Obama Ferraro Race Flap Roils Race

"Geraldine Ferraro has stepped down from her role as a member of Hillary Clinton's finance committee," CNN reports.

Ferraro said thousands of people are part of the finance committee, saying it is not a staff position, but a voluntary one for those who raise money for the campaign. She also said she has raised $125,000 for Senator Clinton.

When asked if she had any regrets about what she said, Ferraro replied, "absolutely not."

"I am who I am and I will continue to speak up," she said. She added that she thought it was a shame that the Obama campaign was trying to block her First Amendment rights, and that she felt that was no way to conduct a campaign....

Ferraro said David Axelrod, Obama's campaign manager and an acquaintance, should have called her to ask her the intention of her remarks, which she says the Obama campaign used to hurt Clinton.

When asked how she felt about Hillary Clinton distancing herself from her remarks, Ferraro replied, "I am perfectly fine," and that there were no hard feelings. She said she understands what Clinton is going through, and understands that being part of a presidential campaign is "very hard."

Ferraro's Letter To Clinton: The full text:

Dear Hillary -

I am stepping down from your finance committee so I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what is at stake in this campaign.

The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you.

Story continues below

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I won't let that happen.

Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to make this a better world for my children and grandchildren.

You have my deep admiration and respect.

Gerry

Ferraro Still Unapologetic: The New York Times notes:

Geraldine A. Ferraro resigned Wednesday from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign finance committee but remained unapologetic for citing Senator Barack Obama's race as the decisive factor in his success.

"I feel terrible for the fact that Hillary is stuck in this thing," Ms. Ferraro said in an interview Wednesday night. "Why put her in that position?"

Ms. Ferraro said that she was not asked by anyone in the Clinton campaign to leave the committee but that she did it on her own, sending an e-mail message to the senator's campaign Wednesday afternoon, as the political dust-up over remarks she made last week went into its second day.

+++

Former Vice Presidential candidate and Hillary supporter Geraldine Ferraro has sparked a fury on the campaign trail after commenting that Barack Obama was "lucky" to be black:

"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color), he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."

The Obama camp has responded strongly to the remark, seeking to contrast the response of Sen. Clinton to that of Obama in handling controversial comments by supporters.

Campaign manager David Axelrod has repeatedly called for Ferraro to be removed from her position with the Clinton campaign:

"The bottom line is this, when you wink and nod at offensive statements, you're really sending a signal to your supporters that anything goes," Axelrod said in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.

"There's no other way to send a serious signal that you want to police the tone of this campaign," he added. "And if you don't do those things then you are simply adding to the growing compendium of evidence that you really are encouraging that."

Axelrod said Clinton has encountered problems because people view her as a "divisive and polarizing force."

"The best way to address those concerns is to not allow divisiveness and negativity to flourish among your supporters," he said. "And this is an opportunity for her to address that."

Barack Obama has called the comments "patently absurd," saying also:

"I don't think Geraldine Ferraro's comments have any place in our politics or in the Democratic Party. They are divisive. I think anybody who understands the history of this country knows they are patently absurd," he told the Allentown Morning Call. "And I would expect that the same way those comments don't have a place in my campaign they shouldn't have a place in Senator Clinton's either."

The Clinton camp initially responded with the terse statement "We disagree with her," but has since offered a response from the candidate herself:

Clinton said, "I do not agree with that," and later added, "It's regrettable that any of our supporters _ on both sides, because we both have this experience _ say things that kind of veer off into the personal."

Ferraro appeared on Fox News to defend her comments, warning Obama not to "antagonize" Democratic supporters like her:

UPDATE: Ferraro, in a follow-up interview with the Daily Breeze, claimed she is being attacked because she is white:

"Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up," Ferraro said. "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?"

The Clinton camp has responded to these comments:

Ms. Ferraro is speaking for herself. We have made clear that we reject her remarks.

UPDATE: The Clinton camp has released a memo insinuating that Barack Obama is playing the race card by focusing on Ferraro's comments. Here is the full text of the memo:

In January, NBC's Tim Russert confronted Senator Barack Obama with a four page memo from his campaign characterizing statements they claimed the Clinton Campaign had made about race. Asked in hindsight whether he regretted pushing this story, Senator Obama said:

Well, not only in hindsight, but going forward. I think that, as Hillary said, our supporters, our staff, get overzealous. They start saying things that I would not say. And it is my responsibility to make sure that we're setting a clear tone in our campaign, and I take that responsibility very seriously, which is why I spoke yesterday and sent a message in case people were not clear that what we want to do is make sure that we focus on the issues."

