Perry's Racist Rock Issue
Rick Perry's campaign blasted back and fellow GOP candidate who accused him of "insensitivity" toward blacks after Washington Post report that the Perry's family hunting camp once was marked with a racist word.
Perry's Racist Rock Issue
Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer
Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s Republican presidential campaign found itself scurrying Sunday to limit potential damage from a Washington Post report that raised questions about racial insensitivity – to wit, that the entrance to the Perry family hunting camp was once marked by the word “Niggerhead” painted on a large rock.
The Perry team disputed facts in the Post story and said the word has long been removed.
It can be tricky for white Southern national candidates of a certain age (Perry is 61) to navigate the shoals of race, and this odd story is an example of that.
Fellow GOP contender Herman Cain, who is African American, jumped on Perry, calling him “insensitive” for his handling of the situation. “There isn’t a more vile, negative word than the ‘n word,’ and for him to leave it there as long as they did is just plain insensitive to a lot of black people in this country,” Cain said in a Fox News interview.
“Mr. Cain is wrong about the Perry family's quick action to eliminate the word on the rock, but is right the word written by others long ago is insensitive and offensive. That is why the Perrys took quick action to cover and obscure it,” Communications Director Ray Sullivan said in a statement.
“The Post story acknowledges the rock had been painted and turned over. The Perrys did not own, name or control the property, they simply rented hunting rights to 1,000 acres of the ranch.
As Gov. Perry told the Washington Post, ‘The old name has its origins from another time and era when unfortunately, offensive language was used to name some land formations around the country. When my dad joined the lease in 1983, he soon painted over the offensive word. It is my understanding that the rock was also turned over to further obscure what was originally written on it.’”
Yes, the "N" word is repulsive, creepy and inflamatory. Question: why then does the "Hood", rap music and such embrace it's usage and where is the outrage when they do?
I know, when they use it- "it's different," just like it's different to use a knife instead of a gun to kill somone????— STEPHEN1988- Stephen:
How long have you lived so that you don't know why blacks can use the word yet others can't? It's the same reason why gays can use the "f" word and others can't. I didn't make the rules, I just abide by them.— JD3rd - There shouldn't be rules. It's called America - freedom on speech. — bobbyd24
- Bobby, you're perfectly free to exercise your freedom of speech by running around calling black people the n-word. Good luck with that. — whatwhat
- Yes, stephen, it's an absolute outrage that white people can't run around calling black people the n-word anymore. — whatwhat
Comment removed.- Oh please. Every race and ethnicity uses terms amongst themselves that do not inflame, because, well DUH WE said it. What's really funny is your lame-*** attempt to deflect the obvious issue - that this vermin isn't fit to lead a boy scout troop let alone a country. ANY country.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatus
- Just another example of the desperation of the Democrat-Media Complex, a sad attempt at their trying to help out their failing, flailing Community Organizer in Chief. Pathetic.— ObamaSolyndra
- I am a HUGE fan of Gov. Rick Perry’s program to give in-state tuition rates to migrants without their documents. If he were President and made this a federal law, it would be HUGE towards erasing the income and net worthy disparities among the different racial and ethnic groups.
In fact, I would go one step further and legalize all the undocumented migrants and give them unlimited FREE tuition to help out with assimilation and achieving the American Dream.
However, hearing that the "n-word" is somehow connected to Gov. Perry is so vile, disgusting and repulsive that it makes me want to vomit forth huge chunks of the Matzo ball soup I just ate.
This is 2011 and such hate is completely and totally unacceptable.
— WRosencratz - It isn't what the author of this piece called it, "the Perry family hunting camp," any more than it is President Obama's, when he goes to Camp David or stays at some hotel. It isn't Perry's rock. It never was. It never belonged to anyone in his family. Many years ago, it was painted over. After it was painted over, it was turned over. The name on the rock was the name of the place before there was ever anyone who owned that property and ran a hunting camp on it. Rick Perry and his family weren't endorsing the name, any more than when I fly to Washington, D.C., I am somehow endorsing being a slaveholder.
