tired of the BS that goes on in politics and it's refreshing to hear someone talking about it...talking about changing it...talking about the government actually working for the people...

We have an articulate, distinguished, Harvard Graduate running for the Presidency of the United States of America...and he just happens to be black!! Perhaps, he's just a good candidate...

Way to go Keith !

The Clinton Camp and her supporters are going to have some answering to do after this campaign comes to an end. The Clinton's are going to have to be reevaluated as to the place they fill in Democratic politics. So far they have demonstrated complete abandon for the party to feed the Clinton ego. As for Clinton supporters ... You have shown yourselves capable of becoming just the female version of 'angry white males'... abandoning any sense of purpose or morality to support your one cause whatever other hard fought cornerstones of humanity be damned to the feeding fires. Pathetic.

She’s right on target. She’s not saying that Obama has an advantage b/c he’s black…she’s saying that black people are voting for him because he’s black and that gives him an advantage. BIG DIFFERENCE! As an attorney, let me tell you...EVERYTHING comes down to how words are interpreted. People misinterpreted Ferraro and THAT is why they are pissed. Sorry folks but its true and if you don’t like to hear the truth…too bad. Look at the exit polls and election results of EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY state. Obama is winning the black vote 80% to Hillary’s 20% (or thereabouts). The proof is in the pudding! So african americans can either quit playing the race card, or quit voting for Obama and proving people like Ferraro right!

Also, while your checking out the above referenced statistics and proving me right, why don’t you take 5 mins and stop blaming Hillary Clinton. Before Barrack came along, black folks loved the Clintons….Well, NEWS FLASH- they haven’t changed and they still fight for the minority communities so show some appreciation and respect even if you don’t vote for her! The only thing that has changed is the fact that a black person is running against a Clinton and I guess “BLACK” trumps “CLINTON” in their eyes (b/c they surely aren’t voting based on Obama’s impressive political record!) lol

As an African American, I don't see what is the big hype about what Ferraro his said about Obama, what she stated is very obvious and factual, this is not racial at all, but the media is the Obama campaign has been very succesful in spining her comments in that direction, this is a real shame, because the media is even helping to divide the Democratic Party even further, I believe this is the ultimate strategy and plan to help the Republicans keep their party in power beyond 2009.

Obama is becoming the Black President whether we want to accept it or not, look at the Black vote for Obama, when Gore and Kerry where running for President, this many of my black folks where not voting for them in droves like they are for an inexperienced, non substance, 2 termSenator like Obama, Ferraro was right, Obama blackness is an advantage to him in this race, and her comment is not racial and offending to me.

I reallly am surprised at Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and the biased news media is supporting this Johnny Come Latly Senator just because he's an eloquent inspirational motivational speaker and not on his experience, this is beyond my understanding or reasoning, but oh I really get it now, Obama does not need experience or qualificans at all to be President in their opinion, because all my race of people see that he's a black man like them trying to run for the highest office in the land.

I would like for a black on day to be President equally as a woman, but what I'm voting for is the person who has the most experience and qualifications to clean-up Bushes mess after he leaves office, therefore, I'm placing my vote with Hillary because she meets that threshold, as oppose to Obama who's just getting in the US Senate 2 or 3 years ago.

I cannot and will not vote for Obama just because he's black like me, I refuse asslmluate with other people in my race just because it may be the popular or the expected thing because both have the same skin color, I'm looking out for my best interest in this campaign, and my best interest and convictions is sticking with Hillary, over Obama, maybe if he had the experience and qualifications equal to or greater than Hillary, I would have considered voting for him, but he does not compare to Hillary's credentials at this time, Obama needs more time in the US Congress before I would consider voting for him to occupy the White House.

It's hight time that the media start concerntrating on Obama's personal and political life to challenge and scrutinize to see whether Obama is truly able to handle the top position in America on Day one of his Presidency, because I what I see where headed towards making the same mistake that we did electing Bush who's nothing more than a puppet to his advisors and his vice President, Dick Cheney, because Bush did not really know what he was doing in order to make the right decisions to help keep the economy strong, and making the right decisions concerning military issues to protect this country from the people who atttacked this country doing 9/11.

