GOP Presidential candidate Herman Cain has released a 2 minute compilation of some of the most horrific and disturbing imagery from 9/11. The YouTube description says:

Republican presidential Herman Cain pays tribute to the fallen of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 as he sings, "God Bless America."



And, of course it ends with "Herman Cain President 2012."

It's unclear what any of this has to do with his campaign. Also unclear is if horrific graphic images of death and destruction is the best way to "pay tribute" to the occaision of the anniversary. Most of us who were actually there to watch it transpire feel once was enough, thank you. There are tasteful, sensitive ways to mark the anniversary and this ain't it.

I suppose he just is seizing the moment to get his name in the headlines. And yes, I recognize by posting it, I'm helping. But one of the many YouTube comments that call this shameful and disgusting pretty well sums it up:

ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL POLITICIZING 9/11! DID YOU USE CAMPAING DONATIONS FOR THIS HORROR? Johnson﻿ used to have America's worst campaign ad ever, called "Daisy," which uses fear of the bomb. Cain uses an American tragedy! Congrats, Cain you now have the honors of the worst, most shameful ad ever!

It hasn't been well-received at YouTube, collecting 259 likes and 490 dislikes.

David Badash over at the New Civil Right Movement blog asks if it's Most Offensive Use of 9/11 Ever?

So the idea that Cain would position himself as a savior, or as someone who rescued America, hell, that Cain would dare associate 9/​11 with himself and his campaign flies in the face of anything decent. And that he would sing, “God Bless America,” with images of one of our nation’s most-​tragic events, is beyond the pale.

Salon’s Alex Pareene calls the ad a “monstrosity,” and adds, “I guess Cain can now brag that he’s a former pizza magnate and crass exploiter of tragedies for political gain.” Chris Moody at The Ticket at Yahoo News adds, “A campaign spokeswoman said Cain recorded the song in one take.”

Badash ends with "Shame on you Mr. Cain. Shame."

I agree. We New Yorkers are sick of GOP crocodile tears over our tragedy. This is the same crew that had be called on the national carpet by Jon Stewart to vote for the 9/11 First Responders bill, so the heroes of that day could actually get some medical care for their lasting health issues.

I couldn't help noticing one of the more disturbing images he exploits is beloved Father Mychal Judge's body being carried from the site (0:40). Judge was a Roman Catholic priest of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, Chaplain of the Fire Department of New York, and the first certified fatality of the September 11, 2001 attacks. He was beloved by the Firemen he dedicated his life to ministering. The FDNY loved and respected him despite the fact Judge was also an openly gay man.

In life, Judge would probably be too kind and evolved to remark on the monstrous hypocrisy of a big old homophobe like Herman Cain exploiting his death for callous gain.

But I'm not. Cain is disgusting craven fool who would exploit a dead gay man's heroic death for his own purposes and deny a living gay person basic civil rights and human dignity. I'm just glad there's ZERO chance this fool will win.