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.
Will Herman Cain’s Reaction To ‘N*ggerhead’ Controversy Hurt Him With Conservative Base?................... "It’s early yet, but this controversy is shaping up to be the stake through the heart of Perry’s already-troubled campaign. Even conservatives who side with Perry will likely have to concede that cutting through the thick cloud of coverage around this promises diminishing returns. What are the chances that anyone is going to come out of the woodwork to defend their trips to camp “N*ggerhead” with Rick Perry?
If Perry is, indeed, finished, then the blame for his demise falls squarely on Herman Cain’s shoulders. While the Post‘s reporting was solid, there were solid grounds for criticism, especially from a conservative base that’s already suspicious of mainstream journalism. Cain’s denunciation effectively destroyed that line of defense, and placed the story into a Republican-on-Republican frame that’s a no-win for conservatives. Allowing Perry to go down in flames will reinforce mainstream notions about conservatives and race, but so will attacking Herman Cain.".....
I don’t think it was an ‘attack’ at all
I think Herman Cain just correctly pointed out something factual
No biggie
More MSM presstitutes trying to stir up the GOP
I guess I'm stupid.
Give me the facts.
Cain was asked about a false story that was presented as fact.
Cain’s response was with regard to the facts.
The media is responsible for a false story, not Cain.
If someone said to me that Cincinatus’ Wife has posted she dislikes Herman Cain because he is black, I would say that is racist and not a conservative thing to post.
My job is not to investigate the facts myself.
On the one hand, this non-issue will not affect my judgment of either Mr. Cain or Gov. Perry. I only hope both will still be on the ballot when the NC primary finally rolls around ...
On the other hand, I’ve had it up to the eyeballs with “sensitivity.” Grow up, everyone.
It actually wasn’t factual, because he was implying that Perry knew about it and left it there - and then he admitted he actually didn’t know what Perry had done about it or when he had done it.
I don’t think this was malicious, I just think it shows up Cain’s lack of political experience. He has some good ideas, but I don’t think he could ever carry them out, simply because he knows nothing about being a political figure (a governor, a senator, etc.). He’d be better in the Cabinet or perhaps in some other position this time around, and that would give him time to learn the ropes.
I don’t care what was painted on some rock at a hunting camp. I’m concerned that illegal aliens are being coddled and given special taxpayer-paid benefits instead of deported to their country of origin, as the law requires.
That’s the deal breaker.
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.’’
I don't like race attacks. I'm supporting Perry but I took off a few days after that idiotic remark about being heartless piled on to his last name statements. I threw GWB overboard for the same kind of statement and the only reason I haven't Perry because I don't see an alternative. Romney's unacceptable and the rest don't have a chance. But Cain is no better with this comment.
Yawn. It’s only Oct 3 - thank goodness. I hope our candidates can get the kinks out before America really starts paying attention.
Cain was asked a question. He answered it. The Perry camp's attempt to turn an embarrassing error in Perry's past into an attack issue on Cain is the mistake.
It merely keeps the issue alive to Perry's determent
I agree. Having said that he probably should have just said he didn't have enough facts to comment. I'm not sure how well informed he was on this.
And I note that everyone in the MSM is still referring to this place as “Perry’s ranch”—does no one understand the concept of a HUNTING LEASE? It wasn’t, and isn’t, Perry’s ranch. He has a hunting lease there. Someone else owns it.
I’m done with Cain. Just another race baiter, it seems.
This is the important take-away here. Cain flipped the finger to Reagan's 11th commandment and in so doing, gave Obama and Sharpton ammo to push the "Tea Party = Racist" lie.
Cain is categorically not ready for the big leagues. The spotlight was only on him for a matter of HOURS before he blundered and gave HUGE ammo to our opponents.
You can that again, and again and again!
BINGO!
I will not vote for Cain in the primary.
No, it a falls squarely on Perry and his supporters for the grotesque incompetence as campaigners.
Running around hysterically screaming at everyone else for their candidates incompetence on the campaign trail is the sort of behavior Conservatives are use to seeing from the Left.
When we see supposed candidates on our side adopting the Leftist campaign tactics, we have to wonder what he is trying to hide.
Here was a chance for Perry to look Presidential.
Instead, of FACTS we get HEARTLESS racism against
Mr. Cain.
FACTS. They are as weak as the “attacks” on
Obama and RINO Romney.
Perry is not able. Cain is able.
Yeah, Cain should have investigated all the candidates so that he was aware of their property holdings well in advance. /s
He did not point out a fact. He interpreted facts as proof of a personality defect in Perry.
Cain stupidly fell for the MSM prostitutes invitation to stir up the GOP.
By this logic, every location in the south is off limits. If someone once did something wrong in any location, then it can never again be used.
So your own campaign admits Mr Cain was right.