We agreed then. We agree today. Supporters from both campaigns will get overzealous. Senator Clinton today reiterated that when asked about Geraldine Ferraro's recent comments:

"I do not agree with that and you know it's regrettable that any of our supporters on both sides say things that veer off into the personal. We ought to keep this focused on the issues. That's what this campaign should be about."

Senator Obama's campaign staff seems to have forgotten his pledge. We have not. And, we reject these false, personal and politically calculated attacks on the eve of a primary. This campaign should be about the leadership we need for a better future and these attacks serve only to divide the Democratic Party and the American people.

UPDATE: The Ferraro story has continued on the morning news shows. Ferraro has said she is "absolutely not" sorry for her comments:

"I am sorry that people think this was a racist comment," Ferraro said in an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer on "Good Morning America."

She continued:

"David Axelrod, his campaign manager, has chose to spin this as a racist comment because everytime anybody makes a comment about race who is white _ he did it with Bill Clinton, he was successful; he did it with (Pennsylvania governor and Clinton supporter) Ed Rendell, he was less successful; and he is certainly not going to be successful with me," Ferraro told CBS' "The Early Show." "He should have called me up ... He knows I'm not racist."

Obama referred to Ferraro's comments as "slice and dice politics" on the Today Show:

"Part of what I think Geraldine Ferraro is doing, and I respect the fact that she was a trailblazer, is to participate in the kind of slice and dice politics that's about race and about gender and about this and that, and that's what Americans are tired of because they recognize that when we divide ourselves in that way we can't solve problems," Obama said on NBC's "Today" show.

Comments

[Warmglobe]

There is a trick that is used in martial arts tournaments all of the time...in most of them you have 1-2 allowable "slips" to cover when one "accidently" kicks you in your nether regions or other dangerous areas..usually disabling your opponent...then the referee stops the match and warns them not to to that again and the fight continues as normal..even though you are disabled.....this type of thing reminds of it....someone puts something out there knowing it is wrong but also knowing that the slip will be allowed but the damage stays per se

[Micaanab]

This woman is not stupid. She came close to being the first female vise president. You don't get that far being stupid. And when her whole life is about equal rights, she has to no the difference. Or at least understand what she said could be taken offensively.

This was a very tactical ploy to get not only the white voters in PA thinking, but also the superdelegates thinking . Obama has tried very hard to keep the "Race Card" out of this because he knows it turns off white voters.

Why would this woman, or any democrat for that matter, go to Fox news to air their dirty laundry. While she was speaking out on Fox last night, behind her was a picture of Obama with the words "Race Card" . Clinton's campaign is giving the republicans directions on how to beat Obama to make him unelectable so she can win the nominee. The democratic party needs to force Clinton out of the party. But then she will run as an independent and screw the party again.

[dearest]

Sadly, I think that you are absolutely right. This was a filthy plot.

[AnotherTry]

Trust me, the republicans don't need tips on race-baiting from anyone.

Obama will not win the general election. He is lucky Hillary is his competition. Get rid of her and Obama is nothing to nobody.

[MrDeadeye2U]

As an independent she wouldget very little traction, reasons are:

MONEY - Big money fundraisers would have no selfinterest in funding pathetic losing campaign.

Platform - Her platform is to closely tied to the Dem Platform to offoer any real alternative.

Support - Loyal democrats would decry her, much as ralph nader as only a potential spoiler.
Independents don't support her.

Legacy - Her lagacy would go from a potential Senate leadership role - to lame duck Lieberman agitator.

Her political career a she nows it woudl be over, and should she be challenged in the primary by a mainstream party supporter she may find a difficult time defending her seat.

[MrDeadeye2U]

The playing of the "Race card" was not so much evidenced by the

INITIAL COMMENT:
"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color), he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."

