<![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro - Jezebel Comments]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro - Jezebel Comments]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ulookinatmyjunk: Finally someone i agree with!

constancescott1990

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @braak: And so r u

constancescott1990

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> I am both black and female, so I deal with racism and sexism on a daily basis, and can without a doubt say that racism is WAY worse then sexism. I am seen first as black then female. In fact due to my race my femininity is often marginalized and called into question. I am not saying this in an effort to get sympathy but to give my honest opinion as someone who understands being judged because of her race and gender.

dezzi

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> "If Ferraro was a white man, she would not be in this position. And if she was a man she would not be in this position. She happens to be very lucky to be who she is. And the country is caught up in the concept."

In 1984, the above could have been easily said of the Congresswoman from New York elevated to the Vice Presidential nomination. And Ferraro would have made sure the person saying woke up with a horse's head in their bed.

rod

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Dashrashi:
A little background: I've worked extensively in election campaigns. I've spent lots of time talking to people while referencing their past voting habits, mostly people who voted in Democratic primaries. And I've concluded...

Within the echo chamber of the "blogosphere", it's easy to get the impression that the impassioned Democrats vested in this race are all highly and self-consciously liberal. The reality is, most of the Democratic primary voters, even the ones that come out for rallies, aren't quite so radical. They're mostly busy people with other interests. Most of them don't feel any obligation to or any special affinity for a candidate just because he's black. They're more worried about health care and the economy to feel any racial noblesse oblige. If anything, the vast majority of them feel it's about what a candidate can do for them, not the other way around. And they're not thoroughly informed. They may get five minutes of news a day. A lot of it comes from gossiping with families and friends.

In other words, they're not that different from voters in the general election. They may have specific issues and grievances that gravitate them towards the Democratic party. It may just be habit or tradition. And the ties aren't all that strong. It's liable to change the next election.

Against this, Obama's ethnicity and upbringing is often a direct hindrance, especially in the beginning before voters got to know him. Like I said, if his race provide him any benefit, he has had to work uphill to turn it that way.

Kilotwat

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ulookinatmyjunk: I get what you're saying, but I think that white people need to realize how racism affects their lives and how racist constructs have allowed them to be more/ get more/ do more than other people in our society. Until white people acknowledge these institutions and no longer fear speaking to these issues, the institutions of racism will never fall. Too many white people are scared to say anything because they're afraid that they don't know enough/haven't experience racism from the other side to be able to adequately talk about how it affects their life. This keeps the white community from acknowledging its privilege because we don't feel comfortable to speak up about these issues within our own community and in arenas open to talking about race. I think it's of utmost importance for me as a white person to say to the Geraldine F.'s of this world that she and I come from a background of privilege and she needs to start looking at the world around her through that lens. Yeah, I can't talk about what it's like to be black, but I can, like you said, hear the experience of another know that it's different than my own and apply it to my own life. Racism negatively affects everyone in our society, even those who unjustly gather power from it because it makes us less. Plus, racism/sexism/heterosexism/classism are all linked and part of the power structure in the U.S. If I acknowledge that my life has been negatively affected by one, how can I not advocate for people who have been negatively affected by the other head of the beast? That's where I really think G.F. fails and degrades her own movement, she isn't advocating for others that have been marginalized. It shows that she just wants power for herself and those like her and doesn't want to really advocate for all. Anyway, I'm out.

Jenloveshercurves

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> To Everyone,

Grow up. I'd just prefer that we stop playing the Patsy to broadcast media's shit-stirring.

Yes, Barry's popularity does have to do with his race. And yes, HC's support has something to do with her gender. Just look at the exit polls and it's clear.

To answer the earlier question of who the "Matthew Broderick is"... it's rich white liberals.

HeSaid

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @JWest282: I just want to say that not everyone in this thread who is refuting Moe's point that racism is worse than sexism is saying that racism is not an issue. In fact, I think 90% of commenters in this thread, if not more, will say that hells yes absolutely, racism is an issue. And the other 10%, or probably less, either misspoke or are trolls and should be shunned.

And I don't think all that many of us are saying that racism is less bad than sexism; most of us are saying that saying racism is WORSE than sexism is a stupid and unproductive comparison at best. Those really are two different assertions.

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @JWest282: Co-sign. This thread has been pissing me off all day. I've commented more on this topic then any other...I need to take my ass to bed. I know exactly what you mean though, for real. Shit is annoying.

Ulookinatmyjunk!?!

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> I'm so late to this but I'm sick of these women on here talking definitively about race when they've never experienced racism a day in their lives. Everyone loves a light-skin black man? Tell that to my dad who's dealt with more bullshit in his lifetime then most of the posters here alone. When these women experience the life of a black person and all the BS that goes along with it, then maybe I'll listen. Funny how all the people who think racism is not an issue are not minorities. Obviously race is not an issue for you because you're protected by white privilege. This post is example A of how racist people still are. If Barack talked like a black man he wouldn't be so well liked? But I'm sure ya'll aren't racist, I'm sure you had a black friend once.......

JWest282

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Jenloveshercurves: What I've said is that a person can only speak from their personal experiences. A white women can make many conjectures but she cannot say for daggone sure that it's harder to be a woman then it is to be black. She can empathize, but there's no real black experience behind it; so, it's not weighted in experience, just opinion. I have a problem when people speak authoritatively about something they know little about. My beef is that Ferrarro stated this as a fact and other commenters co-signed on her statement. Yes, white women can speak about race issues, that's more than okay with me. As long as it's understood, that there is a limit to how much one can contribute to an argument that they personally know little about. I'm not saying white folks are devoid of culture or homogenous in anyway. Bring your perspective and your ears. So that you can share what your experiences have taught you and LISTEN to what other people's experiences have taught them. My life has taught me that it can be shitty to be black and it can be shitty to me a woman. It's hard to quantify the suckiness, but I would not venture so far as to say that one form of discrimination has impacted me more than the other. All of it hurts, and that's real.

@marie123: You don't define things by their opposite; it really doesn't give much of an answer. I've been told I "sound white" by black folks and I "sound black" my white folks. I always thought, I just sounded like ME...but whatevs. I still think a poor white guy has it better than a poor black guy and the discrimination many face is far from residual.

Ulookinatmyjunk!?!

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @It'stheRooo: Yeah, I meant Dukakis, I just couldn't get my Google box to spit out the proper spelling.

