Geraldine Ferraro gets it wrong on Obama

by Aidan Maconachy

Former vice-presidential candidate and member of the Clinton finance committee, Geraldine Ferraro, puts down Barack Obama's success in the Democratic race to the fact that he is a black man:

"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."

Truth is, Obama didn't exactly have an easy ride. A Kenyan father and a white American mother may make him African-American, but it also made him an outsider in the eyes of some black Americans. He received part of his education in Asia, not the good ole USA. His name might even be considered a liability when applying for a job in some parts of the country.

The success Obama has enjoyed is due to his ability to rise above the type of pettiness that makes racial characteristics a determining factor. The fact that Geraldine Ferraro played the race card in attempting to explain away his success, says more about her than it does about Obama.

Ms Ferraro appears stung by the criticism. She has been behaving in what can only be described as a childish tit-for-tat fashion, complaining that the Obama people are picking on her because she's 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?"

How is making an issue out of Obama's skin color addressing "reality and the problems we're facing in this world?" Maybe I'm missing something here, but I think Geraldine Ferraro is having difficulty admitting that she screwed up. We all do from time to time. It just looks worse when instead off backing off, you dig in deeper.


About the Author

Freelance artist and writer based in Ontario