What I wish someone would say about the Ferraro debacle

[Drachasor]

Has the fact that Obama is black helped him in some ways? You can certainly argue that. It is certainly the reason why he was able to get 85%+ of the black vote consistently.

HOWEVER!

First, such an argument ignores the negative impact of being black. That ignores his trouble getting the white vote (which Edwards and Clinton did not have trouble with).

Secondly, we cannot say what the situation would be like if he was white, for instance. Would his constituency be different? Sure it would, because the ENTIRE CAMPAIGN would have played out differently. Does that mean he wouldn't be where he is now? One cannot say that, because he is an extremely gifted speaker and talented individual. He'd probably do really well no matter his race.

The point is that we cannot say the race is where it is because Obama is black. Ferraro's implication that without Obama being black he wouldn't be in the running is simply unfounded and ignorant. It IS a racist statement, even if Ferraro is not racist, because it completely ignores the reality of the political situation and how things could have played out differently if Obama was white (or a woman of any color).

This is why what Ferraro said is so incredibly outrageous.

(As I said before in a previous thread I made, it is comparable to Chris Matthews' statement that Hillary owed her career to the Lewinsky scandal. At least Chris Matthews apologized and recognized the ignorance of his statement, Ferraro can't seem to do that much).

[aquart]

1. "The negative impact of being black."

For Barack Obama, that would be...what?

[Drachasor]

3. As I stated in my OP, he has had trouble getting the white vote in some States

How is that not a negative impact?

[Bicoastal]

4. How about the "closet Muslim" stuff? Or saying "There's no way

we could elect him--we've never elected a black person before!"

You HRC people call these negatives in the GE...so how can they be POSITIVES when Geraldine Ferraro brings them up?

[pampango]

14. "What's so bad about being Black in America?" Never thought I would see that at DU.

Many firsts here during the primary season.

"Blacks with a level of success in the US should be thankful that they live here." I have heard that said in conservative circles, but I don't think I've ever seen it at DU before.

[rucky]

15. Obama said it best himself...

"A black man named Barak Obama isn't exactly the easiest path to the Presidency."

[sueragingroz]

2. This thread is relevant

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5038994

[monmouth]

5. I remember vividly when I heard him speak the first time ever, I didn't

even know who he was. And I just knew he was going places, a real winner, wonderful orator, looked wonderful and engaged all that he spoke to. I then happened to notice that he was African-American. Wow, how proud his people must be of him.. But now, he's my people...this race issue has become silly and redundant. Of course, the history books will be full of Barack Obama, the first negro American President of the United States of America. Yeah, I'm proud and can't wait for the election and inauguration. This country is long overdue..

[Whisp]

9. I didn't pay too much attention to him as I was a Koocher.

At first Barack seemed a bit milquetoast to me because of this - I wasn't paying attention. But the more I heard him and the more I learned about him, the more I liked him. Genuinely 'liked' him. I like his thoughfulness and especially his coolness under pressure. I also think he hints at being a lot more progressive than he lets on and will show it more so when in office.

I don't think there has been as high a calibre a person running for president in a long time - and it is such a shame his biggest obstacle right now are the clawing, grubbing, oinking Clintons.

[suston96]

6. No comparison with the Lewinsky scandal. Ferraro's statement is supported by statistical fact.....

Matthews statement about the Lewinsky scandal was his opinion and not a fact.

(In Mississippi,) Obama had 61 percent of the vote, compared with Clinton's 37 percent.

The state's Democratic voters were sharply divided among racial lines, exit polls indicated.

As has been the case in many primary states, Obama won overwhelming support from African-American voters. They went for him over Clinton 91-9 percent.

www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/11/miss.primary/index.html

Face it: anything, I say ANYTHING negative about Obama is screeched as racist on this board and everywhere else.

Ferraro's statement, taken out of context, btw, is validated by election demographics reports after each election and based on exit polls.

Obama owes where he is during the primaries on the massive (90%) black turnouts.

[Drachasor]

8. As I said, you can't say he wouldn't of done as well or better if he was white, but demographics...

would have been different, of course.

Don't forget that 15% of the voters in Ohio said race was an important factor and voted for Clinton (and those are just the people willing to admit that in a poll). Being Black has definitely hurt Obama in a number of areas, both quantifiable and unquantifiable.

[suston96]

11. Being black has not hurt Obama in the primaries.....that's just the point !

If he was not black his candidacy as a first term junior senator, with few or no accomplishments, would have him in the group of those other senators and candidates, far more experienced than him, who have left the field.

There is nothing wrong with people voting for Obama because he is black. There is nothing wrong with people voting for Clinton because she is a woman.

If Obama wins the nomination I will be supporting him BECAUSE HE IS BLACK! Why? Because I am consumed by the unparalleled history of his candidacy.

[Drachasor]

13. When AT LEAST 15% of voters in Ohio voted against him because of his race, it has hurt him

Given his amazing qualities that have nothing to do with his race, you also can't say he wouldn't be winning if he was white. He ran a better campaign than the other candidates. He gives far better speeches, and inspires people far more. You belittle this by saying he couldn't accomplish the same thing if he was white.

Also, historically experience has not been that much of a winning issue. Rather often the less experienced candidate has won (and more than that, many of our greatest Presidents have had little experience). It's really quite overrated.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. And yet a black person who had completed a term as a senator ran last time

and she didn't get very far - which indicates that there is more to people supporting Obama than just his being black.

[XemaSab]

7. I think the biggest unasked for blessing to Obama's campaign isn't his race

It's his opponent. :hide:

(edit: left out a major word)

[rufus dog]

10. I was expecting

SORRY!

[Straight Shooter]

12. It isn't because he's black he's gotten so far in the campaign, it's because he's got star power!

:D

[Slagathor]

16. Look at his support

Just look at Rhode Island... she wins Providence, he wins Newport and the beaches.

It's not about race, it's about class. He better represents my class. He offers more to my income bracket than she does.