Herman Cain: 'Racism In This Country Today' Doesn't Hold 'Anybody Back In A Big Way'

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said on Sunday that he doesn't believe racism holds African Americans back.

"I don't believe racism in this country today holds anybody back in a big way," said Cain, former CEO of Godfather's Pizza, during an interview on CNN. “Are there some elements of racism? Yes, it gets back to if we don't grow this economy, that is a ripple effect for every economic level, and because blacks are more disproportionately unemployed, they get hit the worst when economic policies don't work. That's where it starts.”

Cain asserted that he firmly believes that "many" African Americans have a level playing field when it comes to economic issues and pointed to his own credentials to make his case.

With the estimated unemployment rate for the African American community sitting well above the national average, the Republican hopeful signaled he sees the discrepancy as a product of geographical conditions and factors related to education. When it comes to African Americans struggling economically he said, "They weren't held back because of racism." He added, “People sometimes hold themselves back because they want to use racism as an excuse for them not being able to achieve what they want to achieve."

Last month, Cain raised eyebrows when he suggested members of the African American community "have been brainwashed into not being open-minded, not even considering a conservative point of view." He said at the time that his observation can be seen in black voters traditionally lining up to support Democrats.

Cain predicted during a recent appearance on Fox News that in a hypothetical general election match-up against President Barack Obama he'd secure at least one-third of the black vote.

During a recent appearance on CNN Cain said, "This whole notion that all black Americans are necessarily going to stay and vote Democrat and vote for Obama, that's simply not true." He added, "More and more black Americans are thinking for themselves. And that's a good thing."

Recent polls show Cain finding a surge in support in the Republican presidential primary contest.

Comments

[Cailleach Echo]

12:03 PM on 11/04/2011

Uh, "Herb", how can there be no racism

AND, you be the victim of it, all at the same time.

[Bike Commuter]

11:14 AM on 10/18/2011

Frankly, Cain's statement on this topic gets to me, not because of the issue of race, but because of his own bigotry. Cain's answer, when asked whether he would be comfortable appointing a MusIim in his cabinet or as a federal judge, stands as one of the most bigoted statements I have heard from a political candidate in my lifetime. It wasn't just a passing insensitive comment, it was detailed in its bigotry and stereotyping and openly called for direct discrimination against an entire group. It showed a deep seated ignorance for even the most basic of our laws as well as for our founding principles. To hear a candidate for President spout such things made me simultaneously furious and profoundly sad. His attempts to mitigate after the fact weren't much better. ................ Cain plays to the worst of our natures. He is a bigot, playing to the fears in others.

[maxgordon]

12:55 PM on 10/14/2011

I'd like to share an article about Herman Cain here:

Brother to Brother: A Letter to Herman Cain (by a black gay man)

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/brother-to-brother-a-letter-to-herman-cain/discrimination/2011/10/06/27934

[CreationismRightWing]

08:27 AM on 10/14/2011

WOW.
THIS ATHEIST DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE MEANS.

[Reba Latimer]

10:07 PM on 10/13/2011

I believe even today that Blacks are still discriminated against,Just look at Rick Perry.he had a
hunting place that still had a rock that had N_Head on it.he said his Father painted over it as soon
as they rented it,but others said they seen it later,it could be true or not.

[GOODREASON]

02:20 PM on 10/14/2011

Oh yeah, I guess you are right, cause they still use the N word in their own songs and dont even try to "cover" it up. I guess they are discriminating against themselves,,, what are you gonna do?

[Reba Latimer]

08:32 PM on 10/14/2011

You are right,they do, I had some one jump on me and said I was the only one who said any
thing about Race concerning Herman Cain,you know that is untrue,he talks about it himself.
it is heck if you do and heck if you don't.

[Napoleon3]

06:35 PM on 10/13/2011

Funny seeing telling a successful black man that black men can't successful.

[BiznessLady]

04:03 PM on 10/13/2011

Seems to me that the same people who are under the false assumption that MOST or MANY Blacks use racism as a crutch or excuse for failure or limited success are the same ones who blame Affirmative Action for theirs or someone they know.

They also confuse racism with crime or discrimination. I don't automatically think that someone who disagrees with me is a racist. Even the cab drivers that pass me by on a regular basis or people who may think I am looking for an application or lost when I enter some businesses instead of the 10AM for their boss. But when you open your mouth or type the sad, ignorant, mess I read on here I have written your name in that column in pencil. It can be erased.

I used to carry my own negative opinions about others and fed into stereotypical ideas about who they were. I am still holding on for hope that there is a Tea Party member that I might have tea with.

[Charles Gray]

09:29 AM on 10/17/2011

Tea or Kool-aid...we all have our political affectations!

[mackiesmith]

09:10 AM on 10/13/2011

Cain is a very dangerous African American. Primarily because somebody handed him a microphone. I could easily see him setting back civil rights, voting rights and all other strides toward a level playing field that we've made since “Jim Crow”- setting them back 60 years or more. He probably supports the insidious moves by red states to suppress the vote among poor, minorities, the disabled and the elderly. A shrewd power play to regain conservative power in order to suppress political power of those who are weaker, more vulnerable and those who are not WASPs. When Cain looks in the mirror, I wonder who he sees. We have not arrived at post- racism in America. We had a delusional moment when Barack Obama was elected President, but that ended quickly enough. Hasn't Cain watched what's been going on since President Obama has been in the white house? The conservative (very white and very religious) establishment still has a stronghold on this nation and will not be putting Cain in the White House, not yet. He is currently being used as pawn by his party to make a ideological point because of his extreme views but they will not- I repeat, WILL NOT be making him their candidate for president. Post racial?? –we’re not there yet and Cain knows it.

[Napoleon3]

06:33 PM on 10/13/2011

You are telling blacks they are equal. That idea is so dangerous to civil rights of black people being equal.

[Charles Gray]

09:40 AM on 10/17/2011

mack - you are part of the problem! Your far left "poor pitiful me" attitude only works to keep you down and at the Liberal teat. They are using you to keep themselves in office. Get into the American mainstream and quit making excuses. The only ones helped by these sad complaints are the Jesse Jacksons of the world. They all need a job and have no real skills except to whine and tell folks they are entitled to this and that. No sense of how to earn anything - just knowing how to take it away and thereby keeping THEMSELVES employed!!! Does "racism" and prejudice exist? Sure-on BOTH sides. Get out of the trap and into the game! That's what Herman did.

[BiznessLady]

03:08 AM on 10/18/2011

You haven't a clue. You got a woe is me message from that comment? you can't be helped.

[Gaaltero]

09:54 PM on 10/12/2011

Cain is the house ngro that tells his masta everything he wants to hear.

[GOODREASON]

02:23 PM on 10/14/2011

Hard to accept the truth, huh?

[Charles Gray]

09:40 AM on 10/17/2011

I feel sorry for you.

[clay61]

09:01 PM on 10/12/2011

Dear Mr. Cain.. did you hear about the study with identical resumes and half had black sounding names like Jamal Jones and the other john Smith. Did you hear the results? Whites received over eighty percent of call backs. How about whites with criminal records getting more interviews than blacks without a record? More blacks in jail and on death row as a percent or in total compared to whites. Income disparity and dropout rates. It is not racism...really..more blacks in special ed..vocal ed...why not college? There are more blacks succeeding but they are the exception not the rule yet. Lots more work needs to be done.

[Napoleon3]

06:34 PM on 10/13/2011

Did you here about him being successful beyond all your studies.

[clay61]

12:25 AM on 10/14/2011

He is an exception and not the rule. The studies show blatant racism and you cannot say it does not exist.

[Bike Commuter]

03:20 PM on 10/16/2011

Interesting, I don't see one person here saying that it is impossible for a black person to be successful. They are saying that there is still unequal opportunity due to race. There were successful black people 100 years ago. Their existence and success did not mean that it was equal back then. Neither does Cain's success prove it is equal today.

[Charles Gray]

09:41 AM on 10/17/2011

Work...yes! So...get to work!

[aguadecoco]

07:47 PM on 10/12/2011

Mr. Cain, needs to watch the movie, " Good Fences "

[skylrplane]

04:29 PM on 10/12/2011

I didn't think I would every agree with Cain but in this case he is right. Those African-Americans that got an education and worked hard for what they have today is because they knew that they had to make something in their lives in order to succeed in today's society.

This is not to say especially in the south where the Hank Williams Jr. comes from, I'm sure even today racism is still there.

The problem that we ALL have in America is that per caper-ta for our population, more African-American males cause more murders than any other race.

