A gaffe, Michael Kinsley taught us, is not saying something false, but saying something true that no one wishes to acknowledge.

A gaffe, Michael Kinsley taught us, is not saying something false, but saying something true that no one wishes to acknowledge. Former vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, who now backs Hillary Clinton, said: "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position.... The country is caught up in the concept." Outrage from the candidate and his acolytes. "I don't think Geraldine Ferraro's comments have any place in our politics.... They are divisive" (Barack Obama). "When you wink and nod at offensive statements, you're really sending a signal to your supporters that anything goes" (Obama adviser David Axelrod). Ferraro made things even worse by saying, "If my name had been Gerald Ferraro ... I would never have gotten nominated." No kidding. Ferraro was picked to Make History, as Hillary was supposed to Make History this year, except that Obama seems more Historical. Maybe the fracas reminded non-Democrats why they find the party so menacing: It is rigid as a faculty search committee, or a union grievance hearing, but with aspirations to spend your money.