Calling Herman Cain a “minstrel” is out of bounds
To my regulars: The subject of this post requires maturity and civility. If you cannot act responsibility, please don’t comment here.
A black writer who posts under the name Chauncey DeVega has written a vicious, sophomoric and unfair takedown of black Atlanta businessman Herman Cain, calling him a “minstrel for CPAC.” (h/t Dave Wiegal)
Instead, Herman Cain’s shtick is a version of race minstrelsy where he performs “authentic negritude” as wish fulfillment for White Conservative fantasies. Like the fountain at Lourdes, Cain in his designated role as black Conservative mascot, absolves the White racial reactionaries at CPAC of their sins. This is a refined performance that Black Conservatives have perfected over many decades and centuries of practice. . .
In the money shot, Cain gives the obligatory “black folks who are not Republicans are on the plantation” speech to the joyous applause of his White benefactors. And he doubles down by legitimating any opposition to President Barack Obama as virtuous and patriotic regardless of the bigoted well-springs from which it may flow.
I find that kind of criticism of black conservatives deeply offensive because it presumes that they are not entitled to think differently. Isn’t that the essence of racism — the notion that all black folk must think and act alike? Don’t racists make that very assumption?
There are very few things that Cain and I agree about. He has adopted the most rightwing views of the current Republican party, including the deluded notion that U.S. currency should be based on the gold standard. He is dead wrong about the Affordable Health Care Act, which he compares to health care in Great Britain or Canada. It has little in common with the health care systems of those countries. He believes in a fantasy called the FAir Tax.
But black men and women gave their lives in the civil rights movement so black folk like Herman Cain come applaud those rightwing principles if they chose. He is a wealthy businessman — and the more wealthy black businessfolk there are, the more black Republicans there are likely to be.
Besides, Cain was no more a ‘minstrel” than any of the other speakers who came before a rightwing audience trying to tell them what they wanted to hear.
On Wednesday, I wrote about Cain’s flirtation with a presidential campaign:
WASHINGTON — Herman Cain received no ringing endorsement for a presidential bid here last week, when he spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual gathering of hyper-conservatives. In the ritual straw poll of delegates, Cain received only two percent of the vote — clustered near the bottom of a list of 15 possible contenders.
That’s not the only suggestion that conservative activists would greet a Cain presidential bid — should he decide to run — as a wealthy man’s folly. At National Review Online, a must-read for inside-the-Beltway conservatives, writer Jonah Goldberg dismissed Cain’s chances in December. “. . .it’s hard to imagine him amounting to more than an exciting also-ran,” Goldberg wrote.
Indeed, Cain himself is given to joking about his prospects. A black businessman, radio talk show host and motivational speaker, he likes to refer to himself as “a dark horse.” He’s never held elective office; he came in a distant second to Johnny Isakson in a 2004 bid for the GOP Senate nomination.
Still, Cain, an Atlanta native and Morehouse grad, has spent a long career challenging the odds. He says that his Web site, set up for his presidential campaign exploratory committee, has drawn volunteers in the tens of thousands. Affluent donors are also ready to support him, he told me last week.
As for CPAC, Cain has at least moved up a bit in the pecking order. Last year, he said, he was given an 8 a.m. speaking slot, when very few delegates filled chairs in the main ballroom. On Friday, he had a 4 p.m. speaking slot and received, at a few points, enthusiastic applause.
But he used his time to give a very un-candidate-like speech — full of slogans and platitudes but lacking substance. It was the very opposite of that given by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose speech laid out substantive points of policy — he would replace the Environmental Protection Agency, for example, with an “environmental solutions agency,” he said — as well as the standard Obama-bashing rhetoric.
Still, as Cain would likely point out, Gingrich, who has a national profile, didn’t do much better with the delegates, polling only 5 percent. In an e-mail, a Cain spokesman said: “Mr. Cain came out ahead of other potential contenders such as Haley Barbour, John Thune and Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, all seasoned Republican leaders.”
So, will Cain run? A spokesman said he is “a few months” away from making an announcement. There’s no hurry since none of the 15 potential candidates in the straw poll has formally declared a candidacy.
If he launches a bid, he will have to give up the considerable income he draws from the corporate boards on which he serves: Hallmark, Whirlpool and Agco — a Duluth, Minn.-based manufacturer of agricultural equipment. (He has already suspended his radio talk show, which aired on AM 750 WSB.)
But he actually has little to lose. A presidential bid would raise his profile — and likely increase potential income from speaking fees. He clearly enjoys the attention he receives as the rare black ultra-conservative who commands the respect of newly-empowered tea party activists.
