Why many black Democrats* are uncomfortable w/Herman Cain: He embarrasses us in front of white folks

[Empowerer]

Some people - including Herman Cain himself, plenty of Republicans and even some Democrats - are claiming that black Democrats harbor a particular animus toward Herman Cain because he is a black Republican. Wrong.

Let's be clear - it's not because he's a black Republican. We disagree with most black Republicans on many things - and often wonder how any black person and their right mind could BE a Republican. But we don't dislike most of them and certainly don't feel uncomfortable with all of them. Most of us have friends and family members who are Republican, so we aren't going around hating on black folks just because they've cast their lots in the GOP.

No, our issues with Herman Cain have little to do with his Republican Party affiliation.

Our problem with Herman Cain is that he's embarrassing us in front of white folks.

He makes us cringe. He makes us cringe in the way that, for centuries, certain black people who not only align themselves with whites who do not have our best interests in mind but offer themselves up as examples of the kind of black person that certain white folks wish we all were, the kind of black person that has as much disdain for the majority of blacks as they do, the kind of black person who falls all over himself to laugh at us, castigate us, call us names, treat us like there's something wrong with us, insist that our second-class citizenship and/or second-class treatment is OUR fault, the kind of black person who is all too willing to help white folks keep us in our place by placing HIS foot on our neck - in order to advance himself by doing the bidding of white folks like a modern day overseer on the political plantation he claims that black folks who see through him and want nothing to do with him live on. And he does all of this while grinning and entertaining and engaging in buffoonery that delights and entertains white folks and makes other blacks wish he would just go somewhere and shut up.

To use an analogy of a friend of mine - Herman Cain is the guy many of us knew in college who would go to parties and do the worm and breakdance while white people gathered around laughing and clapping. He's the guy that white folks are talking about when they ignored everything we have to say and insist that our perspective is meaningless and irrelevant because HERMAN is black and HE doesn't feel that way. He's the one they're thinking about when they say, "You seem so angry all the time. Why can't you be more like Herman?"

Herman Cain makes many, many black people cringe, not because he doesn't represent ANY viewpoint within the black community - there are many people in our community who think just like he does. He makes us cringe because, given the limited exposure to and interest in the broad range of black personalities, viewpoints, and experiences of a significant slice of the white community, we know that they will assume that he represents a larger segment of us than he does, that he is a reflection of ALL us when he is a reflection of only a tiny sliver of us.

He makes us cringe in the way that Jimmie "JJ" Walker did when he grinned and shouted "DynoMITE!" To tell the truth, we thought JJ was hilarious. We all likely knew people just like JJ - maybe even had one or more JJ's in our family. But we didn't want white folks to think we all WERE JJ. So even though we laughed our asses off whenever JJ did his schtick, we only laughed like that when white folks weren't looking. Otherwise, we often wished he'd just stop acting like that in front of white folks since they might take it the wrong way and mess up everything we were trying to accomplish - like the associate of mine who tried to get me to slap him five whenever I said anything he happened to agree with.

It would be nice if we didn't have to deal with this, if we didn't have to worry that one silly man could lead others to think that we were all like him just because he's the same skin color. But the collective judgment of an entire race is still a reality in this America. And one doesn't have to be a racist Republican - or even Republican - to impose such judgments on blacks. Just a few weeks ago right here on DU, we were treated to Democrats insisting that if Barack Obama failed as president, it would be a disaster for all black people. That is the very essence of collective racial judgment. To his credit, Barack Obama doesn't embarrass us. In fact, he makes us very, very proud - we might not deserve to feel proud of someone else just because he has the same skin color, but if we have to be blamed for black folks' foolishness, we might as well get credit for their achievements.

But I know few black people who feel proud of Herman Cain. Yes, his achievements are to be commended. But his out-dated jive-talking, shallowness, lack of preparedness, braggadocio, his strutting-and-preening-like-he's-auditioning-to-play-George-Jefferson diminish his achievements. Herman Cain is behaving, not like someone to be admired or respected. He's behaving like a silly man - even worse, he seems to take great pride in behaving like a silly BLACK man.