Alright, every idiot has their day. A famous guy (infamous now) Jimmy the Greek once said some PC faux pas along the lines that Black athletes perform better at running and jumping bacause of their superior muscle structure and that it may be as a result of selective breeding. I don't know factually whether it's true or not but on a certain level it does seem reasonable to me - he was brandished from an illustrius career without cosideration by the PC Gestapo. One that note, in my opinion there is no doubt that based on imperical data and a sufficienlty large sample African Americans do appear to be superior athlets and tend to excell in whatever sporting activities they pursue. But thats just my observation, and I don't profess to have any data that would support these facts. Further it implies no more than what I have just stated.

My point is that her initial statement alluded to above could be stating an feeling that causes some discomfort but still qualifies as her valid opinion. Maybe she honestly feels that the black support was usurped by Mr Obama when their strategic calculations placed that constituency in their column, perhaps she felt a bit dismayed because she did not understand what those voters saw in him which was causing their crusade to come tumbling down.

I feel that they sincerely felt that it was their time and Ms Ferraro looked forward to being vindicated for their 1884 (49-1) rout at the hands of Reagan/Bush. And to feel that sense of inevitiblity slipping awaymust have left her bitter and she needed a scapegoat. Hence the Afirmative action comment above.

FOLLOW UP COMMENT:
"Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up," Ferraro said. "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?"

Now this is more troublingl; having grown up in rural virginia I am quite familiar with the white Power call to arms. I Must have been in my mid teen before it occured to me/us that the on black guy in our school was not the token ni**er. We treated him well enough pretty much the way you would a mascot. He waw included in everything reasonable well liked but never accepted. He wasn't one of us. I say this to give some context, not because Im proud of it.

I went on to graduate college, and go to graduate school in the Europe. It opened my eyes, color was not a distiguishing factor, and for the most part folks were judged by their merits. If you chose to be nepotistic then you would be treated likewise, non stigma attached. I returned after completing my exams and went my merry way not thinking of it much more, but I carries no (0) stigma with reference to race, creed, gender, I was a shrewd performance based capitalist.

Several years letter while wallowing in my good fortune and excesses I went to a social event and lost my mind partying. On my way I home I had a severe colision with another motorist. While we were both seriously injured I was at fault, and received and accepted the consequences. I spent almost 4 yrs in state prison, doing the best I could to get my lfe back together studing everybit of literature and trade mags and was even able to get a computer to contionue remain current in the technologies.

I am sorry for the long lead in but the context is very important. My point is this in free societies under normal psychological conditions bigotry, or clan clustering is low priority and doesw no manifest itself. Even the most prejudicial will get along with whom they perceive to be their inferior is it suits their purpose. However, when you rack the cells and close them in and tensions rise - to a man they return to their own races - Latinos, Blacks, Asians, Whites l;eaving only the non coms who are generally prey unless they pay extortion for protection.

And, finally the point, after 30 years of dealiong with these emations and contemplating their roots and effefts - I hear the dog whistle being blown LOUD & CLEAR "They are attacking me bacause aIm white." That is every low demographic white, whether affiliated (Arian Brotherhood, Nazi Low Riders, Hells Angels, The Red & White) or not to some extent has had some interaction with the doctrines of these organizations and the principles they set forth. They're prevalent.

1. Stick by your own.

It seems to me that Hillarys calculation is this, she has so alientated the African American vote (FUBAR) at this point she may as well toss them overboard (since there are no vote to be gathered there any longer - nothing from nothing) and use Ms Ferraro's tactic to radicalize the exteme to moderate neo nationalistic contingent with fear of the White Power v "Schwarze", this in counterpoint to the mysiginy bomb being leveled at the Obama campagin to consolidate and rally the feminine/feminist crowd and you prety much have a tactical outline of their pincer movement on the white vote. Believe me over the next three weeks wou will hear the spin Obama get 90% Black Vote 24 White Vote. repeat till bleeding from the ears. If I gathered correctly that 25% of the Dem Vote in Hillaryies side were republican agitators, this results in adjusted numbers of Favouring Mr Obama much more decisively that the exits portray.

To sum up this ramblin prose, I am just trying to be clear on what I am suggesting which is that the Clinton campaing dog whistle serenade to nationalist white pride voters has gone out, It's subtle , not so subtle at times but the message is "This is a black guy in charge of your life" Their response. Hell NO! Formulate a communication strategy for that - tell this dude about hope then hope that he doesn't kick your ass. Find a message, get to know these guys. I know them and they are single focus guys, food on the table pick up in the yard, house, Rifle, Hunting, Fishing boat. Not necessarily in the order - Figure it out and talk to them they'll listen just dont talk down to them.

