Herman Cain for President?

October 6, 2011 | Filed under 2012 Presidential Race | Posted by

The American Spectator has published an opinion piece by Aaron Goldstein titled “Nine Reasons Why Republicans Ought to Nominate Herman Cain” .

I will not quote the explanations that Goldstein gives for his reasons, but here are the reasons that he gives for supporting Herman Cain.

1. He [Herman Cain] has no sense of entitlement.
2. He worked at Burger King.
3. He has never held elected office.
4. He is a mathematician.
5. He was a CEO.
6. He is the adult in the room.
7. He would make liberal charges of racism look really, really stupid.
8. The content of his character.
9. 9-9-9

At this point in time, I do not see any downside to nominating Mr. Cain. However, it is still too early for me to tell if he is the best Republican candidate.

What do you Republicans see as the pros and cons of Cain being nominated?

If you are not a Republican, but could vote in a Republican primary, then would you vote for Cain?

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Posted by on October 6, 2011.
Filed under 2012 Presidential Race.
A refugee from Planet Melmac masquerading as a human. Loves cats*. In fair condition. A fixer-upper. Warranty still good. Not necessarily sane.[*Joke in reference to the TV sit-com "Alf", which featured a space alien who liked to eat cats. Disclaimer: No cats were harmed in the writing and posting of this profile.]

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  • Anonymous

    I’ve spent a lifetime learning to judge folks from what they say, how they act, and what they do.  The latter has always held the most weight.  As a registered ‘Independent’ I’d vote for Mr. Cain in a heartbeat and without any reservations… he has the potential to be a great President.

    Semper Fidelis -

    • http://www.rustedsky.net Anonymous

      Talk is cheap.  Obama was great with the speeches – but his actions have been catastrophic.

      Vote for Cain?  Yes.  HE, at least, knows that deficit spending kills a business.  He’s also a proponent of the FairTax, which raises him a notch or two in my book.

      • Anonymous

        Yes it is… but words mean things.  More to the point, do those words make sense in context of what he has said and done before?  

        Anyone who can analyze a failing business, by going into all its parts and working them from the bottom up – and then taking charge and turning it around, is a very keen and insightful leader.  They know what works; but just as important, they are also able to find out what isn’t working… and change it.  Successful business leaders do this every day in America.

        The other key to leadership is being able to inspire and motivate.  CEOs know that they set the tone, ethics, and parameters of the box in regards to the culture of the business, but its actually the employees who do the the real leg work.  One can only know this if one has actually been the yeoman, and worn their shoes – working themselves up in the business through each level, taking on higher and higher responsibility.  Mr. Cain has done this multiple times and in multiple businesses.  

        Look, smart guys acknowledge what they don’t know.  Mr. Cain is one smart guy.  As President, he will surround himself with advisors who have business experience, integrity, and an actual record of demonstrated performance.  Not brown nosing ass-kissers, or those who hold papers in academic theory… he has already seen what happens when they get some power and authority – its the same old disaster he’s seen before in multiple business failures.  

        So yeah, unlike the incompetents we have running the country now, I think Cain and the team he assembles would be a real breath of fresh air, and bring much needed reform and change to the purpose, practices, and functionality of our country’s government.  

        Semper Fidelis-

  • Anonymous

    I am a strong fiscal conservative, leaning libertarian on most social issues and therefore not a Republican. 

    Of the declared Republican candidates I like Cain the best.  The primary pro is that he has more real world business experience than the rest of the candidates excluding Romney* put together and I think he would bring a new perspective to the job.   The primary con on Cain is that it is not clear that he would be able to function effectively as a president as he would be used to a top down business structure and the president has great power but far less direct authority than a CEO does.

    *Romney has real world experience, but unlike Cain has learned the wrong lessons.  His head in the sand stance on Social Security and apparent belief that Romney care was a good idea are deal breakers for me.   IMHO Romney will only be a small incremental improvement from Obama and we need a radical break back to sanity.  Will I vote for Romney over Obama?  Sadly if by some disaster Indiana is even remotely in play, my ballot will go for Romney as a vote against Obama.   If as I suspect the 0.5% Obama majority from 2008 will dissolve into a solid Anybody But Obama state in 2012, then in the case of Romney vs Obama I will either vote Libertarian or write in Chthulu/Dagon as a protest vote against voting for the lesser evil.