@ulookinatmyjunk: People never have a problem knowing I'm Black over the phone. Mainly because I have a really deep voice. But I get tired of the whole, "You speak so well/ You are so articulate!" line from White ppl that only have Buckwheat to draw their idea of Black ppl from.

But as far as Feminism vs. Racism even though it's a moot point I haven't seen too many Hillary videos like this one. [wonkette.com]

And least we forget self-hate is always the best and most enjoyable form of racism
[wonkette.com]

Final - should have been the first Black President.

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Kilotwat: Small, quick question. Do you think that this still holds true given that it's just the primary season, and not the general election? I'm not so sure the "costs and benefits," such as they are, really cancel each other out when it's just highly motivated, highly committed Democrats voting at this stage (for the most part). I think they are much more likely to cancel each other out at the general election stage.
@noasalira: I think you missed the second part of her statement. She appears to have said that women are too fucked up to hold public office. So I rather doubt that she's a Hillary supporter. "But don't let facts get in your way, [sic] just twist them to make your point."

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ulookinatmyjunk: Um, yea, can you please tell me what "black" sounds like? Because I am confused. Does it sound ignorant, is there an accent, is it inarticulate, back-woods, straight from the so-called hood, what? What exactly does the "pitch" and "tone" of a black person sound like? Is it very different from that of white people? I'm just curious. Being black and all, maybe I can't hear it."

It sounds like the OPPOSITE of what some equally racist black people expect hear when they accuse someone of "acting/talking white."

And as for being pulled over--I think it sucks that being a non-white race cannot be neutral in society, not today, anyway; and that as soon as someone sees the color of your skin, they may (or may not) suspect something. (Also, the hair-touching thing...they did a study on racially mixed gyms in the NY Times and one interviewee talked about that....I'll admit, that shit blows my mind. People are impulsive/stupid--it's still someone else's body).

But freedc had a valid point about class (and yes..."de facto segregation" relates to residual discrimination, but in particular, socioeconomic class, which fucks over everyone, if blacks at a higher rate because of the relatively small gap btw. de jure and de facto segregation).

Sometimes pulling the race card is just that--pulling the race card and using a smoke screen that may devalue genuine problems relating to race (or...again...class) when/where they exist. I think that's why people immediately bristle simply at the mention of Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson as president (I don't know if I could be comfortable with Al Sharpton as president, not after the Tawana Brawley scandal).

marie123

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Maestra: Cause THAT's the type of experience I want!

Fair enough. I thought DOM was/is fucked up and am not 100% fan of the Clintons or their giving in to the assholery of a Gingrich-led Congress.

At least she's "evolved" and apologized.

Oh well...like I said...I will eagerly greet either Democrat. Just no more fucktard Republicans, please.

marie123

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Oh brother. Please, its all so simple. Bill told Obama to "get to the back of the bus". Obama said "no way". Ferrarow said," hey boy get to back or get the hell off".
The Clintons: the nightmare that never ends.

Old-Dem

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ulookinatmyjunk: I don't know that white women shouldn't be able to speak to racial issues, that sort of goes back to the idea that white people have no race because they are supposidly the norm that everyone else should be judged by. We aren't that norm or void of race/ethnicity/culture, white people have race, ethnicity and culture and it isn't a norm that others deviate from.
I know that I am white and I have a culture and race and ethnicity and that background has afforded me opportunities that were not afforded to others and in some instances stolen from others. I also think that it is very important for white people to speak about racial privilege in this country because other white people need to have that reflected to them by members of their own ethnicity.
Only when everyone gets on board with taking down institutionalized racism in this country, will we be able to defeat it.
@noasalira: Sharecropping was/is an institution that had a horrible effect on many people's lives, including poor whites. Class in the south and the fucked up racial institutions there can go back to this. My father's family all sharecropped, in fact, my dad didn't have indoor plumbing until high school. He was able to overcome that poverty. I don't doubt that part of his ability to rise above his family's poverty is because of his race, but he was always considered lower-class white trash by people from the upper class because he came from a family of poor sharecroppers. Anyway, my point is that sharecropping didn't just affect people based upon race but also contributed to the fucked up class system in the south which I believe also fueled racism (poor southern whites thinking, hey I might be poor white trash, but at least I'm not black, you know). These institutions are still hurting the lives of poor whites (who make up a huge, in fact the majority of people living in poverty in this country), poor blacks and everyone in the south.

Jenloveshercurves

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> .@AnnieGetYourFun: Um, yea, can you please tell me what "black" sounds like? Because I am confused. Does it sound ignorant, is there an accent, is it inarticulate, back-woods, straight from the so-called hood, what? What exactly does the "pitch" and "tone" of a black person sound like? Is it very different from that of white people? I'm just curious. Being black and all, maybe I can't hear it.

Ulookinatmyjunk!?!

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> As a black woman who considers herself a feminist, I have to say that the whole "which is worse, racism or sexism" argument is bullshit. I have been discriminated against based on both my race and sex.

Those who argue that racism is less socially acceptable (and therefore less of a problem) than sexism, however, have never been black in the south, midwest, average suburb, city etc. (basically anywhere). Growing up in a predominantly white, liberal suburb, I spent the majority of my life hearing kids and their parents scramble to cover up thinly-veiled slurs about how "articulate" I was. Hell, I almost got into a brawl with my former suite-mate (I am a New School student, which is the supposedly uber-progressive university located in oh-so-tolerant Manhattan) who insisted on using the n-word and frequently loved to wax poetic on the qualities of "the blacks" whenever she had a few too many drinks. This happened frequently and many others, who I thought were fairly cool, would join in.

While sexism is more explicitly expressed in pop culture right now, I think racism is as deeply ingrained in the collective national consciousness and is just as dangerous because of how insidious and virulent it can be.

dictatorforpeace

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @momorune: Slavery (of black people in the U.S.) wasn't 500 years ago, it ended in 1865 legally, and carried on in some form with Sharecropping for many more years.

But don't let facts get in your way, just twist them to make your point. Hillary Clinton supporter, right? Gosh, she must be your idol!

noasalira

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @AnnieGetYourFun: Obama DOES sound black to me, and the only way I'd think of that is pitch and tone of his voice. His voice actually reminds me quite a lot of Malcolm X (another highly well-spoken black man), and given that Obama quotes Malcolm X in his speeches, I even moreso find the similarity.

But let me question this, since when are white people masters of the English language? Especially AMERICAN white people. The standard of who speaks well?

George Bush is an educated white man -- yeah, now he's an articulate man, right? He sounds white to me...

