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
WOODSTOCK MIKE
July 22nd, 2011
4:15 pm
“There are Christians, Hindus, Muslims and many other religions fighting bloody battles around the world in the name of their religion. Maybe the fact that everyone believes their religion to be “The One True Religion” is what is driving so much of this hatred.”
If you can’t understand that Islam is without any question the most violent religion practiced on earth today you should be ashamed. Of course it’s only a small few Muslims doing this and of course you can find acts of violence here and there from other religions, but on almost a daily basis someone is blowing themselves up in the name of Islam. Put it like this, today in Oslo an Islamic terrortist opened fire on children, please tell me the last time someone did this in the name of Christianity or Hinduism?
GrammarKing
July 22nd, 2011
4:15 pm
Who hates Christianity? Every religion has its faults, if one is so inclined to look critically at them. I do think it repulsive that the uber-conservative Islamic theology teaches that women should be subordinate to men. I find it abhorrent that some Muslim extremists choose to destroy huge numbers of innocent bystanders, and often themselves in the process, through violent means. What do you know about more liberal (small “l” liberal, not “L”iberal as in Democrat) sects of Islam? Anything? No, of course not.
I find it equally repulsive that so many so-called Christians are so quick to judge an entire population based on the actions of the few. Let he who is without sin… How about how, and this is a generalization, many conservatives who claim to hold Freedom above all else seek to control how a minority population chooses to practice its faith?
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:16 pm
Josey,
Seriously man, enough with the aliases. You’re not very good at it and it makes it difficult to carry on a conversation.
I’m not going to denounce the tax system. While I believe in very limited government I’m not so simple minded as to think that the money fairy is going to fund what little government I find necessary. If there were no “redistribution of wealth” as you call it, how would you propose we fund the services necessary to the function of this country?
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:16 pm
Anybody seen OMG…Really? Still wondering if he’s going to give us a straight answer on wealth re-distribution…
williebkind
July 22nd, 2011
4:16 pm
“Oh yes, liberals do all those things quite well … they are call Entitlements!”
Yes it is the best post of the day….lol
yuzeyurbrane
July 22nd, 2011
4:16 pm
You can add narcisist and opportunist to bigot.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:17 pm
“Seriously man, enough with the aliases. You’re not very good at it and it makes it difficult to carry on a conversation. :
Seriously man, I’m only posting under one screen name. Email CT and ask her if you doubt it. Paranoid much???
Martha
July 22nd, 2011
4:17 pm
Cynthia, you are a fool! You really show your own ignorance if you could not listen well enough to Herman Cain to comprehend what he was saying. You need to go live in Iran and experience Sharia law and maybe you would come home to America with a new appreciation for the true freedom this country was founded upon; the freedom that allows you to spout off at the mouth ignorant views and slanderous statements about other people. You would be stoned for your mouth in an Islamic country. You probably would not survive for long over there since you certainly don’t understand the oneness of Islam and Sharia, and what that means especially to a woman. That, you fool, is why you better open our eyes.
CP
July 22nd, 2011
4:17 pm
Actually, I first knew that African Americans were capable of bigotry upon my first reading of a couple of editorials written by Ms. Tucker herself.
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:17 pm
Maybe I am an illegal alien
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:18 pm
” If there were no “redistribution of wealth” as you call it, how would you propose we fund the services necessary to the function of this country?”
UMMMMMM…everybody pays the same taxes, and everybody gets the same services???
Best Post of the Day
July 22nd, 2011
4:19 pm
“I learned everything I need to know about Muslims on 9/11.” In that case, I leaned everything I needed to know about Christians from the Westboro Baptist Church.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:19 pm
” If there were no “redistribution of wealth” as you call it, how would you propose we fund the services necessary to the function of this country?”
So you DO support re-distribution of wealth. Which is contrary to your assertion that I was wrong about your views. But then we pretty much knew that all along.
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:19 pm
If there were no “redistribution of wealth” as you call it, how would you propose we fund the entitlements necessary to the function of this country?
