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Cain Says His Deadly Fence Plan Was 'a Joke'
The New York Times ^ | Sunday, October 16, 2011 | Susan Saulny

Posted on 10/16/2011 9:18:08 AM PDT by kristinn

At two campaign rallies in Tennessee on Saturday night, the Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said that part of his immigration policy would be to build an electrified fence on the country’s border with Mexico that could kill people trying to enter the country illegally.

But by Sunday morning, in a dramatic change of tone, Mr. Cain, a former restaurant executive, said he was only kidding.

“That’s a joke,” Mr. Cain told the journalist David Gregory during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he was asked about the electrified fence. “That’s not a serious plan. I’ve also said America needs to get a sense of humor.”

Mr. Cain’s attempt to pass off incendiary comments as nothing but a joke may take more effort, however. In making the initial remarks about an electrified fence killing illegal immigrants, Mr. Cain was detailed and repetitive. He did not introduce his thoughts as anything but serious commentary, beginning with the words, “We have a crisis of illegal immigration.”

And the crowds responded with cheers, not laughs.

(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; borderfence; bordersecurity; cain; electricfence; fence; fleabaggers; hermancain; illegalimmigration; sliming4illegals
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To: NoGrayZone

Because they’re adults that are staying out of the limelight and busy living their lives, raising Cain’s grandchildren? I doubt they’re clamoring to be on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ or on reality television.


201 posted on 10/16/2011 10:45:38 AM PDT by Pan_Yans Wife ("Real solidarity means coming together for the common good."-Sarah Palin)
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To: kristinn

I heard the Cainiac was an electrifying speaker, but . . . .


202 posted on 10/16/2011 10:45:38 AM PDT by behzinlea
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To: kristinn

Herman all you have to say is that when you are elected you will declare a state of emergency and build a fence across our border. Tell me what happens to an Arab when they scale the fence between Israel and Gaza?


203 posted on 10/16/2011 10:45:50 AM PDT by doc
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To: justsaynomore

The third thing we need to do, enforce the laws that are there, and the way we do it, empower the states. I believe that the people closest to the problem are the best ones to be able to solve that problem. Empower the states to do what the federal government hasn’t done, can’t do, and won’t do. This is how we solve the entire problem.
Source: 2011 GOP debate in Simi Valley CA at the Reagan Library , Sep 7, 2011

OMG he suggests the states do it and not expect daddy government to do it. So many clamor for less government, then turn around and want the government to fix it. People that run for Governor in states like California and Texas know they have a border problem. Have a plan before you think of running. If you are going to give illegals benefits like healthcare and education and not enforce the laws of deportation, then the onus is on those states to deal with it.


204 posted on 10/16/2011 10:46:03 AM PDT by Netizen (Path to citizenship = Scamnesty. If you give it away, more will come. Who's pilfering your wallet?)
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To: magritte
Why are you shocked ?

I guess because I'm an eternal optimist. I always seem to expect people to be better than that - but I guess it's just human nature. You'd think I'd learn better, but at my age, that doesn't look likely.

That thread last night reminded me of a pack of dogs. Sad. Sad. Sad.

205 posted on 10/16/2011 10:46:33 AM PDT by alicewonders
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To: for-q-clinton
You don't really believe TV is feeding all the truth all the time, do you?
206 posted on 10/16/2011 10:47:31 AM PDT by MHGinTN (Some, believing they can't be deceived, it's nigh impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: altura

I guess it’s easier just to make grandiose statements about a border you’ve never seen and obviously know little about.

Isn’t that what politics is all about these days. most of them would have a hard time finding it on a map. ;-)


207 posted on 10/16/2011 10:47:57 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard .. Obama: Epic Fail or Bust!!!)
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To: Nervous Tick

Oh, I’m on board with that sentiment.

I hereby pledge to work and support any candidate against Obama even if it’s Cain.

I think my second choice right now would be Newt. He would be a fun candidate and a lot of people here seem fixated on debating skills which he has in spades.

I just worry that the vitriol going on now, mainly against Perry, a good man, a proven leader and conservative is going to divide and conquer.


208 posted on 10/16/2011 10:49:27 AM PDT by altura (Perry 2012)
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To: BobL
I guess the difference is that Perry’s off-the-cuff remark told us what he thinks about the Republican base, while Cain’s remark tells us what he REALLY thinks about illegal immigration.