Gah, can't this "sound black" ignorance be stopped? If Hillary Clinton becomes President, I feel racism will become more openly acceptable as long as it can wrapped up in 'feminism.'

I so SO SO very much hope Barack Obama becomes President, so he and the cadre of educated black people who have apparently been not visible to some white people, will be ALL OVER the media. Saying things, doing things, and speaking REALLY WELL. That will irritate quite a lot of you to tears, with the whole upsetting your world view thing.

For the rest of us, it would be like a beautiful morning after a long night of terrible storms.....

noasalira

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> I would like Ms. Ferraro to speak a lot more, preferably getting some stage time with Ms. Clinton on the campaign trail. I think she is a wonderful representation of the campaign, the potential presidency of Ms. Clinton and her words will resonate with the kind of people who support Ms. Clinton.

It is both wonderful and sad to see how the Obama's campaign for the presidency has provoked (terrified) these kind of people into speaking out loud their racial perspectives. No matter what happens in the November election, these people, LOTS of people - high-profile, jezebel commenter, etc. have outed themselves and will find it very hard to play the non-racist role. It has even outed so-called 'black leaders' who are more beholden to the clinton plantation than to freedom or the people who voted them into office (andrew young, stephanie tubbs jones, sheila jackson lee, etc.).

As to this issue of racism worse than sexism -- of course, for white women sexism is worse than racism.

For the KKK, I think sexism would be worse than racism -- and clearly they are more open to the membership of white women, than that of black people.

noasalira

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @samethingwedoeverynightpinky@"White liberal tokenism is racism too. I also think having a black president/serious contender, who doesn't speak out about racism and "racial" events the same way old school black politicians did allows people to feel better and have these glib conversations about the improved state of race relations and how amazing "change" is, even as one of the boldest waves of hate crimes in recent history continues, and no one talks about it because we're too busy celebrating our progress. People would rather push a button and pretend that voting for a black candidate somehow address racism, and have the issues go away, than do the difficult daily work of changing stuff. Obama is in the election because of his race-- but it's by no means a victory for progressive anti-racism."

Brilliant observation of the ugly under-belly of the Obama worship.

BeachLover

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> WAIT A MINUTE. Is no one else offended by this post? Even if it's supposed to be "sarcastic?"

WTF is a "light-skinned black guy thing?"

Dear god, I think all of the election coverage on Jezebel today has turned me into a truly depressed person. I've lost all faith in humanity.

astralgirl01

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Damn, late to the party. I have to say this, though. I agree with the idea that everyone loves s light-skinned black man. In my tiny hometown, we had something like three black kids, one of whom was special ed. The other two were like celebs.

And, I've said it before, I'll say it again - if Obama SOUNDED black, he wouldn't be nearly so popular. The fact that he generally uses standard American English and then slips into a black vernacular as it suits him means that he can play both sides beautifully.

AnnieGetYourFun

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @meaghan2k: I am never racist. Ever. Not even a itty bitty smidge.

But I get what you are saying, that we all have some biases (sp?).

CreoleSugar

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Final: "use my words"

Heh. Teh funny.

But "Michael Ducause" - did you mean (former) Gov. Michael Dukakis? Or do I have to do more research today?

Rooo sez BISH PLZ

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> It's funny that your friend knew an Obama-type in high school and won't vote for him because of it.

I knew a Hillary-type in high school, and I won't vote for her for the same reason. The girl's name was Lynn. She had blonde hair, she played field hockey, was class Vice President (of which she was extremely bitter, because her best male frenemy was the President) her mother was a teacher and she wore plaid pleated skirts and turtlenecks with her opaque tights and sensible loafers.

She was in most of my classes, always had the answer and was derisive of all of adolescent colleagues because she was So. Much. Smarter. And. So. Much. Better.

I hated her, and every time I see HRC, I'm reminded of shrill, petty Lynn. So you see? It always goes back to high school. As you were.

kikichanelconspiracy

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @katekate: Could you warn me the next time you say that just before I'm about to eat?

*kthx*

Rooo sez BISH PLZ

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Kilotwat: Thank you for your viewpoint--its good.

Among many things I hate the media for granting GOP fucktards--that "Obama/Osama" slip from Mitt Romney(as in bin Laden...assholes....saddens me candidates have to belabor their religion and that Obama has to belabor he is Christian for this Christian nation....how many candidates with MISERABLE destructive views/policy/moral compasses and a mindset of willful ignorance scream "I'm a Christian!" that much louder?).

"My policies are stupid and bloody and costly by the standards of MAN, but by GOD'S standards...."

Fuckabee: "I released a rapist (one...and then another....how many violent offenders, Mike?!) because they were CHRISTIANS!"....and uh, soon-to-be-rapist/murders.

marie123

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ceejeemcbeegee (1996 came before 2000): "Affirmative action was designed to keep women and minorities in competition with each other to distract us while white dudes inject AIDS into our chicken nuggets."

Putney Swope Sequel

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @freedc: Sorry, I missed this comment initially. White women can speak to this issue, but not with any real authority. Just as I cannot speak to what it must be like to be a white woman. Why? Well, because I'm not white. We can talk about raging cramps and tampons all day, because on this level, I can relate. But racially, hmmm, not so much. This does not make me angry, because this is a fact.

The history of the Black cause and the Women's Right's Movement have had agendas that ran at a parallel and I do not negate that white women were instrumental in many social issues; but racism ran rampant in these movements and many times along the way, white women abandoned the "black cause" to pursue their own agendas. Which could explain why the right to vote was afforded to white women, loooong before it was granted to blacks.

Ulookinatmyjunk!?!

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Whatever advantages Obama being black has afforded him, I think it's fair to say they're offset by the disadvantage. There are people who won't vote for him because he's black, and even among non-racists, there are those who doubt the viability of his candidacy because of his ethnic makeup. Those doubters would be more reluctant to publicly support him, or donate to his campaign, or volunteer for him. Add to the fact that he was raised in a Muslim country, has the name that he does. By and large, with the US population, those things are not positives. Any way you look at it, those are things Obama had to overcome. Maybe, after a lot of hard work from him, he has managed to turn them around for some people.

Kilotwat

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Final: Your avatar and my avatar should hook-up sometime...I'm loving Boondocks love.

Ulookinatmyjunk!?!