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:19 pm
You need to settle down and wait on the answer if you want to ask the question. You are possibly the worst blog poster ever.
GeoffDawg
July 22nd, 2011
4:20 pm
@GrammarKing – you find the mass murdering of innocents by Muslim terrorists to be equally repulsive to Christian judgments? I think we’ve identified your disconnect to reality.
Blk09GT
July 22nd, 2011
4:20 pm
CT, Here is the problem with the “peaceful” religion…It is not just a religion, it is a combo of the political realm and religious realm. They are commanded to put in place Sharia Law. Read this slowly so you can understand, “Sharia Law and the Constitution can NOT coexist” Many European nations are facing this issue as we speak because they allowed Sharia Law into their courts. I tend to agree with many others on here that say why have you chosen to speak up now about bigotry? There are so many that play the race card with D’s beside their names including so called Reverends. Race has nothing to do with a group of individuals attempting to replace the Constitution with their own set of laws.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:21 pm
“I learned everything I need to know about Muslims on 9/11.” In that case, I leaned everything I needed to know about Christians from the Westboro Baptist Church.”
Maybe one of you clever libbies will compare and contrast for us the Westboro Baptist Church expressing its Constitutionallu protected free speech rights to muslims committing mass murder. That should be fun.
williebkind
July 22nd, 2011
4:22 pm
“redistribution of wealth” as you call it, how would you propose we fund the services necessary to the function of this country?”
Let me answer that in real lamen terms. No one complains about providing the needed functions of the government. Redistribution of wealth, a clause that eludes you continously, is subduing a large group of people and preventing them from having personal responsibility for their welfare. No one denies a helping hand but hardly anyone wants to take from their family to give to someone who is not looking after themselves.
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:22 pm
Cute. Now you’ve taken my name. Jeez man, are you five years old?
trishadishawareagle
July 22nd, 2011
4:22 pm
Herman was right, Islam is not a religion it is a political cult. To hell with islam and their pedophile prophet blowhammed.
Ansar al-Jihad al-Alami , which i understand to mean homosexual dog rapists for allah, has taken responsibility for the oslo attack, so the press can drop the pretense that perhaps this was not islamic. CUT THE CRAP, PC idiots. Islam is out to get you, get them first!
Justin Case
July 22nd, 2011
4:22 pm
CT Herman Cain is a breath of fresh air! You on the other hand are the bigot!
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:23 pm
“If there were no “redistribution of wealth” as you call it, how would you propose we fund the entitlements necessary to the function of this country?”
Even though we know that’s what OMG really thinks, whoever is hacking his screen name should cut it out
GeoffDawg
July 22nd, 2011
4:23 pm
“If there were no “redistribution of wealth” as you call it, how would you propose we fund the services necessary to the function of this country?”
I think there would also be some disagreement on what constitutes “necessary” government functions. Off the top of my head, I could give you quite a few items that could use a good de-funding.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:24 pm
“Cute. Now you’ve taken my name. Jeez man, are you five years old?”
Again, email CT and see how many screen names I’ve used in this blog today. If the answer is anything other than one, I’ll paypal $500 to your account.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
July 22nd, 2011
4:25 pm
“I learned everything I need to know about Muslims on 9/11.” In that case, I leaned everything I needed to know about Christians from the Westboro Baptist Church.”
If you are comparing the murder of 3000 people to the picketing of war funerals that’s pretty sad…
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:25 pm
I agree with what you are saying willie. My point is that the tax system is not inherently a redistribution scheme in and of itself. That fallacy is a creation of the gop sound machine.
To the extent that the tax system is used for that purpose I oppose it with the caveat that some very minimal social safety net is important to the overall welfare of the country.
The Very Best Post of the Day
July 22nd, 2011
4:25 pm
“You are possibly the worst blog poster ever.”
