Herman Cain: Tea Party racism claims are "ridiculous"

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain told Hotsheet Wednesday that racist accusations about the movement are "ridiculous."

"I have been speaking to Tea Parties, Americans for Prosperity, since 2009, before it was cool," Cain said, before pointing to victories in recent straw polls. "...If the Tea Party organization is racist, why does the black guy keep winning all these straw polls?"

Asked if part of his appeal to the Tea Party is that he is an African-American carrying a conservative message, Cain said no.

"They really wouldn't care if I was green, red, blue or yellow - seriously," he said. "That's not the reason why. There is no remorse about - 'OK, we voted for President Obama, we're trying to send a message that the conservatives are not racist.' No. I don't believe that's it at all."

Cain said he does not feel that President Obama did not use race to get elected. But he said "a lot of his supporters use race selectively to try to cover up some of his failures, to try to cover up some of his failed policies."

Mr. Obama's surrogates, Cain said, "try to play the race card because there's supposed to be something wrong with criticizing him."

"We have the right to criticize any elected official constructively," he added.

"Some people have tried to use [race] to try to give the president a pass on failed policies, bad decisions and the fact that this economy is not doing what it's supposed to do."

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Watch the full interview:

[hopetrumps]

Cain---wasn't he the guy in the Bible who killed the good, younger brother, Abel? Now why do racist tea party gopers love to raise Cain? isn't it obvious, Herman? What do cynical Kluckers love better than to see a brother attack his own brothers? That's what explains those poll numbers Herman---
certainly, ain't your IQ

[tubabone123456]

claims? despite the outspoken KKK members being also members of the tea party? who put this white guy in a black guy suit?

[ge556]

"Cain said he does not feel that President Obama did not use race to get elected."

I hope that was an error by the reporter.

[WeHappyFew]

Herman Cain is officially a moron. 12 % is just over one in eight not one in ten. 12 % is and extra 20% of 10%. He's erroneously revised down by (just under) 17% of the total black population. All is of no matter because, cut it anyway you like, it's still a gross exaggeration to say you'll find 3% black attendance at tea party rallies.

This guy was the chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank Kansas (albeit for a year). Your average New York busboy has a better grasp of percentages.

[WeHappyFew]

G*d people, stop giving airtime to MORONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[justme2012]

Cain is a lot smarter than Obama.

Of course, most everyone is smarter than Obama.

Obama is a failure.


Send him back to his teaching job where the rest of his economic team have already returned after their failures.

[TX-TEA]

Wow an 18 minute interview with no teleprompter, no studdering,no talking out of both sides of his mouth,answering each question, and if you click on any part of the interview I bet you might learn something new. All you liberal scum stick to the race card how about his IDEOLOGY? He knows what America is based on because he grew up here, not on anti-American land such as indonesia and kenya. But you wouldnt understand Mr. Cain because he is a GOD fearing Christian who is genuine to the bone!

[justme2012]

Obama claims to worship the same God that Cain does. Does Obama speak the truth or just more political lies?

[MurdochSucks]

Perhaps Cain failed to notice all of the overtly racist signs being flown about at the Tea Party rallies. Or is just a fake?

[34sender]

I think he is only talking about himself, because he is getting some good audiences at his speeches.

He put his foot in it with the "no legislation longer than three pages" line (The Constitution being four pages...ahem!) -- and he will make more gaffes which the seasoned GOP politicians will use to annihilate him if he makes it to debates with the whole field.

I have nothing against him. I would never vote for him, like I actively campaigned against Meg Whitman in CA. I do not want a business man running MY country (or state). Period. Government and business are not the same thing.

Do you want a health insurance CEO performing your heart transplant? C'mon folks -- political expertise is important in a world like ours.

[MurdochSucks]

Agreed on all accounts. Ol' Meg wanted to buy her way in, but that is exactly the nightmare we need to avoid in an already corrupt government.

[rightbehind]

When the KKK gets a lynch mob together this guy would probably help them with the noose. He is undermining all those who have suffered to further the rights of minorities. He should hang his head in shame.

[tellingthestory]

At least I always know where to find a racist,fascist hate mongering Liberal there always at CBS.

[MurdochSucks]

Racist, fascist, hate mongering Liberal? Aren't those oxymoronic adjectives?

[nottblu]

no murdoch they describe the left perfectly, if you want proof see below and read.

[tellingthestory]

Still most of the Ignorant Liberals posting at CBS they have given up just about everywhere else.

[tellingthestory]

The story CBS will not print.

Why Has Obama Ignored the Law and Failed to Send Congress a Plan to Fix Medicare's Finances?

The Medicare trust fund situation also shows how politically the Obama White House views virtually every major public policy issue. Mr. Obama apparently wants to keep Medicare as an issue to beat up Republicans in the 2012 campaign, protect congressional Democrats from tough votes in the months before the next election, and avoid injecting any controversial subjects into the mix that might harm his chances for a second term.