Posted on 10/19/2011 1:08:10 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
On CNN’s Newsroom this afternoon, anchor Brooke Baldwin observed that at last night’s GOP debate, Rick Perry kept referring to fellow candidate Herman Cain as “brother.” “Did you notice that while you were watching?” Baldwin asked her audience, replaying Perry’s comments.
PERRY: “Herman, I love you, brother, but let me tell you something, you don’t need to have a big analysis to figure this thing out…At the end of the week, I’m going to be laying out a plan that clearly — I’ll bump plans with you, brother, and we’ll see who has the best idea about how you get this country working again.”
I counted two there. Seriously! Let me know,” Baldwin exclaimed. “And here is what a Perry spokesperson said, ‘He is a friendly fellow. He uses that kind of language. And he views all those folks on stage as colleagues, as fellow Republicans and he speaks accordingly.’”
Baldwin questioned CNN political correspondent Mark Preston over Perry’s use of the term.
“As I was watching last night, I definitely made note of that,” Baldwin said. “And I’m sure you did as well.”
“Sure, it’s certainly something the Perry campaign does not want to be talking about right now,” responded Preston. “They want to talk about what they think was a very strong performance for the Texas Governor. We have to be very careful not to characterize what he was saying. They are saying that he meant nothing by that and in fact he’s not racist and what have you. It would be interesting to see what happens if Herman Cain is asked that question and if Herman Cain decides that he doesn’t have a problem with it, then I do think the issue is dead, Brooke.”
(Excerpt) Read more at mediaite.com ...
I’m not sure when “brother” became a derogatory statement. I doubt he was being religious. I kind of doubt it was about a special bond of friendship — given that Cain said he wouldn’t support Perry.
But it’s interesting to see people claim that calling someone brother is “derogatory” or “condescending”. I bet they wouldn’t think that if he called a white person “brother”.
Some people just think everything is derogatory when it’s a black person.
A lot of people just don’t know how nice and friendly Texans are.
Perry would make a fine President though and his ‘boorish’ behavoir doesn’t bother me one bit...but I have lived in Texas for 25 years...lol. We absolutely need someone that will go after Obama and the democrats full throttle. It bothers me more that he is a career politician and doesn’t seem up to a national campaign. I could change my mind though...the primary is a long way off.
I can't imagine Perry ever giving the Queen Elizabeth an I-Pod with his speeches, or returning the bust of Winston Churchill, though..
Or jumping in front of Prince Phillip to hog the camera at a photo op, or screwing up a toast, or...or waving in the group photo of the Partnership for Open Government, obscuring the face of the President of Mongolia.
Up in these parts, it's very common to call another guy "brother". I assumed that was the case across the country. Judging by the comments, I guess not.
Or, even more importantly in my mind, dig into Dear Leader’s background....it’s got to be full of worms, just ask Reverend Manning...
“I bet they wouldn’t think that if he called a white person “brother”.’
That’s just it...Perry didn’t call any of the other candidates ‘brother’... only Cain. I know for a fact that Perry isn’t a racist....he was just trying too hard after being slammed as one. He needs to relax and keep his aim on Obama and the democrats.
I don’t understand why you made this comment to me in response to my remarks about Perry.
But, but, if you stop watching Fox, you won’t be able to see my Mississippi “brother” Shep.....now, can you really handle that? /s
It definitely felt awkward.
I have no interest in Perry or Romney at this point. Gingrich did very well, but I still like Cain.
well, I suppose it sounds better than Homes.
So the question is: Why did Governor Perry call Cain “Brother”, and not call Romney “Brother”.
From scanning the posts, I see two lines of thought:
Theory 1: “They are both evangelical Christians”
Theory 2: “I believe he was referring to Cain as a “soul brother””
Theory 3: “...perhaps he was attempting to get a negative reaction from him”
So, the answer has to be one or the other.
(1) If it’s because they’re both Christians, then why not Romney...unless Perry really does believe what that minister spouts.
(2) If it’s because he’s black, then maybe the Washington Post story on the rock was really on to something (something I commented on once...then backed away and let Perry’s defenders deal with it).
(3) If it’s to get a reaction out of him, then it was simple race-baiting, to try to get Cain to pop his cork.
Given Perry’s poll numbers, the fact he only said that to Cain, and that he did it twice, I have to put my money on Number 3. But, what the hell, if you have to play the RACE CARD to try to win, why the hell not? LOL.
We all know that Perry practiced about 20 hours a day for that debate, so NOTHING was by accident...
Perhaps the next debate, he’ll call him “boy”, just to see if he can get a rise out of him. After all, “brother” didn’t work as hoped.
My thoughts exactly.
I’m assuming you’re not including Austin in this...
Toooo funny. I keep forgetting Austin is part of Texas. Everyone has their cross to bear. We happen to have two - Austin and Sheila Jackson Lee.
Now if Mitt had called Herman Cain brother, that would have been odd.”
So true. I can’t imagine any other combination of any of all the candidates referring to the other as brother other than Cain and Perry. Somehow wouldn’t seem right. Not sure the MSM would ever understand that this has absolutely nothing to do with race.
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