Herman Cain 'Tonight Show' Appearance: GOP Presidential Candidate Talks To Jay Leno About Sarah Palin, Muslims In Cabinet (VIDEO)

GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain sat down for a talk with Jay Leno Friday night on NBC's "The Tonight Show."

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Cain addressed statements made by Sarah Palin in which the former Alaska governor mistakenly called Cain "Herb Cain" and referred to him as the "flavor of the week." Palin's comments were made during an appearance Tuesday night on Fox News' "On The Record" with Greta Van Susteren. On Wednesday morning, Cain appeared on CBS' "Early Show" and characterized Palin's "flavor of the week" comment as "not true."

The former Godfather's Pizza CEO joked with Leno that "she [Palin] doesn't know that only my enemies call me 'Herb,' so I'm gonna forgive her this time." Referring to Palin's "flavor of the week" comment, Cain said that although the label "might be true with some people," he has "substance" and compared himself to Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream. "I'm Häagen-Dazs Black Walnut," joked Cain. He went on to say that the aforementioned ice cream, and by implication his own time in the media spotlight, "lasts longer than a week."

Appearing Thursday night on Fox Business Network's "Freedom Watch" with Andrew Napolitano, Palin defended her "flavor of the week" comment. She explained, "I'm not saying that Herman Cain is the flavor of the week. I'm one of his biggest fans, and I would never dismiss him or speak negatively about him."

During his "Tonight Show" interview, Cain also discussed a previous statement about the potential of having a Muslim work in his administration. HuffPost's Elise Foley previously reported that "In May, Cain said he would not allow a Muslim to work in his cabinet because of 'creeping Shariah law.'" The GOP contender later apologized to Muslim leaders for his remarks.

Leno said that Cain's comment about not appointing a Muslim to his cabinet "doesn't seem very American." Cain clarified that he "would not appoint a jihadist" to his administration. He continued:

"I wanted to drive home the point that there are peaceful Muslims, and then there are those that want to kill us. And I basically, when I was asked that question, I did answer, would you appoint a Muslim, and I said no. I was thinking jihadist, and I did not qualify that point, but I qualified it later."

Cain concluded, "there are a lot of fine, peaceful Muslims that are willing and have served their country."

WATCH PART 1 (CAIN RESPONDS TO SARAH PALIN'S COMMENTS STARTING AT 2:09):

WATCH PART 2 (CAIN CLARIFIES HIS MUSLIM COMMENTS STARTING AT 2:23):

Both clips courtesy of Hulu and NBC

Comments

[oldsftshoes]

01:11 AM on 10/10/2011

Wrong or right, Cain is the man. Finally a person that lets voters know where he stands and what he believes. I wish him well. I am not sure if America is ready for someone like him.

[Anthony Fields]

10:18 AM on 10/03/2011

Palin likes chocolate as the flavor of the week just ask Glen Rice.

[pbezuhov]

09:36 AM on 10/03/2011

"Cain concluded, "there are a lot of fine, peaceful Muslims that are willing and have served their country."" That's Minnesota Nice racism/prejudice at its best.

[Hamza Rehman]

07:58 AM on 10/03/2011

So apparently "Muslim" and "Jihadist" are interchangeable in his head. Rrrrighht.

[bokhattak]

06:29 PM on 10/03/2011

I am a Muslim and a Mujahideen ("Jihadist"). All Muslims are "Jihadists", but one must realize that the term "Jihadist" is not interchangeable with "terrorist". A true Islamic jihad is a personal jihad or "struggle" against the things that cause us to be unhappy or not to fulfill our highest potential. Me, well... I struggle with procrastination. :)

I don't mean to contradict you, only to clarify.

[Hamza Rehman]

05:35 AM on 10/04/2011

I appreciate your comment. In the context he meant it though, Jihadist connotes "terrorist". Jihad is essentially struggle for Allah - which can encompass both warfare and perseverance. Yeah, I struggle with procrastination as well - considering I should be working right now!

[Jan Allen McDaniel]

01:09 PM on 10/05/2011

That is and always has been one meaning. The other:

" o9.0 JIHAD

" (O: Jihad means to war against non-Muslim­s, and it is etymologic­ally derived from the word mujahada, signifying warfare to establish the religion. And it is the lesser jihad. As for the greater jihad, it is spiritual warfare against the lower self (nafs), which is why the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said as he was returning from jihad..."

http://www.shafiifiqh.com/maktabah/relianceoftraveller.pdf

is what Mr. Cain was referring to.

[Yorksgal]

11:27 PM on 10/02/2011

"I was thinking"...... good one Cain - keep trying.

[knott wrench]

03:51 PM on 10/02/2011

Her's a question;

1st. Hermain cain makes an "Islamophobe Comment' and now was a "Re-write".