Good Luck

[rh654]

It appears as though Ferraro has no clue what she is doing to Hillary - it isn't pretty.

Ferraro - you have have made the racist comments more than once - you finally got called out on it - and now you just sound like every other white person who has been caught up talking smack - you try to spin and spin and the more you spin the deeper the hole you dig for yourself.

[dawlishgal]

I am sure the Clinton and her campaign were the very ones who sent Ferraro out to do this particular bit of dirty work. Read her "farewell" letter....

[funkalicious]

Geraldine, lost a bit of her reason poor thing. Her logic and quick mind has muddled into an old bitter thing unable to make a coherent argument.
The latest Bit of Sophistry, the only reason they ran Barack Obama was because he is an African American is exactly like saying the only reason they ran Hillary Clinton was because she was Bill Clinton's wife.

Dismissing a candidate not by their ability or character, and making judgments soley on the color of ones skin is Racism Geraldine. Making Judgments because of ones wiggly bits and not on character or ability is Sexism.

Therefore you areacting Racist and Sexist .
It is too bad to see a once great rational mind lose her ability to identify Racism and Sexism. Truly a shame for all the work she has done in the past to fighting at the point of the spear. Another punch drunk fighter, stumbling about.

By Gerry we are going to miss you, Thanks for the memories.

[BushBites]

She's really classy, isn't she?

No wonder she lost two Senate campaigns and 49 states as the Veep candidate.

[independentrepublicrat]

You can spew the lie as many times as you have breath left in your body to do so but repeating said lies won't make them any more true to non-zombie voters. Neither Barack Obama nor his campaign EVER called anyone a racist. Neither Barack Obama nor his campaign EVER introduced/injected race into this campaign. Neither Barack Obama nor his campaign EVER addressed the divisiveness and waged wedge politiking with anything less than graciousness and excusatory passes for the offender; they actually performed acrobatics time and again to avoid calling bad behavior by Clintonistas exactly what it was.

Barack Obama is the kind of American that Hillary Clinton should aspire to be. He is the kind of American you should look up to and respect. He is the kind of American that embodies what the constitution and declaration of independence were MEANT to be. Barack Obama is a democrat, a leader, a person of sincerity and balance, a model of patriotism and citizenry and you would be dang "lucky" for him to be your next president. BARACK OBAMA LOVES & RESPECTS EVERY AMERICAN---EVEN THOSE HERE WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS, EVEN THOSE WHO INSULT AND DIMINISH HIM, EVEN THOSE WHO HATE HIM BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN ---AND THERE IS NOT A DAMNN THING YOU NOR THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT!

[Seafarer61]

This is such a blatant misrepresentation of fact, I don't know where to begin. Let's start and end with their morphing of Clinton's "fairy tale" comment. Better yet, let's not call it "morphing," it was an all out distortion. Clinton made the reference while detailing the MSM's reluctance to aggressively go after Obama's Iraq war voting record. It had NOTHING to do with his race or the possibilities of a black man becoming President but the campaign of Obama sent out his supporters to use that phrase as a "denouncification" of any notion that a black man could be President. From that moment on, the campaign became about race and Hillary Clinton's longstanding support among blacks (and deservedly so) vanished. They left her in droves.

Everything Hillary has done has hurt the party and NOTHING Obama has done could be seen as doing the same? Do you expect 50% of the party who have voted for Clinton to swallow that observation into November? Your guy hasn't played the race card....he's too smart for that. However, he's sent everyone in the campaign out to do the dirty work for him. We all know it....and hell, probably some of you do as well but keep pontificating the one-sided observation that this developing gap in the party is ALL HILLARY'S FAULT. The constant pounding of the message only serves to make that gap wider.

See you on the ledge in November when Obama gets his clock cleaned.

[ragtopdodge]

If your stupid candidate and their surrogates would just shut the hell up regarding black this, black that, then maybe the Obama campaign wouldn't have to complain.

THEY WILL NOT BE SWIFT BOATED BY A BUNCH OF CLINTON BIGOTS!

