Vice Presidential Candidate Geraldine Ferraro Dies at Age 75

Time Magazine cover via Shakesville 

As a girl growing up in the 80s, Geraldine Ferraro's position as Walter Mondale's running mate in the 1984 election was undeniably huge. I was just old enough to understand the historical significance of Ferraro being the first female VP candidate on a major ticket, but like a lot of people my age, that memory remains tainted by her unfortunate remarks during the 2008 election. Upon hearing the news of her death yesterday morning, I struggle to write something that celebrates her legacy without ignoring her faults. (And weirdly enough, just yesterday I wrote about the thorniness of paying tribute to someone who did a lot of good, while not ignoring the parts that aren't so good.) Here are a few links that respectfully pay tribute while not glossing over the failures:

BeckySharper from The Pursuit of Harpyness:

Ferraro’s candidacy made that otherwise forgettable election a historic one. Despite bad publicity later in her life—a scandal involving her husband’s business dealings, ill-advised remarks about Barack Obama’s candidacy—she has an undeniably important role in US history.

Pam Spaulding from Pam's House Blend:

She was a trailblazer in 1984 — and a lightning rod for controversy during the 2008 election. The lightning rod status refers to her comments during the 2008 campaign in support of Clinton. She said Obama had an advantage because of his race […] In my personal experience only, dealing with race has been more difficult than sexism, though everyone’s mileage may vary. The bottom line is that it’s still a man’s world, and down south a good old boys network that has to be navigated, so politics is still seen as a man’s game to play.

Joan Walsh from Salon

The San Francisco convention where she was nominated was my first and remains one of my favorite political memories. She deserves better than to be remembered mostly for her pained and divisive comments about Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic primary, but in some way, they defined her, good and bad.