pudge's Journal: John Kerry Defends Geraldine Ferraro

Back in December, John Kerry -- you might remember him, he ran for President once -- endorsed Barack Obama for President, in large part because Obama is black. In his own words, on This Week :

Who better than Barack Obama to talk about -- and just by his person signify to the world the difference that it means to get an open door to a good school? Who better than Barack Obama to talk to young blacks in America or disaffected young people or -- anybody, and sort of say, you see what happens if you have a dream and you pursue it and you work at it?

I was just in South Africa. And I picked up the newspaper one day and there was a big headline on the second page, "Obama Says" the following. They have a huge issue there of credibility of their leadership and the issue of AIDS. I personally believe, having been 20 years, 24 years on the Foreign Relations Committee, that if Barack Obama can say things to African-American leaders that a white president just can't say and I think there's a power in that.

Please do not tell me that Geraldine Ferraro was wrong when she said that Obama wouldn't be where he is if he was white. Obama's own supporters -- including, here, the last Democratic nominee for President -- are giving his color as a major reason for their support. So I can't see how it can be wrong to say that his color is a major reason why he is getting their support.

(Side note: listening to that interview at the time, I wanted George Stephanopolous to ask Kerry if he would have voted for Obama over himself had Obama run in 2004. Not that I think Kerry would have said anything interesting in response, of course, but it would've been fun -- like old times -- watching him try to wriggle out of it.)

Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.

moof

[Bill Dog]

The Left is the only thing keeping racism/race-centric thinking alive today. Unfortunately Leftism will never die off so therefore racism never will. We're doomed to remaining stuck where we are. Brought to us by the party of change.

Re:

[pudge]

Yes, the white party is SOOO much better. Oops, I meant the right party.

I think you woke up on the looney side of your bed this morning.

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[FroMan]

I think Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powel and a few others might disagree with you. King's dream is alive and well in one of the major political parties in the US which really does not look at skin color. Instead of highlighting skin color, they would rather ability be the determining factor of entrance to universities and colleges.

I would cheerfully vote for Obama

[smittyoneeach]

...if I didn't think his policies were so much nonsense.
There is an opportunity for the Republicans to come out with some very devastating ads here.
All they need to do is point out that the Democrats don't seem competent to manage smoothly a nomination process, much less these United States.
A party that wants to be post-race and post-gender simply needs to _be_ such, and not engage in the kind of schoolyard squabbling currently in evidence.
Of course, if the Dems focused on policy, the extent of their li

Re:

[pudge]

...if I didn't think his policies were so much nonsense.

Well, yes. He is a full-blown socialist. As I've been saying for months now, I'd even prefer Hillary to Obama.

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[smittyoneeach]

In the first place, I don't know how you arrive at the conclusion that Obama is a Socialist while maintaining Hillary is not.
In the second place, Hillary may be more damaging in the long run--she seems to target children more, if the warning of "Liberal Fascism" has any merit.

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[pudge]

In the first place, I don't know how you arrive at the conclusion that Obama is a Socialist while maintaining Hillary is not.

I don't know how you arrive at the conclusion that I don't think she is a socialist. I do think, however, she is not a full-blown socialist, like he is.

In the second place, Hillary may be more damaging in the long run--she seems to target children more, if the warning of "Liberal Fascism" has any merit.

I don't think he would target children any less. The only reason I think she is more to be feared is because I think she would be more effective in implenting her policies. So while I think Obama is significantly more of a socialist, she might give us more effective socialist policies. But I tend to not think that way: I go by what they want to do, fir

Re:

[smittyoneeach]

This is an excellent point you raise.
I sort of hope that the meltdown on the Left leaves a sufficiently bad taste that McCain carries the election.
Expect he'll get flogged like a rented mule in the debates, though he could surprise.
Foreign policy, where he definitely has the saner case, is being de-emphasized by the media.

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[pudge]

Expect he'll get flogged like a rented mule in the debates, though he could surprise.

He has a better understanding of the issues than both Obama and Hillary. But they do speak better than he does. However, if he can highlight the RESULTS of the policies his opponent espouses, he will do very well.

Interesting opportunity here.

[Talinom]

We get to see a war between feminism and racism rage across the Democratic party.

So far I have seen the Hillary campaign disparage Obama due to his race. I thought that they were supposed to be the party of tolerance, acceptance and unity. I guess I was wrong, however Barak seems to be playing the same hand as Hillary, only to his advantage. It helps that the media loves him as well.

I'm waiting for someone to come out with an ad that says, "Vote that white bitch down. Barak power!" And then claim raci

Re:

[pudge]

And just think, I used to kinda like them.

Well, THERE'S your problem! ;-)