‘Mr. Cain, Who Is Lawrence O’Donnell to Tell You How to Be a Black Man?’

Posted on | October 10, 2011 | 65 Comments

After Thursday evening’s “interview” on MSNBC, Professor William Jacobson and others were outraged by Lawrence O’Donnell’s self-righteous and disrespectful hectoring of Herman Cain.

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So when the surging GOP presidential candidate agreed to take questions from reporters at his book-signing Friday at the Pentagon City Costco in Arlington, Virginia, I asked the question that many others were asking:

My question comes at about the one-minute mark of the video.

RSM: Mr. Cain, who is Lawrence O’Donnell to tell you how to be a black man?
CAIN: “It’s an absurd thing to try and do, isn’t it? I mean, for Lawrence O’Donnell to try and challenge me on what was I doing during the civil rights movement, that’s about as ridiculous as me asking him, ‘What were you doing when you were in kindergarten?’ The two things don’t even relate to one another. So, you’re right — his attempt to do that failed, in my opinion.”

While I certainly do not wish to accuse O’Donnell of raaaaacism, the way he treated Cain on MSNBC was typical of the let-me-tell-you-what-to-think attitude of elite liberalism. In the minds of liberals, anyone who disputes their pre-conceived narrative — whether about history, economics, foreign policy, race relations or anything else — is not merely wrong, but evil.

That is to say, on any issue that liberals care about, there is exactly one point of view that all people of good faith must share, and anyone who expresses skepticism toward the Official Liberal Viewpoint is presumed to be acting on secret motives of bad faith (mala fides).

So if you dispute, for example, the Official Liberal Viewpoint on “climate change” (anthropogenic global warming), their certainty of your wrongness leads them immediately to provide an explanation for why you are wrong. You may be merely too stupid to grasp the “consensus,” but it’s also possible that you have hidden motives — corporate greed! religious extremism! — that inspire your opposition to the Official Liberal Viewpoint.

This intolerance of dissent is especially characteristic of those liberals who, like O’Donnell, come from privileged upbringings where liberalism functions as a sort of noblesse oblige, and who therefore pre-emptively condemn conservatives as guilty of an indifference to the suffering and hardship of the downtrodden.

For a Boston Democrat of the My-Daddy’s-a-Lawyer variety like Lawrence O’Donnell, Herman Cain’s refusal to accept the Civil Rights Victimhood narrative — the only template for race relations that liberals understand — is a personal insult.

Marooned in Marin was at the Costco book-signing and captured my question from the opposite angle, where you can see my son Jefferson (in the red tie) standing next to me:

Marooned in Marin has lots more photos of the Costco event. Such was the reaction to O’Donnell’s insultingly high-handed lecture to Cain that O’Donnell spent a good chunk of his Friday show trying to un-dig the hole he’d put himself into. And in this video from Friday, you’ll hear a familiar voice at the 2:48 mark:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Tommy Christopher at Mediaite chronicles O’Donnell’s crow-eating smorgasbord:

With the benefit of hindsight, O’Donnell told Melissa Harris-Perry that he didn’t “want to oversimplify the menu of choice that existed for black families in the South at that time,” although that’s exactly what he had done when he suggested that Cain “sat on the sidelines” rather than participating in demonstrations.
Harris-Perry wisely identified the problem with the manner of O’Donnell’s questions. She said that she was “squirming with discomfort” while watching the interview, and in explaining that discomfort, kindly employed the “royal we,” rather than point the finger directly at her colleague. “When we are not facing the lynchers’ noose,” she said, ”when we are not facing that imminent violence, ourselves, we have to be extremely careful about even the implication that those who did not participate were necessarily cowards.”
She pointed out that “it was always simply a minority of African-Americans who were engaged at any point in the civil rights movement because it was a life and death question.” . . .
Harris-Perry also nailed the inherently racist double-standard embedded in the Civil Rights line of questioning. “I can`t remember anyone ever asking a white politician who is of the same age where they were during the sit ins. As you pointed out in your interview, there were white students who came down to be part of freedom summer. There were white allies at every point.”
“Yet we don’t consider it a litmus test for white politicians to have had enough moral courage, ethical vision and American value to have participated actively in the civil rights movement,” she continued, pointing out that military service is a common such litmus test. “I”m worried when we don’t ask white politicians about their patriotism related to how they have or have not stood up for racial equality.”

Like Herman Cain, I am a native of Atlanta, where Henry Grady’s post-Reconstruction “New South” message of economic growth was first proclaimed, and where Booker T. Washington famously urged American businessmen not to rely on immigrant labor, but rather to “cast down your bucket where you are” by employing black workers. During the civil rights era, Atlanta was proud to be “The City Too Busy to Hate.”