Cain came to national attention in 1994, when, as the CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, he challenged then-president Bill Clinton about his health care proposals in a televised forum. Shortly thereafter, Cain was elected board chairman of the National Restaurant Association, an organization which dedicated itself to beating back what would have been “ClintonCare.” That makes Cain a go-to guy for conservatives who want an experienced businessman to denounce the Affordable Health Care Act.
In addition to tea party bona fides, Cain has the ambition of a man with a new lease on life, having survived State 4 colon cancer.
“I only had a 30 percent chance of being here talking to you today,” he told me last week. “God said, ‘Not yet.’ . That was one of those defining moments that got me to (this) point today.”
That point is a hair’s-breadth from a presidential campaign.
— Cynthia Tucker
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365 comments Add your comment
ctucker
February 18th, 2011
9:14 am
OK, James@9:11. Let’s see.
MJ
February 18th, 2011
9:17 am
Herm has my VOTE! No experienced? If Obama can be president without any executive leadership experience, Herm would do just fine!
poisen pen
February 18th, 2011
9:18 am
GM, sorry, but I dissagree with you. Do you think it was Whites that made Cain rich or do you think that he made it on his own?
The problem that uneducated Blacks have is that they think if you are Black and well to do you must be White inside.
You are out of touch with reality and the way you think will only keep Black people poor & uneducated, you don’t even realize when you are being used by the liberals for your votes, and that’s a pity.
Obama didn’t get elected by just liberal votes, many conservatives voted for him, please look at the statistics.
It’s a real shame that you think White people use Blacks when in reality it’s the other way around.
willie lynch
February 18th, 2011
9:18 am
I hear all this “I would vote for Cain” talk, but he hasn’t been able to get elected as a representative from Georgia yet.
southernliving
February 18th, 2011
9:19 am
The Republican Party ended slavery. LBJ’s ‘Great Society’ put them back on the Plantation. My circle of black conservative friends is growing. Democrats don’t see it coming.
Shell
February 18th, 2011
9:22 am
Should’ve written “…black [and white] men and women gave their lives in the civil rights movement…”. Otherwise, spot on. Someone disagrees with him? Fine, just don’t do it because you think he should hold another position because of his skin color.
Keep up the good fight!
February 18th, 2011
9:23 am
The problem that uneducated Blacks have is that they think if you are Black and well to do you must be White inside
Poison….no matter what race you belong too, how exactly do you profess to “know” what is in the minds of “uneducated Blacks.” While I don’t believe you are a member of that race, even if you were a member and uneducated (I’ll give you the benefit of being uneducated for the purposes of argument), you dont speak or think for all members of that group. So you are really just continuing to spout racial stereotypes.
poisen pen
February 18th, 2011
9:24 am
Tucker, I personally don’t have a problem with you banning anyone from your own blog, but you should look at what some of the name calling that you regular liberal posters write.
I know it’s hard to be objective, but you should really try it sometimes.
The poster is correct in that if they want it’s easy to get a new IPS.
Junior Samples
February 18th, 2011
9:25 am
Anybody ever notice how any black person in a high profile position that appears to have a conservative viewpoint is so attacked and hated by the left. examples: Herman Cain, Clarence Thomas, Bill Cosby, Condi Rice etc. I can’t quite figure that one out.
hobby
February 18th, 2011
9:25 am
so is he to be judged by the “color of his skin” or ‘the content of his character”?
We have picked one president for the former—I suggest we do better next time
AmVet
February 18th, 2011
9:26 am
southernliving, what a revisionist pile of ____. Do you also think the holocaust was fiction?
Northern, white, often Jewish, liberals fought and died to end segregation and de facto slavery in this country.
White, southern, conservatives fought tooth and nail to keep it in place. And to ignore the lynchings and torture.
Your foolish construct of Republicans vs. Democrat is interesting, but not useful.
Own your bigoted heritage.
southernliving
February 18th, 2011
9:29 am
AmVet,
Has the black family strengthened or weakened since LBJ’s ‘Great Society’?…we all know the answer to that.
TnGelding
February 18th, 2011
9:30 am
Well, he sure isn’t a serious presidential contender. But I’m sure he’s an intelligent man and fine citizen. But his take on Obama borders on ludacris.
somewhereinga
February 18th, 2011
9:31 am
Thank you Cynthia for telling us who Cain is. I have hard his name being talked about but never heard who he is. Now I see I have nothing to worry about.
