Posted on 10/04/2011 10:44:12 AM PDT by Kaslin
Someone told me recently she liked reading my blog but it seemed like everything I wrote about was race. I guess I’m going to live up to that person’s perception today. Admittedly, I write from the perspective of a black woman, so I can’t help notice these type of stories. For the record, the purpose of my blog is to educate people on politics, awaken black liberals to a new way of thinking and encourage people to vote based on issues not party.
I don’t intentionally sit down at the key board each week itching to write about the intersection of politics and race, but it seems there is always a politically racial story staring and at times smacking me in the face. Like today, when the only black Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said it was "insulting" for Governor Rick Perry and his family to lease a hunting camp in Texas known as “Niggerhead.”
This racist word used to describe blacks is emblazoned on a rock prominently situated at a gated entrance to the camp. The Washington Post broke the story, detailing how the rock has been painted over, turned over but not removed since Perry’s father and later the governor himself began leasing the spot in 1983.
Cain condemned Perry for being associated with such a word, saying on This Week:
"Since Gov. Perry has been going there for years to hunt, I 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. . . .Yes, it was painted over. But how long ago was it painted over? So I'm still saying that it is a sign of insensitivity."
One would think conservatives, including those who call themselves Republicans like me and Tea Party Patriots, would be applauding Cain’s response. After all, many of these same conservatives have said they whole hearted support of Cain as a candidate has nothing to do with the color of his skin but his positions on ALL issues, one would assume they would be supportive of Cain’s position on racial equality and inclusion.
So, you can surmise I was surprised when people on my tweeter stream turned on Cain, blasting him for “using the race card.” Yes, these good PATRIOTS who supported Cain were now defending Perry’s complicit endorsement of the use of the N-word by not removing the ugly rock form the camp site.
One true patriot tweeted: "Turns out Cain is no different than members of Congressional Black Caucus. He should apologize to Governor Perry #tcot #teaparty #Perry2012"
But the tweets below are worse and demonstrate conservative voters need to come to grips with the reality that we live in the 21st century where there is no place for the word nigger in the American discourse nor should it be associated with any presidential candidate who actually wants to win in 2012.
"Herman Cain playing the race card on Rick Perry will end the Cain campaign. And it was totally unnecessary, too. WaPo carrying that water" said one tweet.
"@TheHermanCain Sorry you have turned out to be just another race baiter. Thought we were trying to get rid of that stuff. Thks, but no thks" said another tweet.
"@impoTex @TheHermanCain The GOP cand. should renounce this kind of slanderous reporting. Mr Cain I have lost respect for you, fueling this" another tweet reads.
It truly boggles the mind how some conservatives can support Cain in one breath because he’s got winning solutions then dump their support for him and unfollow him in seconds because he stands up against racial hate. Apparently, talking about race as a conservative candidate is taboo. You can’t mention it PERIOD, even when it’s slapping you in your face.
Does the GOP want to win in 2012 or become known as party of hate? Ask yourself and change that tune, please! This is exactly what the GOP doesn't need right now. It won't endear voters to us in 2012. Excelsior Herman Cain!
I think you’ve clarified this thread!
QUICK!
Paint your trees!!
Really? Do you really want to talk about race? Or are you suggesting in a Holder like manner to talk about race?
Let's talk about the Black Caucus, the NAACP, The Black Panthers, Rev Wright, Obama, Affirmative Action, set asides, SAT's, Flash Mobs, double standards, 70%+ unwed mothers, crime, black ethnocentrism and a list a mile long.
So let's talk!
What do you mean "become" known as the party of hate? We're already known as the party of hate. Didn't you get the memo?
Oh, and wasn't it blacks, themselves, who just called Herman Cain a racist a few days ago because he dared suggest that 90% of blacks have been brainwashed by Liberals?
We're just tired of the race card being played. Pure and simple. You probably remember how we reacted when Perry said we were heartless for not supporting his policy of giving illegals in-state tuition rates and also suggesting we were afraid of people with different sounding names. His commanding lead disappeared faster than Murphy Brown's baby.
We despise racism and the playing of the race card no matter who engages in it and we treat those who do the same regardless of their skin color.
In other words, we are consistent.
I just listened to that Cain interveiw, and, frankly, I do NOT see what the uproar is all about.