Black Democrats* don't have a problem with Herman Cain because he's black or Republican or both. We have a problem with him because he makes us cringe. He makes us cringe because he's embarrassing us in front of white folks whom we know still don't understand that he is not the sum total of who we are or who we should strive to be.

And let me be clear about this - people who raise these issues about Herman Cain are not engaging in racism or treating him badly because he's black. Hell, his being black is one of the only things we actually LIKE about him.


* This also applies to many black Republicans and plenty of white Democrats, as well . . .

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. K&R

:thumbsup:

[DontTreadOnMe]

2. As an American...

I am embarrassed that Herman Cain is considered serious a CANDIDATE for the President of the United States.

I can go to EVERY town in this entire country, and in EVERY TOWN find 5 people more qualified than Cain to be the President.

We have stooge candidates who are backed by people with money, being used to push 1%er agendas.

[Empowerer]

3. He's only considered a serious candidate BECAUSE he's black

No white person who behaved like Herman Cain would be a serious contender. They would laugh him out of the room - much as they have Perry, Palin and Bachmann.

[Scuba]

7. Um, Perry and Bachmann are still in the room. n/t

[Empowerer]

9. I didn't say they're not in the room. But neither is seen as a serious contender

And neither one of them has behaved as idiotically as Herman Cain - who is far ahead of both of them right now.

[walerosco]

18. So true

The man is not just wrong but he is a buffoon. Watching the man speak, it evident that he doesn't know what he is talking about, he accuses critiques of not understanding his stupid tax plan when confronted with the idea that it would raise taxes on lower income Americans and finally, he just cannot articulate his thoughts and ideas in an intelligent manner.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

51. Slight correction: it's because OBAMA is black. That's the difference between Cain

and Bachmann

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[babylonsister]

4. Thanks so much for writing this. Make no mistake from me.

I never thought Cain spoke for any black person other than one (himself) who has had great luck and success in his life (even though his pizza is pretty inedible, I hear).

I'm white, he's awful in so many ways. He speaks for practically no one but himself.

And I love you, Empowerer, keep on keeping on! :fistbump:

[tblue]

5. I'm black and I don't care what color he is or Obama either.

I really, really, really do not judge politicians, good or bad, by skin color. I don't like Herman Cain because I don't like what he says or what he stands for. The same goes for Perry, Bachmann, Gingrich, and Romney.

I don't care if someone is my exact same shade, if they don't stand for the right things, the heck with them.

Cain is an embarrassment for reasons that have nothing to do with the color of his skin.

[MadMaddie]

49. I would mostly agree with you in some other cases

and I felt that way until Cain said the other week. He said it because Obama mother was white and Obama is light skinned. My mother's father was full blooded Indiand from Oklahoma and her mother black and so her shade of skin was light. She had to fight because of her skin color among other blacks she lived the black experience in America.

How dare Cane criticize how the President grew up, it wasn't exactly a holiday being a black child in a white family in the 60's.

No Cain made this about race and he needs it shoved back in his face.

<snip>
Cain appeared on Neil Boortz’s show today, and said the following:

Boortz, at the tail end of the interview, asks Cain how he’d do in a debate against Obama:

“It would almost be no contest.”

Ticking off ways he could compete with Obama, Boortz says that Cain would be able to talk about the black experience in America.

Cain’s response: “ never been a part of the black experience in America.”

<snip>

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

55. Fine, but Cain is the one obsessed with appeasing the GOP by making some asinine

Comment about race at least once a week now. And since it was he who brought it up, the OP is merely responding to Cain's idiocy!!!

[Scuba]

6. Don't feel badly black brothers and sisters....

... us white folks are embarrassed by Perry and a long, long list of others.

