Whew! This invective is fatiguing - I believe I am hearing screeching harpies. In my opinion the reason that Ms Ferraro (along with some participants in this discussion) will not let go of the race issue is this: in the South, it has long been said that we love black people as individuals, but fear them as a race. In the North, the reverse is true. The way you are carrying on, you would think Barack Obama is from another planet. He is in fact a middle-class, well-educated, well-spoken mid-Western liberal who is more qualified to be our president than any other candidate. I am a white 61-year-old mother of four, and I strongly support Sen. Obama’s candidacy. And I have never watched MTV!

Perfect.

Ladies- I too am more than saddened by what is happening in the democratic party. I am furious!! I am a life-long democrat, but I think that the past 7 years have put many of us in a trance. If Hillary (who I feel is the most qualified) was to have any competition, it should have been Edwards, not Obama!!! Who is this guy? How does “community organizing” prepare you to lead the United States of America? If he is nominated, I’ll just sit this one out, and as I said when Bush dragged us downhill, “don’t blame me, I didnt’ vote for him”.

Reading your replies has been a revelation to me. I too am a staunch Democrat and agreed with Geraldine Ferraro’s statement. As a business owner watching the Democratic nomination process, I can’t help but think about the job we are choosing a candidate for — Mrs. Ferraro is correct - a person with Mr. Obama’s thin resume would not be considered for a senior managment position, especially that of CEO. Let’s all get real here and ask two questions: which candidate has the best qualifications and can speak intelligently (without soaring rhetoric that doesn’t impress many “thinking” people) on all policy issues, has seen the demands of the job first hand, has met with many of the world leaders that this position will need to develop relationships with, has the better record in Congress of actually passing meaningful legislation in one term in office and has not been running for President since the day after becoming Senator? If I were choosing a CEO to run my business, it would certainly not be inexperienced, unproven Mr. Obama…..and that is what I believe Mrs. Ferraro meant by her statement.

I have no idea if anyone is still reading these comments, but I am sickened and apalled at the arrogance and racism inherent in much of what has been presented. Educated white women, “tired of race as an isue”! Well, isn’t that convenient. Until you have walked a day in the shoes of anyone in this country who is of color, until you know the fear, the oppression, the innate injustice of our society, how dare you dismiss “race” as an unimportant issue? Do you think we are far away from lynchings? Do you remember the man dragged to death behind a pick up truck a few years ago? His crime? Being black.What color was Amadou Diallo? Sean Bell? Do you even know their names? (Amadou killed with 41 police bullets for reaching for his wallet; Sean killed by 50 police bullets for no reason anyone can discern; both occurrred in NYC). Race doesn’t matter? Shall we talk about the noted crime of “driving while black”? Have you visited a prison lately? Can you explain why so many men of color, later proven via DNA evidence to be innocent , have spent time on death row or in hard -time prisons? Race doesn’t matter to you? What about the demonstrated inequities in medical care? (And I don’t mean insured versus uninsured, I mean how differently even insured black people are treated, according to study after study). Race permeates every aspect of this society, and it is about time someone called it as it is, which Obama has done. He told the truth and offered hope and a time to heal, but you’re not interested? You must not have been listening to his speech, because he brought up white people’s understandable fears and anxieties, like their sense of frustration with affirmative action. Race doesn’t matter? You can only say that as a sheltered white person of privilege. I will accept and support the right of every person to have a favorite candidate, to have views different from my own, but I will not stay silent when I see the racist postings this topic brought forth. If we are honest, we will admit Jack Kennedy had not been a “productive” Senator, had no major legislation to point to when he began his presidential campaign, but he was a candidate of honor, ideals, ideas and persuasive words. He was handsome, and thin, and articulate, and smart and funny. He wanted us to do better, to be better, as a nation.Seductive? Maybe, but so is every other successful politican (Bill Clinton being the most obvious example). Jack Kennedy brought hope and idealism and inspiration when we sorely needed it. He is held in high regard despite his abbreviated presidency. Who are we to say “Obama is no Jack Kennedy”? President Kennedy’s brother and daughter have made the comparison, and I’d say they have a right to use that description more than we have the right to disparage it. For the record, I am no “kid”, I’m white, and I remember the Kennedy campaign and administration well. Finally, as far as having a “record” ,Senator Clinton is demonstrably no more qualified than Obama, and I for one am really tired of hearing about how “experienced” she is. At what? Propping up an unfaithful husband? Dabbling in unsuccesssful legislative efforts (remember the health care debacle ?)? She overstates her case time and again,and yet there seem to be many of you who excuse and exhalt her because she is a woman. I find that patronizing. And I am disheartened by the tone and tenor of so many of these postings. I had hoped for better from this site. I am deeply disappointed. Laurie J. Macdonald

Why Does Geraldine Ferraro keep talking about Barack Obama’s Skin Color? Right or wrong…. she has the right to speak her opinion. Right or wrong… just a Rev. Wright has the right to speak his. I’m concerned about Obama not having enough experience. But sadden by what some have written on this subject.

I was a big Obama fan in 2004, and said that he would someday be president. He made me think of Abraham Lincoln, a tall slender great orator from Illinois. But I don’t know what the convictions of Obama are and I don’t know if he has the courage of his convictions. He votes “present” instead of yes or no. In the Senate, he was going to go bi-partisan with McCain but backed down when the heat was on. I asked a M. I. T. professor why Obama did not win Massachusetts when he had the Kennedy machine backing him and the John Kerry machine backing him. The professor said that their governor had already used the hope / change campaign theme on the people of Massachusetts and did not deliver when elected. Obama has the same campaign manager as the governor of Massachusetts, has the same hope / change theme, and used the same “Just Words” speech. My problem with Obama is that he does not feel authentic. And if not being hypnotized by Obama makes me suspect, then I might add for the record, I voted for Jesse Jackson before it was fashionable.