There's plenty to criticize about all of the candidates of every stripe and persuasion, without descending to this ludicrous level. This is on a par with calling Obama a Kenyan: an ignorant slur. Get real: this country is in dire straits, and needs all of us to focus on the most important issues, acquire all of the facts and understanding we can, and make the best choices we possibly can, for all our sakes and for the sakes of those who sill follow us.— neopatetic - Comment removed.
- I don't like Mr. Perry, but I think the media is grasping at straws just a bit. BTW, what gives the media the right to use the "n" bomb when the public cannot?— FletcherT
- Talk about trying to dig up dirt on a guy. I'm Black & I find this is a stupid non story. Really, Obama spends 20 years in a Church yet hears nothing said? Was a pot head in school yet never reported. It is not even his property........— tiger
- Wow we are going back to 1983, to a land the gov. Perry didn't own. You know this to make us forget how bad things are. Question what are the numbers for gov. Perry in the minority community in Texas?— skills
- Censorship is live and well in this format. So much for freedom of speech in an open forum.— aumu
- I heard that rock voted for Barack Owe-Bama in 2008.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- African Americans have used the word--amongst other African Americans--to try to alleviate some of the power of the word, since for over two hundred years the word was used in the most hateful way imaginable. Ever read a book? Seriously.— Jim C.
- Comment removed.
One Major Fact Missing from this article by this Hack Reporter Stephanie McCrummen: . . . . Rick Perry was a DEMOCRAT when this happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— CobraKai- Oh yeah, Solyndra - the Obama camp is afraid of Perry. Please. This brainless log couldn't win the local Blueberry contest. Are Rethuglicans TRYING to find the most unelectable idiot around? So far, so good.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatus
- Every new story about Perry proves he is not ready for prime time, not only is he too stupid to do well in a debate, he didn't have enough sense as Governor of Texas to not allow this type of situation to be associated with him. Anyone who sends money to Perry is throwing valuable political dollars down a rat hole which could be used to beat Obama in 2012. If Perry is the Republican nominee Obama will probably win because Perry is too stupid to beat Obama in a debate despite the fact Obama doesn't have a legitmate leg to stand on as to why he should be re-elected.— Speak-truth-2-power
- The President is taking it on the chin...Team Obama turn the smear machine up a notch to take some of the heat off him !— Barking Dog 61
- Why was the camp called N-head to begin with?— Mr. Smith
- It's a cultural thing. — whatwhat
- Teleprompter Barry
Why are so many are surprised at the liar-in-chiefs actions?
These morons voted for this liar who hid his records completely.
These morons voted for this liar who lied about his history.
These morons voted for this liar who lied about his socialism.
These morons voted for this liar who lied about the Constitution
Now the morons see the liar-in-chief as he is.— WallyT - You forgot that he's a Kenyan Muslim who hates white people, freedom, apple pie, and kittens. — whatwhat
- At least Perry didn't throw his grandmother, "a typical white person", under the bus.— gxel
Finding fault in a offensive "rock" on his father's property is a non-issue. If Obama's father being a devout Muslim and Rev. Wright being his mentor wasn't deemed important to the masses, this shouldn't be either.— dogman5- I love reading these post. It's good to see the lame excuses Republicans are coming up with. I think they about used up the excuses for there racist views. LoL— alotatea
so the Repubs can attack Obama for years on made up BS- less than a year ago the Donald was going to prove he wasn't born here, remember - yet they get all up in arms about this story, which is a true story, no one is saying it is not true.
The bottom line is You can't play slander politics one day and then scream "foul" when the tables turn.
Live by the sword, die by the sword.- Comment removed.
- I've been salivating with anticipation for the justification from the right white. I'm a little let down that it's just a racist rock... as they say,the most obvious explantion is usually the truth.— bx11
- Comment removed.
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