I believe Obama will be that same puppet like Bush and at the mercy of his advisors due to his lack of experience and qualificans this needed to make sound and grounded decisions on the economy, foreign and military policy,and other domestic and international issues that's an interest to our country.

is it possible that blacks are utterly and completely disgusted by the race-baiting dog whistling tactics that are being used and that is what is driving the majority to vote for Barack Obama? Are we suppose to be too stupid a race not to notice those ugly patterns? Not too mention he is intelligent, wants to be a unifier, gracious, and a gentleman. There is so much dirt that many of us would like to see Barack Obama throw at Hillary but he uses superhuman strength not to go there. He has not damaged Hillary's chances if she wins the nomination but she is trying everying and anything "kitchen sink" to damage his. People...we say we don't want politics as usual...but yet we get so caught up in picking sides and sticking to them that we don't denouce wrong when we see it especially if it's our candidate who is throwing the mudd. I for one am tired of that. I cannot in good conscience vote for Hilliary clinton. I don't think she even wants my vote. I cannot look at her during the state of the union and not think how much of what she says is truth and how much are twisted up half truths made to make her oppenent look bad instead of taking care of the peoples business. I am a life-long democrat. On election day if Hil gets the nod I will do 1 of 2 things...I will not vote or I will vote for McCain if Hilliary gets the nom. At least with McCain I may not agree w/his policies but I trust him and trust that he has the interest of the country at heart.

This clip is from Glenn Beck. I think if this gets out to the main stream media (which it won't) , Obama might be all done ?


http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/7273/

The Clintons Interjecting the Race Card (Skin Color) is not Being Educated, or Having a Well Cultivated Mind.

-To me being educated and having well cultivated minds do not mean only those with college degrees. My grand mother, only graduated from 8th grade, and she was one of the most educated people I have ever known-…

The Clintons knew that if they pushed hard enough by saying to enough of those less educated with un cultivated minds, that they could play on their prejudices, fears, and personal insecurities AS IN: ARE YOU PEOPLE CRAZY?....DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO VOTE TO PUT A BLACK MAN IN OFFICE? ARE YOU AWARE THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO VOTE FOR A BLACK MAN OVER WHITE WOMEN? .....

ONE CAN SUGAR-COAT IT ALL DAY, BUT IT IS, WHAT IT IS….

The Obama supporters are polled to be the more educated etc. The word educated takes in a lot of territory beyond just having a college degree.

Therefore the word "Educated" Having a cultivated mind" includes many basic common sense definitions….

It speaks extremely well for America to have as many people as we have with a well cultivated mind who can see the big picture….

How do we reach at least the 20 percent who are NOT THERE? That is the ADDITIONAL amount that Obama needs to win.

Now that the Clintons have effectively got “SKIN COLOR” registered in the minds of enough voters to give her campaign more volume, How do we change that?... I am asking because I really don’t know, and that makes me very sad.

At this time in history, I don’t need to re list all the reason why the U S and the world need Obama as U S President, most of us know them.

.However at the top of the list is the fact that Obama has proven that “he can inspire (GIVE REASON TO HOPE) and organize people of all SKIN COLORS, nationalities, ages, backgrounds, education and economic levels.

When you are capable of doing those two things, and you know what must be done, the rest of the job is a matter of being skilled, and putting a skilled team together who also understands the need to get the things done that you must have done.

. Obama has also proved more than capable of doing that, based upon how well his campaign is run…and what it has accomplished….I would hope one would not have to be a Rocket scientist to understand that…...

ON THE OTHE HAND HILLARY, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS HER THIRD RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, HAVING “THE EXPERIENCE” THAT SHE REFERS TO, HAVE SHOWN ONE BAD JUDGEMENT AFTER THE OTHER WHEN IT COMES TO ORGANIZATION, AND BRINING PEOPLE TOGETHER, EVEN IN HER CAMPAIGN…..

.However from all those years of campaigning EXPERIENCE, the Clintons learned something about the various human nature of the voting population.

There fore they knew when all else failed, if they played the race card hard enough, that, could win over at least 20 percent of those who border line being less educated, and having less cultivated minds…

They had learned enough about the dynamics of that which inspire racism to know, that among that group, if they appealed to their sense of fear and insecurities which equal racism they could win over about 20 percent….

