Iowa: Herman Cain says he'd hire a gay staffer;Host Bob Vander Plaats quickly changes the subject

Herman Cain with another one of
his very odd friends

Yesterday the Des Moines Register reported that after a speech in Pella, Iowa hosted by the Iowa Family Leader, Herman Cain told a blogger who asked whether he'd be opposed to appointing someone who is gay but qualified for a White House position:

"Nope, not at all. I wouldn't have a problem with that at all," he said as stragglers from the crowd listened in and Bob Vander Plaats, the president of the Family Leader, stood next to him.

"I just want people who - I want qualified," said Cain, 65, a former pizza chain chief executive who lives in suburban Atlanta. "I want them to basically believe in the Constitution of the United States of America, so, yep, I don't have a problem with appointing an openly gay person."

Standing next to Cain was Bob Vander Plaats, who campaigned to oust three Iowa Supreme Court justices after that body unanimously ruled to legalize same-sex marriage in 2009.

The Register reported that Vander Plaats didn't react to Cain's comment, but quickly changed the subject.