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.
Well, let’s see who we have left. Perry is out, he played the race card when he suggested his base were heartless and basing their opinions on the sound of some people’s last names. Paul is out cause he’s nuts. Romneycare is out. Now you want Cain out.
Who does that leave us so far? Bachmann, Newt, Huntsman, Santorum
I could accept Santorum, Bachmann or even Newt, but I’m sure Newt haters will soon show up and then there;’s the Bachmann broke Reagan’s 11th commandmment people, so that Leaves Santorum and Huntsman.
I’ll take Santorum over Huntsman. Are we sure Santorum hasn’t made any gaffes?
It would have been wise for him to note that often Washington Post articles are written to put Republicans in the worst possible light and that we would listen to Perry’s side of the story before he commented.
They painted it over. That should have ended the matter.
That's why career politicians like Perry rarely make public gaffes....oh wait....
BS! Cain said it was insensitive and qualified it by wondering when it was covered over.
Cain will probably be upset over this smear by the media and the fact they used him to promote it.
This was not an attack by Cain on Perry. It was a smear on Perry by the MSM.
We do this every time, and then end up with the RINO. I’m guilty of it too.
NOBODY is perfect. Yeah, we could have some far better candidates, but several (Perry, Newt, Cain, Santorum) would do some truly good things for the country (even if it’s “half a loaf” in some ways). Yet, we do all the left’s bidding for them, and when our candidates make a stupid gaffe, rather than support them and hope they remedy it, we trash them ourselves and have nobody left to support, throwing the nomination to Romney, McCain, Dole, even Bush, etc.
Not to pick nits here, but you quoted someone else, and attributed the quote to me. Just to keep things straight.
What about adding ‘stiff fines’ for hiring illegals? Taking away potential jobs would also help deter them from coming.
Sorry I just noticed that would be covered in the second one.
What's oh so politically experienced Perry's excuse for calling conservatives racist and heartless?
Now THAT would have been awesome. Frankly, that reminds me of what Palin might have said since she knows how the media works. Give Cain time, he will too. He doesn't seem to be the type to shy away from speaking his mind.
That's an easy one - At heart he's a RINO idiot.
The creative rationalizations for Cain continue just as they did to explain his CONTINUING support for that gigantic leap toward socialism: TARP.
Cain should pull a Marion Berry and just say "the beyotch set me up"
Santorum endorsed Arlen Specter in the primary over Pat Toomey. For many Pennsylvania conservatives, he is a RINO.
Give Cain time,
And we wonder why we can’t ever get really good candidates to run.
Nobody with a brain would want anything to do with running for President, especially on the GOP side.
That's a cop out.
And by the way.....I appreciated Cain's attitude at the debates and wrote up this vanity to highlight it. But he's shown his true self. And it is so destructive -- no one wins with this.
Cain was asked his opinion. He gave it.
Note that he didn 't rake Perry over the coals--as he could have done--and as many politicians would have--he merely said it was "insensitive". That's mild.
*sigh*
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