I have previously raised concern over the treatment of Herman Cain by the media and Democratic activists because of his race. While I have strong disagreements with Cain, I find it discomforting to see how his race is such a preoccupation with Democrats. This weekend, I was taken aback by the statement of Democratic strategist and MSNBC analyst Karen Finney that Cain is “a black man who knows his place.”
Here is the full statement in context:
“One of the things about Herman Cain is, I think that he makes that white Republican base of the party feel okay, feel like they are not racist because they can like this guy,” Finney said. “I think he giving that base a free pass. And I think they like him because they think he’s a black man who knows his place. I know that’s harsh, but that’s how it sure seems to me.”
What is equally remarkable is Martin Bashir’s response: “Thank you for spelling that out.”
There is of course another possibility: Republicans supporting Cain might not be racist . . . anymore than Democrats who supported Obama. Republicans have previously had African Americans run for President. Alan Keys comes to mind. Like Russ Perot, Cain is billing himself as an outsider from the business world. I have criticized him in columns, but I do not see why he should be faced with constant questions over whether he is genuine or merely some put-up black guy for racist Republicans. Yet, there have been a steady chorus of such attacks directed at Cain.
Finney is described as “having more than 20 years in national politics includes four presidential campaigns, the Clinton White House, a New York Senate race, and first African American spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee.” No one would tolerate Republican attacks that she is a woman or African American valued by MSNBC for “knowing her place.” Yet, these attacks have gone on without little objection from Democrats. Indeed, MSNBC host Al Sharpton has questioned whether Cain is an “authentic black man”.
Cain for his part has called some of these attacks “racist.” Of course, not to be undone in the racist rhetoric, Russ Limbaugh has insisted that Herman Cain more “authentically black” than Obama.
What do you think?
Gene. It may be in some measure about green (money) and motive may be slippery to pin down but as was pointed out by SM (beat me to the punch!), the effect of the voter ID laws is suppression and falls on the citizenry in a disparate manner.
The one good aspect of EO law enforcement was that motive was de minimus, effect was controlling. The effect of the current push for voter ID has a disparate impact on poor people, students, persons of color, handicapped persons and old people. The effect of the ID laws is disparate, it is discriminatory against both protected and non-protected groups but easily identifiable groups and some of the non-protected groups can be broken apart to fit in the class of potential voters that are protected.
I am going to have to get a BCert copy at the cost of $15.00. If I get it by mail I need a computer printer (don’t have one now) to print out a copy of the form. My other option is to travel downtown and do it in person. I need that document to get a driver’s licence or an ID card. Even if they were free I’d still have to get myself to one of the two places I need to go to get it. The city website says also that a mail request has to have the request form notarized. There is information that indicates that a phone request can be made and I’m going to check that out but I assume a credit card is necessary. in any event, the need for a special trip and the attendant parking fees, the need for a notarized form if by mail or a credit card is burdensome IMO. The value of these cards in voting is fundamental.
I’m not one of those people that look at a collection of public officials that are smart enough to get themselves elected and wonder if they just don’t understand what they are doing. That’s naive. These states, primarily Republican, are setting out with discriminatory practices to suppress the vote by disenfranchising persons of color and other groups known to be affected negatively by such practices and specifically protected by the law against such discrimination. The programs have racist and bigoted effects ergo the architects are are racist and bigoted.
That the Justice Department (spits) isn’t all over this is a national disgrace.
Bron,
That thing you so often fail to do: read and understand the context of what you read. Plus, the formulation of that question shows a lack of understanding of how to triage foreign policy issues in itself. The ones you need to know everything about as President and chief diplomat are those that directly impact our nation’s interests, not all of the foreign policy issues of all the world. However, you do need to be generally informed on those as well. Why? Because what was once solely an issue for other countries can become an issue for us if circumstances change.
A great many of the regulars here manage to stay quite well informed on foreign policy issues and none of us are running for President.
It’s not an impossible task.
So now Gore ran the Willie Horton ad?! Yikes.
I could see Ron Paul running as a third party candidate if the match up is Obama versus Cain.
Gene H:
how can one person know all the details of all of the problems in the various parts of the world?
Gene H:
“A career in the Diplomatic Corps (at least before that idiot criminal Bush ran off a great many of the dedicated serious diplomatic types) is a far better background for developing the skills a great political leader needs than business is or ever could be.”
I thought maybe you had some people in mind.
Wrong question, Bron.
What great statesmen weren’t also great diplomats is the question. The answer is “none”. Being a great statesman requires the skills of a diplomat. As President, you are chief diplomat for this country.
Herman Cain has said “Relative to foreign policy, I don’t need to know the details of every one of the issues we face.”
This is wrong in attitude, approach and fact. As the chief diplomat of the United States, he needs to know every detail of every foreign policy issue we as a country face. His attitude that he doesn’t – as well as other positions and personality traits – shows a marked unfitness for the office of President.
Some people are natural diplomats. Some people aren’t. However, life as a businessman is not going to give you the skills if you don’t already possess them.
Gene H:
what great statesmen were diplomats first?
Bron:
“The Willie Horton add was used by Al Gore if memory serves.”
Sorry,your memory is wrong.Very wrong as a matter of fact.
Roger:
what do you mean by welfare queen?
The Willie Horton add was used by Al Gore if memory serves. It also went to the mind set of someone who would turn a hardened criminal free on a pass.
Roger:
Breakdown by party for Civil Rights Act:
House of Representatives:
Democrats for: 152
Democrats against: 96
Republicans for: 138
Republicans against: 34
Senate:
Democrats for: 46
Democrats against: 21
Republicans for: 27
Republicans against: 6
40% of democrats in the House voted against it vs. 20% of republicans who voted against it.
In the Senate 31% of democrates voted against it vs. 18% of republicans who voted against it.
This is a really interesting speech from Bill Moyers. I hope people will hear him out.
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2011/10/31-1
mr.ed
I thought his name was Herman Cain aka “cornbread” haven’t heard the “darkie” moniker till just now,i guess you know something some of us don’t.
In your heart of hearts, do you really, really think that his party faithful would vote for a darkie?
I’m with eniobob: Cain is in it for the money, but he is not the only one; e.g., Gingrich. Cain has just found another way to make money, all the slings and arrows be damned. I mean, look at Ms. Palin, she became a multi-millionaire, had to endure a lot of guff, but kept her eye on the ball and is laughing all the way to the bank, now. Only in America! The Land of Milk and Honey.
“It does have a lot to do with green if you can’t afford to buy the hand gun carry license which you can use to vote with. A student id does not cut it.”
The state I live in offers state photo ID’s if you dont drive. why doesnt Texas do the same? Charge a small fee to cover the admin cost, just like a drivers license.
Bron,
Ignore the propagandists! The elites are getting nervous, that is all!
Right now Mr Cain finds himself in the position of making that old saying come true.
“the people you meet on the way up are the same ones you’ll see on the way down”
Well Clarence (my bad) Herman you did say you were going to bring humor to the White House but I’m quite sure that you didn’t imagine that you would be the one that’s being laughed at and not with.
“The Republican (or the Democrat) party machines simply do not let just anyone be a player for the nomination …” (Roger Lambert)
So true … Cain is part of the show and he had to get loud in order to pull the media away from all the OWS drama and get them centered back on the “Obama/Clinton/Biden/Kucinich/etc” that worked so well for the democrats last time and the republicans are trying to copy this time.
Now, there is the danger that when Romney is anointed, Cain might be chosen … remember Palin …