Ferraro in 2006: "more realistic" for a women to be president than an African-American

[obamian]

By contrast, for all the excitement stirred by Mr. Obama, it is much less certain that an African-American could win a presidential election. Not as many blacks have been elected to prominent positions as women. Some high-profile black candidates — Harold Ford Jr., a Democrat running for the Senate in Tennessee, and Michael Steele, a Republican Senate candidate in Maryland — lost in November. And demographics might be an obstacle as well: black Americans are concentrated in about 25 states — typically blue ones, like New York and California. While black candidates cannot assume automatic support from black voters, they would at least provide a base. In states without big black populations, the candidate's crossover appeal must be huge.

"All evidence is that a white female has an advantage over a black male — for reasons of our cultural heritage," said the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, the civil rights leader who ran for president in 1984 and 1988. Still, he said, for African-American and female candidates, "It's easier — emphatically so."

Ms. Ferraro offered a similar sentiment. "I think it's more realistic for a woman than it is for an African-American," said Ms. Ferraro. "There is a certain amount of racism that exists in the United States — whether it's conscious or not it's true."

"Women are 51 percent of the population," she added.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/weekinreview/10nagourney.html?scp=13&sq=%22geraldine+ferraro%22black&st=nyt

[obamian]

1. Funny how views change so quickly

[NorthernSpy]

2. great find, Obamian!

Nice work!


:thumbsup:

[obamian]

3. Thanks. Ferraro is ridiculous.

She thinks race is a disadvantage, then Obama starts winning and she thinks it's his advantage.

[cindyw]

4. The point is that Obama's campaign has shown that racism has not played a roll

in this campaign. At least I should say that it has not prevented Obama from winning the nomination. People really are seeing past his race.

[suston96]

5. That's a good article. I have bookmarked it for future use.

Simple demographics. Women are 51% of 300 million. Blacks are 13% of the same 300 million and as the article says, they are compressed in urban centers in just a few states where they may impact the general election voting.

And please, don't compare primary elections with the national and its electoral college. States won't be scooped up by Obama like in the primaries. Different rules and uh, no caucuses.......

[Colobo]

6. Ferraro is a POS.

[ecstatic]

7. Oh ok Ferraro... so being a black man wasn't advantageous in '06. Got it

Though it was in '88 and '08. You racist, lying hypocrite asshole.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

9. Touche!

[NDambi]

8. Excellent work

[City Lights]

10. What a find, obamian!

k, r, & b.

[alteredstate]

11. kicked

and recommended

[Cha]

12. Doesn't this just sound like the geraldine we've

come to know in the last few days? Spouting off platitudes then isn't good enough for her now..she has to get racist and get down with her inner "lunatic".

What's up with geraldine that she can't see people for their qualifications with out getting all race/gender demographic on us.

[Occam Bandage]

13. The only thing Ferraro is consistent on is opposition to the black guy.