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @FloraWay: Precisely. She somehow "deserves" it and Obama is just riding on the coat tails of his race. Hillary has benefited from race, gender and nepotism...but the media largely ignores this; opting instead to promote that she's somehow intrinsically more "deserving".

@samethingwedoeverynightpinky: I remember Colin Powell once made a quote that turned my stomach. He was addressing his past successes and why he was able to fit so well into his various positions. I may not be saying it verbatim, but it was something to the effect that he was "always a good boy to have around". Neither Obama not Powell are figures that will illicit great discomfort in their constituents. I don't think that Obama will do much for the "black cause" or turn the current state of cultural affairs around. And this makes him appealing to people who want the "appearance of change" without the nasty aftertaste of having to put in REAL work. I'm not a fan of Obama...I'm a hate mitigator. I just hate when people like Ferrarro say dumb shit, hence my contention.

@freedc: Oh, so I was pulled over because I was poor, not because I was black. Phew, what a relief to have that issue settled. Cops don't see my poverty first, they see my race. If race is not the singular cause, it is definitely a motivating factor behind black people being viewed immediately as "suspects". I don't think that black folks have a monopoly on any of these social issues. However, being that I am black, I can only speak from this perspective (didja hear that Ferrarro?). Race and class mix and mingle in an almost indistinguishable way. At times they are so inextricably linked that when talking about one you're inevitably talking about the other. The fact that black folks are grossly effected by many of these societal issues does make it very much a racial issue. Or at the very least it's a contributing factor that needs to be taken into account.

Ulookinatmyjunk!?!

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @momorune: But look, slavery in this country was 500 years ago.

Really? 1865 was 500 years ago? The Civil War was 500 years ago?

And by your logic, as a Black woman, I've been oppressed 5500 years? Cool!

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @FloraWay: Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to make this a better world for my children and grandchildren.

Doesn't she mean her FEMALE children and grandchildren? The white boys have it easy...

@magneticfields: Word. Why can't people realize that Affirmative Action has benefited more White women than any other group?

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Destonio: seriously? who are you and what are you doing here?

TheGuvnah

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @blue03: Thank you for going there!

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @marie123: Oh, don't regret it... the convo is mad stimulating!

@magic1: LOL! That's a great analogy. And Imma keep saying it until yall get it: Obama has held more elected positions and for much longer than HRC.

@metropolitan: Dang! I forgot about Howard Beach. That was my sister's generation, but still...

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Smackdown: "I even think you (not you, but like, the general "you") start treading a really thin line - if you start saying "look, white people are poor too, there are just more black people who are poor, per capita, than white people, but poverty is poverty" there starts being this weird, I don't know, insinuation about why minorities are disproportionately poor, like it's their fault or something. And that wigs me right the fuck out."

Really, that's what you took from my post and that's how your logic flows?

As far as why people are poor, it's usually because the people before them were poor. Black. White. Purple. Whatever. I never said don't address racial issues, in fact, I said it's part of it, but not all of it. My point was that when you only equate poor people with black people, it does no one any good, because it's not accurate.

freedc

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @baxterthepug: word...lol, he's probably right. for some things people want to be black but still not really be black.

Jose Reyes

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Maybe it's a stretch, but:

Destonio

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Chris Rock once said that even though he's famous and everything, there is not a white person on earth who would permanently trade places with him.

baxterthepug

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @suburbman: i hope that was a horrible attempt at being facietous.

Jose Reyes

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Hey - if any more people 'step down' from their posts because they said stupid things, the candidates won't even have drivers anymore.

suburbman

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> BTW- 'Geraldine'? What the fuck? Was she named after Gerald Ford? She should change her name to Kristen. That names hot.

suburbman

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Geraldine Ferraro isn't a racist. Come on, she only said that NO black person could EVER get to be the President on their own merit. They are too stupid and incapable. Thats all. Geez, get off her back already.

suburbman

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> The biggest joke about this whole thing is that, much like Clarence Thomas, Ferraro would not have a career except as an affirmative action hire. After smearing and degrading Jesse Jackson, the party leadership, seeking identity-politics cred, plucked Ferraro out of the white-people-hell that was her district of Queens/Long Island to 'polish the pig' of Walter Mondale (and it worked so well). If not for the fact that Barbara Bush called her a bitch, this closet Republican would have no credibility whatsoever.

magneticfields

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> I like how gf completely ignores that people are inspired by his voice and message... Classy.

Democratica

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Ferarro stepped down.

[www.cnn.com]

NotNotLickingToads

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> See women can really learn what happens when you open your mouth instead of staying in the kitchen making cookies =) j/k

Honestly I'd much rather know Gerry feels. She is just the jaded, cynical piece of the past.

The blow back would have come if it was Barbra Bush, Anne Coultre or Michael Ducause saying that. But atleast the Press is showing all the dumb shit that gets said on both sides of the political spectrum this time around.

The funniest thing is the same thing happened to me when I was running for senior class president. The girl I lost to said I won because I was black and male and popular. Funny thing was the school was brand new and we both had only been there 2 weeks and the kids all came from different schools all over the district and I only knew 3 people the day classes started, and one of them went back to our old school the same week. Just because I was I was able to use my words and smile to persuade people to vote for me it wasn't because of my like-ability v. hers it had to be something else which is sad.

But yeah, Go Light Skinned Black Dudes =)

Final - should have been the first Black President.

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @loubatie: you're right i shouldn't assume but i am inclined to believe based on what obama has said (which could be a lie, but until he lies, i'll take it as truth) that he can better empathize with being disenfranchised by the white man as people around the world (arabic countries especially) feel tossed away by americans

bess marvin, girl detective

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> She stepped down, and blamed it on Obama:

"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.

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"

FloraWay

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Re: "Would anyone want a fortysomething first-term senator in charge of making every major American foreign policy decision at one of our most tricky moments in history if he hadn't been raised in Indonesia? I probably wouldn't!"

This sentence gives me a headache.

mollymcbutter

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @samethingwedoeverynightpinky:I'll tell you what's radical about Obama. His competence. As for the millionaire part of your post, Hillary Clinton was already a US senator before the Obamas paid off their college loans.

Dr.Woo

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @freedc: I don't know, man. By saying "look, whites also have this problem, it's not a racial thing" is pretty disingenuous because it is a hugely disproportionate amount of black people who are incarcerated, a hugely disproportionate amount of black people who are living in poverty, and that's directly attributable to racist American policy. White people (and I'm a white woman, just so we're clear) have been directly responsible for the systematic oppression of minorities in this country, and I think to pretend that it's even in the same realm of problems for whites is wrong. I even think you (not you, but like, the general "you") start treading a really thin line - if you start saying "look, white people are poor too, there are just more black people who are poor, per capita, than white people, but poverty is poverty" there starts being this weird, I don't know, insinuation about why minorities are disproportionately poor, like it's their fault or something. And that wigs me right the fuck out.