Really stupid of the Perry camp to be keeping this issue alive.
I like Cain, but lost some respect for him as a potential nominee over the past two days because of these twin gaffes.
It was an attack. One of the worst, in fact. Very little that has been said about this HUNTING LEASE (not the same thing as owning the ranch) is factual, actually. I’m tired of this cheap shotting and race baiting. Let Cain join arms with Sharpton and Jackson. I’m done with him, unless he apologizes.
Agreed. He should have couched it as “if it was as claimed in this report, but I understand Perry disputes the circumstances and I know of no other reason to even entertain the idea that he is racist in any way.”
The lack of qualifiers is inexcusable.
The article clearly states that it was painted over in 1983 or 1984. This tells me that he didn't even read the article so he wasn't aware of all the facts and had to rely on her being truthful...
No one ranted about how Perry and Romneyh were un-Presidential as they were throwing garbage at one another in the past two debates.
Herman Cain gave a straight forward answer when asked a question about the N word being used on a rock. He moved on to the next question. If anyone should be chastised it should be the person who asked Cain the question that wasn't factual.
I doubt that Mr. Cain's comment makes much of a difference to anyone else unless your are trying promote another candidate at the expense of Herman Cain.
HAH~! GOTCHA THERE HERMAN. Here's how it should have gone
Amanpour: Mr Cain, Perry is a racist because his hunting camp had "niggerhead" painted on a rock isn't he ?
Cain: That's pretty insensitive
Amanpour: but the rock was painted over
Cain: THEN WHY THE F*** ARE YOU ASKING ME BI***
Perry defending illegal aliens is much more serious than some minor dust up over a word
I don't disagree that it was a cheap shot. At this point, however, I still prefer Cain over Perry.
You should never respond to a story in which you don’t know the facts. It makes the person look stupid. Republicans should always know that the MSM is going to make stuff up to make us look bad.
If someone said to you that CW dislikes Herman Cain because he is black, I would hope that you would find out if this was true before commenting. If you did comment before finding out the facts, you should later apologize when you are found to be wrong.
Maybe Perry and Cain should have a beer summit! lol
I didn't see the "sarcasm" tag--I hope I'm wrong if I think this depicts an attitude that is one of the main reasons we keep getting horrible candidates: no one feels like it's "their job" to personally look into who's running.
I am not a Perry supporter. However, Cain blew any chance of me going his way once he dropped the race card. Republicans, black or white, don’t do that silliness. That is for the left to pull.
Amen to that. I forget which FReeper made the comment (but I thought it very accurate) that "The headstone of Western Civilization will bear the following epitaph: 'We Didn't Want to Offend...'".
the democrats and rinos are grasping at anything with which to attack Herman. They are scared sh*tless of Herman Cain
Perry was already done before this...
Perry toasted himself by bashing his own conservative base calling them Heartless.
To say Herman Cain is responsible for Perry’s downfall is a stretch.
In the past Cain has spoke of things and later had to amend his comments, because afterwards he researched and found his comments lacking. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he does so in this case as well.
Cain’s going to save the republican party and the country. Didn’t you hear? He’s the most qualified candidate we can come up with as the nominee. I guess we’re all racists because we are angry that Cain stooped to racial politics. Hell, I’d vote for Congressman Allen West in a heartbeat. He’s a war hero and a smart guy. This election should also be about having Commander-in-Chief credentials (which Rick Perry and most governors have).
Cain is dead. When someone like Christiane Amanpour is defending a Republican against the race card you know it’s over.
Cain got blown up by Wallace on the Palestinian Right of Return question weeks ago. He then comes back and blunders back into the same type situation (giving an answer in an area where he’s clearly clueless) and then compounds the problem later in the day when given the chance to redeem himself.
Cain is in the process of exposing himself. I thought it would be in the area of foreign policy (and it still may well be) but he clearly has other issues as well.
Cain was blindsided by the question and reacted emotionally.
Amanpour cynically pushed his button and he jumped.
If that was an attack then Algore is a wizard of science.
Bingo. That's what "allowed Perry to go down in flames".
I think Perry or his family have enough clout to ask the landlord to remove the sign as part of the lease.
Sounds like it was a long term arrangement and it could have easily been removed years ago.
Look, it was a mistake. Cain should know that we don’t do race card politics. In my eyes he is ever so slightly diminished. Not a biggie but a mistake nevertheless.
No big deal, can’t a man give an opinion these days without to face a surgical procedure?
He answered a question without knowing the facts, that makes him wrong. It’s an embarrassing error for Cain not for Perry.
I think you’re wrong that it’s to Perry’s detriment. I think most smart people are tired of this race crap.
All of this BS is just helping Romney and Obama. I like Cain, Perry and Palin. None of them are perfect but I am willing to cut them some slack. They would all do better to concentrate their criticism on Obama.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.