The Michigan Daily - Friday, July 13, 1984
Local
feminists
! praise
Ferraro
By ERIC MATTSON
with wire reports
When Walter Mondale announced
yesterday that Geraldine Ferraro
would be his running mate, reaction
from the University community was
swift and supportive.
"I'm just delighted," said psychology
Prof. Elizabeth Douvan, also a
chairperson of the women's studies
department. Douvan said having
Ferraro as the vice presidential
candidate would be "a very big
advantage for the Democrats."
DOUVAN ridiculed the notion that
Ferraro isn't qualified to be vice
president: "When you talk shout
qualifications for vice president, was
Spiro Agnew qualified?"
As for the future, Douvan said "Ihope
that it means that a woman or a
minority can take positions of
extraordinary power."
Political Science Prof. Arlene Saxonh-
ouse, who is also associated with the
women's studies department, said
having Ferraro on the ticket "gives
(Mondale's) campaign more of a spark
than it otherwise would have."
AFFIRMATIVE Action director
Virginia Nordby said she was "very
pleased" with Mondale's decision.
Nordby agreed that Mondale made
the right choice. "As far as I'm aware,
she's as qualified as many other vice
presidential candidates," she said.
Nordby also said female politicians
are becoming a more potent political
force. "Their function, their roles are
being taken more seriously," she saia.
MICHIGAN Supreme Court Justice
Patricia Boyle said she was "thrilled"
about having Ferraro as the vice
presidential nominee. "I didn't think
she would get it," she said. Boyle said it
is crucial to have a woman's
perspective in a high office.
In Lansing, Lt. Gov. Martha Griffiths
said "up until this time ... I didn't think
Mondale had much of a chance."
"She is an excellent vice presidential
nominee and her selection is a
significant advance for women in
American politics," said Sen. Gary
Hart. Hart, however, pledged to con-
tinue his bid for the presidential
nomination.
THE SELECTION of the first woman
for a national ticket is "a rather
courageous and exciting move," said
Rev. Jesse Jackson."
Labor leaders, feminists, and
conservationists joined in the praise.
But Republicans and conservatives
were less enthusiastic, predicting that
even though Mondale had scored an
historic first by naming a woman as his
running mate, it would not be enough to
overcome antipathy towards him.
"I'm looking forward to running and
campaigning against the Democratic
ticket," President Reagan told
reporters.
Phyllis Schlafly, a leading opponent
of the failed Equal Rights Amendment,
criticized Ferraro as an "advocate of
the radical feminist movement" who
will hurt the Democratic ticket.
DJaily staff writor Pala William
Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale is flanked by his wife, Joan (left), his vice presidential running
mate, Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, and Ferraro's husband John Zacarro as the four wave to an audience in the chambers of
the Minnesota House of Representatives yesterday.
Ferraro is a gamble for Mondale
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The usually cautious Walter REPUBLICANS yesterday were rubbing their hands in
Mondale has laid down the biggest wager of his political life, glee.
gambling that the nomination of Geraldine Ferraro for They stack Ferraro's time as a prosecutor and three terms
running mate will energize and attract more voters than it in the U.S. House against George Bush's one term in the
loses. House and his brief stints as ambassador to the United
It is a high-risk strategy designed to upset Ronald Reagan. Nations and to China, chairman of the Republican National
FOR MORE than a year, feminists have been arguing that Committee and head of the Central Intelligence Agency.
naming a woman would "maximize the gender gap," But Mondale and feminists argue that women have been
electrify otherwise indifferent voters - particularly women locked out of the traditional career path in politics and can't
- and give Mondale the boost he needs to overcome what be expected to have equal credentials - even if they would be
some polls say is now a 19-point Reagan margin. equally good at the job.
Generally, academic analysts believe the vice presidential "AFTER ALL, what did George Bush ever do - except run
candidate has little impact on voter's decisions outside the the CIA for 90 minutes," said one feminist leader-
nominee's home state. The Democrats are betting otherwise, sarcastically of Bush's credentials.
in 1984 at least. The GOP is certain to attack Mondale for
But with Ferraro come big risks. "caving into the special interests," particularly the National
FIRST IS the question of experience and qualifications. Organization for Women and other feminist groups.
Then the accusation that Mondale caved in to special Phyllis Schlafly, the country's most outspoken anti-
interests. And the "loose cannon" threat - no one knows feminist woman, has already chimed in with her attack,
Ferraro's ability under pressure. calling Ferraro an "advocate of the radical feminist
Various national polls give very mixed signals about the movement."
impact of choosing a woman - the Democrats seem to And at the North Oaks, Minn., news conference after her
pick up some votes and lose some others. talk with Mondale on July 2, Ferraro ignored Mondale's
In some polls, the gains and the losses are a wash, while in repeated comments that he was looking for the best person
others, a woman seems to make a bit of a contribution. for the job and flatly said the choice should be made on the
Many analysts argue that a woman would hurt Democrats basis of who could bring the most votes to the ticket.
particularly in the South, where conservative white males Now,~-Mondale has put down his wager. The voters will
would turn to a more comfortable choice philosophically and decide in November what kind of hand he has drawn.
vote for Reagan.
Mondale
(Continuedfrom Page 1)
under tremendous pressure to make
history and pick a woman this year,
although the decision was bound to
draw criticism that it was politically
motivated.
NOT ONLY did Mondale make
history by choosing a woman, he broke
tradition by announcing his decision
before the convention - a move seen as
being aimed at bringing the party
together for a harmonious meeting.
The women's issue aside, Ferraro
brings traditional balance to the Mon-
dale ticket. She is a Roman Catholic,
the first Italian-American ever
nominated for national office, an
Easterner with a background as a
tough county prosecutor but also a
liberal with an AFL-CIO rating of 93
percent. Her home state, New York,
fell to Reagan in 1980, and Mondale
needs to take it in the fall to maximize
his chances of success.
chooses Rep. Ferraro
Charles Manatt said Mondale's choice
of a woman running mate could tip the
balance in the Democrats' favor in the
fall campaign against President
Reagan, and women were especially
pleased. Even Elizabeth Dole, a mem-
ber of Reagan's Cabinet, called
Ferraro's selection a "dramatic
move."
MONDALE'S CAMPAIGN rival Gary
Hart praised the choice as a
"significant advance for women in
American politics," but said it will not
deter him from pursuing his own
presidential candidacy.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson hailed
Ferraro's selection. San Francisco
Mayor Dianne Feinstein, a finalist for
the vice president slot, said Ferraro
would "adda spark to the ticket."
Reagan's campaign spokesman John
Buckley provided a taste of the cam-
paign to come. Ferraro "won't stack
up" against Vice President George
Bush, he said, citing him as a more ex-
perienced and seasoned public leader.
IN WASHINGTON, Reagan said,
"I'm looking forward to running again-
st an campaigning against the
Democratic ticket." Asked if he
thought the announcement was
historic, he said, "Yeah, like appointing
Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme
Court."
The Mondale-Ferraro team planned
to make an appearance today in
Elmore, Minn., Mondale's boyhood
home. Then they were going to Lake
Taheo, Calif., for the pre-convention
weekend before arriving in San Fran-
cisco on Monday.
Rep. Ferraro had been the strong
favorite of women's groups and -had
also won early backing from House
Speaker Thomas O'Neill and Gov.
Mario Cuomo of New York.
In his selection process in which he
interviewed candidates at his North
Oaks, Minn., home, Mondale talked
with only one white male - Sen. Lloyd
Bentsen of Texas. The rest of the field
included women and minorities.
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