[independentrepublicrat]

You prove my point. Idiots will believe the lies only because they are repeated. I will try to break it down for you in smaller words: Senator Obama is not guility of the lies you spew. Senator Obama's campaign is not guilty of anything you claim. However, Clinton and their surrogates are the perpetrators with a big assist from the media. You need to lay blame where it belongs, the person's whose words and actions were offended and the media who keep it in the news cycle. Unfortunately for liars, Senator Obama is not responsible for the actions of Clintonistas or their in-pocket media and [s]logs.

[mrdontplay]

So you aggree that the reason Obama has been this successful is because he is black?

interesting.

How come all the other BLACK's in this country haven't been able to get this close to the white house?

They meet the only requirement needed right, they are black.


Your ignorance is blinding.

[dawlishgal]

Don't forget. that the 50% of the party that has voted for Hillary (actually, it is somewhere in the high 40's of the primary and caucus votes) represents only about 1/6 or less of the total voting public. There are independents and Republicans to consider (and Obama is the one far more likely to get their votes in a general election). Pretty much the only Republicans who are voting for Hillary are the ones that Limbaugh sends out to muck up our primaries.

The card that Obama is smart enough to have not played is THE GENDER CARD. If Hillary supporters had any empathy they would have figured that out by now instead of talking about both candidates and the race card. as though that is the ONLY card .

Hillary's side has played the race card, but so far Obama has not played the gender card. Maybe he respects women too much to throw himself into that particular mudwallow. Or maybe he hasn't had to because Hillary is doing such a great job of making all women seem like changeable, illogical, obsessively ruthlessly ambitious shrews. She is her own worst enemy, and now some slug on her campaign staff decided that she might look better if she slimes Obama's race.

When about half of the voting public already says they won't vote for her for anything ever, it is disingenuous for Clinton supporters to say that Obama is bound to lose to McCain (nevermind the polls that show him doing better against McCain than she would do).

What they are actually doing (and how arrogant is THIS?) is saying that while THEY will never vote for Obama, Obama supporters will still want to vote for Hillary. This is yet another battle that they will wish they hadn't started . They make this mistake out of their arrogance and their buying into her sense of entitlement, but the truth is that if they make Obama supporters angry enough (and they are WELL on their way to doing that), then McCain is certain to win.

.To be SMUG about the way Hillary and her supporters are threatening to blow themselves up rather than vote for some other Democrat and are proud of the wayshe they are lowering Obama's chances of being elected (if nominated) is shameful. She has already endorsed McCain in case Obama is the candidate. Hasn't she done enough damage to the Democratic Party and its chances for victory in this election?

Has Obama come out and said that McCain would be a better president? No? That ought to tell you something about Hillary and her ambition and her ruthlessness.

[MartinEdwinAndersen]

Okay, Ferraro's comments were, like the Clinton campaign itself, ridiculous but not racist.

So when has ridiculous been a winning hand for Democrats?

[plantsman]

I disagree. The fact that Ferraro has made nearly identical comments regarding Jesse Jackson 20 years ago suggest they spring from long-held opinions -- and the idea that being a person of color in this country can be considered "Lucky" is ludicrous on its face.

[A Meat Beetle]

Martin:

Ridiculous seems to be all the Democratic Party has left.

[mrdontplay]

interesting.

So what is it when you tell someone the reason for your accomplishments are the color of your skin?

What if someone says the reason for HIllary's success is because she is a women?

would that not be a sexist statement?

You are telling someone that their IDENTITY not their EFFORTS are responsible for their accomplishments.


GENDER RACE RELIGION its all the same.


What if someone said oh, the reason someone got elected was because of their religion?

come on folks.

[TurnThePageGA]

I don't believe Geraldine is a racist. She has been on the right side of civil rights and equal rights for too long. That being saying her comments were racist. She should have immediately realize it and apologize. Here are her words that were not "Just Words":

“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," she said. "And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."

[Abo]

Note the Ferraro letter to Clinton:

'The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you.

I won't let that happen."

Letter released by the Clinton campaign and STILL used in an under-handed cynical way despite ANY apology.

