Perry denies keeping name on controversial rock

Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday again denied the name "Niggerhead" was recently visible on a large rock near the entrance to a hunting camp since his family became associated with it decades ago.

"I know for a fact that in 1984 that rock was painted over," Perry told Fox News, adding "all of us agree that the word that was on that rock is ... a very offensive word."

The Washington Post reported on Sunday that the name was visible as recently as 2008, according to one former ranch worker quoted in the story.

"I think there were some very much and strong inconsistencies and just infactual information that was in that story," Perry said of the newspaper's account.

The Post cited seven sources who had seen the word at varying times over the past decades and many could not recall precisely when the word was painted over. None of the sources was named in the story.

Most of Perry's challengers have remained silent on the issue, though businessman Herman Cain has called it "a sign of insensitivity."

"Yes, it was painted over," the former Godfather's Pizza chief executive and the only African-American vying for the Republican nomination told ABC Sunday "but how long ago was it painted over?"

Cain later said he accepted Perry's response.

In the Fox interview, the first time he was directly asked about it on camera since the Post report was published, Perry said he was certain his family painted over the rock nearly 30 years ago.

"My family did that. We painted over that rock and it stayed that way. I have no idea where or why people would say that they have seen that rock because that is just not the fact," Perry said.

Watch the interview here: