Herman Cain: Obama 'Was Raised In Kenya'

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said in an interview with Bloomberg View columnist Jeffrey Goldberg last week that President Barack Obama was "raised in Kenya."

The suggestion from the former CEO of Godfather's Pizza came in an exchange about why the GOP hopeful doesn't consider himself an African American.

"I am an American. Black. Conservative," he said in explaining his view on the matter. "I don’t use African American, because I’m American, I’m black and I’m conservative. I don’t like people trying to label me. African American is socially acceptable for some people, but I am not some people."

Cain said that he considers himself to be "a black man in America" and feels stronger ties to the United States than to Africa. He suggested his perspective has been informed by the fact that he can trace most of his ancestors to the U.S. and it also "goes back to slavery."

The presidential contender went on to draw a contrast between himself and the president, who he described as "more of an international," before suggesting "he was raised in Kenya."

In an interview with The Atlantic's Joshua Green at the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year, Cain was asked whether he believes Obama was born in the United States.

"I have no idea," he said at the time. "The fact that it has become an issue, or a controversy, does raise a question that I can't say that I feel one way or the other because I have not reviewed all the various 'proof' one way or another."

While Cain has generally been regarded as a longshot contender in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, recent polls show the GOP hopeful making headway in his pursuit of the White House.

Comments

[Emily A Jensen]

08:32 PM on 08/04/2011

As a first generation African (Kenyan) immigrant, Im glad he distances himself from his African roots. We are intelligent people and would not like to be associated with such ignorance. I wonder what he thinks his roots are....Indian???? Wisen up Mr. Cain, slaves came from Africa!! DUH!

[Kris M MacDonald]

09:03 PM on 07/25/2011

Herman Cain is the second-coming of the radical and radically insane Alan Keyes whom Obama crushed to get the senate seat in Illinois

[wohchokri]

01:56 PM on 06/23/2011

To compare the international/Hawaii(aka Kenya)-born/African-American/some-people/ guy in the office to this bigoted loud mouth would be an unpardonable insult. Black folks are onto you. Since you are inconsequential to anything other than sensational headlines - I won't even read/hear about you again. Next.

[Chiku Gardiner]

02:29 AM on 06/18/2011

He hates black people. That's the greatest irony. He says he's not an African American, but an American who happens to be black. I say, he's an American who happens to be a complete idiot!

[anthonyNtx]

12:13 AM on 06/17/2011

His hatred of Obama. His hatred of Muslims. This man needs to read american history. Say about 60 years ago.

[Sipiwe Mutunhu]

11:31 PM on 06/16/2011

All I have to say is, he is the worst type of black man.... Uncle T!

[Maxedaddy]

05:05 PM on 06/16/2011

I was raised in L.A. That doesn't make me Mexican? Or does it? These teabagsucklingshafttillitsdrainedpalinators offer nothing but teabagsucklingshafttillitsdrainedpalinators!

[wohchokri]

01:58 PM on 06/23/2011

LOL! That's what I am going to teach my dog how to speak next.

[Robert Novack]

04:03 PM on 06/16/2011

HP moderators are obiously biased liberals. Does Rupert Murdoch own this site as well?

[balihai2]

07:54 PM on 07/03/2011

Uh-Murdoch is definitely no a liberal

[Joshuah Galvan]

11:42 AM on 06/16/2011

Ok, I am sooooo sick of all of this....Herman Cain, sir, Prove it! I am tired of the GOP and the Tea Party making wild accusations without any proof. Until he can prove this, this is a non story.

[Robert Novack]

03:46 PM on 06/16/2011

Another reality impaired liberal pretending he has a clue. The proof is everywhere. Turn off the tv, put down the drugs, and look. Only a REALLY BIG FOOL would believe such an obvious, lying fraud like Obama.

[Robert Novack]

03:58 PM on 06/16/2011

You need to pay a visit to reality dude. Shut off the tv and do some real research. Obama has a history of lies a mile long.

[BrettnCalgary]

12:57 AM on 06/17/2011

Even if that were true it is irrelevant to the question. Prove Obama was raised in Kenya.

Report back to us as soon as you gather your evidence.

[Slipperypick]

10:52 AM on 06/16/2011

"See! Tea Partiers are NOT racists! We have a black friend!"

[Bosfarcal]

10:25 AM on 06/16/2011

Herman, attacking Barack Obama's origins and your own ethnicity won't make the Republicans like you better. Just sayin'.

[chloe4455]

11:21 AM on 06/16/2011

He knows Obama was raised in Kenya cause he was his next door neighbor

[David Silvey]

03:45 PM on 06/16/2011

Herman Cain just wants to be the last idiot standing. He stands about the same chance of being the GOP choice as he does of becoiming the Grand Wizzer of the KKK.

[singout]

10:15 AM on 06/16/2011

The dude makes pizza ... clear proof he was born and raised in Italy.

[SigonellaPC3]

09:41 AM on 06/16/2011

Orally Taitz must be rolling in her mascara...

[SigonellaPC3]

09:40 AM on 06/16/2011

You got to hand it to him. He handled the potential issue of his being Muslim or Kenyan much better than Obama first did.

Question remains, when will Herman Cain provide his long form?

I'm just saying, the Republicans are bound to ask eventually...

[kikaidaboy]

09:24 AM on 06/16/2011

Wasn't he their new darling for about a week there? hahaha