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Herman Cain on Civil Rights
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Don't distract army by reinstituting Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell
Q: Now gays are allowed to serve openly in the military; would you leave that policy in place or would you try to change it back to "don't ask/don't tell"?CAIN: If I had my druthers, I never would have overturned "don't ask/don't tell" in the first
place. Now that they have changed it, I wouldn't create a distraction trying to turn it over as president. Our men and women have too many other things to be concerned about rather than have to deal with that as a distraction.
Source: 2011 GOP primary debate in Manchester NH
Jun 13, 2011
Ignoring DOMA is treasonous breach of presidential duty
Q: You said that the administration's decision not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act was "a breach of presidential duty bordering on treason." Pretty strong language; isn't this country moving toward acceptance of gay marriage? A:
The Defense of Marriage Act is the law of the land, signed in 1996 by Pres. Bill Clinton. In his oath of office the president says he is supposed to protect and uphold the laws of the USA. To me that is asking the Justice Department to not uphold the law
Source: 2011 GOP primary debate in South Carolina
May 5, 2011
Denied college admission due to race; but never lost faith
In Cain's telling, he was denied admission to the University of Georgia based on his race, even though he ranked second in his high school class. Rather than show righteous anger and indignation at how his basic life chances were threatened by the
illogic of white supremacy, Herman Cain "never lost faith in America" and oddly "found inspiration in the experience" as it reinforced the values his parents had instilled in him.
Source: Chauncey De Vega, Salon.com, "Apologist for White Racism"
Mar 21, 2011
Won't appoint Muslims to Cabinet nor judgeships
Q: You came under controversy this week for comments made on Muslims. Would you be comfortable appointing a Muslim to your Cabinet or as a federal judge? A: No. I will not, and here's why. There is this creeping attempt to gradually ease
Shariah law and the Muslim faith into our government. It does not belong in our government.
This is what happened in Europe.
And to try to be politically correct, they made this little change and that little change, and now they have a social problem that they don't know what to do with.
The question that raised [the controversy] was, "What is the role of Islam in
America?" I said the role of Islam was for those that believe in Islam to practice it and leave us alone, just like Christianity. I get upset when some Muslims in America try to force their Shariah law on the rest of us.
Source: Interview on "Think Progress"
Jan 1, 2011
It depends on what you mean by the term 'affirmative action'
When I ran in the 2004 Republican U.S. Senate primary in Georgia, the majority of my support came from white Georgians, not urban Atlanta's African-Americans. Those who supported my campaign and voted for me embraced my issue-based campaign.
What did the media always want to ask me about? My position on affirmative action. My standard answer was, "It depends on what you mean by the term 'affirmative action'."
That usually caused blank stares from the reporters and allowed me to turn the focus back on the big issues.
In the real world, the individuals who usually rise to the top of their chosen professions and achieve their
dreams are the most talented and hardest working. In the political world, success is too often determined by political tenure, timing and factors none of us can control, such as our race, ethnicity or sex.
Source: Political column, THE New Voice, "Diversity Distraction"
Jan 29, 2007
Amendment to protect the sacred institution of marriage
[Reacting to a ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Court that allowed for same-sex marriage]: The courts have failed the American people. Congress needs to enact a constitutional amendment to protect the sacred institution of marriage. Liberal-minded
judges have opened a floodgate of judicial tyranny that will chip away at the core values of this country until nothing sacred is left! It started with not allowing prayer in schools, not being able to display the Ten Commandments, attempting to take
God out of the Pledge of Allegiance and now making same-sex marriages legal.A constitutional amendment is needed to protect the definition of marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman. If we don't act now all states could be forced to accep
same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts. We cannot allow this to happen! The long-term effects will further destroy the moral fabric of our society. Congress needs to take action on instituting a constitutional amendment to defend marriage now.
Source: Herman's Column Archive, North Star Writer's Group
Feb 1, 2002
Page last updated: Jun 14, 2011