Poverty, obviously, across the board is an issue, but I don't think we can address poverty in this country without seriously addressing the underlying cause.

Smackdown

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ceejeemcbeegee (1996 came before 2000): your mom sounds insanely cool. i've probably seen her in that pbs doc! history really happened, ladies!

kshenkshen

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @samethingwedoeverynightpinky: I missed all these people saying: "Forget what he says, about war, about race, about making nice with republicans-- he must be radical, he's black! He must be new, he's black! He must have dramatically more leftists leanings/intentions than Clinton-- he's black! He must be unconnected to the traditional sources of money and power (despite being a Harvard education millionaire)-- he's black!"

If you look at his voting record, he is left of Clinton. But I don't think that's why people are drawn to him. I get the sense they're drawn to him b/c not a whole lot of folks say they'll work with the other side and because he's the fresh, new face that often graces elections (i.e. Edwards '04). If you give Edwards '04 Obama's message, is he just as successful? I think there's a fair chance, considering he got mighty close to Obama's success with the "two Americas" message.

surf-by

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> haven't read the whole thread, forgive me, but:

of course barack obama would not be who he is if he were not black. i would not be who i am if i were not asian. race doesn't shape inborn personalities and abilities, but it DOES affect the way we are treated and seen by others. (nurture, not nature.) barack obama may not have quite as much us-senate experience as clinton, but he does have way more life-as-a-person-of-color experience than she does. (and she has more lady experience.) i happen to consider this to be a pretty valuable kind of experience, and it definitely does have something to do with my barack love. it's not the be all and end all, just one nice thing that he brings to the table.

kshenkshen

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Ummm

Destonio

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @TheGuvnah: Oh, she's got many more... I'm in the process of documenting her history with the movement. She was pictured in a documentary on PBS... gotta convert the video to dvd to computer to upload it, tho'.

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> i've loved a lot of light skinned black dudes. so much so that i mothered one.

kate!

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ulookinatmyjunk:

I hear you, but I don't think it's an accident that the only two black candidates who've been discussed as serious contenders for the presidency are Barack Obama and Colin Powell.
A)both male
B)Both very moderate and non-confrontational

I've got my issues with Jesse and Al, but part of why they were never taken seriously is that they allowed themselves to be emotional and angry about racial issues that are-- well, emotional and infuriating.

I'm looking at the difference between Obama's record, his concrete promises, and the rhetoric surrounding him, and the only thing I see that's new or different about him versus most politicians, and that's allowing him to be recast as some sort of dramatically new and different and out there guy, is his race. Forget what he says, about war, about race, about making nice with republicans-- he must be radical, he's black! He must be new, he's black! He must have dramatically more leftists leanings/intentions than Clinton-- he's black! He must be unconnected to the traditional sources of money and power (despite being a Harvard education millionaire)-- he's black! That's racism too. I think if a white male politician with the same record and platform were running in Obama's place, we'd be talking more about the issues and less about his mama and daddy. It's a shame for everyone that we're not in a place where we can have that issues based conversation about a black male candidate, and in my opinion, it's a shame that our first viable black presidential candidate is not the firebrand progressive they're making him out to be-- because an actual black (and/or female)progressive could never get elected in this country.

samethingwedoeverynightpinky

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Hello, it is called the "White" House people. sheesh

I just want Michelle to be the first lady, that is one classy broad, way better than Bubba.

gout

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @uhoh-ohno:
From Factcheck.org a quote from Richard Lugar -R spokesman about HRC's attack in the debate re: Obama's subcommittee:
Fischer, who is a minority staff member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said something as major as NATO's role in Afghanistan would typically be held before the full Foreign Relations Committee, rather than Obama's European subcommittee.
Yes, he was running for president when appointed head of the subcommittee, but, where do you think he could make a stronger impact on NATO policy in Afghanistan?
As a junior senator heading a sub-committee, holding yet another set of hearings?
Or, as POTUS?
Yay, more hearings!!!

trescharmant

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Jenloveshercurves: Yes, agreed, thank you.

alrightnow

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @marie123: And By "hands on" you are, of course, referring to her having her hand in the drafting and passing of the first DOM, right? Cause THAT's the type of experience I want!

Maestra

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @eatsshootsleaves: He keeps saying that SS is a problem. Clinton keeps saying that there isn't a problem, and scaring the rich by saying that he wants to raise the maximum contribution.

FloraWay

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @uhoh-ohno: Why do democrats have to play on the republican's field? Why can't not supporting legislation that will lead us to more violence and will ignore our civil liberties be that you're not going to play the game that is set up by the Republicans? I'm so sick of Democrats playing into the hands of Republicans, so that each time they stand up against a piece of legislation that is unconstitutional or will lead to war-- they're all of a sudden weak on terror. Her response to her vote is incredibly disappointing. She voted for political reasons, on someone's life.

And that is an important piece of legislation. Cluster bombs are horrible, and effect civilians far more than other measures. To use such an important issue as a way to make yourself seem tougher is ignoring the lives that are ruined by these bombs.

And I never said that it negated her other work, but it does make me look twice at her.

FloraWay

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Oh my God, I hate it when feminists say that the problem of sexism is worse than the problem of racism in America because sexism is more socially acceptable. Yes, that may be true, but that doesn't make sexism more prevalent or more detrimental to a person's wellbeing. I'm not going to judge which is worse, because as someone mentioned before, they are DIFFERENT.

But suggesting that it's harder for a woman to become president than a black man is an incredibly ignorant, stupid thing to believe. African-Americans have tremendous media bias against them in a different way than women do, but it's still quite evident. Both candidates are walking a tightrope in this campaign. If Obama appears too "ethnic", too "urban", he is going to get the same sort of response that Clinton would get if she appears too "soft" or too -- insert horrible euphemistic word for "bitchy" here.