    • Anonymous

      The problem with voting for Romney is that you have no idea which Romney you’re getting.

      At least Perry has some personal authenticity, even when he’s bullshitting.

      • retired.military

        Both of them are still immenently more qualified than Obama.

        • http://www.rustedsky.net Anonymous

          So’s the average concrete block. A concrete block wouldn’t try to pass Obamacare, shove out lots of money to its cronies, and generally attempt to FUBAR the economy.

  • Anonymous

    Too much sugar in the sauce at Godfather’s Pizza.

    • retired.military

      Chico
      Should we now call  you racist since by the democrat defintion of the word you are exhibiting racist characteristics (those being you are opposed to someone who is black)?

  • Guest

    “At this point in time, I do not see any downside to nominating Mr. Cain.”Other than the fact that he’ll never win the election, I can’t think of a downside either.I say “Let’s nominate Herman Cain”!

    • retired.military

      Bob
      I think the dems actually fear Cain.   He gives an alternative to Obama for those who simply voted for Obama because he was black.  If the dems lose 15% of the African American vote they would not even come close to winning in 2012.

    • http://2011.ak4mc.us/ McGehee

      Racist.

    • http://www.wizbangblog.com David Robertson

      Bob, just why do you think that Herman Cain would lose in a general election?

    • Anonymous

      racist.

    • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/EU5DQWQTTHTPO4A4ZYSL3AAV2U Adjoran

      Dirty racist hippy.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_G7YIUZMXOD5JGZZTCYMVA75KFU Shadow

    Saw this slogan on Twitter yesterday and thought it was catchy.  “Beat Obama with a Cain!”

  • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

    Herman Cain passes the ABO test, and it seems that spongebobracepants doesn’t much like him, which is yet another plus.

  • Boyd Garrett

    While Mr Cain’s economic bona fides are top notch, and his proposed economic policies have merit and far outstrip anything our current President (or any of the other GOP candidates, for that matter) has to offer, I’m very concerned about Mr Cain’s foreign policy abilities, knowledge and attitudes. For instance, his comments on Muslims can only be described as bizarre, and he just doesn’t seem to have thought much (as opposed to embracing his emotions) about foreign policy.

    I wish he was a bit more seasoned in Presidential politics, because with a more complete and well-rounded political package, he could have been a fantastic contender against Obama. Sadly, though, he’s not ready for prime time, won’t get the Republican nomination, and even if he did, I believe he would still manage to lose the general election even if the economy tanks even worse.

    I don’t like it, but that’s the way I see it.

    • http://www.rustedsky.net Anonymous

      Of course, comparing Obama’s pre-election record to Cain’s…

      No contest.  Cain would have been the winner.

  • Anonymous

    Although he’s changed  a bit since he met with American Muslim leaders, I find Cain’s early stance on Muslims in his administration troubling.  I also find him eithe rmistakin or opportunistic in his decision to align himself with the sharia alarmists.

    Additionally, his hypocrisy on the Constitution is breathtaking.  He lectures others to “reread the Constituion,” but does not realize that 1) the Constitution is silent on “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and 2) the Constitution does envisage a federal role in bankruptcy law.

    Cain may be more charismatic than Romney and more eloquent than Rick Perry, but that doesn’t mean that he is more qualified to be president. 

    • Guest

      But he’s black — and this way, by pretending to support Cain, racists can pretend to not be racist.

      They know he’ll never get the nomination, and this way theycan all “pretend”….

      • Boyd Garrett

        Very true, Bob. Unfortunately for your premise, though, the actual numbers of people in that category are indescribably small.

        There are other notes on the piano besides the one labeled “Republicans are racists,” Bob. You should try playing some of the other ones, especially since that one is so out of tune.

      • Anonymous

        Isn’t that about enough out of rancid-pants?? They can all pretend to what end? What is the payoff? What the hell are you talking about?

        • Anonymous

          He’s an idiot he wouldn’t know a racists if one hit him in the mouth. He could get to know one if he could bear to look at himself in the mirror.

      • Anonymous

        What Boyd said.  To explain Cain’s popularity, I’m banging on the “He’s not Romney” key.

      • retired.military

        Again Spongebob adds nothing to the conversation.  The race card is a dead horse (except in his own mind).  Stop beating it.

