Herman Cain’s Electric Fence “Joke” Strikes a Nerve
Herman Cain, the GOP Presidential candidate enjoying a foray in the limelight while currently leading the polls, waded into the immigration debate this weekend with an outrageous statement:
“When I’m in charge of the fence, we going to have a fence. It’s going to be 20 feet high. It’s going to have barbed wire on the top. It’s going to be electrocuted, electrified. And there’s going to be a sign on the other side that says it will kill you.”
After widepsread criticism, Cain has since said he was joking, but he doesn’t appear to be fully backing down (he said he apologized for “offending anyone”– a classic political non-apology). And he is even getting support from controversial Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio for his comments.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus released a statement yesterday condemning these remarks, according to The Hill:
“Words have consequences, both in shaping ideas and inspiring actions. Whether or not he made his comments in jest, Mr. Cain’s words show a lack of understanding of the immigration issues our country is facing and a staggering lack of sensitivity,” Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-Texas) said in a statement. “Surely, Mr. Cain understands the duty that candidates have to offer responsible policy proposals.”
People of faith have a clear responsibility to treat all human beings with dignity and respect. Even in jest, Cain’s comments were an extreme departure from shared religious values of compassion and justice. As a pastor himself, he ought to reconsider his inhumane approach to the issue of immigration and fully apologize for his comments.
Photo credit: Associated Press