By the way, I've mentioned many times specific reasons why Obama would be a good president that don't have anything to do with speeches or "new politics" or what have you. Obama has consistently and wonderfully been for transparent government and removing lobbyist influence in Washington, for instance. Clinton has not. Like, REALLY has not:

[thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com]

Also, funny that someone should mention his position on social security as something Obamatards should address. His plan for social security is superior to Clinton's. He would create a mandatory savings plan (unlike Clinton, I believe), eliminate income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 a year, and increase the maximum amount of earnings covered by SS. Clinton, meanwhile, barely addresses social security. Ever.

eatsshootsleaves

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @trescharmant:
totally a fair critique of HRC, and I'm quite surprised it hasn't come up more forcefully from the OB camp. It wouldn't even need to be at odds with the "fresh outsider" message.

loubatie

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Just to clarify, he lived in Indonesia for a time, he wasn't raised there.

TurtleFace

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @rocknrollunicorn: yes, because it is a valid criticism, ie she is using her connection to family political power to perpetuate that power. But if we bring that up, suddenly someone says you're being anti-feminist, that has always been the way women get into power, bla bla bla. I say if we want to have political power, than perhaps it would help to have legitimate political power, because otherwise it is still nepotism, the same as Bush

alrightnow

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ulookinatmyjunk: Again, many valid points. But as someone who is constantly bitching on here about people using the term 'white trash,' I agree that 'ghetto' is a pretty shitty adjective but the black community does not get the monopoly on racist comments. White trash and ghetto aren't even really making fun of race, they're mocking class.

For example, as someone who works in the civil rights arena, I just always find it's such a disservice to blacks to look at things like prison and police harassment as "black issues." It's a disservice because unfair trials and police brutality do not just affect the black community. At a higher rate? Yes, sadly, no doubt, I'm not saying otherwise. But if we keep saying 'blacks go to prison' and ignore that it's actually POOR people, we're not only igoring a huge segment of disenfranchised, rights-stomped-on people, but we're saying crime is a black thing. And that's not fair to blacks. And we make it worse for the black community to perpetuate that myth.

freedc

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ulookinatmyjunk

I'll be the first to tell you that nepotism that something to do with Hillary's ascent, just like I don't have a problem admitting that race plays a role in Obama appeal. I play it fair.

anyway, I'm clocking out.

Smooches.

uhoh-ohno

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Geraldine Ferraro is hilarious! It is hilarious to see how she still believes that its 1988! Just because she was affirmative action she thinks everybody is. It's kind of fun to see how old people who are hung up on their seniority lose touch because they never update their version of reality.

But look, slavery in this country was 500 years ago. Oppression of women has been like 5000 years. So the women are def. more fucked than the descendents of slaves. The caveat to that is that they are also more FUCKED UP and are unfit to take office until they get enough Lomi Lomi massages to make up for it. Geraldine and Hillary ought to do Bali together and hook up with 19 year old surfer lovers.

momorune

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> I think if Obama were white, I would still like him. I don't care what color you are, if youz fine, youz fiiiiine. Haha. I'm too tired to get into talking about race, but interesting point Moe

AnnaWintwhore

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> This sexism v. racism stuff is so 1991.

Jamie Sommers

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @trescharmant

actually the way I heard it, it was the other way around. the war wasn't popular in popular in his district, so he wasn't going out on a limb.

uhoh-ohno

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @bess marvin, girl detective:
Black men during the civil rights movement stiffed black women in untold ways. Though of course, that tells us nothing about what BO would do, nor do Steinem's and Anthony's actions represent HRC'svision. I don't see the logic in thinking that BO's empathy with blackness will help you more than HRC's empathy with womanhood.

loubatie

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Ack: I don't know about the pot - how about we do a few shots of cold Jaeger and then talk about Indy?

Cam/ron

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @samethingwedoeverynightpinky: WHY CAN'T oBAMA BE WINNING BECAUSE PEOPLE BELIEVE IN WHAT HE HAS TO SAY? PLus I really dig his wife..

Also, why does Obama have to bring race into the campaign, unless he is faced with it.. Like demanding that the HRC denounce Ferraro's bigot statements.

FATAL_BIPOLAR_HOTNESS

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ulookinatmyjunk: Or as the campaign is trying to frame it, steal the job of a more deserving white woman.

FloraWay

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Flora Way

Oh, so her not voting on one amendment, negates all of her other work? I'm sorry but when you compare her resume to his on the issue of women's rights and health care, he hardly comares. What about Hillary's support of Kinship Caregiver with Olympic Senator Snow or the Adoption for Safe Families Act? Why is it that every time Obama talks of bi-partisan ship he's seen as a uniter and when Hillary reaches across the aisle, she's seen as a tool for the Republicans? And he is soft on terror. He didn't even have the balls to show up for the vote on Kyl- Liberman. For all of this talk about his fixing the war on terror, he certainly hasn't been doing his part in terms of having oversight in his Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee. He could be using his influence to involve NATO more, or hold hearings, but he's too busy running for POTUS to do so.

uhoh-ohno

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ceejeemcbeegee (1996 came before 2000): thank you.

alrightnow

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> I don't think that sexism is more pervasive or accepted than racism. People say and do pretty shady, racist shit all of the freakin' time. I'm mostly talking about that psuedo-racist shit, like the tendency to roll one's neck when in arguments with Black women; calling things "ghetto" particularly when it's something specific to people of color; getting shot dozens of times for holding a wallet; getting pulled over consistently by the cops; students hanging up nooses in the school yard; having to tell grown-ass people not to touch your friggin' hair; having to listen to people imitate "ethnic dialects" when conversing with the friends or co-workers etc, etc. Answering the question on whether it's harder to be black or a woman is a hard one to answer and usually I just say, "Well shit, it depends on the day".

There have only been a handful of viable black presidential candidates. And now that one is showing moderate success, it is not attributed to his skill or charisma, but rather his color. It's as though he couldn't possibly earn anything based on his merits...dude, it's totally because he's black. One's skin color or gender is not a novelty, it is simply what one is and yes, it does color their perspective, as all life experiences tend to do. I think it would be great if people would mention that Hillary's momentum has also been propelled by her gender. And it helps her all the more, that she is a WHITE female; which makes her less intimidating to many people who refuse to vote for a black candidate for fear that he'll, I don't know, steal their wallet or something.

Ulookinatmyjunk!?!

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ulookinatmyjunk: While I empathize with your feelings, you are way off in your logic.

White women can't speak to race issues? Really? Well, if you know anything about the abolishonist movement, white women were a huge force behind changing that BS and helping to bring equality and I bet you have many ancestors who would please ask you to stop saying that white people don't have a say.