[Empowerer]

8. I love it!

:hug:

[calimary]

31. No kidding. We've got LOTS more buffoons than they'll ever have!

Including females. As a white woman, people like bachmann, palin, marsha blackburn, virginia foxx, and increasing numbers of others on that side of the aisle make me want to run screaming into the night!

[Control-Z]

46. Seriously.

I am so embarrassed by these women I want to announce to the world they have nothing in common with me. I feel like everything I stand for and believe in is being defiled by them.

[Empowerer]

47. I feel your pain. nt

[calimary]

56. Isn't it just galling? I, too, am embarrassed by these women. christine o'donnell??? WTF???

THAT'S what they come up with? And that nicki what's-her-face who's the governor of South Carolina? Who are they trying to kid? Remember phyllis schlafly? For being so anti-feminist, she certainly availed herself of everything feminists fought for, whether it was credibility on camera (well, with many of us she has NO credibility whatsoever), equal access, ability to command big-ass speakers' fees, heading her own business - indeed, more like an empire! And the talkers - like laura ingraham - you'd think her facing down cancer would have made her a nicer person, but she's just as mean and mean-spirited as ever. Amazing. Just a bunch of middle-aged arrested-development MEAN GIRLS. Just freakin' MEAN!

There are just freakin' addle-brained, narrow-minded, willfully-ignorant IDIOTS and spiteful, nasty, hard-hearted, mean-spirited MEAN GIRLS who make all women look bad. I keep thinking: "them: sarah palin. Us: Hillary Clinton. I rest my case."

[Raine]

61. Me too, they absolutely make me "cringe". nt

x(

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

53. +1,000,000!!!!!! n/t

[jberryhill]

10. "auditioning to play George Jefferson"

Whoa. That's an apt line.

[JustAnotherGen]

11. I like this

Very honest.

[Arugula Latte]

12. Look at the white clown show up there -- Santorum, Bachman, Perry et al.

As a white person, believe me, I'm cringing.

[surrealAmerican]

13. Well said.

k & r

[Autumn]

14. No need to be embarrassed,

We had Bush. I would take Herman Cain over him any day

[noiretextatique]

15. i don't like cain because he is black....i loathe him because he is a buffoon

like many black republicans, steele for example, and he is an unapologetic buffoon. he benefits from being a buffoon, as does thomas, and some other black-faced conservatives. as my cousin says: these folks make some white people real comfortable. they are opportunists who gain by playing the buffoon. no doubt many have a deep sense of self-loathing, and that is what i despise about them. no one likes sell-outs except those who desperately want to reject reality, i.e., many republicons.

i remember these folks from college too, and i remember some of my white friends being as irritated with them as i. i remember one guy who made a big proclamation about being ashamed of himself as a black person, and receiving little sympathy from our mostly white classmates, and certainly none from me. i didn't feel embarrassed for myself or the race, but i certainly felt embarrassed for him, since his attempted pity party backfired, miserably.

although i have no love for rice an powell, at least they aren't buffoons.

[EffieBlack]

20. Exactly

Most black people I know disagreed with Rice and Powell, and some were disappointed in them. But they don't have disdain for them.

With a couple of exceptions, all of the black people I know think that Herman Cain is a damned fool. They can't stand him.

[chalky]

27. You had me until you brought Condi into the mix. Condi's fawning over GW made her a twofer -

I cringed both as an African American AND as a woman.

[noiretextatique]

29. i agree with you more than me

:hi: please expound on your disdain.

[Empowerer]

36. I disagreed with Rice and Powell on many things but neither of them made me cringe

Regardless what I think of their politics or perspectives, both of them are very knowledgeable, accomplished and always conduct themselves with dignity.

[EffieBlack]

39. True, but Cain sets the dignity bar so low, it's not hard to get over it . . .

"And when they ask me who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan I’m going to say, you know, I don't know. Do you know?

Really, Herman?

[noiretextatique]

43. even when lying?

there is no dignity in telling lies.

