Hermain Cain: Runaway Slave

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Lloyd Marcus American Thinker Article

I keep having images of Herman Cain barefoot, covered in sweat and mud, wearing an old patchwork shirt and handmade burlap pants held up by a rope rather than a belt, out of breath and frantically running for his life; to freedom. Menacing sounds of barking dogs in the distance focused on Cain's scent. Not far behind, hot on Cain's trail, are black overseers determined to keep their fellow black slaves in check for their white liberal Democrat massas.

Cain's crime? He achieved success via traditional routes; education, hard work and character. Cain did not use or need affirmative action or lowered standards; a clear violation of the left's law for acceptable minority success.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/...way_slave.html

*****************

I agree with part of what Lloyd Marcus (context: Proud Unhyphenated American and Black Conservative http://www.lloydmarcus.com/) is saying but I think everything has extremes and he went too far just as he is accusing others of doing. Shuckin' and jivin' to make the "white man" happy is the same as shuckin' and jivin' to prove you don't have to shuck and jive. Or...are all parties involved simply expressing their viewpoints and doing whatever the heck they sociopolitically and socioeconomically want to do without it being labeled as "overseers," etc?! Argh...it's hard to tell, we need our monthly Black Folks Around the World meeting.

What say you, GCers? Don't be scurrrrrrrred *to prove I have an active Black Card*

[PiKA2001]

I'm not a fan of Cain but you can't deny that it's been politically advantageous for the Dems to keep minorities in a victim mentality with the false idea that they (Dems) are the only ones wanting to help them.

[AOII Angel]

Whatever.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I'm not a fan of Cain but you can't deny that it's been politically advantageous for the Dems to keep minorities in a victim mentality with the false idea that they (Dems) are the only ones wanting to help them.

Just as it is politically adventageous for the Republicans to have "tokens" who can scream "look, I'm successful...there is no such thing as racism (or sexism)...." The scene on the Hannity Show last night was a perfect illustration of that.

This happens on both ends of the spectrum because humans suck at middle ground. To hell with the Dems and Repubs and to hell with political party loyalty.

[Low C Sharp]

it's been politically advantageous for the Dems to keep minorities in a victim mentality

I don't think refusing to whitewash history is evidence of any "victim mentality." The great racial crisis the parties faced in the twentieth century was the civil rights movement. The Republican Party staked out the wrong side of that issue in the 1960s, resulting in great political benefits they still reap. Opposition to civil rights may not be the reason that white people in the South are overwhelmingly Republican today, but it is the issue that turned the tide and launched a regionwide reversal of party affiliation that's stronger than ever. You don't have to have a "victim mentality" to care about that history, or to expect a real repudiation of it from the Republican leadership that has never come. (Reagan launched his 1980 campaign talking about states' rights in Philadelphia, Mississippi, which was a not-very-veiled pitch to those who had opposed civil rights. You don't hear about this when people in either party praise Reagan.)

I don't view the Democrats as any kind of Great White Hope, but the Republican Party earned the skepticism they face in the black community. It's up to them, not the Democrats, to earn that trust back.

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

I don't think refusing to whitewash history is evidence of any "victim mentality." The great racial crisis the parties faced in the twentieth century was the civil rights movement. The Republican Party staked out the wrong side of that issue in the 1960s, resulting in great political benefits they still reap. Opposition to civil rights may not be the reason that white people in the South are overwhelmingly Republican today, but it is the issue that turned the tide and launched a regionwide reversal of party affiliation that's stronger than ever. You don't have to have a "victim mentality" to care about that history, or to expect a real repudiation of it from the Republican leadership that has never come. (Reagan launched his 1980 campaign talking about states' rights in Philadelphia, Mississippi, which was a not-very-veiled pitch to those who had opposed civil rights. You don't hear about this when people in either party praise Reagan.)

I don't view the Democrats as any kind of Great White Hope, but the Republican Party earned the skepticism they face in the black community. It's up to them, not the Democrats, to earn that trust back.

