9353: Hunting For Political Ammo.

From The New York Daily News…

Rick Perry slams report on Texas hunting camp’s racist name; Herman Cain calls it ‘insensitive’

By Alison Gendar, Daily News Staff Writer

Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign is on the defensive, saying parts of a report about a Texas hunting camp he used — once known as ‘N*****head” — had “incorrect” and “inconsistent” claims.

The damning front-page Washington Post article said in the early years of his political career, Perry hosted fellow lawmakers and supporters at the West Texas hunting camp his family rented. At the front of the gated entrance was a large flat rock that had the name “N*****head” painted across it in block letters.

The offensive name was eventually painted over. But just when and under what prompting, was unclear, the article stated.

“Perry’s father painted over offensive language on a rock soon after leasing the 1,000-acre parcel in the early 1980s,” Ray Sullivan, communication director for RickPerry.org, told Politico this morning.

“When Governor Perry was party to the hunting lease from 1997 to 2007, the property was described as northern pasture. He has not been to the property since 2006,” Sullivan’s statement said.

“A number of claims made in the story are incorrect, inconsistent, and anonymous, including the implication that Rick Perry brought groups to the lease when the word on the rock was still visible. The one consistent fact in the story is that the word on a rock was painted over and obscured many years ago,” Sullivan’s statement said.

“Governor Perry and his family never owned, controlled or managed the property referenced in the Washington Post story. The 42,000-acre ranch is owned by the Hendricks Home for Children, a West Texas charity,” the Statement said.

The furor was already being picked up by Perry’s opponents.

“My reaction is that is very insensitive,” said GOP contender Herman Cain said on ABC’s “This Week.”

“Since Gov. Perry has been going there for years to hunt, I think that it shows a lack of sensitivity for a long time of not taking that word off that rock and renaming the place. It’s just basically a case of insensitivity,” Cain told “This Week’s” Christiane Amanpour.

“It was painted over,” Amanpour pointed out.

“Yes. It was painted over. But how long ago was it painted over? So I’m saying that it is a sign of insensitivity,” said Cain whose latest tally in the Florida straw poll has the former businessman ahead of Perry.