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Regarding Ferraro

A quick note on a point of confusion some have about Geraldine Ferraro's controversial statements. She stated, "If Obama was a white man [or a woman of any color], he would not be in this position."

For what Ferraro said to be true, (1) Obama must have received some political benefits from his race and sex; and (2) without those benefits, and factoring in any costs a black man might confront in running for president, he would not be "in this position," which presumably means beating Hillary Clinton.

Now (1) is obviously true. But (2) is in my view a long shot first because it vastly underestimates the political cost of Obama's race. A single example: The muslim rumors stick because of his race and his name. And second, because he's a very capable guy in other ways.

Now what makes all this difficult is that Obama has crafted a message and persona that draws some power from his race and geneology. So there's no meaningful way to even conceptualize a white Barack Obama. (2) is therefore indeterminate but dubious.

Anyway, let's agree that (1) alone is not enough to start saying Ferraro has been vindicated.

Full post as published by Expressio Unius on March 23, 2008 (boomark / email).