'Rabbit' Shot in Controversial Herman Cain Ad

The Cain Train derailed off the campaign trail months ago, but the former Godfather's Pizza CEO's still putting out ads.

(Image source: CainConnections )   BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN   The Cain Train derailed off the campaign trail months ago — but the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO’s still putting out ads. His latest — has critics hopping mad. “This is small business (pets a bunny). This is small business under the current tax code (fake bunny gets shot).” The ad promotes Cain’s website — sickofstimulus.com — which right now — is just a forum for the project’s video ads. The group says its aim is to get “solutions, not more stimulus” from leaders in Washington. But the ad campaign itself could be distracting from the message. Take a look at the last one — released in February. “This is the economy. … This is the economy on stimulus. Any questions?” HuffPost’s Max Rosenthal calls the latest ad “disturbing,” saying: “No household pet, it seems, is safe from Herman Cain.” — While Buzzfeed calls the ad Cain’s “best/worst video yet.” Supporters got an email from Cain’s camp Monday alerting them to the new video — But by early Monday afternoon — media outlets were reporting the video had been taken down from YouTube — suggesting the ad violates YouTube policy. To which Cain tweeted — “This is free speech …. I have some questions!” But the ad was back up late Monday afternoon. As for the message — ABC’s Amy Walter suggests there really isn’t much of one. “...the Sick of Stimulus website is light on details. There’s no mission statement. No policy papers. Just lots of videos featuring cute kids complicit in the ‘killing’ of innocent animals.” But The Houston Chronicle’s Loren Steffy says there IS a message — he just doesn’t know what it is. “...what are we supposed to make of this? Small business is like a tiny bunny...? …  Is Cain saying that the current tax code kills small businesses? If so, that’s a bit of a stretch since millions are still in business.” Of course — according to the SickofStimulus website — no rabbits were actually harmed in the making of the ad.