Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, and More Sunday Talk

Cain Won’t Be ‘Theologian-in-Chief’

Here’s a way to avoid controversy: In the wake of Pastor Robert Jeffress calling Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith a “cult,” Herman Cain refused to analyze Romney’s religion on State of the Union. “He is a Mormon. That much I know. I am not going to do an analysis of Mormonism vs. Christianity for the sake of answering that,” he said. But one religion Cain isn’t hesitant to analyze is Islam. Speaking about his comments that the religion could “infuse” U.S. laws, Cain said he has “nothing against peaceful Muslims. Jihadists and extremists are the ones that I’m careful not to infiltrate my cabinet.”

Santorum: ‘Being Black and Being Gay’ Are Different

Them’s fightin’ words: On Fox News Sunday, 2012 hopeful Rick Santorum sparred with host Chris Wallace over gays serving in the military, at one point calling homosexuality a “behavioral issue” and not biological, like race. Wallace challenged the former Pennsylvania senator with a 1941 quote from Col. Eugene Householder that was once used to justify discrimination against African Americans in the military—a quote which Santorum agreed with in the case of LGBT soldiers. “We’re talking about people who are, you know, simply different because of the color of their skin, not because of activities that would cause problems for people living in those close quarters,” Santorum said.

Bachmann: Religion Is ‘Inconsequential’

Is religion “inconsequential” on the campaign trail? Michele Bachmann seems to think so. On State of the Union, the 2012 hopeful called it “ridiculous” that so much attention has been focused on Pastor Robert Jeffress's comments about Romney’s religion. “We have religious tolerance in this country and we understand that people have different views on their faith,” she said. She added that she doesn’t believe she’s been judged on her “sincerely held” religious beliefs, but rather her plans to improve the economy.

Pelosi Supports Occupy Wall Street

On This Week, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi came out in support of the nationwide Occupy Wall Street protests, saying she backed the message to the “establishment” that “change has to happen.” In response to Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s remarks that he was “increasingly concerned” by the protests, the California congresswoman minced no words. “I didn’t hear him say anything when the Tea Party was out demonstrating—actually spitting on members of Congress right here in the capital—and he and his colleagues were putting signs in the windows encouraging them,” Pelosi said.

Gingrich: Class Warfare Caused Protests

Newt Gingrich has some interesting theories about the Occupy Wall Street protests. On Face the Nation, where he was joined by Herman Cain, the former House speaker said the outcry is the result of academic institutions destroying classic American ideals. “I regard the Wall Street protests as a natural outcome of a bad education system teaching them really dumb ideas,” he said. That and class warfare, which Gingrich said was another cause of the protests, of course.

Is Sarah Palin Over?

Now that the will-she-or-won’t-she waiting game has ended, why did the media keep speculating that the former vice-presidential contender would run? Talk radio host Bill Press said the real reason why Palin garnered so much attention was for entertainment value. “We have columns to write… I have three hours of talk radio to fill every day, right? We have TV shows to anchor and be guests on and Sarah Palin keeps it interesting,” the Toxic Talk author said on Reliable Sources. After all, as National Review blogger Robert Costa added, Palin did eat fried butter at the Iowa State Fair.

Emanuel: Obama ‘Hasn’t Lost the Fight’

President Obama had at least one Sunday talk guest in his corner. On Meet the Press, his former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel defended the president’s economic policies, praising him for long term—and frequently unpopular—solutions. “I often advised the president about doing the quick political thing…And he rejected the quick and political because it was in America’s interest,” the Chicago mayor said. As an example, Emanuel cited the success of the auto industry bailout. True to form, Emanuel added he gave the president “unfiltered” advice, naturally.