The American Spectator

Clint| 10.3.11 @ 1:16PM

Herman Cain Played The Race Card On Rick Perry For This.

Mike W| 10.3.11 @ 1:23PM

Cain has derailed himself. He knows darn good and well the context of this issue. He knows that Perry is not painting rocks with racist words.

He is showing himself to be another race obsessed politcian. We've tried that already.

Perry has many problems but this is not one of them.

Notes From Under The Bridge| 10.3.11 @ 1:34PM

Dreher is right about racism. "There is no changing the minds of older white Southerners on the issue of race." Instead of denying it this should be used to highlight how those old attitudes about race are being choked out by more recent generations that want no part of it. Perry is part of those recent generations that want no part of racism, and nothing in his record suggests otherwise.

Social attitudes change slowly, over multiple generations. Go back even further and you'll find the same sort of change societal views about women voting, women working outside the home, etc.

And a generation from now attitudes about homosexuality will have changed in similar ways. People in their 20's and 30's now are far more likely than their parents and grandparents to be accepting of gays, gay marriage, gays adopting children, etc. Give it a decade or two more and the older generations that can't come to terms with the change will be like those "older white southerners" that Dreher is talking about. The younger generations won't be able to change their thinking but will make it clear that certain words are offensive and that they don't appreciate that kind of talk.

Non-Chaz| 10.3.11 @ 2:56PM

Radical homosexual activists attempting to equate the experience of African Americans to the elitist economic status of American homosexuals is nauseating.

Notes From Under The Bridge| 10.3.11 @ 7:26PM

It's not about equating the experiences at all. It has nothing at all to do with higher or lower economic status.

The women who fought for the right to own property of their own, and later the women who fought for the right to vote in this country, were for the most part not economically downtrodden.

It wasn't lower economic status of American blacks that justified the repudiation of racism and the whole civil rights movement.

And the higher average economic status of American gays (those who are openly gay, anyway) isn't relevant either.

Non-Chaz| 10.3.11 @ 11:18PM

A redefinition and de-constructing of marriage does not enhance "civil rights".

The economic subjugation of African Americans and women was central to their civil rights struggle.

Educate yourself.

Derek Leaberry| 10.3.11 @ 3:21PM

The only thing I see out of the younger generation is an "awesome" array of tattoos, skin spikings and earrings, lousy music, an unkempt method of wearing clothing, poor manners, terrible work habits and a worship at the feet of political correctness. They have nothing to teach. Maybe they ought to get a job, buy a house, get married and raise a family before they dictate their "values", such as they are.

Trinacria| 10.3.11 @ 3:56PM

You kids get off my Goddamn lawn!

Only kidding, DL; I'm right there with you on this one...

Notes From Under The Bridge| 10.3.11 @ 7:37PM

I know, right? The long hair is disgusting. And don't get me started about the lousy music! The Beatles are corrupting the youth of today! Those so-called "bell bottoms" look stupid and "flower power" is ...

Sorry, a temporal anomaly stranded me in the 1960s for a moment. Now, let's talk about this "Elvis" fellow ... can you believe Ed Sullivan let him do that nauseating dance on the television last night? I tell you, the youth of today are going downhill fast ...

Frank Wild| 10.3.11 @ 1:36PM

You write like a liberal.

Occam's Tool| 10.3.11 @ 2:22PM

I'm sorry, but Perry is the guy soft on immigration and borders...Cain is best to let this drop. Perry is a lot of things, but racist isn't it.

Jake| 10.3.11 @ 4:29PM

Yesterday , Cain completely ignored the denial put out by the Perry campaign when he repeatedly
smeared Perry as a racist.
Cain instead believed the words of anonymous sources at the Washington Post
and hasn't had the decency
or honor to apologize.
That's all I need to know about his character.
Or lack thereof.

UnrepentantCurmudgeon| 10.4.11 @ 12:33AM

Cain is covering his flanks on this one. On the one hand, he's been basted as "racist" for his association with the Tea Party; to his credit he has stood tall on that one. On the other hand, he has declared a divide between himself and Perry, and this is as good an issue as any on which to appear to take a stand.