Having been quite literally in kindergarten the year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, my personal memories of that era are necessarily limited. However, it has always seemed to me that decent law-abiding people — working hard to support their families and do the right thing in their everyday lives — need make no apologies to anyone.

Politics isn’t the entirety of our existence and we should keep in mind Eric Vogelin’s warning not to immanentize the eschaton. Quiet acts of Christian goodwill done by such ordinary Americans are not recorded in the pages of history books, and were not front-page headlines in 1964, but nevertheless it should be obvious to anyone with common sense that Rosa Parks and Bull Connor are not the whole story of the civil rights era.

UPDATE (Smitty): Welcome, Instapundit readers!

UPDATE II (RSM): Jehuda the Rhetorican credits me with the press conference “question of the year.” Hey, just doing my job — speaking of which, there’s lots more campaign news today.

UPDATE III: Linked by The Lonely Conservative, William Jacobson at Legal Insurrection and Obi’s Sister.

Category: Herman Cain, MSNBC

Comments

65 Responses to “‘Mr. Cain, Who Is Lawrence O’Donnell to Tell You How to Be a Black Man?’”

McGehee
October 10th, 2011 @ 12:33 pm

It still comes down to the fact the Obamarrhoids are scared to death of their Teleprompter Jesus having to go up against Herman Cain. It would mean the end of the Race Card, leaving them only with the Authenticity Card.

And only one of these two men had ancestors that actually suffered as a result of slavery (as opposed to profiting from it).
dad29
October 10th, 2011 @ 12:41 pm

What was O’Donnell doing during “the Troubles” in Ireland?
Anonymous
October 10th, 2011 @ 12:50 pm

This also displays the Liberal mindset that if you aren’t protesting or something, you don’t really care or respect those who did.

I think it’s perfectly valid to respect and revere those who take risks for a worthy cause. The interview included two of them: Civil Rights and Military Service.

But there’s also virtue in working hard to support yourself and your family. Not everyone is cut out for laying it on the line. Asking if that makes them a bad or unqualified person is the wrong question. Millions of eligible people didn’t get drafted during Vietnam. O’Donnell’s assertion about Cain dodging military service seems a lot more offensive than the “heartless” gaffe from Perry, to cite one example.

While a guy like Herman Cain may not have been on the front lines of the Civil Rights movement (honestly, I don’t know or really care what he did during that time), he certainly seemed to have been out there supporting it, if by no other means than showing that Blacks could be successful and take roles that actual racists would have denied they could do.

Wasn’t he the example that proved the Civil Rights marchers correct? Why would we try to belittle someone who proved them right? Weren’t people like him the very people the Civil Rights marchers were marching for?

Stupid liberal racists.
Lawrence O'Donnell
October 10th, 2011 @ 12:52 pm

I am very in tune with the Afro American community. I listen to jazz and I occasionally smoke marijuana. I find Halle Berry attractive. I let my daughter listen to rap music and wear baggy pants. I like basketball. I do not care for hockey.
Lawrence O'Donnell
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:04 pm

We were pandering to Irish American voters in New York to get Patrick Moynihan re-elected.
Anonymous
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:04 pm

one could also ask O’Donnell if he was marching for gay rights in the 80s, or sitting on the sidelines
Lawrence O'Donnell
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:11 pm

I was sitting on the side lines on that one!
Anonymous
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:11 pm

O’Donnell was on the sidelines but unable to sit.
Lawrence O'Donnell
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:12 pm

How dare you question me!
Ben Franklin
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:16 pm

LOD, that’s racist!
Lawrence O'Donnell
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:19 pm

Don’t ask, Don’t tell. I am also a fan of the Black concept of “on the down low.”
rosalie
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:22 pm

According to what I read, O is 12% black, 38% muslim, and 50% white. With only 12% black, he milked the system in every way that he could.
Christy Waters
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:24 pm

While white, liberal elitist, Lawrence O’Donnell feigns compassion for blacks and other minorities, his treatment of Herman Cain reveals the true disdain he has for them. Larry’s contempt for him is so transparent, that he may as well have called Cain an “uppity negro, who doesn’t know his place”.

Herman Cain has never subscribed to the victim mentality. He pulled himself out of poverty through hard work, instead of relying on govt assistance, which is why he’s successful, and why liberal ass hats like Larry O’Donnell hate him so.

As for Larry, he’s going to give Janeane Garofalo some stiff competition in terms of being Herman Cain’s biggest fundraiser, if he keeps on running his stupid yap. I hope he does. Herman’s campaign could use the money.

