Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Video: Herman Cain Jokes About Anita Hill - Plus: Newt Pulls Into Second Place?
Townhall.com ^ | November 11, 2011 | Guy Benson

Posted on 11/11/2011 2:38:52 PM PST by Kaslin

Some conservatives like the estimable Laura Ingraham Newt Gingrich* aren't amused by this little exchange:
 



According to The Caucus blog, the Republican presidential hopeful was caught on tape Thursday making a wisecrack about Anita Hill, the law professor who lodged sexual harassment accusations against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas 20 years ago.  Cain was making a campaign stop in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Thursday when a person in the crowd mentioned Hill. He laughed and said: "Is she going to endorse me?"


And this is outrageous...how, exactly?  As someone who hasn't shied away from criticizing Cain's policies and campaign, I can't muster much indignation over this.  Cain has been under intense pressure for weeks.  A supporter offers a word of encouragement by comparing his situation to the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill tete-a-tete in the 1980's (perhaps a somewhat inapt analogy, but not surprising or unusual), and Cain makes has a little fun with it.  Feel free to explain to me why this is brow-furrowingly troubling; I just don't see it.  What Cain may not be chuckling about is the latest McClatchy poll of GOP voters, which shows him slipping into third place nationally, behind Romney and Newt Gingrich:

 

The Republican presidential race is being shaken up again, with Mitt Romney retaking the lead, Newt Gingrich surging into second place, and Herman Cain dropping to third place, according to a new McClatchy-Marist poll released Friday. The poll signaled that Romney retains his steady if uncommanding position and that, in the quest by most Republicans for an alternative, they've cooled on Cain and are starting to turn to Gingrich. It is the first national survey since the allegations of sexual harassment against Cain erupted into a full political firestorm this week.

— Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, 23 percent;

—Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, 19 percent;

—Cain, the former restaurant executive, 17 percent;

—Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, 10 percent;

—Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, 8 percent;

—Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, 5 percent;

—Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, 1 percent;

—Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, 1 percent;

Undecided, 17 percent.


Put another way, "undecided" is tied for third, which underscores the volatility of the race.  Yesterday Dan asked if Newt is the real deal.  It seems quite a few Republican primary voters are coming to the conclusion that he is.  As an aside, I wonder how all those staffers who abandoned Newt and jumped to Team Perry are feeling right about now?  Here's Perry playing defense (rather effectively, I'd add) after his terrible brain-lock moment in Wednesday's debate:



Gotta admire the guy for poking fun at himself, but ouch.


UPDATE - A CBS News poll puts Cain on top.
 

*UPDATE II - As several readers have pointed out, Ingraham's tweet indicates that it was, in fact, Newt who criticized Cain for having a few laughs at the expense of Anita Hill.  Ingraham was reporting what the former Speaker said on her radio program.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: anitahill; cain; frontrunner; hermancain; opportunity; pc
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-35 next last

1 posted on 11/11/2011 2:38:56 PM PST by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

The media is going to have a field day with him but I am sticking with him. We are all human and Cain is standing tough and tall so he has my vote. He is consistent too check out his debating with Clinton to stop Hillarycare while her husband was in office. Google it on youtube.


2 posted on 11/11/2011 2:41:38 PM PST by DebraAI
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
"And this is outrageous...how, exactly?"

It is an offensive outrage!!!!!


Rahhhh!

Hey careful now, a lot of people around here have fallen for the "Noot is the voice of reason" schtick.
3 posted on 11/11/2011 2:41:59 PM PST by Christian Engineer Mass (25ish Cambridge MA grad student. Many conservative Christians my age out there? __ Click my name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Herman was right a few weeks ago when he said the country needs to learn how to take a joke!


4 posted on 11/11/2011 2:45:27 PM PST by tutstar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DebraAI

Anita Hill should be the butt of jokes; she is a victim fabricated by the left. I’m glad Cain is “mainstreaming” that contempt...


5 posted on 11/11/2011 2:46:01 PM PST by kearnyirish2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Christian Engineer Mass

One of my liberal cousins is offended by a “Beat em with a Cain” bumper sticker he saw.


6 posted on 11/11/2011 2:46:03 PM PST by cripplecreek (A vote for Amnesty is a vote for a permanent Democrat majority. ..Choose well.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
The interchange about Hill was posted elsewhere. Cain made a facetious retort to a facetious comment by a supporter. It was something like Anita Hill is on her way and he responded with something like is she going to endorse me?