Also, some of the poorest people I know are white, so your point about economics is off. You're right about worrying about economics and how that affects people, but you're wrong to think poor = black, because it often doesn't.

freedc

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Cam/ron: @amoureuse: Please join me. We can smoke a bowl and talk about important shit, like the new Indiana Jones movie (cannot WAIT).

Ack

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> The day people start clutching their purses when a white woman walk down the street then I will say that they have it worse then black men. When a white woman move to the affluent suburb and someone yell out the window when she is walking with her kids "nigger" then that will be the day that white women have it worse than black men. When a white woman walks into a restaurant or any store at the mall and she is constantly ignored or, worse followed like she is going to steal something, then that will be the day that they have it worse then black men.

The only group of people that holds white women down and the only group that white women really feel the need to compete with are white men. Period.

blue03

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @uhoh-ohno: Well, at the time, Obama was running a tight race in Ill, and the war was actually pretty popular since Bush kept saying "Saddam Hussein - 911" in the same breath. So, Obama was standing on principle. Clinton, however, was preparing for this '08 run, and wanted to make sure she was a strong, anti-terrorist candidate, which is why she voted for the war, without even reading the national intelligence assessment.

trescharmant

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @SinisterRouge on Notice!: thanks a lot. the same to you. i respect your opinions and don't understand why you are on notice.

bess marvin, girl detective

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @ cgeemcbeegee - (not working) That is AMAZING that your mom was there. thank you for sharing that story!

TheGuvnah

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @trescharmant

duly noted. but what is it about Obama that makes you think that he would/ will do things differently?

uhoh-ohno

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @uhoh-ohno: That is not true. He has advocated strongly for women and blacks. Unfortunately, his record in IL is only brought up when people talk about his present votes.

First, he has the same rating as HRC from NARAL and Planned Parenthood. He helped create the first earned-income tax credit in IL to help the working poor, he is a strong opponent of capital punishment, and worked across party lines to ensure that police interrogations and confessions are videotaped. He actually helped get a state-wide program for health insurance for all children in IL-- no matter the parent's income.

Not to mention the fact that he has helped pass some of the toughest ethics reform in both IL and in the US Senate. While that may not seem like a big deal for black men and for women, it is. If you can see how laws are passed, there has to be more cooperation.

And vote that I think is most important that he voted for (and was an advocate for)-- and Hillary against-- Senate Amendment No. 4882. An amendment to a Pentagon appropriations bill that would have banned the use of cluster bombs in civilian areas. Hillary said that she didn't want to seem soft on terror. But if she cared about women and children (and men, for that matter), she would have voted for a law that would have prevented the use of cluster bombs and land mines. To quote David Rees: "Cluster bombs and landmines are particularly terrifying weapons that wreak havoc on communities trying to recover from war. They are fatal impediments to reconstruction and rehabilitation of agricultural land; they destroy valuable livestock; they disable otherwise productive members of society; they maim or kill children trying to salvage them for scrap metal."

FloraWay

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> its true what she said,Barack Obama wouldn't be in the race if he weren't a black,barack is the black verson of ron paul,if ron paul was black he would would still be in the race,now if general colin powell was in the race he would be there cause he actually knows what how to man up and be honest and not kiss every celebrity azz that would give him a vote,seriously!

veritas

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @TheGuvnah: My mother was AT that mass meeting and she's told me that story. The women were basically told to go home, mind the children and make sure a hot dinner was on the table for their boycotting hubbys.

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Dashrashi: I'd say we disagree on the size of the right wing. I agree that right wingers probably won't give anything up, but I think there are enough moderate-ish Republicans that real progress is most likely to be made by getting their help.

surf-by

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @uhoh-ohno: Um, except that Clinton admits she didn't actually read the intelligence report made available to members of the Senate. A rather important point, I think

trescharmant

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @TheGuvnah: true, but most people can name more black women during the civil rights era than i can during the feminism movement that stands for something, no?

bess marvin, girl detective

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Ack:Can I tag along?

amoureuse is a second class citizen

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Dashrashi: The problem though is, it isn't always a question of right vs left. One reason HRC's healthcare reform failed, was that she went behind closed doors with her advisors, took a "my way or the highway" approach, and alienated members of her own party. She does always describe herself as a "fighter", and yes, I'm troubled by that militaristic language.
I think Obama is unique, in that he does have a collaborative spirit (quite unusual for ego-centric politicians), and represents a real change in how he would approach national, and foreign policy.

trescharmant

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> That's what you get for talking to the Daily Breeze, dumbass. If you wouldn't say it to the NY Times, you shouldn't say it at all. I hope Obama leverages this to his advantage.

faire-la-moue

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @missmay: have you gone to an inner city or seen the court system in action lately, have you looked at education and poverty statistics. It's a stupid game racism versus sexism, especially when women play it, you come off sounding like a stupid pissed off white man crying about affirmative action. I agree maybe on a superficial level it's easier to be sexist, but our country is based on institutional racism, which is why this conversation is even allowed to happen. I heard the quote on TV last night, and it was disgusting, not disgusting like calling someone a monster because they play dirty/corrupt politics, but disgusting because it appeals to the basist motivations and is designed to be devise. Also least we forget, NOT ALL WOMEN ARE WHITE!

alrightnow

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Walter Mondale! what were you thinking?

Dr.Woo

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Ack: I'm hearing ya. The more that the mainstream media inflates the impression that Obama will only care about African-Americans and that HRC only speaks to women, the more I see a McCain victory.

Cam/ron

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @The Real JR

My point is that regardless of whether or not Steinam has been involved in Hillary's campaign in any official capacity, Hillary has been derided for Steinam's remarks, and was branded a surrogate. People have aligned the stance that Steniam took in her op-ed as an example of the Hillary camp's "race baiting" divisive tactics, even though it wasn't Hillary that wrote the piece, it was Steinam. So yes, if that's the rationaled, every time a white female Hillary supporter writes something inflammatory about Obama, then I'm free to attribute surrogacy to a black, female, Obama supporter and long time associate of his when she does the same to Hillary.

And Obama wasn't in congress and privy to the same info that Hillary was when the war was being voted for. That "obama didn't vote for the war" stance is disingenuous because who knows how he would have voted had he actually been in the Senate when the war was being voted on.

uhoh-ohno

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Ugh, this whole board is making my head hurt. I wanted to get involved in this but this whole discussion is so stupid, honestly. Who does care what Geraldine Ferraro says? Yes, it's shitty that Hillary didn't fire her and she won't step down, like Samantha Power did. Yes, some people think Clinton is using race. Some people also think that Barack Obama is naive. We bicker back and forth about who is more experienced, smarter, more morally sound, nicer, friendler, who has a shorter stick up his or her ass. And the whole time John McCain is cackling to himself. I'm done with this all; no more election bullshit for me until November.

