Image source: ABC News

BY ZACH TOOMBS

You're watching multisource politics video news analysis from Newsy.
 

Given a chance to back off controversial comments he made last week, Herman Cain stood his ground Sunday on his claim that black voters supported Democratic candidates because they have been quote “brainwashed.”

Cain, who has picked up steam after drawing 17 percent in a recent Fox News poll -- a third place finish among presidential hopefuls -- reiterated the statement on ABC’s “This Week with Christiane Amanpour.”

“Now, I think that if the word is inflammatory, that’s too bad. It is true. And I’ll tell you why. It’s because some black people won’t even listen to someone who appears to be a conservative or a Republican. I call that brainwashed.”

Cain’s initial comments came during this interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, responding to a question on why African Americans typically vote overwhelmingly for Democrats.

“Many African Americans have been brainwashed into not being open minded, not even considering a conservative point of view. I have received some of that same vitriol simply because I am running for the Republican nomination as a conservative. So, it’s just brainwashing and people not being open-minded, pure and simple.” 

The claim has sparked widespread outcry among many pundits and commentators, including Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher, who didn’t hold back in telling Anderson Cooper how he felt about Cain’s comments.

“If I came on your show, Anderson, and I said, “All Jewish people are brainwashed,” I probably wouldn’t be invited back to CNN, and I assure you the condemnation would be swift, and it’d be powerful, and it’d be strong. What Herman Cain said was a racist and bigoted statement, and it should be treated like a racist and bigoted person who makes racist and bigoted statements.”

Still, Cain has had his share of supporters amid the media backlash, including Republican strategist Pat Buchanan, who shared his thoughts with MSNBC’s Martin Bashir.

BUCHANAN: “And I admire Herman Cain for standing up and going against, if you will, the conventional wisdom, and being a tough African-American businessman who succeeded in a tough world. And I admire his victory there in Florida.”
BASHIR: “But Pat, brainwashed? That’s a fairly strong term.”
BUCHANAN: “I think what he’s saying is, they bought an awful lot of liberal propaganda on the liberal plantation, and I think he’s right.”

Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson weighed in on the controversy Thursday, telling POLITICO that Cain’s comments were insulting.

“Those are very strong words. It’s both demeaning and insulting ... He’ll have a chance to see who comes out to the polls. His positions on minimum wage and on health care reform — let us see how that plays out in the public. I don’t think you inspire voters by demeaning them.”

Cain says he could win a third of black voters if given the chance to go up against President Barack Obama. But, for now, he’ll have to focus on winning over his own party and the Republican nomination.



Transcript by Newsy.