That sounds like something Samuel L. Jackson would say...
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.
No, but he shouldn't have been so quick to pile on and pull out the "race card". A more measured response, along the lines of "On the surface, this looks bad. However, I have a hard time believing that Gov. Perry would be involved in such insensitivity, so I'll withhold comment until I have a chance to review all of the facts."
That type of response doesn't jump the gun, but still leaves him open to critique Perry later if the facts did indeed come out against him.
No matter which way the Cain supporters want to slice it, the fact is it gave the loud mouth idiot race baiters ammunition they can use against conservatives. That’s the bottom line. Cain is nothing but another race panderer and I for one am sick and tired of the “race card”. I think he did more harm to future Black candidates then Obama, in that we conservatives are all for overlooking skin color in our candidates, but Cain has proven that Black candidates, no matter what their affiliation, will always resort to skin color first and foremost. What a disappointment.
You mean like calling a word insensitive. I think if a word bothers people so much they should stay out of politics.
Unless we seal the border, every illegal alien you deport will sneak back in. It be will like bailing water out of a leaking boat. Not much practical thinking there.
BINGO!
Cain is “able”?? To what? Cheap shot? Race bait? Maybe you’re right.
Do people really expect that a black man (a REAL Black American, not a fake half-white one from Hawaii), who grew up poor in the segregated South in the 50s and 60s, who experienced real racism in his life (undoubtedly much more than Barry) would be just peachy keen with usage of the word “N****r” like it’s no big deal, then I don’t know what world they’re living in. It doesn’t make him any less conservative to feel that way.
No, Cain shut have said, I don’t know the facts surrounding this claim, so I won’t comment yet. No, he’d rather just do the Al Sharpton thing.
I didn’t like Perry calling conservatives “heartless” and I don’t like it when so called conservatives try painting Perry as a racist. They are both wrong.
That sounds like something Samuel L. Jackson would say...
Perry didn’t write the epithet. Why is this his fault?
Cain should have known better. He’s not some naive newcomer. He’s a talk show host and has worked in jobs of some responsibility for several companies.
If he has no more political judgement than to jump when someone he shouldn’t have trusted says “Frog,” then he needs to learn to stand still and wait for the facts.
The media knows how to use Herman’s political naïveté to get him to jump.
Perry committed suicide on the immigration issue..
Caine had nothing at all to do with it..
The border “magnet” issue is overriding..
Christie can cut thru the crap with the best of them.. BUT...
He is indeed a squishy liberal after all..
A “GOOD” President may NOT be electable..
That's bullsh*t. It's Perry's record and doubling down on it is what's doing him in.
Cain was initially presented with more than enough facts to know that the WaPo story gave him no reason whatever to ascribe insensitivity to Governor Perry or anyone associated with him. He should have resented the effort to use him as a club with which to beat another Republican. He should have refused to answer the question and insisted on talking about something important. What he did do was accuse another Republican, a white Southerner, of racial insensitivity without the slightest grounds.
That's not just an attack. It is poisonous race baiting and it has no place in our public discourse. Herman Cain should be deeply ashamed, and so should anyone who has embarrassed himself by trying to justify Cain's Al Sharpton impersonation.
Sorry, but... what a load.
“So you were okay with Perry calling conservatives “Heartless”? LOL! That was no big deal right.”
Dude...I’m not voting for Perry in the primary either. I have ruled out both Perry and Cain. Both have shown a degree of arrogance I don’t like. That is simply my opinion.
Unless Palin jumps in, I will vote for Bachmann on principle, in a primary. In a general election I would vote for Cain or Perry over Obama. However, if Romney or Christie get the nod....I will leave the ballot blank or vote for a third party IF one is conservative.
Rush is talking about this now and says Herman Cain piggybacked off the WashPost story and called it a mistake on Cain’s part.
I said yesterday, Cain was using the race card, but he deserved a chance to see the error he made and to apologize for his bad judgment. Don’t know if that will happen.
Unless we seal the border, every illegal alien you deport will sneak back in. It be will like bailing water out of a leaking boat. Not much practical thinking there.
That's not really true. Sealing the border could be struck from the above and if the rest were effectively implemented the problem would be mostly solved. Remove the motivation to cross the border illegally and people won't do it. It is much easier and more effective to affect people's behavior by altering their motivations than it is through direct confrontation.
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