Ack

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @bess marvin, girl detective: Bess, you are awesome. Truly. No snark. I love your intelligent commentary. Every day.

SinisterRouge

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @surf-by: I suppose we just disagree on the good faith of the right wing. I don't trust them, period, or that our goals are the same, and I don't think they're amenable to any compromise that actually requires them to give something up. And so I don't really see the point of trying to build a consensus with that. And efforts to do so strike me as just one more way to lose any real progress that could be made.

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Uh, I didn't assume you were an asshole. You said the novelty of his race is used as compensation for inexperience. As though B.O. is running his campaign on race, like its some strategy or wild card or something. I say that's ridiculous. His race happens to be an identity marker and if its used as a media trope, that's one thing. But to imply its being used as a "smoke and mirrors" platform is false. He stands behind his experience, whether you or others think its adequate or not. Not all of us are judging experience according to the same meter. I am aware of and pleased about Hillary Clinton's record, it has been defined clearly. My preference for another candidate doesn't take away from her work in anyway. Shit, Obama's record doesn't take away from her experience in anyway. I don't know why it should. .

And just cuz you quoted someone else doesn't mean you're not responsible for your comment.

Iconocleft

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Ack: Not saying race doesn't affect things ... just that it is as much a negative as a positive as far as winning votes is concerned, in my opinion. I understand your point about Edwards/Obama being politically interchangeable, and I agree to about a 95% degree if you make it Edwards '04. I'm just saying that the other 5% is made up of more than race and its tough for me to put a finger on what part of the 5% is responsible for him being in first place (barely) in '08 whereas Edwards came in second in '04. I will say that even in '04 I was saying Edwards would be more successful with a less-overtly-divisive message.

surf-by

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @sanibelly: I'm biracial. Who do I vote for.

Duh, Obama!

niaray

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Ultimately, I just don't think that saying that there HAVE been some benefits to Obama because of his race means that you are saying that A) others aren't benefited because of their respective races (i.e. white privilege), or B) that in other ways, and in this and other contexts, his race isn't a huge handicap.

I think they're all true. Really, I do. And I can't say that they all cancel each other out. It's unclear to me what the balance is.

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @marie123: She has a history of being MARRIED to someone with a long history in DC!!! This is exactly what pisses me off about her and all her talk about experience...well, no actually you don't have any. You haven't made those "hard decisions" although you may have been in the room when Bill made them. Her first elected position was as freaking New York senator- no one starts at NY senator!! The whole thing reminds me of Ann Richards' quip about GWB "He started at third base and poor thing thinks he hit a home run."

magic1

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @uhoh-ohno: She also voted for the Iraq War which is why I believe many people are behind Obama. I am behind Obama mainly because I cannot forgive her for that.

For many voters, they vote along religion. FOr others, economics. Seeing the times that we are in, I would think people are more inclined to vote against the war than in regards to race.

The Real JR

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> The bottom line is that -- in the media memes being jammed down our throats -- being black is considered a plus for Obama, while being female is a minus for Hillary.

Story after story: Will Obama be elected because of his race, or will Hillary be elected in spite of her gender?

That said, Ferrarro should probably put a cork in it.

GingerVitis

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> all about ferraro's congressional district...

[en.wikipedia.org]

metropolitan

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @uhoh-ohno: Powers and Ferraro were on BO's and HRC's respective campaigns. Steinem had her own opinion. Lacewell is not working in BO's campigns, church or no.

The BO campaign was in the position to dress down powers for her statements because she said them while representing the BO campign and position which is why people are asking for GF to step down because of hers.

Opinion and surrogacy are not the same things.

The Real JR

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> geraldine ferraro was the congresswoman for howard beach in new york city. does this mean anything to non-new yorkers? it means a lot to us!

metropolitan

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> If that is the case, then you shouldn't expect Clinton to do anything to help women.

@Flora Way

No, Hillary has a documented record of advocacy on behalf of women, children, and families. Her work in getting Plan B on the market, her hand in creating SCHIP (the program that helps uninsured kids), her lobbying for universal health care, etc. Obama doesn't have these credentials.

uhoh-ohno

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @Dashrashi: I can understand where you come from. I'm not an Obama supporter, but the more I think about it, the more I'm defaulting to him against the other two. I'm a process oriented person, and that's the key to the "one America" theme. It's not about policy, so that makes it tough, if not impossible, to lay out a plan. The idea is that good policy is brought about by consensus (or as close as you can get) and healing the governing process, and it's tough/impossible to pass and effectively implement good policy in an overly- divisive/toxic atmosphere. The Clinton administration is a fair illustration of this principle. I don't know if Obama can help the atmosphere and consensus (no way anyone will totally "fix" it), but I'm starting to think that he's the most likely to give us the seemingly-small but effectively large incremental shift in consensus that allows good policy to get passed AND effectively implemented without too much strong resistance.

Plus, I'm a centrist, and even though Obama is more left than Clinton, I think an Obama Administration will be more centrist than a Clinton one.

surf-by

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @sanibelly: whoever you feel. i'm just telling you ONE of my reasons for voting obama. i was undecided for a long time (didn't even vote in my primary) until obama said certain things in the debate that really rang true for me. as a minority, it's all about fighting the "power" and in this country the power is white. i would believe we were a sexist first racist second, if black men were more on a equal playing field. they are not.

bess marvin, girl detective

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @samethingwedoeverynightpinky: Yes. Exactly.

Dashrashi

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> Having read the full context of Ferraro's remarks, I can't say I disagree with her. Obama has unprecedented support in the African American community and it has contributed to the enormity of his success. He wouldn't have been able to inspire so many in that community to become involved in the political process had he been just another white guy. Not a bad thing, just a reality.

HOWEVER.

Ferraro was stupid to say it in public and say it in that way. She isn't a newbie to politics, and should have known that her comments would be misunderstood. Hill is going to have to throw her under the bus.

rose0red

]]> <![CDATA[Racism Is Worse Than Sexism, Geraldine Ferrarro]]> @surf-by: I actually do believe that they are pretty much interchangeable. I'm sure that they are probably totally differe