Get It Right
February 18th, 2011
9:31 am
Hey, CT. You left out the part where DeVega referred to Herman Cain as a “monkey”. Was that not offensive to you? Where is the call to have DeVega barred from the Internet and fired from whatever position he holds? Perhaps that only applies to conservative “racists”.
poisen pen
February 18th, 2011
9:31 am
Keep up, one can tell what certain people are just by reading their posts and watching news and living with them.
Having been born in Detroit and living there for a good portion of my life I think that I am good judge of character and I read Tuckers articles and it’s easy to make that judgement.
Another way to know what they think is to watch the way they vote, Look at the racial makeup of any large city and tell me how people vote, I think that says it all, the city can be full of crime and poverty and if a Black person is running for office they will just keep putting them back into office, don’t believe me! check out Detroits history.
willie lynch
February 18th, 2011
9:32 am
I remember reading an article where the claim was made that there was a differing opinion among Israelis concerning the treatment of Palestinians. Upon reading the posts in response on this blog those members of the Israeli military were said to be disgruntled and not representative of “true” Israeli opinion. I find it funny that it’s expected all Israeli’s hold the same opinion but when it comes to Black people expecting the same that position becomes unrealistic.
CYNT U DESERVE UR JOB
February 18th, 2011
9:33 am
REMEMBER THE PEOPLE THAT HERMAN CAIN SPEAKS TO USE TO BE THE RACISTS DEMOCRATS OR (DIXIECRATS)! NOW THEY ARE THE RACISTS REPUBLICAN!
P.S. YOU CAN CHANGED PARTIES BUT STILL REMAIN RACIST!
AND ANOTHER THING,WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE LIKE HERMAN CAIN,WARD CORNERLLY,JUDGE THOMAS AND ALAN KEYS SPEAK TO WHITE PEOPLE ABOUT DOWNING BLACKPEOPLE,INSTEAD OF HELPING BLACKPEOPLE? THIS IS WHAT MAKES THEM SELLOUT UNCLETOMS! YOU DONT SEE WHITE DEMOCRATS GOING TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY TALKING DOWN ABOUT THEIR OWN WHITES!
AmVet
February 18th, 2011
9:33 am
southernliving, I presume from your dodgeball 9:29. you conceded the point.
Well played.
JackLeg
February 18th, 2011
9:33 am
Boy ct I am glad you don’t run a business, but it is even sadder that this administration has less business experience than my 13 year old.
First ct please tell me why a gold standard is wrong, the dollar has only gone down since we went off of the gold standard, so tell me again why a strong dollar is bad for America?
The “Affordable Healthcare Act” is just the opposite of what the name is, the democrats love to name thing that they are not. Tell me if it is so affordable home come Obozo has exempt ALL of his favorite unions and almost every large company that gave to his campaign, 2200 in all so far, including government workers, so if it so “Affordable” why do they get exemptions because it would cost too much?
Fair-Tax, the only reason anybody would even oppose this is because the government would lose its power to punish people and companies it does not like with higher taxes. Oh and illegal aliens would also be paying taxes, and the democrats just could not burden their constituents with taxes, they might lose a vote.
Cain is way too smart to be elected….
Keep up the good fight!
February 18th, 2011
9:33 am
Whenever posters go for the “”we all know the answer to that” it demonstrates that they dont have a real argument or evidence so they have to presume to speak for everyone when in fact they speak only for their closed minds.
ken
February 18th, 2011
9:34 am
I am sure he can produce a birth certificate. Show us yours BHO.
southernliving
February 18th, 2011
9:34 am
Get It Right,
Did you also hear about the Liberal protest groups in California calling for Clarence Thomas to be ‘Lynched’? The Racism is coming from the Left.
Get me Rex Kramer
February 18th, 2011
9:35 am
Thank you Cynthia for supporting Herman Cain, and not treating him with a double standard.
southernliving
February 18th, 2011
9:36 am
AmVet,
I am a black female, so you failed all the way around dear.
willie lynch
February 18th, 2011
9:36 am
southernliving
February 18th, 2011
9:29 am
Back again Mystique?
Keep up the good fight!
February 18th, 2011
9:38 am
Keep up, one can tell what certain people are just by reading their posts and watching news and living with them.
Having been born in Detroit and living there for a good portion of my life I think that I am good judge of character and I read Tuckers articles and it’s easy to make that judgement.
Another way to know what they think is to watch the way they vote, Look at the racial makeup of any large city and tell me how people vote, I think that says it all, the city can be full of crime and poverty and if a Black person is running for office they will just keep putting them back into office, don’t believe me! check out Detroits history
Yes…because when it is a Republican who resigns to avoid ethics charges, in Georgia we dont put them back in office, we make them governor. Wait a minute…that was not the large city population that voted for the governor…..
