By now many have heard the words of Herman Cain. The former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza and conservative talk show host turned Presidential candidate appeared on CNN and spoke on the voting tendencies of black people. CNN commentator Wolf Blitzer asked Cain about black voters and their disdain for the Republican Party and Cain responded by saying this:
“Because many African-Americans have been brainwashed into not being open minded, not even considering a conservative point of view…” said Cain. He continued his patronizing rant by saying that more and more black Americans are starting to think for themselves.
Condescending much?
President Barack Obama caught flack last week for his speech to the Congressional Black Caucus dinner last Saturday night by telling the audience to stop complaining and stop whining and to march with him. Some African-Americans thought that his tone was disrespectful as well as his language.
Last week I thought the same thing. I heard the clip and I saw the two minute video reel where he said for folks to stop grumbling and complaining and then he banged the side of the podium once his speech was over. Then I watched the entire speech. I fell victim to being a prisoner of the moment and only listened to a portion of the speech instead of ingesting the entire text. That was my fault.
As I watched the entire speech I quickly realized that the President was speaking to that particular crowd of politicos, celebrities, and members of the CBC. He did not point those words to the black community as a whole. I still believe that the President should have chosen a better string of verbiage to use. I do not believe his intent was to piss of the black community or talk down to them.
Now don’t get me wrong, President Obama needs to do more, at least in my eyes, to address the jobs issues within the black community. If the unemployment rate for white people was anywhere near where it is for black folks, Obama would be impeached. He needs that bus tour through the black community to talk to African-Americans about what he plans to do for them economically and socially.
Before I continue on my back and forth rant about Mr. Obama let’s get back to Mr. Cain.
There were plenty of critics to come out and assail the President for his language toward the black community, but where is that same vitriol for candidate Cain? Herman said on national TV that black folks have been brainwashed and fail to think for themselves. You mean to tell me that Cain’s statement isn’t worse than what the President said?
Let me rewind myself and play it back for you. Herman Cain said that black folks fail to think for themselves and that they have been brainwashed.
No way in the world would I cast a vote for a man who thinks that I can’t think for myself. He tried to fix it by saying that two thirds of African-Americans are open minded and think for themselves, but I’m sorry Herman that doesn’t fly with me. While I believe that you aren’t that interested in the black vote anyway, you should never so violently dismiss an entire voting bloc when you may eventually need their help.
But I believe Cain’s statement speaks to a larger point. Politicians are starting to dismiss black voters because of their waning power. As much as the black community would like to think that they are responsible for electing President Obama, they aren’t. It was a collection of new voters, so-called “Obama Republicans,” and a strong collective minority turnout. It didn’t just come from Jerome’s first vote from around the way.
African-Americans are no longer the majority minority in this country and they no longer represent the strongest minority economic force either, as that belongs to the Hispanic community.
It’s evident by the black community’s high unemployment rate, the economic crumbling of our inner cities, the dismissive nature in which politicians speak and deal with African-Americans, and the continued high crime rate for some major metropolitan cities that have a predominately African-American population.
They are starting not to care because frankly, they don’t need you anymore.
While I believe that Cain’s statement is just the tip of the proverbial red elephant iceberg, it also shows why Republicans have issues with connecting with black voters.
If this is their way of using political pillow talk then I’m turning over, cutting off the lights and going to bed.
-JH
you are retarted. republicans have a problem connecting with black votes, because obama HAS brainwashed blacks, into THINKING that he is just so prideful that black people voted for him simply because he was black, and all about socialism and free welfare. now, we have a black man who really is wanting what is best for black people, and his country, a man who has WORKED to get to where he is and we are actually criticizing him??? he is FOR african americans. he wants them to feel like they do not have to be who our current president sees them as. he is fair, and now we are ripping him apart? get a grip. for once stop worrying about what party you are, what color you are, and taking what people say WAY out of proportion. for once, why cant people just vote for someone who really wants what is best for our country. President obama IS the most racist person i have ever met, blacks just dont realize it because he is sneaky and two faced. Herman Cain is the real deal, so stop being dumb. and spread the word!