Martin Bashir's campaign to prove Herman Cain really isn't a black man continued Monday when he accused the Republican presidential candidate of skipping the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Monument in Washington, D.C., Saturday because he "really doesn't want to be overtly associated with African-Americans" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
MARTIN BASHIR, HOST: Mr. Cain was supposed to attend the dedication of the Martin Luther King Memorial on Sunday. I like many people watched it, was moved by it, but he failed to attend. Now there’s been some surprise at his absence. But being honest, isn’t this consistent for a man who really doesn't want to be overtly associated with African-Americans…
MICHAEL STEELE: Oh no, that’s…
MICHAEL STEELE: No, come on, no, I reject that and on his behalf resent that.
BASHIR: You do?
STEELE: Yeah, because I know first off, you know…
BASHIR: But this is a man, Michael, who says racism virtually doesn’t exist.
For the record, here are some of Bashir's recent comments concerning Cain:
- MSNBC's Bashir Again Gives Platform to Columnist Slamming Herman Cain As Self-hating Black Man
- Martin Bashir Attacks Herman Cain During Eulogy For Civil Rights Leader Fred Shuttlesworth
- Bashir on Cain's Calm Style: Republicans 'Do Not Want to Hear From a Black Man Who’s Aggressive, Assertive, Angry'
That makes at least four racially-charged attacks by Bashir on Cain in the past seven shows. Is this really the kind of commentary the folks at MSNBC want from their evening anchors?
Apparently so.
