Geraldine Ferraro may not be a racist, but if not she is definitely a hypocrite and probably an idiot.
There has been a lot of furor over her statement to the effect that Obama would not be in the position he is now if not for the color of his skin. As with any ‘what if,’ there is no way of knowing whether or not it is true. Even if you think it is patently false, however, you should recognize that there is a at least a kernel of truth behind the statement if you are intellectually honest.
Obama’s race has helped him. How much, no one will ever know. It has also almost undoubtedly hurt him (witness the racial breakdown up of the recent Mississippi vote), but overall my guess is that it is net gain.
The reason is not because his opponents are afraid of using his race against him, as Ferraro herself proved (and Bill Clinton also, in South Carolina). The reason is that Americans want their public figures to be likable and worthy of admiration. Who doesn’t love the story of an underdog succeeding in spite of the odds?
That is the way in which Obama’s race helps: as a shorthand for overcoming adversity. Anyone in touch with the real world knows that racism is real and still exists, even if they have never seen or experienced it themselves. The single fact that Obama is black and successful, without knowing anything else about him, tells people that he is that great American hero, the underdog. Of course, it helps immensely that he does not rub anyone’s face in the fact that he is black, but that’s a subject for another post.
To get back to the argument I am trying to make in this post, Ferraro’s comment may have been an exaggeration, but was it racist? Out of context, probably not. A blatant exaggeration, but probably not morally culpable.
The context of the comment, however, was that poor Hillary was getting treated badly by everyone because she is a woman, and Obama has it easy because he is black. Ferraro was not just saying that Obama was being helped by his race, she was saying — and this is the truly offensive bit — that misogyny is so much worse than racism. Her hero, Hillary, had overcome great odds simply by virtue of being a woman, because gender discrimination is so bad, but Obama’s success was because of — not despite — his race and racism.
Here are a couple facts for you Geraldine, just something for you to think about:
- Thirty-five (35) women have served in the U.S. Senate; sixteen (16) of those are serving right now.
- A grand total of five (5) African-Americans have served in the U.S. Senate. Only one (1) is serving right now, Barack Obama, and there have never been two in the senate at the same time.
My guess is, without spending the time to do the research, that this is probably roughly proportional to the ratio of women to blacks in all appointed and elected positions in this country — federal and state — over the last century.
I am not trying to say that gender discrimination does not exist or is not a problem. But to say that it is worse than racism in any way takes a certain kind of willful blindness and hypocrisy.
Or blatant racism.
Recommeneded websites…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
Kamasz…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]…
[...] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[...]……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Website worth visiting…
below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit…
Cool sites…
[...]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[...]……
Superb website…
[...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Online Article……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
[...]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[...]……
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
Recent Blogroll Additions……
[...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
Great website…
[...]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[...]……
Online Article……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
közösségi portálok…
[...]while the sites we link to below are completely unrelated to ours, we think they are worth a read, so have a look[...]…
Check this out…
[...] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[...]……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
Check this out…
[...] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[...]……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
[...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……
[...]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[...]……
Related……
[...]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[...]……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
Awesome website…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
Links…
[...]Sites of interest we have a link to[...]……
Recent Blogroll Additions……
[...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……
Barátot Keresek…
[...]just below, are some totally unrelated sites to ours, however, they are definitely worth checking out[...]…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Link To Your Site From SWTOR Website Found…
[...]Is thеrе a web site which makes іt simple blogs and podcasts? I do nоt present аn iPod, dоeѕ thаt matter?. [...]…
2011…
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is …
Energetikai tanúsítvány…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]…
Get Your Ex Back…
Get your Ex Back with this easy to follow guide. Get Tips, strategies, advice and more…
Discount Yankee Candles…
[...]while the sites we link to below are completely unrelated to ours, we think they are worth a read, so have a look[...]…
Wholesale Yankee Candles…
[...]just below, are some totally unrelated sites to ours, however, they are definitely worth checking out[...]…
Bill Gates Scholarship…
[...]listed below are a couple of references to internet pages which we connect to as we believe these are well worth checking out[...]…
buy wartrol…
[...]Buy Wartrol kinds of warts[...]…
[...]Sites of interest we have a link to[...]……
[...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……
Amazing site…
I really liked your blog, thanks for sharing this useful information……
Awesome website…
Really nice blog. I will check back for more information on this subject later….
Amazing site…
I really liked your blog, thanks for sharing this useful information……
Sortir…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]…
Awesome website…
Really nice blog. I will check back for more information on this subject later….
Amazing site…
I really liked your blog, thanks for sharing this useful information……
Found=> likes your page…
[...] Occasionally in thе end choose blogs that we read. The follоwing are the modern sites that mаny оf uѕ choose [...]…