Here’s a link, if you’d like to give Larry O’Donnell a big middle finger. Northern-style or Southern-style is completely up to you.

https://hermancainonline.nationbuilder.com/
TC_LeatherPenguin
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:39 pm

Singing “Danny Boy” as he slummed in Southie while my cousins were getting knee-capped for not being properly Pro-Provo in Donegal….
TC_LeatherPenguin
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:42 pm

Totally OT, but is young Master Jefferson’s dance card getting loaded up, what with his new found fame as “Intrepid Reporter (Jimmy Olsen division)”?
Anonymous
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:44 pm

Your point that liberals view those who disagree with them not only as wrong but as evil is important and not appreciated by enough people. Conservatives and liberals are similar in that both tend to view the other side as uninformed and stupid and maybe even a bit deranged. However, liberals tend to believe that conservative positions have a foundation in immorality (racism, sexism, greed, etc.), whereas conservatives tend not to view liberal positions as based on the moral failings of those who hold them. By ascribing immorality to those who disagree with them, they exclude most opposing views from consideration and yet are able to convince themselves that they are the epitome of tolerance.
Disgraceful Lawrence O’Donnell – UPDATED « Obi's Sister
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:49 pm

[…] II: Both Stacy and Smitty weigh in on our betters. Ed Driscoll has a good round-up, including an ad for paid […]
Serfer62
October 10th, 2011 @ 1:50 pm

I need a 1% T shirt!!!
Lawrence O'Donnell
October 10th, 2011 @ 2:03 pm

I am more black than Barack Obama (ever hear of Black Irish?)
Joe
October 10th, 2011 @ 2:05 pm

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/10/10/new-poll-shows-obama-losing-to-herman-cain/

What? The only explanation can be raaaaacism.
McGehee
October 10th, 2011 @ 2:13 pm

That’s not a bad idea. On the other hand, a 1% patch on a black vest might be — unless you’ve been, um, properly vetted.
Herman Cain: Absurd for Lawrence O’Donnell to Challenge Me on Civil Rights Movement | The Lonely Conservative
October 10th, 2011 @ 2:23 pm

[…] to Challenge Me on Civil Rights MovementOctober 10, 2011 By Lonely Conservative No comments yetStacy McCain caught up with presidential candidate Herman Cain last week and asked him “Who is Lawrence […]
Marooned in Marin
October 10th, 2011 @ 2:27 pm

Thanks for the link, good to see you on Friday.
Anonymous
October 10th, 2011 @ 3:20 pm

Convincing the original 1% that the OWSers are talking about them, now that would be funny.
Charles
October 10th, 2011 @ 3:26 pm

Someone should followup on Lawrence O’Donnell’s statement that the most important civil rights protests occurred from 1963-1967. Of course, that’s when the socialists co-opted the civil rights movement. But leaving that aside, Lawrence is downplaying the contributions of Rosa Parks and others who came earlier.
ThePaganTemple
October 10th, 2011 @ 4:35 pm

I wonder what leftists will have to say about this poll that shows Cain leading Obama 43% to 41% and taking 24% of the black vote.
Cantremembermynic
October 10th, 2011 @ 4:36 pm

Cain is left-handed! That’s so cool. Lots of Presidents were left-handed. 🙂
Herman Cain: Absurd for Lawrence O’Donnell to Challenge Me on Civil Rights Movement | Herman Cain PAC
October 10th, 2011 @ 5:18 pm

[…] Stacy McCain caught up with presidential candidate Herman Cain last week and asked him “Who is Lawrence O’Donnell to tell you how to be a black man?” Cain responded that it was “absurd” for O’Donnell to challenge him on what he was doing during the Civil Rights movement. “It’s an absurd thing to try and do, isn’t it? I mean, for Lawrence O’Donnell to try and challenge me on what was I doing during the civil rights movement, that’s about as ridiculous as me asking him, ‘What were you doing when you were in kindergarten?’ The two things don’t even relate to one another. So, you’re right — his attempt to do that failed, in my opinion.” […]
Presser question of the year: ‘Mr. Cain, Who Is Lawrence O’Donnell to Tell You How to Be a Black Man?’ « The Rhetorican
October 10th, 2011 @ 5:30 pm

[…] O’Donnell to Tell You How to Be a Black Man?’Presser question of the day month year: ‘Mr. Cain, Who Is Lawrence O’Donnell to Tell You How to Be a Black Man?’Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedIn […]
Instapundit » Blog Archive » STACY MCCAIN: ‘Mr. Cain, Who Is Lawrence O’Donnell to Tell You How to Be a Black Man?’…
October 10th, 2011 @ 6:07 pm

[…] STACY MCCAIN: ‘Mr. Cain, Who Is Lawrence O’Donnell to Tell You How to Be a Black Man?’ […]
mockmook
October 10th, 2011 @ 6:29 pm

So, LOD, do you characterize all blacks who didn’t participate as “inauthentic”?

