Geraldine Ferraro is right about Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama's campaign being facilitated, even made possible, by their race. Of course, the same would have to be said about Ferraro's VP nomination and gender.
Ferraro is right about Jesse Jackson's race being a prerequisite for his powerful presidential campaign. Obviously his candidacy was enabled by his being black. How could he have had any career in electoral politics as a minister and Democrat unless he was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement?
Of course Obama's race is a big factor in his marketability as a uniter. How can any honest political analyst think otherwise? And how many first term senators have come so close to a presidential nomination?
And Clarence Thomas wouldn't be on the Supreme Court except for his race. Obviously!
But think of all the Irish and Italian, Jewish, Polish, etc. politicians who would not have been electable in their time or district with different ethnicity?
Similarly, Ted Kennedy would have had no reason for a political career if he was not JFK's brother.
Add George W. Bush, and his daddy (son of Prescott Bush), both senators from NH (sons of NH governors),Evan Bayh, Jeb Bush, Mary Landrieu, Stephanie Herseth, Bob Casey, Chris Dodd and MANY others. They have, or had, political viability because of family ties, an accident of birth that has nothing to do with their personal achievements.
It misses the point (and weakens the meaning of the term) to call Ferraro a racist. It's that it's a non-issue. Yes, race, gender, ethnicity, class status and family locations ALL have something to do with political viability. But individuals carry with them their unique biographies as well as their ascribed characteristics (race, gender, etc.) If their biography and ascribed characteristics intersect propitiously with a moment of history...well, now you have a person with a shot at elective office. And then it's up to the person and his or her supporters to achieve victory.
Nothing wrong with that and nothing new with that. What's new is that being an African-American or a woman is no longer an insurmountable hurdle in a presidential race...and may at times be of benefit. And to that I say, Hurray! and about time