Democrats and the gender issue

There are two more takes on the role of gender in the Democratic presidential race worth reading on today's opinion pages of The Boston Globe.

In one piece, Geraldine Ferraro gives her view of how the excitement over having the nomination come down to either the first woman or first African American to be the standard-bearer for a major political party has degenerated instead into a deep divide. She declares that "the effects of racism and sexism on the campaign" will "not be easy to heal before election day."

Ferraro worsened the wound herself by arguing that Barack Obama would not be the front-runner if he were not black -- comments that forced her to step down from a national fund-raising committee for Hillary Clinton.

But she says scolding the messenger won't resolve matters. "The truth is that tens of thousands of women have watched how Clinton has been treated and are not happy."

In the other piece, Globe columnist Ellen Goodman says Obama needs to heal the rift by giving a speech on gender like the widely praised address he gave on race in March.

She writes one for him in which he talks about being raised by a single mother, balancing work and home in a two-career marriage, and raising two daughters.

Obama, Goodman says, should make clear that he hears the concerns of women and that he will address them as president.

"There's a long way between now and November, and I need your help," she concludes the imagined speech. "You want a president who hears you and shares your hopes. I will be that president. I will be your president."