Ferraro Walks Back Obama 'No Vote' Comment, But Hits 'Sexist' Jay-Z Reference (VIDEO)
This morning, Clinton backer Geraldine Ferraro appeared on NBC's Today, where she elaborated at length about the sexism in the race. Mainly citing the way her fellow Democratic candidates ganged up on Hillary Clinton at the famed "pile on" debate in Philadelphia, she was pressed by host Meredith Vieira to account for her statement that she would not vote for Barack Obama. Ferraro didn't hew to any commitment to not vote for the Illinois Senator: "That is not what I said...I'm taking my cue from Michelle Obama, who in February this year when she was asked whether or not she would support Hillary if she was the candidate and not her husband, she paused for a minute and said i would have to think about that."
Asked to cite specific examples of Obama's sexism, Ferraro mentioned the Senator's "Annie Oakley" remark, and then seemed to confuse Obama's use of a gesture referencing hip-hop star Jay-Z's song "Dirt Off Your Shoulder." But in that song, Jay espouses a certain level of gender equity, specifically noting that "Ladies is pimps, too, go and brush your shoulders off." Had Obama cited "99 Problems," of course, he would have opened himself up to criticism from Ferraro, though, in Jay's defense, "99 Problems" specifically references a time back in '94 when his trunk was raw, and in the rearview was constantly the mother----ing law.
[WATCH.]
VIEIRA: Well, you've accused Obama of being "terribly sexist." You say you may not vote for him if he is the nominee. What specifically has he done?
FERRARO: I will tell you several things, but that is not what I said. What I said is what was quoted in the dail news today, which was - I'm taking my cue from Michelle Obama, who in February this year when she was asked whether or not she would support Hillary if she was the candidate and not her husband, Michelle paused for a minute and said I would have to think about that. Now, to be quite frank, Meredith, if I've gone through a series of months watching this, and if I chose Hillary as my candidate in June of last year, July against other people that I thought were equally as competent, mainly Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson and John Edwards, if I chose her because she could run the country in any way the same as they could and then, gee, isn't that terrific that she's a woman, too, and she'll make a difference for women and children in this country, that's not a sexist way of approaching this campaign. How could I, after watching what was done all this time, as soon as he becomes the nominee, oh, yeah, I'm with him. I have complained about how this campaign was run and I don't want to see another woman get attacked the same way when she decides to do it as well....Let me just give you specifics. Women are looking at how this has gone on. He just -- after one of the -- she mentioned after Philadelphia -- before Philadelphia, she had gone out and learned to shoot a gun. He ridiculed her, who does she think -- like stand-up comedian, walking up and down with the mike - who does she think she is, Annie Oakley? And when something else was said about the campaign, this thing, flicking it off, diminishing her. Sorry. That's not done. Women don't like that.
May 20, 2008 11:31 AM