[spooky3]

44. that's what I found so offensive about Rice, as a woman

She lied so often that I do not believe even she recognized when she was doing it.

[Empowerer]

45. I don't cringe whenever a black person does something I don't like or even something offensive

I'd be in a constant crouch, otherwise . . .

But seeing a black person act like an ignorant buffoon takes it to another level.

Two different things.

[underpants]

16. Excellent post

well said

[EffieBlack]

19. You really nailed this

He sure makes ME cringe. Every time he opens his mouth, I hold my breath.

[1StrongBlackMan]

26. Cringe like ...

with that horrificly stupid crime reported on the news, where "we" all think (or if in the security of our home, say) ... "Lord, please don't let him be Black."

[Tarheel_Dem]

21. A well thought out and accurate assessment.

:applause:

[and-justice-for-all]

22. Cain is in it for the money, that is all...

he has no chance at all of every being president or an elected offical...his destiny is FAIL and his 15mins are about up.

[Major Hogwash]

23. Michael Steele even thinks Cain is a joke.

Steele told Chris Matthews last month that even he doesn't think Cain has a chance to become the GOP nominee.
Cain is more of an embarrassment than Alan Keyes was to the GOP!!

[DonCoquixote]

24. As a Latino

I offer up Marco Rubio as the equivalent.

[1StrongBlackMan]

25. Wow ...

I just had this same conversation with two of my Fraternity Brothers, both of whom are Black republicans and have spoken directly with candidate Cain. Both of my Brothers told me they walked away from their conversation with Cain thinking "F@#$^ him ... He ain't me or about us."

[Bodhi BloodWave]

30. Well, i would have been worried about yer friend if he thought 'wow, he is me' :p n/t

[eridani]

28. Well, white Republican presidential candidates embarrass me in front of black folks and

--just about everybody, come to think of it.

[Kind of Blue]

32. Cain doesn't make me cringe.

I'm just sickened by many RWers who think they aren't racist because Cain is black and I support him, so how can I be a racist meme.

KnR though!

[EffieBlack]

33. His willingness to kiss up to, play along with and advance the message of these same Republicans

makes me cringe.

And I wonder if some of the liberals who insisted that their vote for President Obama is conclusive proof that they couldn't be racially biased in any way believe that it's impossible for someone to be racist AND to support Herman Cain.

[Kind of Blue]

63. I wonder the same thing.

Reminds me of one posting of a canvasser for our president in '08 who came to one home. The elderly white couple told him, they're voting for the N-word. Still shocks and confuses the hell out me.

[Empowerer]

64. Bizarre, isn't it

Unfortunately, I have a feeling that those who insist that one cannot be liberal AND prejudiced are still not convinced. Although it was amusing to see some of the same people who feel so adamantly about this were the first to scream "racism" when Herman Cain's behavior was criticized. Apparently, it is absolutely impossible for any attack on the President by any liberal to be racially biased, but criticism of Herman Cain's behavior by liberals (even black liberals) is outright racist.

[Major Hogwash]

34. Eggs-actly! And that's how Cain gets away with using stereotypical racist comments all the time.

Like "brutha" or "dat's how we roll" and other shit like that.

Cain is such an opportunist that he can't help himself.
He's a pathological liar, just like Sister Sarah.

The other day Cain said he was "pro-life" and then stated that he was against abortion, but within the same conversation, he said it was up to the woman, that it was the woman's choice, if she had an abortion in the case if she were raped or if she got pregnant by incest.
What?

Cain has done this sort of thing consistently.
First he said he wants to build a 20 foot high electrified fence on the US Southern border, but then the next day he said he was joking when he said that.
And then the day after that, he said he was serious about having that fence.

He doesn't sound to me like he knows what he wants.

Just like his ridiculous "9-9-9" tax plan.
He's just throwing things out there willy-nilly to see what sticks because he doesn't have any values or principles or issues to stand on!!!

