Herman Cain: Muslims must show loyalty to work for me
(CNN) - GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain stood firm Friday on his promise to make Muslims prove loyalty to the U.S. Constitution before appointing them to his administration - a test, he has said, that would not apply to people of other faiths.
The former CEO of Godfather's Pizza denied that the proposed test is a form of discrimination when pressed Friday by CNN's John King.
"That's not discrimination. It's called trying to protect the American people," Cain said. "This nation is under attack constantly by people who want to kill all of us, so I'm going to take extra precaution."
In March, Cain made headlines when he told a Think Progress blogger that he would feel uncomfortable appointing a Muslim as a member of his cabinet or as a federal judge. And while speaking on Fox News on Wednesday, he said there was a "greater dangerous part of the Muslim faith" than other religions.
Cain told King on Friday that he would be comfortable with a Muslim serving in office only if he could gauge the person's sense of loyalty through a one-on-one conversation.
"I never said I would discriminate against Muslims or any other religion for that matter, but I am going to take extra precautions if a Muslim person who is competent wants to work in my administration," he said.
Cain has grown in popularity over recent months. The latest poll released by Quinnipiac University on June 8 puts him in third place in the 2012 GOP field, with 10%. He falls behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who placed first, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who came in second.
– On Monday, June 13, CNN will host the first New Hampshire Republican Presidential Debate, live from Manchester, NH at 8 p.m. ET. Follow all the issues and campaign news leading up to the debate on CNNPolitics.com and @cnnpolitics on Twitter.
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Maybe he should check atheists too. We need an America where we can all start disgusting fast food chains and make millions!
"That is not discrimination." Yeah, it kind of IS. "I never said I would discriminate against Muslims..." Yeah, you kind of just DID. Go lefties! Call him a racist. Oh wait, he's bla-, I mean he's Afri-. Okay, just call him an Uncle Tom.
Waiting for the left to call him a racist.
Mr. Cain is my neighbor. His latest comments and some of his previous comments are just bizzarre. So, he is the only one who is able to judge one's loyalty to the country? It is so disappointing to see him stoop this low.
No, I don't discriminate against Muslims - I just treat them differently than everybody else. The sad part is that he doesn't get that he's discriminating against Muslims. But hey, at least he's in third place in the Seven Republican Dwarfs competition...
AGHAST !
Right on Mr. Cain. Except one thing. What loyalty test would you give them. The Koran allows them to lie and disavow Allah if in the end it furthers the cause of Islam. I like the way you think, but I'm questioning what loyalty test you would give.
Herman Cain has never yet sworn to support and defend the Constitution himself. Explain again how Catholics, who by definition are subject to a foreign government, do not deserve special loyalty tests.
Does this include commissioned officers, and how does this square with the Constitution forbidding any and all religious tests to hold federal office? Is he going to personally talk to every Muslim at West Point and Annapolis? They are willing to go into harm's way for the US– more than Herman Cain ever saw fit to do himself.
Guess he doesn't understand the part of the Constitution about a religious test being unconstitutional (except if you're a Congress critter – they're exempt from most laws...). Hmm. What about a brother who is a Muslim? Or is it just white guys?
My god. He is like a poor version of Ron Paul.
Good for Mr. Cain. It is the only logical thing to do, we are at war with a terrorists that are Muslim. Take off the rose colored 1960's peace love dove glasses and get real. There are people that are our enemy and want to harm us. You don't risk accidentally appointing the enemy for reasons of political correctness. America loving Muslims will agree.
What an idiot. Maybe, he forgets the past of blacks in America. Idiot.
Blatent racism. How would Mr. Cain react if a politician stated that an African American could only work for him/her if that individual swore an allegiance to the Constitution ? Is this what our founding fathers mean't by "all men are created equal"?
what an idiot
Mr. Cain, domestic and international issues are too much complex for you to comprehend "Cain told King on Friday that he would be comfortable with a Muslim serving in office only if he could gauge the person's sense of loyalty through a one-on-one conversation." Phew!!! who can tell this guy leading a Great Nation like America is totally different from a Pizza making interview!! please, concentrate with dough, barbecue sauce, shredded cheddar and bell peppers and you will do just fine.
So, if he's not doing that loyalty test to his pizza employees, do we have to worry about the pizza?
Exactly what does Mr. Cain look for Muslims to do to convince him of their worthiness?
Being more "Christian" will not make your more "whiter" ... You are no Obama.
Do whites have to show loyalty as well, or does he let them slide?
How about catholics, christians and jews?
This little joke should stick to mediocre pizza.
Woo hoo! McCarthyism in the 21st century. Ironic that it comes from an African American.
Bigotry knows no racial barrier.
I think republicans should show loyalty to this country before they could even run for office. With the mess bush left this country in, and with Obama trying to fix it, instead of helping the republicans are trying their best to ruin ever effort. And they haven't even attempted to introduce a jobs bill.
I thought the House because it is suppose to fund projects and pass legislation should be the ones to initiate jobs bills. But they lied to the country to get elected and are lying to the public again when they say the president is suppose to manufacture jobs.
So are they going to turn the making and passing of bills over the the president. I don't think so, that's just the lie they are telling the public trying to blame their lack of anything positive and obstruction on the president.
I true American patriot: discriminate against minorities. The irony is outrageous.