I am not a racist, but you are a sexist -- and a reverse-racist too

This is the argument of one Geraldine Ferraro, whose name you might know because Walter Mondale plucked her from obscurity 24 years ago by inviting her to be his running mate.

Back in March, Ferraro had this to say about Barack Obama:

If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman, 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.

Having made the same argument about Jesse Jackson in 1984, her sneering contempt for the notion of a black man running for the presidency should not have surprised anyone. Dismayed, to be sure, but not surprised.

Hillary Clinton repudiated Ferraro's comments, but Ferraro continues to engage in divisive politics that seem to flow from a mountain of resentment. In an op-ed column published this week, she did not acknowledge her misstatement but instead called her critics out as sexists and reverse-racists.

One of the unanticipated benefits of the unprecedented competition between Obama and Clinton has been the reflection and dialogue about the continuing influence of race and gender bias and inequity. Ms Ferraro, who might have added something positive and valuable to that dialogue, has only contributed words that are divisive and destructive (as well as ridiculous).

She should stop.

Technorati Tags: Geraldine Ferraro, Racism, Sexism, Reverse-Racism, Double-reverse-presto-chango-magnetism, Those were the days

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