[EffieBlack]

35. He's the kind of black person who plays into stereotypes that some white people have about us

These stereotypes are based on their very limited knowledge about blacks and people like Cain take advantage of them. He entertains them and they slap him on the back and laugh at him as if he's their cool friend. But they don't take him seriously and laugh at him behind his back.

He's a joke who thinks he's "da man."

[Major Hogwash]

58. I totally agree with your perception of Cain.

Black people have it hard enough in this country without someone like Cain going out and doing a modern "Stepin Fetchit" impression.

[Kind of Blue]

62. Tell me how you really feel!

That was great! But we can rest assured that he's not going anywhere. That 9-9-9 plan, or as I prefer the German Nein-Nein-Nein :D is already being ripped apart as increasing taxes for the poor and middle-class while providing a nice tax cut for the wealthy. He's such a shyster.

[Enrique]

37. regarding the breakdancing

don't give Cain any ideas. :scared:

[Empowerer]

38. Yikes!

That would be REALLY cringeworthy!

[Blue_Tires]

40. Keyes is a lot worse, but Cain is still awful

Luckily by this time next week the media will have moved on to their new flavor of the month, and Cain will never be heard from again...

[EffieBlack]

41. Oh, PLEASE let this be true!

But I fear that Cain will be another Sarah Palin who will just hang around indefinitely, long after their political viability has ended.

[spooky3]

42. He's your Phyllis Schlafly.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of rich white men who are thrilled to use people like Schlafly and Cain to advance their own agendas.

[Lyric]

68. I was just thinking exactly the same thing--you beat me to it.

I'd imagine that black people feel about Herman Cain the same way that women feel about Phyllis Schlafly. It's embarrassing to witness that kind of ignorant, aggressive, make-it-up-as-you-go-along hypocrisy.

[MadMaddie]

48. That sums it up nicely!

I can't watch him because I know all of the people in the room that he performing for are laughing on the inside at him. He really believes he is accepted among them....

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

50. Black liberal Democrat here to declare Herman Cain as an embarrassment to blacks,

Whites, women, men, LGBT, all religions, all cultures...

In a few words, Herman Cain is an embarrassment to ALL Americans!!!!

[OneGrassRoot]

52. K&R n/t

[TheKentuckian]

54. It is the TeaPubliKlanism that gets me, Republican regular is bad enough.

The white people he embarrasses us in front of that make such judgments are embarrassments themselves.

[Empowerer]

57. But they probably don't know that . . .

[CoffinEd]

59. So why not let him behave like a silly black man

"Black Democrats* don't have a problem with Herman Cain because he's black or Republican or both. We have a problem with him because he makes us cringe. He makes us cringe because he's embarrassing us in front of white folks whom we know still don't understand that he is not the sum total of who we are or who we should strive to be."

Herb's buffoonery doesn't bother me, a black Democrat, in the least. It really doesn't because I know Herb doesn't take his candidacy seriously, so why should I?

Plainly stated, Herb's fondness for shucking and jiving in public is on Herb himself. Not you, not me, and certainly not other black Democrats.

Sorry, but Ed's not putting on that nasty, funky, flea-infested overcoat.

Also, after all we as black people have given to this country -- literally our blood, sweat, and tears, and the fact that we have been here so damn long, when do you think that "significant slice of the white community" will come to view us as total human beings; especially now considering there is a "black" family in the White House, and that many people around the world view the husband (a bi-racial man who self-identifies as black) and wife as genuine role models.

We've been constantly fighting the "image" battle from Day 1 of our arrival in this country, and Herb was no where around. I just think as black Democrats we should view Herb in the same pathetic light as some of his hapless and incompetent GOP rivals, and really not spend too much time being concerned about the effect Herb's buffoonery is having on a group of people who, for all we know, may never ever see us full human beings.

Open-minded people will always try to view the world openly and with understanding and discernment. Whereas, closed-minded people will make it a point to view the world narrowly and with prejudice and bigotry.

Just my opinion.

