BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

It has been days since Geraldine Ferraro made her disparaging statements about Barack Obama.  Perhaps, I have avoided commenting on her remarks more from embarrassment than any other reason.

Ferraro’s comments:

“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.”

For some of the younger readers, Geraldine Ferraro was the Vice Presidential candidate in 1984.  Of course, we all know that was a failed campaign and Ms. Ferraro faded into oblivion for a while.  But, hell, talk about resurrecting the dead.  Which rock did she crawl out from? 

Since the 1984 Walter Mondale/Geraldine Ferraro Democratic ticket, little has been seen publicly or reported nationally on Ms. Ferraro’s whereabouts or activities.  During the run for the White House, Ms. Ferraro ran into a bit of embarrassment when it was brought to light that her husband, John Zaccaro, had not filed his income taxes.  Ferraro had failed to list the business interest of Mr. Zaccaro on her congressional financial disclosure forms.  After reports in the news that her husband was renting a warehouse to a company that distributed pornography, Ferraro promised to fully disclose income and tax forms.  Later when John Zaccaro refused to comply with her promise and refused to disclose his financial interests, the public was left with the impression that there was something to hide.

It was an embarrassing time for Ms. Ferraro, I’m sure.  And, it was definitely an embarrassment to the Party and the Mondale ticket. 

Once the race was lost, Ferraro seemed to fade away.  It is fair to say that she had a rocky ride during the political campaign.  After all, she was the first woman to run for the VP office.  Whether it was gender or her personal situation, the press was not kind. 

It appears that having tapped on the glass ceiling a few times, Ms. Ferraro has become an old and embittered woman who does not realize that the times have changed.  Bringing race or gender into any discussion of political content is very unseemly for a woman who was first to have her name on the ticket to the White House.

Hillary Clinton has a responsibility to the Democratic Party and to women in general to show America that she does not support or agree with the venom that spews from the mouth of Ms. Ferraro.  Anything less from the Clinton campaign is showing that Senator Clinton is supporting the voice of Ferraro.  It’s time for Ferraro to crawl back under the rock.

Now is not the time for the malcontent to voice so objectionable opinion, regardless of how strongly she may feel.  Unfortunately, she seems to be following the lead of Gloria Steinem who made somewhat unfavorable remarks about Obama. 

I am embarrassed that women from my general era who fought a hard battle in the days when fighting was the trend, have not let sleeping dogs lie.  They sound unfulfilled and bitter.  And, everyone knows that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.