If we're going to recruit conservative black Democrats to become Republicans, how we treat Herman Cain is going to make a big difference.
Herman Cain's opponents are playing into the old stereotype of the libidinous black man lusting after every woman in the room. I'm not saying that stereotype is true (in fact I think it's a bunch of bunk) but it's an effective political tactic in the short term which carries dangerous long-term risks for Republicans.
We need to be extremely careful that we do not “throw Cain under the bus” with these accusations. Socially conservative black pastors and free-market black businessmen are watching carefully to see how Cain gets treated. The modern Republican Party includes the sons and grandsons of some of the worst and most bigoted elements of the old Jim Crow tradition, and this is our opportunity to prove to everybody, once and for all, that the modern Republican Party has not become a racist party by accepting millions of conservative Southern Democrats. It's also, unfortunately, an opportunity to “prove” that blacks who join the Republican Party will never be treated as equal partners and will be subjected to racist bigotry if they challenge the Republican political establishment rather than being obedient and useful pawns to promote white elite power groups.
Put bluntly, there have been things said on Free Republic over the years which don't belong in the Republican Party and sound like stuff out of the days of Bull Connor. They aren't common, and I'm not convinced they're from real FReepers (they may be liberal trolls trying to cause trouble) but such sentiments have no place in conservative circles. Nominating Herman Cain would be a very good way to drive that stuff into the garbage pail of history, and that in itself is a good reason to vote for Cain.
On the other hand, facts are stubborn things.
It should be obvious to everyone that if the current accusations against Cain are true, or if he has a history of flirtatious behavior to women other than his wife, he cannot and should not be the Republican nominee for president. Maybe after a public apology he could be made Secretary of Commerce or given some other financial position; maybe he could run for a lower office. However he simply cannot be the standard bearer of the Republican Party if these accusations are true.
Over the last couple of decades we have become the party of moral values, not the party which tolerates the shenanigans of President Bill Clinton and even worse stuff from the likes of Sen. Teddy Kennedy and Rep. Barney Frank.
So far, the Democrats have been able to say with some legitimacy that the Republicans were just as much deficit spenders as Democrats. Yes, I know the Democratic Party reduced spending by cutting the Department of Defense, but the general public doesn't understand that and has come to the conclusion that Republican politicians and Democratic politicians are just two peas in a pod when it comes to big spending habits.
We absolutely **CANNOT** allow that to happen on moral values.
That means we as Republicans must walk a tightrope. We need to give Cain the benefit of the doubt, both for reasons of justice and pragmatic politics. But we can't excuse bad behavior. The situation is easy if these charges can be proved false by discrediting the accusers beyond a shadow of a doubt, showing that Cain simply did not do what he's accused of doing, and making clear to the general public that the accusers are politically motivated. Unfortunately, it's awfully difficult to make an airtight case either way in the next few weeks or months, and that's all the time Cain (and the Republican Party) have to get this situation behind us.
Well, Cain really won round one - the NRA statement on Friday confirmed Cain’s version of events.
We only know of one agreement between one woman and the NRA, and Cain was not a party to that agreement We have not seen any credible evidence that a second agreement exists.
Bialek is a supposed “third” case but her story is falling apart already.
_________
Socially conservative black pastors and free-market black businessmen are watching carefully to see how Cain gets treated. The modern Republican Party includes the sons and grandsons of some of the worst and most bigoted elements of the old Jim Crow tradition, and this is our opportunity to prove to everybody, once and for all, that the modern Republican Party has not become a racist party by accepting millions of conservative Southern Democrats.
___________
Well said.
I keep saying, even if Cain is not your candidate, he is one of the good guys and we should not be helping the lamestream media by spreading misinformation. Let’s stick to the facts, and if you aren’t sure, wait and see how it plays out.
Piling on, especially when all we have right now is allegation and inuendo, only helps Romney at this point. If your candidate is a better candidate, fight on the issues, don’t get in the mud like this.
It would help the other candidates if they would come out and decry this jounalistic malpractice, and a couple of them need to come out and distance themselves BY NAME by people associated with their campaigns who are clearly connected to promoting this witch hunt.