Reply #22: I really don't think this is what's behind Cain's 'rise.' [View All]

[RZM]

It could be a part of it, but only a very small part. I think other factors are far more important:

1) The Republicans have been in 'flavor of the week' mode since July, when Bachmann was rising. She was replaced by Perry as the candidate of the moment and the spotlight moved to Cain after that. Today it's Chris Christie and that will be over before we know it too.

2) Cain has performed well in the debates. He hasn't made gaffes and he hasn't been challenged too much. He also doesn't have nearly as much in his record to defend as Perry or Romney.

3) He's actively courting the Tea Party and tells them what they want to hear. This isn't rocket science here. If you cast your lot with a certain subset of the base, that subset is more likely to accept you.

4) Race. This is where Garofalo comes in. She calls it 'hiding racism.' I call it 'desperately trying to show your non-racism.' In the end, both are pretty close to being the same thing. It all depends on your opinion and perspective.

Now, the reasons that Garofalo is saying this seem to be more about her than about Cain or the Republicans. Remember when that guy on CNBC (I forget his name) ranted about the bailouts on air? That clip was replayed on tv and spread on the internet and has been cited as a moment in the birth of the Tea Party. Garofalo's rant about the Tea Party 'not wanting a black man in office' on Countdown was the equivalent moment for the 'Tea Party is racist' argument. She was one of the first people to clearly state that argument in an MSM outlet and the comment was picked up and spread around, just like the CNBC rant was. Neither were necessarily decisive -- there would still be a Tea Party without the bailout rant and people would still think that the Tea Party was racist without Garofalo, but it was important.

Problem is, Cain's rise in the polls throws a wrench into her argument that the sole motivating force behind the Tea Party was getting a black man out of the White House. She's having to work harder to make that argument stick and this comment reflects that.