C'mon, lighten up, it was a joke.

7 posted on 11/11/2011 2:47:21 PM PST by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Cain in third place behind Romney is a pipe dream of the Leftist McClatchey IMO. I’ll believe it when a legitimate source is posted.


8 posted on 11/11/2011 2:48:39 PM PST by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will, they ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

That was it??? “Is she going to endorse me?” THAT was the much-ballyhooed joke about Anita Hill??

Big..Effing..Deal.

America needs to loosen up its sphincter.


9 posted on 11/11/2011 2:49:42 PM PST by ScottinVA (Hurrah me boys, for FREEDOM! `Tis the risin` o` the moon!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
For everyone who thought Newt was Cain's pal sticking up for him, think again. Newt was just waiting for the right time to pile on.

As far as things you don't joke about, Newt - how about you yukking it up that your global warming lovefest with Nancy Pelosi was a dumb idea - you laughed and made light of it.
10 posted on 11/11/2011 2:53:41 PM PST by over3Owithabrain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nightshift

gnip


11 posted on 11/11/2011 2:55:52 PM PST by tutstar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

The terribly EVIL Cain must not castigate the virtuous Anita Hill!

Doesn’t he KNOW he’s supposed to be a pervert!

Why can’t he just stick to his lines!

(/sarc for the obtuse)


12 posted on 11/11/2011 2:58:14 PM PST by keats5 (Not all of us are hypnotized.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: over3Owithabrain

Newt’s global warming lovefest is far more extensive than that.


13 posted on 11/11/2011 2:58:38 PM PST by cripplecreek (A vote for Amnesty is a vote for a permanent Democrat majority. ..Choose well.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Re the update: Newty Newt doing what he does best. Slickly stepping in a pile and not having a clue that he has done it. Is he a history professor or a history reviser? I forget.

Anita Hill was brought forward to ruin Thomas because he is a conservative. Her charges were her’s alone and no one else said those things about Justice Thomas. There was no suit and no settlement. The feminazis were trying to Bork another conservative and it failed.

Is Newt stupid or evil? We know he’s not stupid...


14 posted on 11/11/2011 2:59:12 PM PST by SaraJohnson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker
I thought his response was a hoot.

It reminded me of a Ronald Reagan type response.

Folks keep saying Herman is a clown.

There is a difference between being a comedian and having wit.

Herman Cain and Ronald Reagan possess many God given talents.

IMHO they are born leaders.

15 posted on 11/11/2011 3:03:34 PM PST by not2worry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: kearnyirish2
Anita Hill should be the BIG butt of jokes; she is a victim fabricated by the left. I’m glad Cain is “mainstreaming” that contempt...

Just a slight edit for ya, no charge! lol

Herman Cain is unafraid to get in their faces, which is another reason I back him 100 percent.
16 posted on 11/11/2011 3:12:24 PM PST by mkjessup (I stand with Herman Cain, a God-fearing, Jesus-loving, Constitution-honoring PATRIOT.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: over3Owithabrain
As far as things you don't joke about, Newt - how about you yukking it up that your global warming lovefest with Nancy Pelosi was a dumb idea - you laughed and made light of it.

That's Princess Nancy, FYI. ;)
17 posted on 11/11/2011 3:15:05 PM PST by mkjessup (I stand with Herman Cain, a God-fearing, Jesus-loving, Constitution-honoring PATRIOT.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: not2worry
I thought it was pretty funny too.

That said, politicians have to be careful about humor. Most stick to self-deprecating humor so no group can claim offense to their jokes. You notice Obama's ego won't let him do that, which is why his attempts at humor are so not funny.

18 posted on 11/11/2011 3:17:56 PM PST by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: rockinqsranch
"Cain in third place behind Romney is a pipe dream of the Leftist McClatchey IMO. I’ll believe it when a legitimate source is posted."

Exactly. McClatchey has pimped Romney since day one. Ignore that pollster.

19 posted on 11/11/2011 3:33:37 PM PST by CainConservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: mkjessup
"Herman Cain is unafraid to get in their faces, which is another reason I back him 100 percent."

As do millions and millions and growing daily....

20 posted on 11/11/2011 3:36:38 PM PST by CainConservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-35 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson