Herman Cain’s bigotry
WASHINGTON — If we didn’t already know this, here’s what Herman Cain’s regrettable campaign for the Republican presidential nomination has taught us: Black Americans are as capable of ugly and inexplicable prejudices as any other group. Our collective history as victims of ugly and inexplicable prejudices has not made us immune to the virus of bigotry.
So you knew that already? So did I. Still, Cain’s reflexive animosity toward law-abiding Muslim Americans has served as an unnecessary reminder.
In a recent appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Cain told host Chris Wallace that the U.S. Constitution gives Americans the right to ban any mosque they don’t want built nearby. Having spoken out specifically against a planned mosque in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Cain seemed oblivious to the fact that the people attempting to build the mosque are also entitled to First Amendment protections.
A retired Georgia businessman turned rightwing talk radio host, Cain had been building to that preposterous and discomfiting moment since he emerged on the campaign trail. In March, while attending a gathering of conservatives in Iowa, a reporter for a progressive blog, ThinkProgress.org, asked him, “Would you be comfortable appointing a Muslim, either in your cabinet or as a federal judge?” He said flatly, according to ThinkProgress, “No, I will not.”
That revealed not only deep-seated prejudices hardly befitting an American president but also an unsettling ignorance about the U.S. Constitution, which tea party supporters like Cain claim to venerate. There is no religious test for political office in this country. The Founding Fathers were attempting to steer their new republic away from the blood-soaked waters of state-endorsed religions.
While he flirted briefly with sounding more reasonable on the issue of Islamic Americans and their religious freedom, he couldn’t resist, in the end, reverting to nutty notions — common enough among paranoid ultra-conservatives — about Sharia law and an Islamic mandate to convert infidels. All the while, he insists that his bigotry bears no comparison to that he experienced as a boy growing up in the Deep South.
Cain was never going to win the Republican nomination. He’s politically inexperienced, ignorant about major policy issues and hardly highly-regarded among the big-time donors he’d need to fund a serious run. He enjoyed a brief boomlet among the GOP’s tea-party-adoring social conservatives, but he’s been eclipsed by their latest star, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Wisc.) It’s hard to see how Cain is more than an after-thought by the time the GOP primaries start next year.
But his candidacy will prove costly. He will leave the campaign trail having tarnished not only his personal reputation but also having contributed to the GOP’s difficulties with voters who are not white Christians. Ironically, Cain has managed to worsen the problems that the party has reaching outside its homogenous ranks.
Indeed, he perfectly illustrates the GOP’s current moment — an ever-shrinking tent of narrow-minded know-nothings who insist that those who come inside pledge absolute fealty to their most ludicrous pronouncements. As a black man, for example, Cain draws enthusiastic applause from rightwing audiences for his insistence that the tea party movement holds not a shred of racism. Perhaps Cain really believes that, but it sounds like the price of admission.
Moreover, he has enthusiastically castigated President Barack Obama, a tactic unlikely to lure many black voters, who take great pride in the nation’s first black president. Cain has not only cozied up to birthers, but he has also questioned Obama’s manhood, telling The New York Times that the president isn’t “a strong black man.”
Cain should have represented a breakthrough for the Republican Party, which hasn’t had much success luring substantive black men and women to its presidential trials. The GOP’s most memorable black presidential contender has been the clownish Alan Keyes.
As the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, Cain has serious business credentials. He should have taken the time to develop a substantive platform so he would have had more to sell than clichés about taxes, disrespect for Obama and Islamophobia.
Instead, he became one more member of the GOP’s lunatic fringe. Oh, well. I guess the fringe needs diversity, too.
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462 comments Add your comment
Goldie
July 22nd, 2011
2:27 pm
“There was a bombing and shooting in Norway by Muslims. I don’t see you condeming their actions against other innocent victims.”
Bobby @ 2:00 — terrorism is not confined to Muslims only. Just look at Tim McVeigh and Eric Rudolph, proud members of the Army of God and the Aryan Nation. We have terrorism here in this country not solely brought about by Muslims. Why don’t you right-wingers ever condemn those so-called “Christians” terrorist acts against other Americans?!!!
GeoffDawg
July 22nd, 2011
2:29 pm
Moving target – you have something on your nose.
Goldie – thanks for letting us know how Reagan would feel today from an oppositional standpoint. I’m sure conservatives give your opinion a lot of weight. He would likely have commonalities with the Tea Partiers and less so with the RINOs. While on the subject, did you know that your god, JFK, was a fiscal conservative?
Zedd
July 22nd, 2011
2:29 pm
Hey Cynthia, go back to the rock you’ve been hiding under. We were all doing just fine without any more of your hate filled vitriol, race baiting rhetoric. I mean like you have room to call Cain out. You might want to have “mercy” tattooed on the back of your neck for when Islam is the dominate religion in the world. It may save you from having your infidel head cut off!
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:30 pm
“Indeed, he perfectly illustrates the GOP’s current moment — an ever-shrinking tent of narrow-minded know-nothings” – Cynthia Tucker
Well, Cindy sweetie, the ever shrinking tent just won back the U.S. House of Representatives in a historic landslide, they hold both houses here in Georgia as well as the governor’s mansion and every single state-wide eleced office, they hold a majority of state governor’s houses, a majority of the state legislatures, etc.
The Outlaw is thinking maybe Cynthia doesn’t know what “shrinking” means…
Somebody
July 22nd, 2011
2:31 pm
@Those wanting to ban all mosques or that all Muslims are terrorists:
Since 1% of a population reveals what they all do, then all Christians are terrorists as well. After all a few have shot and bombed abortion clinics, bombed federal buildings and murdered people. Or is it more likely that within every group there are good and bad people, no matter their religion. It’s the later.
John
July 22nd, 2011
2:32 pm
Tucker – You seriously think the community organizer, AKA”The President” is doing a good job? Open your liberal eyes and wake up you hater. God, if I was you, I don’t know if I could look in the mirror with all of your BS you put out on the liberal biased AJC. What?, What? The media is liberal? YES, like 90% of it. If Obama the smooth BS talker gets re-elected again, I’ve lost all faith in our brainwashed society. The United States of America is going down and at a rapid pace unfortunatley.
WAKE UP LIBERAL IDIOTS!!! If you don’t in 10 years we will have almost zero freedom.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:32 pm
Funny how the narrow-minded know-nothings can plan for their own retirement, provide their own health care, educate their own children and feed their own families, while the broad-minded intellectuals on the left need government to do all those things for them…
bookman parrot
July 22nd, 2011
2:33 pm
Cynthia,
We can agree that all, including muslims, are and should be treated the same.
But where you are hugely underestimating is: when the muslim population becomes the largest in America, and they control politics, they will shove islam and sharia law down everybodys throat. If you say this can not happen, you are naive and misleading. When they control elections due to their numbers, they will be able to legislate as they please. They will control presidential elections; they will control judical appointments, … then America will become another 3rd world islamic state.
roge
July 22nd, 2011
2:33 pm
C.T., crawl back in your hole. I’m white and think Herman would make a great President, much better than what we have there now.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:33 pm
10% unemployment? Don’t blame me, I voted for the American.
GeoffDawg
July 22nd, 2011
2:34 pm
Goldie – thanks for pointing out Christians condoned the actions of Tim McVeight and Eric Rudolph. Funny that I don’t recall the videos of Christians dancing in the street and shooting guns in the air that often follow Muslim acts of terrorism. Learn something new everyday.
Also, nice job finding recent examples. Oslo – today / Oklahoma City – 15 years ago. I like your moxie. Way to keep it fresh.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:34 pm
Maybe we could get Cynthis to tell us how she feels about muslim views towards women.
But I doubt it…
Arnold Butler
July 22nd, 2011
2:35 pm
Let’s face it. Most people that rant is showing their inner-most being of themselves. This you can’t conceal.
Zedd
July 22nd, 2011
2:35 pm
Oh and Cain would be better than “Change you can step in!” any day of the week!
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:36 pm
And we thought Jimmy Carter sucked…
Kevin
July 22nd, 2011
2:36 pm
Hey Cynthia, why don’t you ask Norwegians today whether or not they agree with Mr. Cain?
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:36 pm
Bankrupt America – Yes We Can!
GeoffDawg
July 22nd, 2011
2:36 pm
“Funny how the narrow-minded know-nothings can plan for their own retirement, provide their own health care, educate their own children and feed their own families, while the broad-minded intellectuals on the left need government to do all those things for them…”
One of the best summations of modern popular ideologies I’ve seen in a while.
G'Vegas Dawg
July 22nd, 2011
2:37 pm
Tell the people in Oslo that they have nothing to fear from the Muslim community…
Douglas
July 22nd, 2011
2:37 pm
Tell it like it is schrutebeets. I love it.
Cynthia and many of the leftists on this blog are like the useful idiots the Soviets spoke of. If all were as naive as they are, or if their way of thinking vis a vis the Muslims wins out, then the U.S. will end up like the European countries and eventually have many more major terrorists incidents perpetrated by Muslims.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:37 pm
How do you like your change now? DUMBASSES!
ohno udidnt
July 22nd, 2011
2:37 pm
If a community can ban a wal-mart, it can ban a christian house of hatred/worship.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:38 pm
Obamacare – Call us when you are shovel-ready!
Keith
July 22nd, 2011
2:39 pm
Oslo allows mosques.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:39 pm
ohno udidnt
July 22nd, 2011
2:37 pm
“If a community can ban a wal-mart, it can ban a christian house of hatred/worship.”
Oh look…another commentary on Christians from an ignorant leftist who has never set one foot inside a church!
Rufus Bane
July 22nd, 2011
2:39 pm
Cynthia,
“a tactic unlikely to lure many black voters, who take great pride in the nation’s first black president.”
Are you kidding me? Obama’s daddy is black African; his mother a white U.S. citizen- Obama’s ancestors were not slaves! Herman Cain on the other hand, is the real deal- his roots are planted firmly in the history of black Americans. Cracks me up that his race was the thing so many people voted for without regard to his history, qualifications or his political philosophy.
Kitty
July 22nd, 2011
2:40 pm
Cain was never going to win the Republican nomination. He’s politically inexperienced, ignorant about major policy issues and hardly highly-regarded among the big-time donors he’d need to fund a serious run.
Really? You can say the same out Obama. He is inexperienced and Ignorant about everything. Why don’t you write a story about that?
Goldie
July 22nd, 2011
2:42 pm
Thank God Barack Obama is our President today– Just imagine what this country would be going through if Grandpa and the Church Lady had somehow pulled a squeaker back in ‘08!!!
2012, OH YEAH!!!
GeoffDawg
July 22nd, 2011
2:42 pm
Seriously – if you’re touting Obama as your guy, you lose all credibility to call anyone inexperienced for the job.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:43 pm
I guess we should be thankful that Obama doesn’t wear his pants down around his knees…
-_-
July 22nd, 2011
2:43 pm
Wooooooow…. You ma’am, are an idiot. Islam so far has proved to be nothing but a front for a lot of people with towels on their heads can go massacre people the bejesus out of people who have never offended them, except that they are from the “west.” did that sounds bigoted?? Geez, must have picked that up from reading your “work.” Islam is supposed to be a very peaceful religion, except they seem to be doing a lot of blowing up innocent people these days. These idiots even massacre themselves! Why would we want someone who claims to be a brother to these people in a position of power??? So we can get more of our citizens killed?? Hmmmm??? Is this what we want?? I thought not. These radicals do not care if you are republican or democrat either, mind you. They only care that you are an American and they want you to die… o geez.. look.. more generalizations.. Get a grip lady, seriously.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:44 pm
“just imagine what this country would be going through if Grandpa and the Church Lady had somehow pulled a squeaker back in ‘08!!!”
Economic recovery? More jobs? Less debt? Lower gasolne prices?
milton berle
July 22nd, 2011
2:44 pm
Thankfully, for every xenophobic cain there is a Colin Powell to balance the hatred on the right with a great man.
Tech82
July 22nd, 2011
2:45 pm
Cynthia Tucker calling somebody else a bigot? That’s rich. Pot, meet kettle.
Harry Callahan
July 22nd, 2011
2:45 pm
Herman Cain for President !
Goldie
July 22nd, 2011
2:46 pm
“Cracks me up that his race was the thing so many people voted for without regard to his history, qualifications or his political philosophy.”
yeah, pretty well sums up the GOP vote in ‘08…
Harry Callahan
July 22nd, 2011
2:46 pm
Balanced Budget Amendment
Repeal Obamacare
Change our tax system to the “Fair Tax”
Good times are back again!