2nd. Hermain Cain say's "He should have" spoken out earlier about the Gay Marine coming out, but regrets he did not. what it may have cost him the Gay Vote?

3rd. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, got caught with his "Knickers Down", about a Family Ranch that used the:

"N" Word negatively

So that would mean Both, Rick and Herman are asking for a "Re-write" of their past saying and actions?

[ResilientReece]

03:42 PM on 10/02/2011

Herman Cain once said that he,"is not a politician". Judging by his evasive skill at non answering
key questions and the spin he chooses to attach to those he does, I'd say he's ready to become one.

[pink4004]

01:17 PM on 10/02/2011

No Mr. Cain ur nothing more than the flavor of the week. And if you think there's any thing different than that then ur dellusional. Which I already know ur delusional by your saying you can draw a third of the African American vote. Get a grip my man

[Rwstafford]

12:06 PM on 10/02/2011

The comment about Cain being the republican house N word is despicable.. You guys must really be worried about this black conservative patriot. I knew this vitriol would spew eventually but can we at least wait till he is nominated . Raising Cain 2012

[coreenfydn]

02:02 PM on 10/02/2011

I AM SORRY THAT YOU DON'T LIKE US BLACK FOLKS CALLING HIM WHAT HE IS--A HOUSE N-----. I EXPECT HIM TO START SHINNING RICK SANTORIUMS SHOES AT THE NEXT DEBATE!!!

[truthbs]

10:24 AM on 10/02/2011

My Grandma taught me,What comes out frist is the hardest to explain. It generally is the truth. I will vote for Cain..

[Safire]

08:44 PM on 10/02/2011

He will NEVER be nominated. Hold your breath and pray.

[Kytherus]

06:44 PM on 10/07/2011

Are those your last Famous Words Snips?

[TRUTHHURTS500]

10:06 AM on 10/02/2011

This is an opportunity for Black people in America to recognize just how brainwashed we really are. If Mr. Cain and others embraced the history of Black people in America, one would know the effects of "Willie Lynch" brainwashing is still alive.

Think about it! When slaves were brought to America against their will, that's when the brainwashing begin. They were not allowed to practice their faith, their customs, speak their language. They were taught the language, customs and faith of the oppressor. What was taught to them has been passed from generation to generation. This is what we have today. But the difference between then and now is we can now read and write. Black people today choose to be brainwashed because we still allow ourselves to conditioned by the same oppressor that the slaves were forced to obey.

Once we, as a group of people stand strong together, questioned what has been taught and seek the truth, we will be a powerful people.

Bye the way, everyday people don't select candidates to run for political office. The choice as to who runs for elected office is made by people with the money, honey

[winner110]

05:41 PM on 10/02/2011

Because,the people who have the money to get out their lies, their propaganda, has the open road to brainwash, not only the black people , the white people, and every phase of every race there is. The money gets the word out, where no money set's in the background, saying nothing at all. If a person could be elected without being a millionaire, the people would probally. be much more seen and his agenda noticed, than a millionaire being in office. The choice's the american people have anymore," IS A HALF A--ED CHOICE , AND NO CHOICE AT ALL " The best only thing you can ever do on voting, is trying to choose the better of two evil's, and hope everyone else does the same, with it working out for the GOOD !!

[Luv2Purple]

09:58 AM on 10/02/2011

He's a Republican - that means he A) Doesn't actually believe in facts or science. B) He doesn't say what he means C) He doesn't mean what he says.

[PatientZeroBeat]

09:25 AM on 10/02/2011

Herman Cain is full of dingo's kidneys. If you listen to the entire thing he said in last May, he clearly said that he was against appointing any kind of Muslim, since it's too risky. He admitted that there were some good ones, but that it's just not safe because their goal is to force Sharia law all over America.

How he's saying that he really meant to say that he wouldn't appoint a jihadist terrorist, as if that could ever be asked as a question in any kind of debate.

Here are some questions they need to ask in the next debate:
Would you ever pardon somebody from death row who has admitted guilt, and then appoint them as Secretary of State? Would you ever abolish school and make all children work full time from the age of 5? Would you ever pass a law that forces everybody to change their underwear every half-hour, and that underwear would therefore have to be worn on the outside to make it easier to check?

Until somebody answers these questions, I'll have to assume that they would.

[Ezio]

08:55 AM on 10/02/2011

The muslim radicals are just jealous of us. I mean, who wouldn't? The person on top gets hated on and that happens to be the US.

[gevan]

07:36 AM on 10/02/2011

Can anyone make a list of all the Muslim cabinet officers in American History? Won't need a very big sheet of paper i'm guessing.