The former Godfather’s Pizza CEO and 2012 GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain has doubled down on his controversial Muslim comments he made earlier this year saying he would require proof of loyalty to the U.S. Constitution for Muslims to serve in his potential administration.
On Glenn Beck’s Wednesday Fox News Channel program, Cain reiterated his point and he didn’t back down from his prior stance.
“The exact language was when I was asked, ‘Would you be comfortable with a Muslim in your cabinet?’ and I said no,” Cain said. “I would not be comfortable. I didn’t say I wouldn’t appoint one because if they can prove to me they are putting the Constitution of the United States first, they would be a candidate just like everybody else. My entire career I hired good people, great people, regardless of their religious orientation.”
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That prompted host Glenn Beck to ask exactly what and of whom he would require proof that they were putting the Constitution first, which Cain made it plain it would be only Muslims:
BECK: So wait a minute, are you saying that Muslims have to prove, there has to be a loyalty proof?
CAIN: Yes, to the Constitution of the United States of America.
BECK: Well, would you do that to a Catholic or a Mormon?
CAIN: No, I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t because there is a greater dangerous part of the Muslim faith than there is in these other religions. I know there are some Muslims who talk about but we’re a peaceful religion. I’m sure that there are some peace-loving.
Cain said he had no doubt there were peaceful Muslims. However, he said his motivation came from a post-9/11 speech from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I know some of them, too – I absolutely do,” Cain said. “So this isn’t casting a label on all Muslims. When that guy asked me that question in the middle of a rapid fire Q & A session in Iowa, it came out of nowhere, number one. Let me tell you what is in the back of what I thought of, which is why I answered the way I did. I heard [Israeli] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu give a speech a few months after 9/11, 2001. I will never forget what he said in the speech. So that is my point of reference. Number one – terrorism is going to last a long time. He said this is what Americans have to learn. He said number two – they want to kill all of you. No question. That wasn’t great. That was real clear.”