[wesinohio]

I've been angry about the Clintons' assault on hope and dignity. I've been repulsed by Hillary's coldness and loud shrieking shrillness and hopelessness. However, I plan to vote for Hillary if Obama doesn't win the nomination. Unfortunately, if Hillary were to win the nomination, many people, and many energized and hopeful and brand new voters, will stay home or vote for the Republican or for Nader rather than vote for Hillary, who could have made a righteous go of it if only she had remained civilized and respectful. She won't heal this country in any way, but will rather plunge it ever deeper into bitter partisan turmoil. The decision voters face is not at all about her being a woman. It's about who is the great healer and leader. That person is NOT Mrs. Clinton. The Clintons' political time is gone for now, in my opinion - they're still rich anyway. Maybe Hillary can be an ambassador or Secretary of State for the Obama administration. However, if Hillary wins the nomination I urge all Obama supporters to pledge publicly to vote for her. Having said that, I hope and think Obama will be the winner because he is the transforming one, the healing one and the unifying one. In any case, today we begin the future.

[polly14]

If Hillary pulls off the nomination, then I'll vote for her as well. I voted for Obama in the primary and still believe he is the better candidate. But, at the end of the day, I'd still rather have a democrat in office than 100 more years of war, which is what we'll end up with if McCain is elected.

Democrats 08

[Abo]

Didn't she apologize to African-Americans already at the annual state of the Black Union?

If she wasn't feeling the pressure it is unlikely she would've "apologized" after her previous lackluster feeble effort.

[VivaZapata]

The Limbaughmeter: when rush is on your side, you know you're wrong.

[A Meat Beetle]

You have to hand it to ol' Rushbo--he has actually succeeded in convincing millions of Dems that he is "on Hillary's side". One of the best con jobs I've seen in years. You guys fell for it like a ton of bricks.

[RoseMerry]

Ferraro is out! GREAT! WOOHOO!
We're here! We're queer! We're fabulous, get used to it!
We're here! We're queer! We're fabulous, get used to it!
We're here! We're queer! We're fabulous, get used to it!.
wait...oh, crap, she'a bigot!.
Nevermind.
and we miss you, Gilda

[Paisano]

Hillary would not be where she is...if she were a man!!!

[BushJustdrivesdemscrazy]

Is it fair to say that George W. would have never been a serious candidate for the presidency were it not for the fact that his father had been President? I think it is.

Is it fair to say that Arnold Swartzenager would not be Governor of California were it not for his movie career? I think it is.

Is it fair to say that Hillary would not be a Senator from New York, a state in which she had never lived before her decision to run, nor would she not be a candidate for the Presidency were it not for the sympathy she garnered after her husband's mistreatment of her and her last name? I think it is.

A white, state Senator from Illinois would have never been invited to give the KEYNOTE address at the 2004 Democratic convention either. Nor would a white, freshman Senator with no major legislative accomplishments be running for the Presidency of the United States and he certainly would not be the frontrunner of his party.

[A Meat Beetle]

BJ:

Yesterday I heard Randi Rhodes talking about the Mississippi primaries. She mentioned that something like 80% of white Dems voted for Clinton. Then she said something to the effect of "If you want to be racist go join the Republican party." I have been listening to her show for years. I used to look forward to 3:00 when I could sit down and enjoy some lively, and often funny political talk. Now I'm just disgusted and I don't think I can ever listen to her again.

Then there was Kristen Breitweiser's excellent article here at HuffPo the other day, "Bush's War and the Prince of Darkness". People who had obviously NOT read the article flamed her for being racist, because she called Obama "The Prince of Darkness". Only problem was, it wasn't Obama, but a Republican congressional staffer that she was hanging that label on.

A year ago I was excited and optimistic about this election. Now I'm just sick and tired of it and I want it to be over. I've never voted for a Republican in my life and I never will, but the Democrats are giving me absolutely nothing to vote for either. This is depressing.

[mrdontplay]

just BEING black doesn't get it done.

just BEING hispanic doesn't get it done.

The reason OBAMA is getting the support you see is because of HIM.

People flock to the guy because of WHO he IS!

Not because of what he is.

[raker]

Correct. We wouldn't know or care about Hillary if she were a man. But these observations don't have to be reduced to schoolyard name-calling. Hillary's first-woman-ness has always been a part of her identity. Likewise, Obama's first-blac­k-guy-ness moves him ahead of all the other smart talented guys in the pack. Now we have to make a value judgment. Does this matter to us.

