Politics, As Usual

Keith Olbermann is not happy with Hillary Clinton's refutation of Geraldine Ferraro's comments. This isn't unusual; many people were not happy with Barack Obama's responses when they pulled the gotcha! on his minister who had nice things to say about Louis Farrakhan. But this is different, we're told. This is tearing the Democratic Party apart.

So Keith wants Hillary to get down on her knees and grovel for his forgiveness? Like this is her fault. Ferraro has made such comments before. In 1984, she said Jesse Jackson was so successful only because he was a brutha.

I don't think the Clinton campaign actively decided to play the race card. I think Geraldine Ferraro opened her mouth and something stupid fell out. This mess is Ferraro's, and Clinton isn't much to blame. Perhaps they should have thought more about Ferraro's comments in 1984, but I think they were blinded by her status as a previous female candidate.

I thought we were past this. I thought we were to a point where someone could say, "Ima vote for Barack because he's got a thoughtful position on healthcare, his record on Iraq is good, and, oh yeah, he black" or "Ima vote for Hillary because she's got experience and I like her attitude about sticking it to the Republicans and, oh yeah, she woman."

But apparently we can't acknowledge, even though it's high time we ran a minority candidate, that one of the reasons we're voting for whoever is they ain't an old white man.

So someone said something stupid and regrettable. This happens all the time. But this time, it's tearing the Democrats apart and helping McCain's chances oh woe oh no, Hillary has to abase herself and then we'll vote for Obama anyway.

November's a long, long way away.