Apologize, Ferraro

Heads up, political junkies ... up! A nation with the longest-running presidential campaign in history ought to observe a high level of dignity on matters of race and gender.

Former vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, who had served on Hillary Clinton's campaign finance committee, foolishly said, "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," referring to the strength of Barack Obama's candidacy.

Ferraro should stop talking about how much it hurts that people view her as a racist — she is not — and apologize for an ill-considered comment.

A country finally evolved enough to entertain the candidacy of the first African-American president or first female president ought to take the high road as often as possible.

Ferraro embarrassed Clinton, too, because Ferraro had to resign from the unpaid committee post.

Everyone makes slips of the tongue. The sturdiest among us apologize.

Obama has not made race an issue. The half-white, half-African-American candidate is not running to right a racial wrong. He seeks the office because he has the vision, judgment and temperament to lead.

It is possible some voters embrace his candidacy to express faith in the country's changing racial composition. It does not follow that his campaign is based on race or that he is a token candidate.

Obama said Ferraro is a slice-and-dice politician and accused her of dividing the Democratic Party. Ferraro needlessly injected a racial component into the campaign.

Clinton could have more forcefully admonished Ferraro but did say, "I certainly do repudiate" the remark, adding Ferraro doesn't speak for the campaign.

Obama was predictably calm, saying it was a good thing this issue came up now because it would have come up some time: "I don't want to deny the role of race and gender in our society. They're there and they're powerful. But I don't think it's productive."

The presidential campaign has eight months to go. Every topic will arise repeatedly. Ferraro can end her second 15 minutes of fame with a simple and sincere apology.