[Seafarer61]

You can't spend six months wrangling hate as a reason for preferring one candidate over another and expect to bottle it up in Denver. Obama will get the nomination and Hillary supporters will not return to the party in the numbers Obama will require to defeat McCain. Barack's campaign began this mess by turning Bill Clinton's "fairy tale" remark into an indictment of a black man running for President and the rest is history.

After seven years of republican disaster, the road to the White House for Democrats is a one-way, freshly paved superhighway yet my party has managed to find the one unpaved road that will lead to defeat in November.

Obama supporters are angry at Hillary and vent that hatred at HER supporters and recently, the hate has been returned when for a month or two, it essentially was one-way. People weren't voting for Hillary because they HATED Obama. However...things have changed since Super Tuesday.

You can't spend the next two months insulting the Clintons at every turn and expect her supporters to develop political amnesia in November.

Ain't gonna happen. Obama has been a primary stallion but will march into November a rocking horse....something with plenty of movement that ends up going nowhere.

[twinfinfish]

.... it's way simpler than all that. Democrats will support the candidate that gets the nomination with the win in PLEDGED delegates ... any other outcome , and there will be a significant number of voters that will abandon a nominee that essentially "stole" the nomination... it's that simple , democracy 101.

[A Meat Beetle]

He Came Bursting Out Of Nowhere

Like A Spear Into The Sky

And He Cast His Light On Everything

It Was Like He'd Never Die

And He Landed Right On Target

But The Target Rolled Away

And It Left Him Pointing Nowhere

You Could Hear The Children Say

"He's The Fella

The Man Who Invented Himself"

--Robyn Hitchcock

"The Man Who Invented Himself"

[toomanydeers]

What will the conversation be like in December? With McCain in the Whitehouse. Layoffs and Foreclosures increasing, Supreme Court appointments etc. Who will Obama blame then? Will people who today think they are at a higher level of enlightenment for supporting Obama turn on themselves? - Will the bitterness of the no good deed goes unpunished sentiment morph into unbelievable levels of resentment from the very people who have spent years supporting civil rights?

This awful lowering of the dialogue is not the result of a political machine candidate against a youthful charismatic upstart. It is more like the result of a carefully well constructed new machine now turned against its parent party. Dean may think he is retaining the honest broker position but his lack of experience makes it look more like sleeping while the party burns.

When Obama said in early February that his supporters were unlikely to support Hillary Clinton, the breach had already begun. Dean missed it then and he's missing it now. The only "leadership" is Obamas, And his repeated comments and failure to attract should be seen as leadership on that point. In other words, he placed a mandate out there for his supporters to follow. These stupid tit for tat daily squables are merely following that leadership. That's where the real divisiveness began, support me whatever happens, give no ground. Otherwise who cares really if someone calls Hillary a monster. Who cares if Hillary is so careful that she modifies a response with as far as i know... Gees as far as anyone knew Elliott Spitzer was only going to serve one term because he was too difficult, not because he's been caught as a hypocrite and maybe broke a few laws.

But by November, the Obama/Clinton snowstorm will be a massive mountain of sludge too big to clean up. And how would the real issues be addressed? Will North Korea back down on nuclear expansion plans for fear of being called racist? Will the International Central Bankers approve of monetary policies that favour America for fear of alienating the american black population.

This is fundamentaly how you can expect Obama to lead: stand in front of predominantly white crowds for television, meet privately or send surragates to the large black audiences and be prepared to pounce when someone says the word "black" to invigorate his base . And finally, when the going gets tough, find the lowest common denominator where agreement means watered down nothings masking as change. I can believe that.

[Bobby]

Just TOTALLY embarrassing. More so for Hillary, than Ferraro. Ferraro was wrong to say it for sure, but Hillary could have stopped it right then. Just like Keith Olbermann said in his special comment last night. But this is part of a pattern. That's why Hillary hired schmucks like Mark Penn and Howard Wolfson to help run her camapign. The buck stops at Hillary.

[witdarealness]

She hired two of the all time negative clowns to run her campaign... that wasn't a mistake as we all know. This woman is too damn divisive, and it's sad, because we all saw this coming from her.