The GOP presidential candidates were mostly quiet on Sunday following a scathing rebuke from President Barack Obama on Saturday evening for not coming to the defense of a gay soldier after audience members booed him during a recent Republican debate.
Herman Cain
One exception, however, was Georgia businessman Hermain Cain, who told ABC News that he should not have remained silent following the audience jeers.
Speaking at the HRC Nation Dinner on Saturday, Obama took GOP candidates to task for staying silent when audience members booed Stephen Hill, a gay soldier serving in Iraq, who asked, “Do you intend to circumvent the progress that has been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military?”
None of the nine eight candidates participating in the debate defended the soldier, or thanked him for his service.
“You want to be Commander in Chief? You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it’s not politically convenient,” the President said on Saturday.
Appearing on “This Week” earlier Sunday, Cain told ABC’s Christiane Amanpour that it would have been “appropriate” for him to have defended the soldier.
“In retrospect, because of the controversy it has created and because of the different interpretations that it could have had, yes, that probably — that would have been appropriate,” Cain said.
Cain said he thought the audience was “booing the whole ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal more so than booing that soldier.”
Last week, in an appearance on ABC’s “The View,” Vice-President Joe Biden called the audience jeers “reprehensible.”
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too wittle too wate!
Well it’s too late for that now, isn’t it, buddy?
Shame on anyone for laughing at our nations’ soldiers!
He still doesn’t get my vote.
and I kinda liked him wouldn’t vote for him, but thought he seemed like a good guy
He didn’t though, did he?
So why didn’t you?
Plus it doesn’t count when you feel bad about it just because it made you look like the buffoon you are. It only counts when you actually realize that you did something wrong and take action to correct it. I don’t see that happening in any of their cases.
He says this after having been thoroughly chastised. So, I doubt the sincerity.
what amazing hinesight way to go
… shoulda woulda coulda … is that the GoP platform?
Sorry Cain, it’s too late for words now. Though I would now say I respect you more than the other GOP candidates, you sir are nothing more than the same candidate that support hate-filled ignorance and bigotry. I doubt you will even succeed in obtaining the GOP nomination. And even if you did, our community would certainly make your life a living Hell.
Coulda shoulda woulda whatever!
Yeah, thanks for that, Captain Obvious. Or is it General Oblivious?
Ya Think??
too late Herman
I really like Herman Cain, I really do. But to stand there and to see a US SOLDIER BEING BOOED (gay or not) is a DISRESPECT for this country. Man who risk their lives for this country who have more balls than any man who was boing in there. I’m very disappointed, and very hurt. As a niece and cousin of Gays and Soldiers i’m hurt. this is an insult.
Totally disingenuous…am not buying his baloney. He’s only saying this because of the fallout about the booing and the lack of rebuke. If there hadn’t been such a fuss, I’m willing to bet he’d still be silent about it. Herman, crawl back under your rock, please.
i guess having to field questions about why you support a gay person in the military and how that would affect your campaign was more important than standing up for morals and what is right. this is exactly whats wrong with politics. its not about what you stand for its about pleasing everyone to get a vote.
I’m not buying it. Its impossible not to question his sincerity in a situation like this.
I like Cain. money talks, & bs walks with him, in my eyes
Yeah but you didn’t so GTFOH with your BS!
Sure, apologizing and saying you SHOULD have done something doesn’t change the fact that you didn’t. Thank you Obama for saying something about it, but still, doesn’t change the fact that it didn’t happen though i applaud your ability to apologize Sir Cain.
He had one chance to do the right thing and he blew it and it came back to blow up in his face. Too Bad! BS apologies after the fact are just a waste of time. He doesnt feel bad about how he handled it he feels bad since he got nailed by the president for doing the wrong thing.
Oh and GOP members Cant wait to see how your constituents react guess maybe you should have stood up as a group! Too bad none of you will be re-elected for shaming the entire military! Good or bad you all deserve to be unelected and sent back to your home towns empty handed!
A Republican admitting he was wrong? Is this the end times?!?
It would mean something if he really was sorry, but I doubt it.
a little late, aren’t you asshole….??
After the fact doesn’t work. One needs to be Really be In-tune during debates, and audience remarks heard- I heard the boos on TV.
So… Why didn’t you asshole?
Can we take that as an apology Mr. Cain?
The GOP “leaders” were all cowards when the chips
were down. No one wanted to stand up to the mob rule
of the Tea Party crowd. Fine bunch of patriots.
Cant’t wait for DOMA to die and a Supreme Court decision
on the farce of a defense put up by the Prop 8 proponents.
Then the bigots will have to face reality.
too late
I pray that a homobigot on the fence of changing his views and accepting lgbtq views doesnt read the anger and hate some of yall are spewing
It was good hearted gays that just wanted to be happy and in love is the reason i quit being a bigot if theyd shown the hate and anger yall ard maybe id still be a bigot and not on yalls side please remember that you reprerent lgbt to the guy who rarely ever sees any gays but you
we all know the gay issue makes candidates make other choices during election time. Look at Cheney, he supports gay marriage, but where was he while he was in office. Obama now is coming out for gay rights when he needs our votes.
It takes a candidate with balls to come forward to do the right thing like some of the current state candidates who back equal marriage rights and I applaud them. they stand for the rights of all citizens of this country.