in a swirl of controversy, geraldine ferraro resigned from clinton's campaign. there have been a lot of "apologists" who have been defending ferraro's comments, insisting that her 40 years of hard work as a "feminist icon" shouldn't be flushed down the toilet. and to all of that, i will just say that ferraro is a political animal, who's comments were calculated and intentional. ferraro--and the clinton campaign--made her bed so she can lie in it.
and what the heck does it mean to be a "feminist icon" in 2008? so many paleo-feminists (glorial steinem, et al) are railing against young women who are not supporting hillary as "confused" and "ungrateful" for all that feminism has given them. but it is actually the straight, rich, white women--ferraro, hillary, steinem--who are "out of touch", because many young women and men understand that in 2008 "feminism" is multi-dimensional, complex and personal, with the intersection of gender, race, socioeconomic status, education, sexual orientation, culture and many other issues. for a real example of young female empowerment, check out the movie "girls rock", which is merely one slice of the infinitely complex reality that is 21st century "feminism".
and then back to the political perspective, keith olbermann captures the issues well, better than i could say it:
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Geraldine Ferraro is only half right; Barack Obama is having the success he's having not because he's black, but because he's not particularly black. Does anyone really believe that Obama would be the Democratic frontrunner if he looked like this?
http://www.distantocean.com/images/cornel_west.jpg
Not in this country. Obama is just black enough to make middle-class white Democratic voters feel a little edgy for supporting someone of color, but reassuringly white enough (in both his appearance and mannerisms) not to scare them off. And his milquetoast message of non-threatening uplift is the perfect way to offset the racial scare factor that might otherwise apply. Supporting Obama in 2008 is just like listening to Thriller in 1982, after Michael Jackson ditched the afro and got a nose job.
In any case, while Ferraro's judgment is clearly questionable based on the candidate she's supporting, the brouhaha over her statement is ridiculous. Of course race is playing a role in Obama's candidacy. It's perfectly reasonable to argue about just what that role is, but to pillory someone for asserting that Obama's race is an element of his success is just as silly as attacking someone for saying that Hillary Clinton's gender is a factor in her candidacy. I'll be just as happy as anyone else if the United States ever truly becomes race- and gender-blind (in addition to other desirable blindnesses) in its politics, but that day is still a very long way off.
(For the record: I'd vote for Cornel West in a heartbeat.)
(For the record: I still own a copy of Thriller.)
http://www.distantocean.com/2008/03/i-disqualify-my.html
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