Bizarre, Politics, Society

Democratic Strategist: Republicans Like Cain as a “Black Man Who Knows His Place”

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?

163 thoughts on “Democratic Strategist: Republicans Like Cain as a “Black Man Who Knows His Place””

  1. Henman:
    Hoover was also able to score some of that humanitarian aid- emergency food distribution after the Great Flood of 1927

    Madison, Monroe, Van Buren and Buchanon were all Secretary’s of State prior to their Presidency

  3. Bron,
    If you are poor, old or handicapped, it is harder than it should be. Plus, there is no voter fraud problem so the reason for your ID cards are a fraud.

  4. Gene, the last part of my posting at 7:50pm was to you, I was just typing away and didn’t put your name on it. Sorry.

  6. maybe i’ll look for the link later but i did see a story that tenn or ky. allows people over 60 to get a non picture drivers license. then recently passed a voter id law. now anyone with a non-pic license must go back to dmv to get a picture id and some are being charged for it making it a pol tax.

  7. rafflaw:

    I honestly fail to see how asking someone to get a picture ID reduces voter participation.

    If the problem is access, pass a law and set up state ID centers around the town in poor neighborhoods so they can get state ID’s.

  8. Bron, People showing up at the polls and voting as others or multiple times is virtually non-existent. Its a lie.
    ______

    Henman, yes, no vote total is credible because of the machines. We need to go back to the paper/pencil ballot.

    Lottakatz- “You said, “The value of these cards (voter ID) in voting is fundamental.”

    Unless that was a typo, I would have to disagree with you. I would say that the value of these cards in voting is zero. The incidence of voter fraud by means of false impersonation is virtually non-existent”
    *
    Actually we’re both right 🙂 Your deeper point is absolutely correct but demanding a picture ID makes driver licenses’, State ID’s and student ID’s vital especially if the state says student ID’s are no good. I could use a Passport if I had one and if they weren’t 100$…
    ______

    Our emphasis is on different faces of the same coin- I put the emphasis on the discriminatory nature of the disenfranchisement in it’s discrete parts, you find the emphasis to be class-based first. I can agree with that easily enough since a lack of power/money is general to all the relevant parts. Looking at it my way makes it easier to fight legally but really, I’m not going to hold my breath on that: the people most appropriate to take that on just aren’t interested. This may be the easiest argument you’ll ever ‘win’ from me- enjoy!

  9. Bron-

    “I fail to see how showing a state issued ID is burdensome.”
    ____________________________________________________

    I refer you to Lottakatz comment at 5:34 p.m.

    Your phony naivete doesn’t pass the smell test. Photo ID is about disenfranchisement of Democratic voters. Period. I wasn’t born last Tuesday. Save your B.S. for someone else.

  11. Bron, first of all, voter fraud is different from vote fraud. There is little or no voter fraud and these state id’s are an attempt to reduce participation.

  12. henman:

    I fail to see how showing a state issued ID is burdensome. I see long lines at the DMV. My children had to show their birth certificates to participate in sports to make sure they were the right age.

    Too much election fraud goes on. Personally I wonder how many elections are actually fair and the guy with the most votes actually wins.

  13. Lottakatz-

    And isn’t it remarkable that the Republicans have no such zeal for demanding that all voting machines be absolutely tamper-proof and produce a verifiable paper copy of each vote. And demanding that the Justice Department break up the one voting machine company that now owns 70% of the voting machines in America.

  15. Lottakatz-

    You said, “The value of these cards (voter ID) in voting is fundamental.”

    Unless that was a typo, I would have to disagree with you. I would say that the value of these cards in voting is zero. The incidence of voter fraud by means of false impersonation is virtually non-existent.

    I strongly agree with you that the sole purpose of voter ID laws is to disenfranchise voters who tend to vote Democratic. Every American who participated in this outrage should be deeply ashamed of him/herself.

  17. And Jefferson (France).
    And Adams (John to the Netherlands).
    And Adams (John Quincy to Russia).

    😀

  18. HenMan,

    Those were the two I could think of with diplomatic corps experience as well.

  19. Gene H. and Bron-

    The two Presidents who come to mind as prior diplomats were Herbert Hoover and George H.W. Bush.

    Hoover’s diplomacy consisted mainly of humanitarian aid- emergency food distribution to Europe during and after World War I. This experience was probably useful to his knowledge of foreign affairs during his Presidency, but after the Crash of 1929, his problems mainly involved dealing(unsuccessfully) with the domestic economy.

    George H.W. Bush was U.S. Envoy to China and later U.S, Ambassador to the United Nations. I’m sure that the latter post was crucially important to him as President in his highly successful formation of an international coalition to drive the Iraqi Army out of Kuwait in the first Gulf War. His connections with the Saudi Royal Family didn’t hurt either!

  20. LK,

    I think you both may have missed my point. In itself the ID laws are about green, but the disproportionate effect is also about green. It’s not affecting those communities disproportionately because of their inherent genetic racial make up. It’s affecting those communities because they are disproportionately poor. That it happens to kill two birds with one stone is just gravy for the elitist race baiter/haters.

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