Bill Clinton tried the race card in South Carolina, that time it backfired. So they planted Geraldine Ferraro to do the dirty work. Ferraro made “said statement "because he is black'' on a radio show, and on two other occasions until the press, finally, picked it up. Then when the polls showed that playing the racist card worked, even though Hillary lost in Ms, Hillary comes out apologizing and apologizing…

Now yet again, “Hillary has found her voice;” only now, it is in playing the racist card …

No one in Obama’s close Camp can say this, but I can: Black folk if you are not insulted yet, I can understand why we were in slaved so many years…

.I personally feels so embarrassed that I supported the Clintons in those years; I just want to put a bag over my head….

And I repeat…. Educated and having a well cultivated minds do not mean only those with college degrees, my grand mother, only graduated from 8th grade, and she was one of the most educated people I have ever known…

The Clintons finally got the racist card activated, so now, what can “we the educated with the cultivated minds” do to help that 20 percent to see Obama as “the man” who is running for U S president, to listen closely to what he has to say, and not, just see a Black man….

With America being the melting pot that it is, we do not need a U S president who has obvious racist tendencies…..I am looking at the big picture…

How can we erase the fact that the Clintons by using racism has succeeded in forcing at least 20 percent of the un educated to see Obama as a “black man only” and ignoring the reason he is the best Person for U S president?

Actually on the up side of this story, it’s good she did it early enough, so that we have some time. But we must start today making every effort to stop it before it bleeds too much into those states that has yet to vote….

Additionally, one does not need to be a Rocket Scientist to see the race card in reference to Bill and Hillary’s statement about Obama being Vice President when Obama is clearly leading. I don’t think Hillary or Bill would have made that statement if John Edward would have been leading instead of Obama...

TO ME, IN THAT THE CLINTONS WERE SAYING: YOU SEE AS A BLACK MAN, OBAMA IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BE PRESIDENT, EVEN THOUGH BASED UPON YOUR VOTES, MANY OF YOU ARE TOO STUPID TO KNOW THAT. HOWEVER, HE CAN BE MY VICE PRESIDENT; SINCE THE MAJORITY OF YOU SEEM TO PERFER HIM OVER ME…..I CAN DO YOU THAT FAVOR…..

If The Clinton had not played the race card, I could have let that one past, but it is, what it is……

Most of us know that if Hillary had not been Mrs. Bill Clinton, she would not be running for U.S. president, which actually takes away from just any women rising through the ranks and running for U S president

If Obama and Hillary were both white men......try to imagine...who would have the best resume? Hillary Clinton. What's wrong with noticing this?

Blacks have always heavily voted Democratic, hell they came out and elected Bill Clinton into office twice, and no one was calling them racist for supporting a white candidate, the same trend was true for Al Gore and John Kerry, they ALL carried most votes from African-Americans. so why should Barack Obama be any different?

And let's get his race straight: he's half black and half white!!! Why are people being so ignorant assuming he is pure African -American, or just because his middle name is Hussein he is a Muslim?

Seriously, educate yourselves, Hillary is showing how desperate she is and it is her desperation that will not only destroy the Democratic Party, but give the election to Mr. John Warmonger McBushCain and a 100 year war in Iraq and gas being $7.00 a gallon.

Face it: Obama came from behind and built an insurmountable lead, took in huge amounts of money in donations, and has run a better campaign than either Hillary or McCain... Barack is the only candidate that is capable of getting America into a new direction after the Bush-Clinton dynasty. Attack Obama all you want about him being inexperienced, but weren't George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, FDR, and JFK inexperienced as well? And they turned out to be great presidents didn't they?

Nice try David Axelrod, but Obama's gonna lose. Ferraro is awesome. It's no different than Jackie Robinson being honored for being the first black player in baseball. Blacks are not racists. Only bad white people are racists. It's called reverse discrimination.

I love the fact that Ferraro was the one that said the racist comment, than turned around and cried that the Obama campaign was attacking her. I am not a sexist, but if you are going to run as a woman, and not as an eloquent presidential candidate, you will not get my vote for president. For those that say what she said is "fact"; tell me, in what parallel universe is Obama either a white man or woman of any color and not succeeding, and I'll take it as such; until then, let me and others vote for the best candidate regardless of their genitalia...