POST OF THE DAY!

209 posted on 10/16/2011 10:49:27 AM PDT by Netizen (Path to citizenship = Scamnesty. If you give it away, more will come. Who's pilfering your wallet?)
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To: CajunConservative

>> “It is politically stupid to alienate the fastest growing demographic.” <<

.
That is why we have to turn them into the “Incredible Shrinking Demographic.”


210 posted on 10/16/2011 10:49:57 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (No Federal Sales Tax - No Way!)
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To: magritte; alicewonders
>>>>Why are you shocked ?
 
Getting shocked is often the result of a malfunctioning fault protection circuit -- possibly due to presence of bad logic device such as an H-C Flipper Flopper... 
 

 
Didn't get the recall notice?   Maybe it was in Perrywinkler Espanola/Chinese and you just couldn't read it?
 
{I'll be here all week, try the veal}
 
 
 

211 posted on 10/16/2011 10:50:27 AM PDT by LomanBill (Animals! The DemocRats blew up the windmill with an Acorn!)
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To: Hammerhead
"Its Santorum or Newt for me at this time".

....but neither have a chance, even though Newt's the smartest guy on stage. Very unfortunate that his baggage will weight him way down

The only viable candidate is Mr. Cain, imo.

212 posted on 10/16/2011 10:50:27 AM PDT by NoRedTape
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To: altura

You did not buck up your story at all. Cain did NOT BRING THE ROCK UP - he was asked about it. I would have preferred that he had made “no comment.” That would have been better.

Having said that, it is ridiculous to say he “got all upset about it.”

The problem is this: you have a kool aid agenda for a candidate who is sinking. I, on the other hand, like your candidate but like another one too.

I see both sides. You can’t get the kool aid out of your eyes.


213 posted on 10/16/2011 10:50:37 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright
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To: hellbender

Of those five points I think the fence/border security is the least important as far as the illegal alien problem. The other four would actually have the biggest effect on those coming here for jobs. But they all need to be done.

Unfortunately crossing the border just to work a legitimate job is not the biggest reason we have people crossing our borders anymore. Narco-terrorist drug cartels and Muslim terrorists are now the biggest concern and the only thing that will address that is strong border security.

214 posted on 10/16/2011 10:50:56 AM PDT by TigersEye (Life is about choices. Your choices. Make good ones.)
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To: kristinn

Heh....


215 posted on 10/16/2011 10:51:05 AM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Mr B has a new cousin on the way!)
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To: Netizen

Yes you are RIGHT!

“IT will kill you”

I guess it depends on what the meaning of the word IT is?


216 posted on 10/16/2011 10:52:07 AM PDT by marty60
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To: NYC-Conserv; Jim Robinson

>> “This guy is gonna embarrass our side time and again.” <<

.
Not nearly so much as you’re going to embarrass us if you’re not zotted soon!


217 posted on 10/16/2011 10:52:39 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (No Federal Sales Tax - No Way!)
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To: Kirkwood

Because he has lots of things he gets asked about. The last debate was on the economy. Illegal migration didn’t come up.

You get a certain amount of time to to respond at debates. I think he is trying to handle one issue at a time. He’s been hammering 999, so now maybe he is going to bring out his illegal immigration policy.

I’m not sure if the next debate on Tuesday is about just one topic or if there will be various topics.


218 posted on 10/16/2011 10:54:25 AM PDT by Netizen (Path to citizenship = Scamnesty. If you give it away, more will come. Who's pilfering your wallet?)
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To: C. Edmund Wright

Well, you don’t have to insult me. :) Okay, I guess you do.

Business experience is good. I’d like a candidate who has both.

My point is that no one has any real knowledge of how Cain would vote, how he would handle legislative matters, nothing.

Perry is for disbanding the EPA which would be the single biggest boon to business I can think of.

He’s for going after our natural resources which would jump start the economy in many ways and stop our dependence on foreign oil, the money from which is often used to make weapons against us.

Cain is attractive, says the right things (until he has to take them back) but my point is that all we know about the man is what he says.


219 posted on 10/16/2011 10:54:25 AM PDT by altura (Perry 2012)
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To: altura

>> Perry is for disbanding the EPA which would be the single biggest boon to business I can think of.

Amen to that.


220 posted on 10/16/2011 10:55:43 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Trust in God, but row away from the rocks!)
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