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 saw it. It was indeed a cheap shot...Cain has some very interesting body language.
Cain said it, not me. Nobody is disagreeing that the word, which somebody prior to the Perry family leasing the property put on the rock, is insensitive. What people got irritated with is that Cain tied it to Perry by flat out saying that Perry knew of it and didn't do anything about it.
If he has since apologized, then I accept that. I personally think Cain took the Wpost article as fact and was shooting from the hip. When it comes to something as serious as that, which can easily sink anybody's campaign (other than a democrat), then one should use caution when commenting on an accusation like that.
Well, it’s definite then - if you read his body language and got “cheap-shot race card” out of it, it’s over for Cain....
You should read up on what Cain has actually said since, and stop inferring things from Cain's statement ("flat out??") that are more extreme than what was there.
This is a made up controversy that would be all over if it weren't for gullible people who are keeping it going without being informed enough to move on.
I repeat. Don't fall for this shameless leftist ploy to create false controversy for both Perry and Cain.
Ditto on Newt. The major problem I have with Romney is that I think he can’t be trusted.
You could say the MSM is trying to get two birds with one (painted) stone.
You’re right, it’s *someone else’s fault* what Cain said, not Cain himself. Where have I heard that before?
You forgot insulted, affronted and slighted.
1. Perry is a racist
2. Cain played the race card.
The facts are this:
1. Perry is not a racist, and Cain knows it.
2. Cain did not play the race card, and Perry knows it.
If you believe either of the two leftists ploys, they have achieved their goal.
Congrats for playing into their hands.
The Perry’s leased hunting ground. They didn’t buy it. They didn’t own it.
It was owned by a Children’s foundation of all things and part of a huge bequest, apparently, by some rich folks in about 1939.
Unless someone can come up with an origin for the word in another language (n-head), then I’m inclined to agree that painting the rock indicates that the Perrys knew it was trouble, AND that they had some leeway in their lease to deal with items on the property that they simply leased.
Jackhammering/chiseling/stonecutting it would have been more permanent. It would have been a better solution. Hind sight 50/50.
It’s a gotcha. I know that. But, it’s a “gotcha” that has the potential to hurt Perry. Whether or not he should have known it isn’t really important. What’s important is that the damage is real.
All the while these conservatives and their followers are destroying each other, Mitt Romney doesn’t improve but stays in front.
There "isn't a more vile, negative word than the N-word, and for him to leave it there as long as he did, until before, I hear, they finally painted over it, is just plain insensitive to a lot of black people in this country," said Cain, who is running against Perry and a group of others for the Republican presidential nomination. He called it insulting.
He let himself be played. As a very intelligent Black man, I was hoping for better of him.
He is insulted??, as a white person I am insulted he would stoop to this. Enough is enough if the Blacks ever want to move on, burn that damn RACE CARD now, or talk to the hand.
. Will this keep me from voting for him if he wins the candidacy? NO, perhaps that will ease your mind.
We all have our opinions on this matter.
WOW! That reads like more was read into it by miss marmelstein than was actuallly there. Funny.
I was surprised and disappointed that Cain reacted not like a man, but like a Black man.
I couldn’t name one human being that didn’t, at one time or another, say something stupid. We all do it so why all the righteous indignation? I like to use fish as an example but beef will do here: Steak is delicious but you have to cut off the gristle (unless you like that sort of thing).
Perry is not a racist, and Cain is not a race baiter.
The left wants you to believe both, even though neither candidate believes it of the other.
If anyone is 'offended' by what Herman Cain said or did in this matter, then oversensitivity and gullibility are a problem for that person.
Herman Cain is a solid, conservative, highly intelligent, viable candidate, and the left is going to try to destroy him, perhaps even more than they are trying to destroy the other candidates for the mere fact that he is a conservative black who doesn't play the leftist race-baiting game.
I'm glad, at least, that you are not dismissing him because of this ridiculous 'controversy.'
There are obviously other freepers who are less discerning than you are, and are throwing him out the window, as they fall for this shameless leftist ploy.
It's embarrassing to see such gullible, thoughtless, reactionary responses to absolutely nothing.
Having said this, if he were to win the candidacy, I will vote for him.
The talk on this thread of the Divide and Conquer tactic used by the media, they are not dividing me in the least. They asked Cain his thoughts and he gave his "Freudian slip" answer. He needs to think, before inserting foot.
What the media FAILS to understand, that we are for: ANYONE BUT OBAMA. All the candidates need to understand that and articulate it often, not run against each other, it's OBAMA STUPID. (wink, not you, lol)
Debate each other on the ISSUES and remind people of the horrible last 3 yrs under OBAMA, he owns it all, Biden said so. heehee.
C’mon lonestar. I’m of northern European descent, extremely white, and haven’t been brainwashed by the left, and I reacted the same way as Herman Cain did.
So what do the other Republicans do? They agree with the cheap shots by the Washington Post and gang up to attack Gov. Perry. There is not a single stand up guy in the entire Republican Party.
If Herman Cain had stood up and said that this was a cheap shot and false accusations he would have gotten some credibility. Instead he just mouthed politically correct words like “insensitive”.
And where was Michelle Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney etc? All of them have been victims of cheap shots by the MSM. Not one of them had the courage or integrity to stand up and back governor Perry.
How about Sarah Palin? She has been the victim of unfair attack after unfair attack including a new book full of vicious false accusations. Why didn't she get up and tear the Washington Post a new one and let it be known in no uncertain terms that false accusations would not go unanswered.
Whenever the MSM attacks one Republican, the other Republicans go along with it and join in. Just once I'd like to see some courage and integrity out of these people.
Jumped to conclusions? Are you running from it now that all the facts are known...like Cain is?
I'll vote for Newt before Cain now.
I'm beginning to think Cain is running for VP ...with Romney.
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