When, in the voting booth, if someone can truthfully say that THEY have not uttered things considered to be ‘insensitive’...
Hardly ANYONE considers their own dog to be ugly.
Incredible, illogical stretch.
Good luck with finding the candidate who never says anything you don't like. (I guess you'll be staying home and letting Obama win again, eh?)
I'll say the same thing to you as I have to others....
If you give up on Cain for this perceived error, then there are no candidates who will satisfy you.
Cain was raised in a segregated, racist south and never uses his race as any kind of 'card.'
Anyone who is dropping Cain for this NON-offense isn't thinking clearly.
I fully understand there is no perfect candidate and undoing the damage that the Obama Administration has done to our great country is the first priority.
However I would rather see candidates who are honest and principled and who will stand up to the lies and false accusations that are so common in the MSM. Politicians who try to please the MSM by repeating politically correct talking points and refuse to take principled stands against obvious lies don't deserve our support.
You really haven’t a clue, although you could easily get one if you tried using that great new invention called “posting history.” I had not thrown all of my support behind ANY candidate yet before this mess, but I did like Cain and Perry—and possibly Palin if she ever decides. I’ve said so in public posts. How dare you call me a liar! Ok, not in so many words, but bad enough. I’m starting to think you’re just here to stir up trouble, so maybe I’ll let you stir elsewhere.
Indeed, and I experienced a bit of that myself some years ago. A Mormon lady we knew used to always put on her little delicate white gloves if she knew she was going to have to shake hands with people of other races.
Did you even read what I said? I said the name was unfortunate, but I can’t control what a flower was called 100 years ago. As I said elsewhere, the flower was also called “Golden Jerusalem” in the Middle Ages (too Catholic or Jewish?) and is also known as “Black-eyed Susan” (too sexist?). The botanical name is Rudbeckia hirta.
What I find ridiculous is that the media and the DNC spokespeople act like Gov. Perry named the place himself.
Thans...I forgot what I wrote now...hehe
I’m not sure what you are responding to. My comment about Perry’s statement being foolish had to do with his “heartless” comment regarding the “Dream Act”. The WaPo story, however, is purely a smear.
Dislike him if you will, but your conclusions based on this interview, outside of the context of everything else he has ever said and done, are way off the mark.
Again......good luck with finding someone who never says anything you don't like. And good luck with defining 'principled' as someone who never says anything that bothers you.
ooops..thanks
As for calling you a liar......are you kidding me?? I never did anything even close to that. I haven't thought for even one moment that you weren't telling the truth. Yikes.
My final post to you will be the same as my others......if you dimiss Herman Cain based on the emotional reaction you're having to this interview and ignoring every other fact about the man, then go for it.
If you liked Cain before, and don't like him now, then your information was lacking both before and now, and I continue to urge you to do your homework.
I'm not here to 'cause trouble.' I'm here to help people think about what they're saying and stop reacting viscerally to incomplete information.
Herman Cain is a viable candidate, a strong conservative, a NON 'race-baiter,' intelligent, filled with ideas, and an all around great guy from everything I've seen and heard.
Conservatives are supposed to be thinkers, but unfortunately, as further evidenced by this thread, a lot just feel and react. That's exactly what's happening here, and the left loves it.
“1. Herman Cain is honest and principled
2. Herman Cain is most certainly NOT a ‘politician’ who is trying to please the MSM.”
He certainly didn’t act like it.
But I understand your larger point, the way he handled this situation was unprincipled but it was just one incident. We should not judge a person on just one event. We should look at their complete record.
I've listened to Cain a lot, and have been extremely impressed with the complete absence of any use of the race card in any situation.
This one interview at best (or worst), is completely antithetical to the entire breadth and scope of his life.
Cain played the race card, and I for one am sick to death of it. He showed what he’s about, a man who doesn’t think well on his feet, someone who will allow the media *misinterpret* what he says (he says), and jumps the gun and makes inflammatory charges when he doesn’t have the facts. Sounds like someone we already have in office and if you can overlook these flaws, more power to you, I can’t.
It says a lot more about you than it does about Herman Cain........and none of it is good.
Oh........and good luck finding that 'flawless' person you're demanding. At least we know that it's not going to be you....
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