Cain, in an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” continued to defend the ad, which features his campaign manager Mark Block taking a long drag from a cigarette – and said the ad was meant to be “informative.”
“This wasn’t intended to send any subliminal signal whatsoever,” he told Schieffer.
“It does – it sends a signal that it is cool to smoke,” suggested Schieffer.
“No, it does not,” Cain replied. “Mark Block smokes. That’s all that ad says. We have a lot of people in this country that smoke. But what I respect about Mark as a smoker, who is my chief of staff, he never smokes around me or smokes around anyone else. He goes outside.”
“He smokes on television!” said Schieffer.
“Well, he smokes on television. But that was no other subliminal message,” Cain said.
When asked if he thought the ad was meant to be “funny,” Cain said his campaign “didn’t know whether it would be funny to some people or whether they were going to ignore it or whatever the case may be.”
“It’s not funny to me – I am a cancer survivor, like you,” Schieffer said. “I had cancer that was smoking related. I don’t think it serves the country well – and this is an editorial opinion here – to be showing someone smoking a cigarette. You’re the frontrunner now. It seems to me as frontrunner you would have a responsibility not to take that kind of a tone in this campaign. I would suggest that perhaps as the frontrunner, you’d want to raise the level of the campaign.”
“We will do that, Bob,” Cain responded. “I do respect your objection to the ad. Probably about 30 percent of the feedback was very similar to yours. It was not intended to offend anyone. Being a cancer survivor myself, I am sensitive to that sort of thing.”
Today is the birthday of my best friend and the most beautiful person I know. Today is Carlye’s birthday.
There is so much to celebrate when I think of Carlye. Her laugh, her smile, her fortitude, her inspiration, her conviction – her life.
Carlye and husband David at their favorite place in the world
Happy happy birthday Carlye! I wanted to write something that would reflect her spirit and beauty, both inside and out. So, in my best attempt to write in the style of my favorite poet, Maya Angelou, here goes:
“Call Me Carlye”
Imagine a newborn, big-eyed, brown, baby girl Waiting to see her world. Waiting to receive a name. Let’s call her Fannie Mae, She’ll stay in this place.
No, let’s call her Bonnie Brown, She’ll never leave this town.
Then the universe had an aha! moment, and said, Carlye. Inspired by beautiful – beautiful woman, beautiful mind, And a spirit for life.
The town laughed and said it was sure This child was special, and sure to explore.
The universe whispered, Carlye. And a world leaned forward.
A grandmother, Mrs. Wilson, lifted her up To show her to God, And God said, I’m going to show you a road to your future.
And in a land named Texas she began to see herself. Someone said, What’s your name? She said, Carlye. And, what do you do? She said, I am being Carlye.
And then she stood tall. She saw no one higher than herself, And no one lower.
New York asked Carlye, “Come, by the shining river and the beautiful city Will you come here And share your gifts and talent, Carlye?”
She said, “Yes. And in doing so, I want to give voice to those in and around me, To the voiceless. To the quiet. To the less sure. Call me Carlye.”
Those around her began to know her and call her by her name. Carlye. And wherever she went, she created community. Carlye.
And she said, Yes.
Yes.
Everyone who sat by her had a place to be. Carlye.
And people listened to her For more years than were actually there. And she listened.
Seriously, who doesn’t want something a bit fun and sexy to remind them what day it is?
If you can’t make it to the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, this is the next best thing. The 2012 Chippendales calendar is out and available! Whoo-hoo! And don’t worry – the calendar is pretty PG-17. Just bare chested, sexy guys – of every type and flavor.