Herman Cain for President
kurt cobain
July 22nd, 2011
2:47 pm
conservative christians and islamic fundamentalists are two peas in the same pod.
Aubrey
July 22nd, 2011
2:47 pm
“Black Americans are as capable of ugly and inexplicable prejudices as any other group”.
Yes Cynthia, you had clearly proven that years ago.
Aubrey
July 22nd, 2011
2:48 pm
kurt cobain
conservative christians and islamic fundamentalists are two peas in the same pod.
–
How so Kurt?
The Voice of Reason
July 22nd, 2011
2:48 pm
Once again, anyone utilizing anything approaching “common sense” is slammed by the left. Maybe this country should just get it over with and to ahead and have a great Left/Right divorce. Let the libs take the left coast and the north-east and the conservatives the rest. Then perhaps we could all enjoy a bit of political peace.
Jack
July 22nd, 2011
2:48 pm
The Founding Fathers didn’t know about Muslims bombing our buildings.
Cain is an idiot ... but he has somewhat of a point
July 22nd, 2011
2:48 pm
A community can come together against any matter of prospective tenant — from a mosque to a Baptist church to a liquor store. I’m not a Constitutional scholar but I guess that’s covered under the portions of the 1st Amendment that speak to the “right to peaceably assemble” and “the right to free speech.”
But Cain is an idiot (and yes, he AND Alan Keyes are clownish) because he has sold his soul and his “manhood” to become the “black Sean Hanity.” Case in point, about a year ago on his radio program (I’m a frequent listener), he allowed an elderly woman, Mary, to rail on and on about the fact that President Obama “is a Muslim plant sent here to destroy America.” But instead of correcting her, even gently, as John McCain did to one of his supporters at a well-publicized town hall meeting during the 2008 campaign, Cain said to Mary: “Uh-huh, Mary, you’re right, and thank you for your call.”
He has no integrity AND needs some speech therapy. And as a fellow Morehouse College graduate, I’m ashamed that he attended my school and sits on our board. He is indeed a part of the lunatic fringe that has taken over the Republican party, to its detriment.
And before you Tea Bagger-FOX News-Joe the Plumber-Glenn Beck feeble-minded drones respond with idiotic references to the Black community only respecting the likes of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson (such a tired, overused and untrue statement/argument), I say this: If you want a “strong Black man” who is a much better representative of the Republican party, try former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts. Cain and Keyes are buffoons.
GeoffDawg
July 22nd, 2011
2:49 pm
Goldie @ 2:42 – in some respects you’re right about that. The Republicans were developing some bad overspending habits as well and electing Obama propelled conservatives to go back to their fiscal roots. Hence, the 2010 House historic landslide.
It’s worth noting however that as bad as spending got under Bush, we’re mortgaging our future at a rate unimaginable until a couple years ago. In all seriousness, if Obama’s economics don’t sicken you, then you’re not paying attention.
The Welshman Josey's Inlaw
July 22nd, 2011
2:49 pm
“Islam so far has proved to be nothing but a front for a lot of people with towels on their heads can go massacre people the bejesus out of people who have never offended them, except that they are from the “west.” did that sounds bigoted?? ”
“massacre people the bejesus out of people”
Sounds childish.
Kitty
July 22nd, 2011
2:49 pm
Instead, he became one more member of the GOP’s lunatic fringe. Oh, well. I guess the fringe needs diversity, too.
Oh well, guess we know who you voted for!!
Goldie
July 22nd, 2011
2:49 pm
“Funny how the narrow-minded know-nothings can plan for their own retirement, provide their own health care, educate their own children and feed their own families,”
Outlaw– just like most broad-minded intellectuals that I know– thanks for sharing!
DP
July 22nd, 2011
2:49 pm
Kinda like the pot calling the kettle black, eh Tucker!
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
2:49 pm
Looks like Goldie and curt cobain are about 3/4 of the way through a dime bag…
Arnold Butler
July 22nd, 2011
2:50 pm
Ok people,let’s stick to the subject: “Herman Cain” LOL