But there is a simple reality here: Conservatives cannot demonize each other heading into a campaign, especially a campaign against a gutter fighter like Obama who would bring a gun to a pillow fight if he thought it would help. Instead, Cain should have made it clear that however all this developed, it is impossible to construe Perry as racist. That way he makes his point (assuming there is even a point to be made beyond the blindingly obvious) and does not debase himself in the process.

martin j smith| 10.3.11 @ 4:37PM

Republicans seem not to know how to play ju-jitsu with Socialists on Race issues or other related matters. On the issue of the gay soldier-- I heard the tape and it sounded like one or two people and not until the guy asked his question --the guy sounded like a "gotcha" plant. Booing this kind of person is not inappropriate. As for the matter of that Rock --that story sounded so flimsy the least republicans could have done was
talk to Perry. Cain and other Republicans must always assume that Socialists use the race card and other related methods for political gain and not play into them. Cain will have to learn this fast.

tnxplant| 10.3.11 @ 6:57PM

"There is no changing the minds of older white Southerners on the issue of race." - Rod Dreher

Define "older". Define "white" for that matter. Define "Southerner". Define the mindset of such people on the "issue of race".

I must completely reject Rod Dreher's premise. His generalization, or better yet, stereotype simply has too many exceptions to be valid.

Maybe he personally knows a few "older white Southerners" to whom his opinion applies, but that doesn't justify making such a blanket statement.

Xavier| 10.3.11 @ 10:06PM

I agree completely with tnxplant. Mr. Dreher's formulation is ill-informed, sloppy and offensive. It deserves no more respect or credence than Mr. Obama's remarks about his grandmother and the supposed beliefs and attitudes of "a typical white person."

Bob K.| 10.3.11 @ 11:43PM

Define "Hispanic" or "Latino" while we are at it.

Why do those terms include Iberian/Americans directly from Spain and clearly "White." And why are they entitled to Affirmative Action and Iberian/Americans from Portugal are not?

Why is a "white" Iberian/American whose family has been exploiting "hispanics," "latinos," and blacks for 10 generations in Central America and South America given the same preferences that the indigenous American peoples with "hispanic" surnames are given here in the USA under Affirmative Action?

Bob| 10.3.11 @ 8:39PM

You Republicans keep self-conflagration. Herman Goring Cain got rocks in his head. Bouldering expert Perry is a loser and now Herman joins him and pharmaceutical expert Michele as complete nincompoops. Did you know Cain said East Saint Louis is the capital of Illinois that figures. He joins Michele as geographical shibboleths.

Shill Watch| 10.3.11 @ 9:08PM

It must hurt you terribly that any of them are going to kick the crap out of the poster child of worthless affirmative action hires, Obama. Get used to disappointment. This is going to be worse for progressives than 2010.

John| 10.4.11 @ 1:12AM

Shame on Herman Cain, Chris Wallace, and Fox News for falling for the Washington Post race baiting story. I’ve read the entire story and watched the entire Fox News interview with Herman Cain. Everyone involved painted Rick Perry in a negative light. Shame on them.

According to the story, the rock was seen by many people, none of whom did anything about it until Rick Perry and his dad got rid of the offensive word. And remember, this rock was on land they didn't even own. It wasn't their responsibility, yet they were the only ones who showed good judgement and took action to correct a wrong. And what do they get for their troubles? They get slandered by Herman Cain and the media. I think Herman Cain owes Rick Perry an apology.

Simon Templar| 10.4.11 @ 2:36AM

John..you are absolutely correct and one of the few here with a working and honest brain. Shame on American Spectator for not reporting the whole story and allowing the Left once again to smear and call a conservative a racist.

Chuck| 10.4.11 @ 11:18AM

I smell a Romney dirty trick. A trumped up story by the Washington Post, sounds very familiar. The two nearest contenders both damaged especially Cain's "insensitive" remark reminding us of his race. The Republicans will drop him like a hot potato like they did Bachmann with her over emphasis of Gardasil. The Trifecta Box Bachmann-Perry-Cain with the Texas Governor getting it from both ends. Well done Mitt.

Kenny| 10.4.11 @ 6:56AM

"And don't tolerate any genuine official racism. Of course, this won't be good enough for most liberals."

Au contraire. Liberals fully support official racism. It's called affirmative action.

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