I had a whole "book" written and ready to post, but you summed it up very well. +1

And to add to it, it would/should not be difficult for Rs to put African-American votes in play, if that were a serious, overarching strategy. Taken a look at the economic/poverty statistics in the districts represented by the CBC, lately?

[amIblue?]

I thought this quote from Andrea Peyser's NY Post article was interesting:

He is plain-spoken, articulate and a Tea Party conservative. And, in a state of affairs that drives the thought police nuts, Cain, 65, the Republican presidential front-runner, is also black. This makes him the biggest threat to the left since the fall of communism.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/nationa...#ixzz1bL8Mtwc8

At what point can white people stop describing successful African-Americans as articulate? It makes me cringe because of the inference that African Americans can't be or typically aren't articulate. My personal experience is that educated people, of any color, are well-spoken and "articulate." Say what you will of Cain's politics, he is an educated, successful man. Of course he's articulate.

[Low C Sharp]

Yep, it gets the same eyeroll from me as "Some of my best friends are..."

[agzg]

Ugh Andrea Peyser is terrible.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Just as it is politically adventageous for the Republicans to have "tokens" who can scream "look, I'm successful...there is no such thing as racism (or sexism)...." The scene on the Hannity Show last night was a perfect illustration of that.

This happens on both ends of the spectrum because humans suck at middle ground. To hell with the Dems and Repubs and to hell with political party loyalty.

* I don't watch Hannity because he annoys the hell out of me so my following comment is based on what I've noticed of Cain *

If Cain wants to attract black votes he needs to quit playing the "token" and claiming that racism doesn't exist in politics and start spending more time explaining to fellow african americans why he is conservative, why conservatism and it's ideals have benefitted him and how it can benefit other african americans. I personally believe that you can't legislate away the poverty and social ills affecting some communities. Giving someone an additional $10 a month in food stamps isn't going to bring them out of poverty. I think that is what Cain believes as well, he's just going about the wrong way in expressing it to people.

The fact that people and the media look at him as a token and an abnormality because of his conservatism is getting annoying as well. Are minorities not supposed to be socially or fiscally conservative?

[AlphaFrog]

The more I read about Cain, the more I wonder if his goal is to alienate everyone, which last time I checked is not great political strategy. I don't know of it's him trying to be everything to everyone or showing that he's different than the current regime and tough enough not to care what people think or what his deal is.

[*winter*]

So if someone is a liberal, educated Black pol they got to where they are because of AA? Wow. That's a loaded statement that is very offensive to the educated, successful black politicians. As soon as a black person manages to get into a great university, it has to somehow be connected to AA. Just because someone didn't take "the hard road" doesn't mean they didn't work for what they have.

Moreso I don't hear any of them talking about lowering standards, most are advocating for better schools that are more academically competitive in their cities and states. I'm sure people like Gov Patrick don't want everyone to stay in the projects- he's not still in them!

The whole slavery image was unnecessary.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by *winter*

So if someone is a liberal, educated Black pol they got to where they are because of AA? Wow. That's a loaded statement that is very offensive to the educated, successful black politicians. As soon as a black person manages to get into a great university, it has to somehow be connected to AA. Just because someone didn't take "the hard road" doesn't mean they didn't work for what they have.

What is "the hard road?"

As for the bolded, these statements are inaccurate but I don't find them very offensive. These statements have been made about "successful Black people" for generations but mostly by white people. I enjoy Lloyd Marcus' right to express his opinion and, as always, opinions mean nothing to me in the longrun. I put Lloyd Marcus in the same category as the white people (across political leanings) who feel this way: Think what you want, say what you want in certain settings, but do not try to impact "my" life and career.

[Munchkin03]

I have to say, I haven't given Herman Cain much thought. The GOP slate seems to be a clown show right now. The best candidate so far is Romney, and I've got some serious problems with that one.

[KSigkid]

I was a Romney supporter in 2008 and will be one for 2012. Honestly, I haven't given Cain a lot of thought or any consideration as a candidate. I don't see him as someone who can make a serious run for the presidency.