[Number23]

65. CoffinEd, you are becoming one of my favorite posters

I agree with every word you said!

[CoffinEd]

66. You're going to give me a big head

But I truly appreciate your kind words. Again, in my humble opinion, the only people who should be embarrassed by Herb is Herb (but we all know he isn't) and maybe other republicans. Also, if some black Democrats need a countervailing image to Herb's buffoonery all they have to do is look at our president.

[Empowerer]

67. I agree with you

This is definitely the approach that we should take. However, I am expressing a very real feeling in the community. Much of it may be generational, based on experience.

Do you mind if I ask how old you are?

[CoffinEd]

70. In the Words of Fred "The Hammer" Williamson...

A person is only as old as they look. <smile>

Actually, the good Lord has blessed me to see 53 seasons come and go. Now, I'm looking forward to ushering in my 54th season in January. And you're right, a lot of the angst some black Democrats are feeling about Herb may be generational.

What I failed to say in my previous two posts is that I fully understand where you and some other black Democrats are coming from. And yes, I used to cringe each time JJ would answer the phone by saying "Sha-lo" instead of "hello"; although, in all honesty, I don't think I would have minded terribly if Thelma had answered the phone that way. Just saying.

The only point I was trying to convey is that Herb is not worth the emotional investment. I wasn't trying to dismiss other people's feelings.

I'm grateful that you started this thread and that you were honest and courageous to express your feelings in public. I'd never mock you or anyone for doing that.

But Herb should be an afterthought to all black Democrats and Democrats in general. As a politician, he's a joke and he doesn't mind being a joke. Let him buck dance until his heart is content. That shyt is on him.

And for anybody (black, white, Latino, Asian, other) who choose to view Herb as being representative of most black Americans when there are so many other positive images available, including our president, then I certainly can't help them. Maybe Herb can give them a motivational speech.

[Empowerer]

74. I LOVE this post!

Thanks for such an interesting and thoughtful reply.

I agree with you completely. He is a joke, but, unfortunately, in this America, minorities are still all-too-often judged by the least among us while the best are viewed as aberrations - you know, "special." Let's hope that this is changing. And maybe Cain's ridiculousness will make this happen more quickly.

And, btw, you didn't need to say how old you are - all you needed to do was bring up your Thelma-lust and I would have been able to pinpoint your season pretty accurately! :-)

Thanks for making me think AND smile.

[CoffinEd]

75. You're Welcome...

And the feeling is mutual. Bernadette! B-)

[Whisp]

60. excellent. K&R

[Ikonoklast]

69. I hear what you're saying, and can sympathize....however....

there are SO MANY White politicians out there who make me cringe every single time they open their pieholes to speak, I could take up enough bandwidth to crash the DU servers if I started to list them all.

They embarrass themselves with their crudity, their racism, their stupidity, their lack of human decency; well, the list of their failings is a huge one.

Just be thankful that the number of Black politicians who are idiots is relatively small in number, after all, speaking statistically, White moron politicians got you beat all to hell on this one.

And there is NO REASON any Black person should ever feel the need to explain or to apologize for the actions of one man, just because he happens to also be Black.

Anything Cain says or does is on him, you owe no one an explanation or an apology.

If I felt it was my duty to apologize for the morons that happen to share my skin color, it would be a full-time job just to keep up with Santorum, fer cryin' out loud. I'd have to hire outside help to cover all the rest of the idiots.

In the words of Bill Clinton, "I feel your pain."

[Skittles]

71. Mr. Cain does not represent black folk any more than Duby represented white folk

[SwampG8r]

72. i enjoyed reading this very much nt

[lunatica]

73. there you go again. Enlightening and empowering the rest of us

Herman Cain reminds me of how embarrassed and cringe worthy Bush was to me. He made us all look like the class clown grinning and strutting around in oversize boots. Yuk!

And I can't even begin to describe what the likes of Sarah Palin and Michelle Backmann et al make me feel. Double yuk!!