When you have 80% of African-Americans born out of wedlock with no father at home and so many children are being raised by their grandmothers and other relatives, no wonder that these individuals have no where to go but the gangs in the street.

I'm a native Oakland, CA 40 years of my life and I've never seen Oakland with so many murders in its entire history. A week never goes by without someone getting murdered. Also with a high school drop out rate of over 50% how do you think that these individuals are going to find a decent job in America.

Their families do not push for these kids to get an education.

I glad to see special programs to help them get an education and training so they can succeed in our country. We need more of them around the country.

[VaSteve]

07:55 PM on 10/12/2011

"Especially in the South" "I'm sure" Based on what? Black riots? Watts? Philly? Detroit? LA?
You are a brainwashed Yankee.

[BiznessLady]

04:17 PM on 10/13/2011

How do you know their families don't push for them to get an education? What makes you think that?

Even a crack-head wants their children to get educated, stay off drugs and have a great productive life.
Every story behind a child that drops out is different. Jail, Work, homelessness, drugs, shame, so many stories. Nearly all of them have a parent in distress.

[GOODREASON]

02:26 PM on 10/14/2011

Nearly all of them have an irresponsible parent that shouldnt have been a parent in the first place, period.

[curlie jones]

03:30 PM on 10/12/2011

there is some truth to this, as well as some lies and that's the problem with opinionated finger pointing, generalizations and stereotypes. We are individuals just as whites see themselves. Blitzer says, "that's some harsh language for your fellow african-americans" reality is Cain can say whatever he wants... without it personally affecting me.

black people are not defined by media commentary. and maybe that's the problem some people may be brainwashed into believing that "we" are who "they" say we are...whoever "they" are...

finally, my own opinion is that herman cain will not be recieving the black vote because anyone with half a brain would not vote for a party who's leaders just recently raked us over the coals, robbed us blind, and sent our kids to war for the economic gain of the wealthy... a party that still doesn't get it and would do the same thing all over again. republicans need at least 4 more years of sensitivity training before we can trust them with the presidency again.

[aguadecoco]

07:59 PM on 10/12/2011

nice

[Charles Gray]

09:48 AM on 10/17/2011

Sensitivity to reality is what many need. . Wake up and smell the coffee! Then have a cup, go to school or to work. Keep moving and prove youself as an individual and stop clinging to a stereo-type image that has been shoved down your throat for years. Self-improvement, self-help, these are the keys. The problems with the Lefties is they categorize by groups. Employers hire individuals!!!

[psnowa]

12:03 PM on 10/12/2011

as long as any one group of people are getting special rights ( no matter what group that may be ) there will always be prejudice.if we are going to be equal we should all have the same rights

[aguadecoco]

08:00 PM on 10/12/2011

whats so speacial about scraps?

[BiznessLady]

11:09 AM on 10/12/2011

OK I have to focus on some work before I go celebrate my B'Day so I am going to say this on the way out.

Been following this thread for a few days and I need clear some things up. It seems folk here don't understand our rejection of Herman Cain.

We salute the success of Black people and anyone who achieves great things out of adversity. We use their stories to inspire us and as a blueprint to success. His story should inspire greatness but his words have done none of that.

We waited to hear from him and what did he say in his intro to us? Very toxic and controversial things about Black people and not in a conversation with us but to a group of white ideologues about us, he was speaking to his party base and to make news.

We have no tolerance for people who become successful and turn their nose up at those still in the struggle. People just like his parents who worked to make a better life for him.

We are making great gains but we worry about our children that are in college and are now finished who can't find jobs in or our of their field. It is hard for white people to find a job, do you honestly think it isn't much more difficult for people of color? all in all........
WE SHALL OVERCOME

Obama 2012

[Bike Commuter]

12:53 PM on 10/12/2011

I hope that you have a joy filled birthday.

[BiznessLady]

02:45 PM on 10/13/2011

Thanks, I did am back and glad to see the thread is still moving albeit slow.

[JeffmChicago]

02:03 PM on 10/12/2011

I like your comments particularly "We waited to hear from him and what did he say in his intro to us?"

Herman got off to a bad start, indeed.
I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
f & f

[BiznessLady]

02:48 PM on 10/13/2011

He doubled down, have you heard the latest comments? It has to be intentional. I feel very bad for his family and his church. Maybe he belongs to one of those Black Birther churches who denounce Obama. Sad to say we have one in Harlem.