This is an obvious case of projection. The Weekly Standard:

"One of the things about Herman Cain is, I think that he makes that white Republican base of the party feel okay, feel like they are not racist because they can like this guy," Finney said. "I think he giving that base a free pass. And I think they like him because they think he's a black man who knows his place. I know that's harsh, but that's how it sure seems to me."

"Thank you for spelling that out," Bashir responded.

This isn't the first time liberals have made this kind of charge about Cain and his supporters. During an online production of NBC's Meet the Press this week, Democratic congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland said white voters support Cain to show they aren't racist. "I think when [members of the Tea Party] can vote for a Herman Cain and hear him say the things that he says they feel like, 'Well, you know, I can, I support this guy and...so it shows that I'm not racist and I'm supportive,'" Cummings told host David Gregory.

Liberal comedienne Janeane Garafalo told Current TV host Keith Olbermann earlier this month that Cain is popular with Republicans because it "hides the racist element" of the party.

The irony is that the left is channeling their own feelings about Obama from 2008. Perhaps they think the only way anyone can vote for a black man for president is if it makes them feel superior to those who vote for a white man.

They have no clue that racial politics - the kind practiced by liberals both white and black - is pretty much unknown on the right. Cain has earned his place as a front runner based on what he stands for and what he has said, not his skin color. This is obviously driving liberals nuts and has them casting about for reasons they are already familiar with.

What a shallow, myopic view these liberals have of their opponents, and of people of color.