Herman Cain says people bothered by some of the language he uses need to "get a life."

In an interview with People magazine, the GOP presidential hopeful was asked about whether the language he uses plays into racial stereotypes.

"My response is: Get a life! I know that's not politically correct, but I didn't go to political correctness school," Cain told People for a story that will hit newsstands Friday.

Some background: The New York Times said in a recent story that some academics say Cain is using "age-old stereotypes" and "playing off black cliches," such as when he writes in his memoir that he wants his Secret Service code name to be "Cornbread."

Cain, former CEO of Godfather's Pizza, is atop recent public opinion polls on the GOP nomination, so it's not surprising that he's being featured in People.

The candidate touched upon his battle with cancer, his ode to pizza to the tune of Imagine by John Lennon, and who should play him in a movie, according to the excerpts provided by the magazine.

The answer to that last question, Cain says, is that actor has yet to be discovered.

"Therein lies the difference between me and the other candidates," he says. "I'm myself, totally original."