Ferraro: I Wish I Were a Black Man

Former congresswoman and Hillary Clinton supporter Geraldine Ferraro ignited another firestorm of controversy today with more explosive comments about race and politics.

"I wish I were a black man," Ms. Ferraro told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "That way, I could make all the racist comments about black men that I wanted to and no one would call me a racist."

Ms. Ferraro added, "As it is, being a white woman, when I make racist remarks about black men everyone accuses me of being a racist."

"This is why being a white woman totally sucks," Ms. Ferraro said.

The former New York congresswoman also said that she wished her middle name was 'Hussein,' explaining, "If my middle name was Hussein I'd be president by now."

While Ms. Ferraro's remarks would appear to be disadvantageous to the Clinton campaign, she does seem to be drawing support from one key voting bloc: lunatics.

According to a new poll of likely voters, Ms. Ferraro has the support of 60% of respondents who describe themselves as incoherent.

Andy Borowitz is a comedian and writer whose work appears in The New Yorker and The New York Times, and at his award-winning humor site, BorowitzReport.com. He is the host of "Countdown to '08" at the 92nd Street Y on Tuesday, May 13 at 8 PM with his special guests Susie Essman (HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Jeffrey Toobin (CNN, bestselling author of The Nine. For tickets, go to 92y.org.

Comments

[Tankan]

Very revealing Gerry! You would prefer to be a man!

Are you saying that women are, somehow, inferior to men?

Like your choice of color, it's what the "in crowd" prefer today!

[ArchAngel]

Look for next season's big musical hit on Broadway:

Ferraro on the Roof!

"If I were a black man..."

[lobear00]

Gerry, just doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut. Politics will do that to a person, they run there mouths for so long the mind goes in opposite directions than the lips. Poor woman someone should show her what a mirrior is for.

[Silpat]

Well, it looks like Ferraro's half way there -- now if we can just figure out a way to make her black.

Ha!

[TRYKER]

Gee maybe Gerry will get her wish to be a black man in the next life, if Karma has anything to do with it.

[marsgeek]

Does anyone understand those comments?
Is there a point or was she drunk?

[bluegreen]

the blogger is a satirist. i thought it was pretty funny because it was g. ferraro only tweaked a teeny tiny bit.

as for me, i wish i were a tall black man because then i could reach the highest shelves. i'm pretty short and it seems all the cool stuff is on the highest shelves. waah!

[brenner21]

Don't underestimate the power of lunatics and stupid people in American politics. You know how dumb the average voter is? Well mathematically, half of 'em are even dumber than that ...

[TucsonEd]

It sucks being a short mexican too, if only I'd been born a large black man who could get paid millions for playing basketball! AH that would be the life.

[WilliePilgrim]

I would ask one thing about this situation: Can you think of any one single significant criticism any white american person in power can say about a black person that is defensible and that would not generate the cry of racism and would find the voice of black america agreeing with? I've been trying to think of one...and it is an impossible equation. I would submit that Geladine and Hillary and a lot of other white women and white men who over the last few decades at least have tried in ernest to end the truly disgusting hate filled legacy of racial slavery that is an undeniable part of america's history.
I would think that every american is happy that someone like Obama has come on to the scene, but it really challenges the system and weakens it when genuine criticism cannot be made, cannot even be uttered, due to race. 475 years of inequality, economic, social and judicial...that is the legacy of racial slavery. I hope it ends and I'll be glad if it happens on Obama's watch but I fear that it's an upper hand that those for whom that upper hand has been so unfairly denied for so long will find it as hard to give up as superiority was for the ignorant selfish white people who imposed this bible backed, koran fortified and greed powered,racial slavery on everyone so long ago. A bitter pill but perhaps great leadership, which I hope Obama will provide, should he be able to overcome the deep feelings of resentment that underly the foundation of the national identity that cannot seem to be denied or ignored or even gotten beyond.

[nyscribbler]

If you have evidence that a black is dishonest or just a jerk- bring it up. I won't call you a racist, neither will blacks, but if your point is to indicate what an easy life black men lead- you're delusional. A huge percentage are locked up in jail. Many can't get jobs. They live on far less money than the rest of us. They have individuals like Rush Limbaugh spend large amounts of time ridiculing them, their accents, their lifestyles and their tastes- with a huge supportive white audience. I count blacks among my friends and my enemies- and I call them out every day when they disappoint me. They do the same to me. I know that they are still wary of me- I hardly blame them with all the racism present in our land. Hillary Clinton has a far bigger numerical advantage, in "women", than Obama does in "blacks". Most of the women voted for her in every primary . That's why it makes no sense for Ferraro to point this out unless she is trying to tap into white resentment- that crosses the line.

[stop7997]

The equation is not "impossible". In fact, it is actually quite simple: it's okay to criticize your opponent's policies, platform, voting record, even personal behavior. Comments about his or her race, religion or sex are not "genuine criticisms". In the case of the Clinton campaign's repeated references to Obama's race, it is a not-so-subtle appeal to a race-based fear that runs through a large segment of the population. This fear has been engendered since the time of slavery and politicians have used it repeatedly to curry favor with that particular segment (Nixon's "Southern strategy", Reagan's invocation of "states' rights").

[springsetter]

Oh, come on. A "single significant criticism"? Ferraro's comments are significant? Give me a break. Any young "white" politician who had done the same things Obama has done, had the same education and the same way of speaking and presenting himself (or herself) could be in the exact same place he is. He is popular because of his persona.

He was raised close to his grandparents and he speaks with the vocabulary and cadence of respect that was common in the US 50 years ago. That's why people respect him.

It has nothing to do with race, everything to do with his personality. If there is no "white" up-and-comer at the moment, so what? So what? Obama will do. Very well. Thank you.

Americans have been blinded by the bounty the continent has given them.

[stop7997]

Actually, the equation is not impossible. In fact it's not even that hard. You can criticize a candidate's politics, policies, business connections, lack of experience, voting record. All of those things are legitimate points of contention and fair game in a political race. But to make the color of a candidate's skin an issue, as Ferraro did (as, in fact, any number of other Clinton surrogates have) is not "genuine criticism". It is, in fact, racist. It appeals, on a reptilian level, to a racist vein that, sadly, still runs through much of our culture. By invoking race they know damn well that they are appealing to the same segment of the populace that Ronald Reagan appealed to when he kicked off his campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi, invoking "states' rights". The same voters to whom Richard Nixon appealed through his "Southern strategy". It would also not be "genuine" criticism to make a candidate's religion an issue (which Clinton herself has slyly tried to do), nor for Obama to make remarks regarding Hillary's sex.

[intuition]

Mrs. Ferraro, I wish you were one to for perhaps then you'd understand empathy. The world doesn't need more of your kind!

[PingMama]

She's like the energizer bunny......she goes on, and on, and on. She just won't shut up!

[MHainds]

Dang. We're losing the incoherent-racist block again! How can we possibly pry them away from the Republicans without Ferraro? Who can Clinton bring in to draw this critical voting block back to her campaign?

[PistonMoaned]

Mel Gibson?

[efranklin]

The flavor of 1984's forty-nine state Mondale/Ferraro defeat is evidently sour grape.

[SubparDude]

:
Besides losing 49 States for VP in 1984,

Her own sterling Record is Whaaaa?

I bet she lost Because She Was White!

:

[Realbluesky]

Stupidity and ignorance speak for themselves.

[amagila]

Andy, you are a riot and my new pretend boyfriend.