Posted on 10/03/2011 8:46:50 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
After Sunday’s Washington Post reported that Texas Governor Rick Perry had utilized a Texas hunting camp named “Niggerhead,” GOP candidate Herman Cain (a former pizza exec. and the only black candidate running for the GOP presidential nomination) wasted little time in accusing Perry of being insensitive to racial issues.
“Since Gov. Perry has been going there for years to hunt,” Cain told ABC’s “This Week,” think that it shows a lack of sensitivity for a long time of not taking that word off of that rock and renaming the place.”
When anchor Christiane Amanpour pushed back — noting that the rock had actually been painted over — Cain doubled-down, saying: “But how long ago was it painted over? So I’m still saying that it is a sign of insensitivity.’’
(Cain made similar comments on Fox News Sunday — demonstrating that this was not a gaffe made in response to a question that simply caught him off guard.)
In a prepared release, Perry Campaign Communications Director Ray Sullivan responded to Cain’s attack, saying: “Mr. Cain is wrong about the Perry family’s quick action to eliminate the word on the rock, but is right the word written by others long ago is insensitive and offensive. That is why the Perrys took quick action to cover and obscure it.”
Sullivan reiterated that the rock had been painted and turned over, and that “The Perrys did not own, name or control the property, they simply rented hunting rights to 1,000 acres of the ranch.”
My take? Cain’s comments were — at best – premature — and at worst, highly irresponsible. It was a cheap shot, and, perhaps is a signal that Cain is willing to play the race card against a fellow Republican when it benefits him.
The fact that Cain spoke out so soon — basing his comments on a newly-posted and thinly-sourced article published by an outlet many conservatives believe to have a liberal bias — speaks to Cain’s lack of political judgment.
This isn’t the first time Cain’s penchant for talking has gotten him in trouble, but in this instance, Cain has aided and abetted those who wish to portray southern conservatives as racists. In so doing, Cain provides cover for anyone wishing to cast Perry as such.
Just last week, Sarah Palin noted that “Herb” Cain was the “flavor of the week.” By siding with the Washington Post and Al Sharpton — against a fellow Republican who appears to have done nothing wrong — Cain might just have proven Palin right.
The rock was painted over, and turned over. The matter should have been done. If someone has a book in their library with the word “n*****” in it, should they throw away the entire library?
I think you’re just as anxious to play the race card as Cain was. Disappointing.
With all due respect, you remind me of when PETA came to one our nearby towns, and at first demanded, then tried to pay, to have the town’s name of Slaughterville changed. The name of the place where the Perry family hunted HAS been changed. Why should they leave it? Should we abandon the Grand Teton Park, let someone else have it, because of it’s name? You do know what a Teton is, don’t you? ;)
You are not better than the Democrats in this regard. My support for you is on life-support.
I’m not sure CW needs a break, but I understand how upsetting it can be dealing with out and out lies like we’re seeing here. I’m all for vigorously supporting a candidate, and vigorously opposing one. But it can be done very well by telling the truth. Lying is what ‘Rats do, not conservatives. Or at least, it used to be the case.
Here’s my question... Why was Sharpton set to be on the show in the first place. Did Amanpour KNOW she was going to bring this up, and used Sharpton because she was afraid Cain wouldn’t be sufficiently offended? It still all strikes me as a set-up by the media! The fact that Sharpton is the one who says he’ll still be “all over this” doesn’t make me think that Cain was behind it - it enforces my view that this was all a set-up, and by giving it all of this attention we are playing right into their hands.
Honestly, I think it’s outrageous that such a big deal is being made out of this in the first place. It’s a word on a damn ROCK. Perry doesn’t strike me as being as prejudiced against blacks (after all even if Perry’s family had painted the word to stand out MORE it doesn’t make PERRY himself a racist), and Cain doesn’t strike me as the kind of person to play the victim card over stuff like this either! As you pointed out with your link it’s Sharpton and the left who are giving this whole thing so much life, it is THEM who will make sure it doesn’t go away because they see how much *good* controversy they’ve been able to inject into OUR campaigns by the mere MENTION of the word being “insensitive”!
I’m sick of the race-baiting too. I’m sick and tired of being accused of being a racist. I don’t however, think the blame falls on Cain’s shoulders. It’s the left, and the media - same as it ever was... That’s why I’m saying we should get over this specific little tiff, and start pushing back against the racist accusations on the part of the left and the media. How to do that? Not quite sure... However, it really seems like it’s the old *Have you stopped beating your wife, yet?* type of BS - how DO you counter against something like that? [Figuring this out would benefit ALL of our GOP candidates, and society as a whole! We’ve got to figure out some way to take power away from the race-hustlers.]
With this issue settled can we get back to the plans the respective candidates have presented on how to move America forward? So far only Cain has presented his version. Are there any others?
You nailed it!
We sit around and waste time attacking Cain and Perry over this while Romney walks to the nomination.
You have to buy the story the story that it was painted over last week. This reminds me of the story about Bush’s army records.
I stand by my post #190 which clearly explains my position. I never suggested the Governor do anything on the property without permission.
And the Grand Tetons in no way measures up to Niggerhead - which is distinctly provocative and ugly.
This latest "rock" episode is so petty, it tells me a heck of a lot more about the schmucks that fall for this kind of stupidity.
Would be or should be, I’m not certain what laws exactly apply to those who employ illegal aliens. I am certain that the laws we do have are not being enforced evenly, effectively or vigorously. Our FedGov is AWOL!
If this is all anyone has on Perry, he’s my guy, I’ll take him. The fanatics that are trying to make this a major campaign issue are deliberately making a mountain out of a molehill. This is D-U-M-B.
135k Mexican immigrants in El Paso? Wow! I have been through there a few times and I didn't realize it was that big of a city. That would be a large number to absorb even in a city the size of Denver for an example.
LOSERS!!!!
My impression was that Perry’s family leased a hunting area that had a name associated with a rock prior to their leasing it.
Is that correct? They did not own it before, and they only leased it afterwards?
They also changed that name/rock after the lease.
You might not be a racist, but you are a Perry supporter. If you believe Perry, most of us on FR are heartless racists.
Your harping on this story feeds right into the hands of jerks like Sharpton. If you think most people will think badly of Herman Cain because he called Perry that terrible word, "insensitive", even if he was wrong, your not living in reality. More press about Perry and the "N" word, even if he did not use it, is where the damage will come.
This is a story that all conservatives should have just dropped. Let the liberals and the MSM do their own dirty work.
People should get over these “sensitivities.” I am a 67 year old American of Polish and Italian descent. You’d probably have to be my age to remember all the Polack and Dago jokes. Thing is, back then I laughted at them along with everyone else because a joke is a joke and I came back with my own. Back then it was said that sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me. I still believe that today. This country has become sooooooo politically correct that you can’t say boo to anyone anymore. Long gone are the days when people gathered around common areas and enjoyed themselves. I was allowed to go out at night but had to be home before the street lights came on during the week and we were safe. Who does that today? Do kids play ball in the vacant lot or school yard anymore? This country is not the same today as it was when I was young and that is a terrible shame because it was good living back then. Back then a kid could bring a gun to school for show and tell and the S.W.A.T. Squad wasn’t called out. Back then the “N” word was tossed around a lot - but mostly by black people themselves. Sorry, I’m rambling. I just wish people would get over themselves and not be so thin-skinned, no matter what the color of that skin. I used to say, we all bleed red blood which makes us all the same.
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