El Paso community advocates criticize Herman Cain's electrified fence joke

[LaurenG]

GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain's alleged joke about an electrified fence for border security was inappropriate and insensitive, El Paso leaders said.

"I don't think too many of us here in El Paso take this as a joke," Mayor John Cook said Monday. "In a presidential political debate, anything that comes out of your mouth should be taken seriously. Once you throw your hat in the ring, you really have to choose your words carefully."

U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, criticized Cain's comments vigorously.

"This 'broken border' agenda counters the efforts by our two nations cooperatively working together to make our communities safe," Reyes said. "Instead of focusing on real issues and solutions, Cain and other extremists continue to use these attacks and hateful humor as a smoke screen to hide their failed leadership.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_19131830

[tonekat]

1. The belated "Joke" coverup has worn thin

Every whack job candidate will blurt something like this and listen for the bloodlust. He must have gotten back on the bus and thought "the rubes bought it!"

The media needs to stop letting them brush it off, he wasn't kidding at all.

[MelungeonWoman]

2. Cain is Colbert gone rogue.

What sane American would want to pay 9% tax for groceries while watching the wealthiest get their taxes lowered to 9%? He might be able to garner 9% in the general election.

I saw a clip of him on MSNBC this morning, a reported asked him if this wasn't just a ploy to get a TV show. Cain perfectly deadpanned that anybody who knew him would know that was incorrect, and folks that didn't know him should buy the book.

The reporters laughed. So did Cain.


This guy is tied for first place.

[Raschel]

3. "...you really have to choose your words carefully." I agree Mayor, but the GOP has a lineup of

clowns, Bachmann, Cain, Palin, Trump, Perry, etc. None of them choose their words wisely, nor could they. They have no wisdom.