Steve From Dalton
July 22nd, 2011
4:26 pm
I’m guessing the people in Oslo wish there were no mosque. Herman Could be on to something
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:27 pm
“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.”
So black voters really voted for Obama just because he is black? OMG…Really?
Stevie Ray
July 22nd, 2011
4:27 pm
I’m somewhat new to these blogs. Is it common for a select few bloggers to compromise a majority of the viewpoints? Makes for less interesting reading but perhaps thats the intent of this medium…???
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:28 pm
” My point is that the tax system is not inherently a redistribution scheme in and of itself.”
If you and I go to dinner with 8 other people, and you are forced to pay the entire bill for all 10 of us whether you like it or not, is that not re-distribution of weath?
Liberals are so funny…
williebkind
July 22nd, 2011
4:28 pm
Omg…Really, it is miller time….so see ya!
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:29 pm
To the extent that the tax system is used for that purpose I oppose it with the caveat that some very maximum social safety net is important to the overall welfare and entitlement recipients of the country.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:29 pm
Stevie Ray
July 22nd, 2011
4:27 pm
“I’m somewhat new to these blogs. Is it common for a select few bloggers to compromise a majority of the viewpoints? Makes for less interesting reading but perhaps thats the intent of this medium…???”
I don’t think I get the question, but dude, you ROCKED on “Tightrope” and “VooDoo Chile.”
trishadishawareagle
July 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
@OMG
Attributing black america’s devotion to obama to racism (like their devotion to OJ) is Kinder than the alternative, because Anyone who bases their devotion to obama on his record at this point is an abject retard
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
Barack Hussein Obama is a muslim name? OMG…Really?
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
Well boys, I’ve got to go paint a town red. Happy blogging.
BB
July 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
I can’t wait to vote for Herman! Race has nothing to do with it…he’s the best person for the job.
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:33 pm
williebkind, it’s been “time” all day for me! OMG…Really?
ScubaSteve
July 22nd, 2011
4:33 pm
I don’t particularly “cling” to anything, Josey. I’m a product of both public and private schools. My children will likely be as well.
But if you’d like to stay on topic here, perhaps you could answer a few questions:
-How many Muslims do you actually know? I don’t mean how many have you met, but how many do you actually know?
-Why are you all of a sudden willing to manipulate the phrase “freedom of religion”?
-Wouldn’t you be furious if a presidential candidate flatly stated “No, I wouldn’t ever appoint a Jew to any position.”?
-If you can acknowledge that most Christians believe Westboro is a fringe Christian group, why can’t you acknowledge that most Muslims believe that Al Qaeda and the like are fringe Muslims who have distorted Islam?
GeoffDawg
July 22nd, 2011
4:33 pm
trishadishawareagle @ 4:30 – your point is well made. Even for a Tiger/War Eagle/Plainsmen…whatever you are.
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:33 pm
trisha
I didn’t post that. Someone thinks I’m so important that they have co-opted my screen name.
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:34 pm
Why does my party (D) have a jackass for it’s mascot?
trishadishawareagle
July 22nd, 2011
4:34 pm
@The Outlaw JW
Have a good time painting the town red.
I think I overheard Barney Frank say something about painting obama white this weekend at camp david?? whatever that means
OMG...Really
July 22nd, 2011
4:35 pm
repeatedly it appears.
GeoffDawg
July 22nd, 2011
4:36 pm
Hmm, I thought I heard that Barney Frank is getting together with Anthony Weiner this weekend. Something about a hotdog roast.
An Abject Retard
July 22nd, 2011
4:36 pm
“The smoking gun is the mushroom cloud.”
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:36 pm
Scuba…
1) Maybe 3. I’ve been lucky.
2) I’m not. It’s deplorable, but still free speech
3) Yes. But Jews don’t hate on women and blow people up.
4) Because, with VERY few exceptions, they don’t denounce the terrorists, and in fact, harbor them and fund them
Glad I could help you out on that.
The Outlaw Josey Wales
July 22nd, 2011
4:37 pm
See ya…