Herman Cain apologizes for Muslim remarks

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain / CBS News

WASHINGTON — Republican Herman Cain is apologizing to Muslim leaders for vitriolic remarks he made about Islam while campaigning for the presidential nomination.

The former Godfather's Pizza CEO has said communities have a right to ban Islamic mosques because Muslims are trying to inject sharia law into the U.S. He's also said he would not want a Muslim bent on killing Americans in his administration.

On Wednesday, Cain met with four Muslim leaders in Stirling, Va. He said in a statement later he was "truly sorry" for comments that may have "betrayed" his commitment to the Constitution and the religious freedom it guarantees.

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He also acknowledged that Muslims, "like all Americans," have the right to practice freely their faith and that most Muslim Americans are peaceful and patriotic.

Earlier, Cain had said his view doesn't amount to religious discrimination because he says Muslims are trying to inject Shariah law into the U.S.

Shariah is a set of core principles that most Muslims recognize and a series of rulings from religious scholars. It covers many areas of life and different sects have different versions and interpretations of the code.

Asked if his view could lead any community to stand up in opposition to a proposed mosque, Cain replied, "They could say that." He pointed to opposition to the planned mosque in Murfreesboro, Tenn., as an example.

[bodi1313]

Mr. Cain grew up black in the segregated south.. we live what we have learned. If you grow up being discriminated against.. you repeat the pattern. He has awakened to that. People do evolve.

[MichaelGaree]

Mr. Cain:

Thank you for (eventually) seeing the error of your ways, and then having the courage to admit you were wrong.

Michael Garee

[daffy64]

On Wednesday, Cain met with four Muslim leaders in Stirling, Va. He said in a statement later he was "truly sorry" for comments that may have "betrayed" his commitment to the Constitution and the religious freedom it guarantees.

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Yeah, you did Herman. And anyone on this board that was supporting his racist, un-American, unconstitutional blathering should be ashamed.

Next.

[bodi1313]

Sorry friend.. 9/11 caused 'wariness' of the Islam faith from MANY Americans. All we can do is have dialogue, and try to move past it. That is what Herman Cain did yesterday.

[pr_boxer]

This guy Cain is a phoney-baloney, he's running for financial gain. His chances of election rival that of my house cat!

[imnotimportant]

Now, if only Franklin Graham would apologize and show his apology is sincere.

[Birdman04]

Not a viable candidate and never was. A puppet on a string being played like a cheap fiddle and when his 15 minutes of fame is up he will be discarded like a piece of garbage.

[longtree-2009]

who would have thought a black man would be discriminatory? obviously cain is not familiar with the u.s. constitution which guarantees freedom of religion, whether anyone likes the religion or not. funny that people think cain is presidential material. cain should go back to the pizza business and stay out of politics.

[pr_boxer]

Good point Americabeforecorporations

[The Invisible Hand]

Thank you CBS for this story

Mr. Cain,

Thank you for showing people that humans are allowed to be wrong. Thank you for having the guts to get on and tell the people you were wrong. Thank you for realizing your words were hurtful not just to Muslims but to Americans who believe in the first amendment! VERY Commendable.

More politicians need to follow your lead in being honest when you make a mistake. I do not fault you for being human and making a mistake, we all make them.

What separates the crowd is when you listen to the opinion opinon and admit afterwards that you were wrong!

Sir, I tip my hat to you! I respect this man for admitting he is human and made a mistake. If Washington doesn't need honesty I don't know who does!

[The Invisible Hand]

opposite* opinion and admit when you were wrong

[daffy64]

True. But he has shown deep down that he's a bigoted person.

Next.

[JV1970]

I know that not all Muslims are terrorists. Most of them are nice, law abiding people and certainly NOT killers. However, considering what happened on 9/11 and at Ft. Hood and the fact that every terrorist who has attacked or attempted to attack the US in the last twenty years, except the Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, has been a Muslim, I think Mr. Cain is right to be a little wary of them!

[JV1970]

I've never claimed to be a "leader"! I'm just a US citizen who has the same rights as you and one of them is the right to voice my opinion. I'm also human and very often I'm wrong. Apparently you're not human! You must be some kind of robot who never makes mistakes!

You are also a creepy stalker who is obsessed with me because you stalk me everywhere I go on the internet! You bash me on every comment I make!

[JV1970]

AttentionDeficit I'm not off the Sarah bandwagon or the Bachmann's. I'm still on their bandwagons. Since I still don't know if Palin is going to join the race, it doesn't hurt to have someone else in mind to support in case she decides to stay out of the race. Palin, Bachmann, and Cain all represent my views. So does Rick Perry but, like Palin, he hasn't joined the race yet.

[Overruled1]

The party is over