Keith Olbermann's response to Geraldine Ferraro's comments (click on title of this article) about Barak Obama's candidacy are heart felt and yet over the top. He's both right and wrong, but more important, he missed a chance to call for reason from both the Clinton and Obama campaigns in this divisive contre temps.
I believe that Geraldine Ferraro meant to say that sexism is more deeply ingrained in our society than is racism - but she didn't. I believe that Senator Obama could have taken a pass on this controversy by acknowledging that both racism and sexism are insidious and hateful; and that he wants no part of either.
I also believe that Ferraro's comments emanate from a lifetime of put downs at the hands of men who don't see sexism for what it is - an assumption of entitlement that women must work twice as hard to achieve, and must wait in line for the chance to attain. Let us not forget that black men got the right to vote in 1870 while women had to struggle an additional 50 years for the same - and had to achieve it through a constitutional amendment as opposed to a Supreme Court decision.
Finally, I believe that Keith Olbermann is passionate about what he sees as a blunder by the Clinton campaign - and I agree with him, but I see that both campaigns have bungled this situation and that the Democratic Party may pay a price for it.
My bottom line comes down on the side of Obama because I am concerned that Sen. Clinton insists on using Karl Rovian tactics to fight for the presidency at a time when we are sick of such crap. It is precisely because Barack Obama promises a new way of governing that I voted for him.
Can we not recognize that both Geraldine Ferarro and Barak Obama are right (or wrong)? There is no place for racism in our society. There is no place for sexism in our society and unless we acknowledge and eradicate both from 21st century America we may be consigned to live yet another century filled with hatred and divisiveness - a prospect that I do not want to face.
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The TV pie charts which divide black voters to illustrate the percentage of black voters for Obama give an "OJ" effect to the primary. There is nothing in his resume that warrants the very high percentage of votes given other than race. I have no problem with that--they may vote for the one they favor; however, if the trend suggests racism then they should not object when others notice.
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