What do you think of the people sitting out on the greatest human rights issue ever (abortion of innocent babies)?
Mike Woodyard
October 10th, 2011 @ 6:43 pm

@Stacy McCain.. You just don’t get it do you.
One more time: “Some animals are more equal than others.”
Vmcollard
October 10th, 2011 @ 6:45 pm

These questions posed by O’Donnell merely reveal that the Libtards have no substantive issues with which to confront Mr. Cain. They are resorting to “creating” issues in order to have something to talk about to justify their own existence. Actually, in a perverse way, this incident helps Mr. Cain in that it exposes the Libtards for what they are, mere “hacks” with no intelligence, and Mr. Cain as a thoughtful, successful, honest candidate.
Vmcollard
October 10th, 2011 @ 6:53 pm

I admire Herman Cain for precisely those qualities for which O’Donnell despises him. Mr. Cain is proof that the suffering and death of the Civil Rights Movement was not in vain. He isa self-made man who could not have succeeded without the Civil Rights Movement. O’Donnell hates him because he is successful through his own hard work, something that O’Donnell is not. Would O”Donnell have to actually “work” he fears he would fail, and he can’t forgive Cain for showing him up. Yes we Cain!!!
» Open - Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion
October 10th, 2011 @ 6:53 pm

[…] Be sure also to check out Stacy McCain’s question to Herman Cain regarding the Lawrence O’Donnell interview (my prior post here), with the now classic question, ‘Mr. Cain, Who Is Lawrence O’Donnell to Tell You How to Be a Black Man?’ […]
im4sanity
October 10th, 2011 @ 7:54 pm

a couple yearsa ago i was listening to Mr. Cain on tv and i thought, gee i like this guys ideas, he should be president.

well, i will vote for him
Fausta's Blog » Blog Archive » Herman Cain knows it’s about the economy, stupid
October 10th, 2011 @ 8:17 pm

[…] In other Cain news, Stacy asked him, ‘Mr. Cain, Who Is Lawrence O’Donnell to Tell You How to Be a Black Man?’ RSM: Mr. Cain, who is Lawrence O’Donnell to tell you how to be a black man? CAIN: “It’s an […]
John Valentinetti
October 10th, 2011 @ 8:32 pm

I don’t know about Robert. All these guy running for President with “CAIN” in their names. Is it just to get site hits? Next he’ll try semi naked girls
Anonymous
October 10th, 2011 @ 8:55 pm

Possibly. It’s definitely an example of the left’s cult of hypocrisy. True to form, they don’t even really understand what hypocrisy is, but they’re damn sure Republicans are guilty of it!
spool32
October 10th, 2011 @ 9:45 pm

“Muslim” is not a race, it’s a religion. Yeesh, you can’t be “38% Muslim.”
Anonymous
October 10th, 2011 @ 10:48 pm

Does Mr. O’Donnell have to be paid for the black man lessons or does he give them for free? I might be interested.
JPL17
October 10th, 2011 @ 11:13 pm

I knew Lawrence (“Larry”) O’Donnell in college. He was one of the biggest as$holes on campus. He’s more successful and, hence, an even bigger as$hole now. That’s really all you need to know.
Anonymous
October 10th, 2011 @ 11:37 pm

1964, Cain was 19, working to put himself thru college for a math degree. He did not borrow a boatload of money for a worthless “degree”, then blamed everybody else for his own stupidity. He then joined the navy, and a master degree in computer science. In 1977, he became the youngest vice president in Pillsbury, a Wall Street listed “racist” exploitive corporation.
mark
October 11th, 2011 @ 12:21 am

flashback:
“MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell apologized to RNC chair Michael Steele Wednesday night for describing the RNC as his “master.”

10/7/10

lawrence is a serial racist.
mark
October 11th, 2011 @ 12:22 am

yes, yes…
but what is your stand on mayonaise?
LiberTBelle
October 11th, 2011 @ 12:38 am

Join the movement here! http://tinyurl.com/firelawrence #occupylawrenceodonnell
Anonymous
October 11th, 2011 @ 1:47 am

obama did NOT have a teleprompter at the press conference, showing how he is lucid unlike you fucking morons
cooperfan
October 11th, 2011 @ 2:40 am

Hasn’t anyone realized what really happened?

Call that interview what it was. It was racial profiling, pure and simple. A white man profiling a black man and telling him how he ought to behave. Utterly disgusting. O’Donnell ought to resign.
Anonymous
October 11th, 2011 @ 6:16 am

What about 56.9% humorless?
Bob Belvedere
October 11th, 2011 @ 8:04 am

Your old man was all man [cop and lawyer]. You were a little spoiled punk bastard who only brought heartache to your good mother and father.