My own theory….. your judgment is about as uneducated as your statements.
TnGelding
February 18th, 2011
9:39 am
LBJ’s Great Society was never fully funded. The plight of the black man wasn’t that great before then. And some of us forgot that those welfare mothers were mothers first. What a Hercuean job many of them did in raising their children against all odds.
willie lynch
February 18th, 2011
9:39 am
Why would they want to lynch Clarence Thomas? Isn’t he white?
TnGelding
February 18th, 2011
9:41 am
To make room on the SCOTUS for a truly distinguished American.
AmVet
February 18th, 2011
9:41 am
The Racism is coming from the Left.
Redact to read “Only the racism that I want to see or acknowledge is coming from the left.”
I am a black female…
And I’m a Jew. So what? That has nothing to do with the being correct or incorrect.
It is your arguments that are failing.
Bigotry is bigotry. No matter the source.
But even worse, in my eyes, are those that run cover for it.
Wish I could stay and play but duty calls. Gotta go keep the plutocrats comfy…
Hankie Aron
February 18th, 2011
9:57 am
CT- Not being nit-picky or anything but can you change the bold top line in your column to read “responsible” instead of “responsibility”
TnGelding
February 18th, 2011
9:58 am
If you want a black conservative, what about J.C. Watts? I thought he would have made a good Veep for McCain.
Hankie Aron
February 18th, 2011
9:59 am
I guess it’s my only OCD thing
TnGelding
February 18th, 2011
10:00 am
Responsibly? Or add ‘with’. But you are being nit-picky! Which is certainly your “right.”
Gm
February 18th, 2011
10:08 am
poisen pen: The problem that uneducated Blacks have is that they think if you are Black and well to do you must be White inside.
So why do they have to be undeducated? there are many educated blacks doing well think the same thing.
The Hermain Cans of the world are out of touch with reality, these same white conservatives who is building him up will tear him down the same way they did Richard Steele, the problem that you and the Cains, Thomas have of the world is you hate who you are,instead of using your smarts and wisdom to help up lift these communities, you are to busy trying to show white people that you belong.
Once again, when was the last time in Georgia have white conservatives voted for a black Sen or Gov? Cain, Uncle Clarence used the Affirmative Action programs to get where they are, these same white people that Cain is sucking up to would not let him in the Univ Georgia in the 60’s.
MC
February 18th, 2011
10:11 am
Regarless of Cain’s color, when you read his resume, it’s impressive. He could be black, white, or purple…the man created his own success. He was a mathmetician for the miltary, went to Moorehouse, worked for Coke, became a CEO etc. I personally am impressed with his accomplishments. Obama — not so much. He was never a ‘leader’ up until his presidency and it shows. He waffles. It takes a special person to lead a group of people and Herman Cain is a proven leader. The bonus is that he is a TRUE 100% African American by culture (and this scares the left).
Joe
February 18th, 2011
10:12 am
Tucker believes in the fantasy that a little known community organizer could be a real leader… LOL…
Snafu
February 18th, 2011
10:17 am
I have to laugh when people call themselves CONservative..What in the hell are you conserving? There is not such thing just as people want to call themselves liberal or progressive. When are people going to grow up andlearn that this BS of party loyalty is a joke. You vote for people who will do what is right for the PEOPLE..GET IT! No self serving IDEOLOGIES for that is what many of these politrickans do. Herman Cain is not different, no substance, and think because they run a business they can be President. But what is even more striking is these idiots who will vote for this shysters without fully looking intot their backgrounds. Nathan “The Crook” Deal is all the evidence needes that Georgians will vote for “the crooks”. Ignorance.
Snafu
February 18th, 2011
10:21 am
Joe,
When in the hell are you igorant throwbacks are going to stop with this “community organizer” BS? Tell what in the hell do you call a politician. He is a community organizer also..for he has to get the people to vote for him/her and he works for the people who are in a fact his community. Damn you people are ignorant. We know that is just your code word for “not liking a black man” Its okay racist..your true colors are showing.
williebkind
February 18th, 2011
10:22 am
We have documented proof that progressive liberals attach any black conservative personally and not their ideas. Just like NOW, if any woman is mistreated and is NOT a liberal they are silent. Howevever when NOW does speak it sounds like they are speaking for all women–we all know that is a lie. Progressive liberals are no different than extreme islamists. Just a different title. Did you see the progressive liberals who were caught on tape saying string up Judge Thomas and his wife?
Snafu
February 18th, 2011
10:23 am
CYNT U DESERVE UR JOB;
You got that right
MC
February 18th, 2011
10:29 am
Response to “willie lynch February 18th, 2011 9:18 am I hear all this “I would vote for Cain” talk, but he hasn’t been able to get elected as a representative from Georgia yet” — The Rebulicans should be proud to present Herman Cain. He is more educated and successful than Sara Palin and doesn’t have the baggage of Newt, Rudy, or Mitt. Also, the fact that he’s black as it levels the playing field betweent the two parties and race can be removed from the elections. People will be forced to look at the experience of Cain vs Obama, and hands down Cain is a better ‘leader’ and has the military experience to be ‘Commander in Chief’.
Snafu
February 18th, 2011
10:29 am
“The problem that uneducated Blacks have is that they think if you are Black and well to do you must be White inside”
PoisenPen: for you info blacks do not all walk in lockstep so you comment is really an uninformed one. Sounds like you are the uneducated one. I know you live in your bubble where you only see a certain kind of folk but get out more often and you will find out its not all that dribble.
MoreRightthanLeft
February 18th, 2011
10:30 am
I’ll say it…who was Barack Obama 4 years ago?…
Hermain has more experience and credibilty than the President will ever have..i love that some of you havent even listened to Hermain and can already form an opinion….
and as far as an entertainer…whatever!!! hes a business man…are you liberals afraid of a black man with a plan, an idea, an independent creative thought… anyone can be president…look at our current joke!!!
straitroad
February 18th, 2011
10:31 am
I have a great deal of admiration for Herman. He recognizes the peril of handing over control of one’s life to government. He’s obviously a very hard worker and a great example for other men to follow.
Snafu
February 18th, 2011
10:34 am
MC
The illusion of one being in the military does not give the carte blanche of an effective leader. So you can throw that dog whistle out of the window. It takes more than a military person to understand the plight of all American and not this BS of party loyalty. If Cain has not been elected since he was in the Republican party and you tout him as an educated man, he seems to lack common sense for don’t you think its time for him to leave that party? How about an independent? That would have probably suit him.
MC
February 18th, 2011
10:35 am
In response to CT critizisms of the regarding Cain’s stance of the affordable health care act and fair tax: What is your experience CT? Cain is a mathmetician and was a successful CEO (which means he knows something about finance and taxes)…I would trust his experience and opinions over yours. Also, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that it is dangerous for our dollor to not be backed by anything. It’s just paper. The Fed Reserve is poorly run and they control our economy (not the president). I like that Cain wants to take cotnrol away from the Fed Resere.
DP
February 18th, 2011
10:36 am
Tucker…I disagree with about 99.999% of everything you write or say. But I’ve raised my right hand a couple of times (military enlistment & reenlistments) to defend your Right to say anything that fits your fancy. How sad as it is that some people; blacks & whites can’t get past their color first attitudes…well, at least we must be slowly moving in the right direction, when even you are offended that someones right to speak differently from your own beliefs is called something hateful and wrong and you object. (I believe this only the 2nd time I’ve ever agreed with you on anything…maybe, just maybe being a parent is slowly changing you for the better….well at least we can hope so.)
MikeB
February 18th, 2011
10:36 am
Ms Tucker posted @ 4:38pm ” I don’t think Cain is a “cartoon.” Over the top showman? Absolutely. That’s why he has a radio talk show.” ~ I wonder what he thinks of you Ms. Tucker… My guess is he would approach his appraisel with a little more class…………
God Bless America posted at 5:00pm ” He’s a great deal more than “an over the top showman”. He’sa guy who went to college while supporting a family, moved up the corporate ladder in three huge food and beverage conglomerates, and epitomizes what the beneficiaries of the Civil Rights movement should be – a responsible, well-educated Black Man successful in his professional endeavors who is taking part in the mainstream political process at a high level.
The harsh judgements from the Left are unjstified, knee-jerk reactions that speak more to their racism (as defined as a preconcieved idea based on a person’s race) than they do anything about the Right.” ~ Well said…… If one understands this man and where he came from, one develops a greater appreciation for his opinion.
This is not a man spoon fed from Conservative operators as so many liberals would like folks to beleive…….. That is the real lesson of Herman Cain… Work hard, take personal initiative not handouts, acheive success, understand how you got there, and support programs that will help those who truly want to help themselves replicate the success he worked so hard for.
In other words, the anthisis of the liberal mindset. Politics would be so much easier for folks to understand if our friends in high office promoted these ideas vs. the buying votes with tax dollars/aid programs approach to govt.