        Olaf
        Olaf
        Olaf

      • Anonymous

        The “logic” of a liberal:  Republicans don’t support Obumble because they are racist. Republicans support Cain because they are racist.

      • Anonymous

        Once again confusing us with your own liberal brethren. Where we look inside a person to find what makes them a good candidate to select you look at what is on the surface and elect an empty suit such as the current SCOAMF.

      • retired.military

        “But he’s black”

        And what does that have to do with the price of tea in China.  It seems that that fact only matters to liberal haters like yourself.

        • Bob Armstrong

          It matters to enough GOP voters to keep this guy from winning the election.

          • retired.military

            So say you.  But then you said that Palin would run.
            As I said above. If republicans got 15% of the African American vote than the dems wouldnt stand a chance in hell of winning. Republicans want to get Obama out of there so bad they will vote for Romney to do it.

          • Guest

            And I think any votes that Cain picks up will be offset by those on the right who will stay at home rather than vote for a black man.

          • retired.military

            Once again Spongebob.  This is your speculation only.  We have already seen that your speculations have absolutely nothing to do with reality.

            Where as there are some on the right who are truly racist the true racists  on the left outnumber them by a great degree.   Yet Obama still won.  Go figure. 
            Throw the independents and they will more than outnumber the handful of people Cain will lose votes to due to his race.
             

          • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

            @google-25c689c3bec20f6ad1dde4d8c964795d:disqus , that:

            And I think any votes that Cain picks up will be offset by those on the
            right who will stay at home rather than vote for a black man.

            Is just spongebobracepants projecting his own racism upon Republicans.

          • http://www.wizbangblog.com David Robertson

            And I think any votes that Cain picks up will be offset by those on the right who will stay at home rather than vote for a black man.

            As shocking as this may seem, I cannot completely disagree with Bob on this point. Although the Republican Party is not ruled by racists, there could still be some eldery racists who would normally vote for a Republican, but who would sit out a general presidential election featuring two black candidates.

            Then again, during the 2008 presidential election, there could have been some elderly white Democrats who chose not to vote because they didn’t want to vote for either a Republican or a black man.

          • http://www.rustedsky.net Anonymous

            There goes that projection again, Bob.  

            The thing is – we want someone who can actually adapt and respond to reality, instead of blindly pursuing an obsolete, fucked up ideology – demanding more and more money spent for less and less result.

            Color doesn’t matter – except to racists like you who can’t seem to consider the possibility that we MIGHT not see it as anything important.

          • retired.military

            So say you.  But then you said that Palin would run.
            As I said above. If republicans got 15% of the African American vote than the dems wouldnt stand a chance in hell of winning. Republicans want to get Obama out of there so bad they will vote for Romney to do it.

  • retired.military

    As stated above.  Cain falls in the category of ABO so he will get my vote if nominated.   As will Romney though I would have to hold my nose to vote for Romney I will gladly do so to get Obama out of there.   I would also vote for Cain in a primary especially against Romney and I think Cain is much more electable than Romney.

  • Anonymous

    I guess ABB is good enough for me..

    • Anonymous

      Bottom line is credentail’s don’t matter. Look at Barry. Has to be someone for less intrusive smaller government. Sure isn’t Romney. I don’t see the fast track to spending stopping anytime ever with these people. They don’t have to earn it and they sure as hell don’t have to pay it back.

      I guess ABB will have to do..

  • Anonymous

    I have liked Cain since the beginning of the race. He may be a little weak in foreign policy,but I think he has the best of the ideas for us domestically. Give him a good VP with a strong fp background and he should be a great package for the conservatives. After that last debate, I could see him with Newt as a VP.
    As for the muslim issue, I think he is fine in that area. We have a president that very been very open if not overly friendly to the muslims and look where that has gotten us. I would rather have someone that the muslims have to prove themselves to in office.

    • http://2011.ak4mc.us/ McGehee

      I think he has the best of the ideas for us domestically.

      That does put him one-up on Obama, and I think it also suggests he won’t make the foreign-policy mistakes Obama has made, starting with believing Biden would help him in that sphere.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EJGOSD7BRBBY4ZQQEUCFQU4GHU W

    One of Cain’s greatest strength is lack of experience in politics. Unfortunately that is also one of his greatest weaknesses. For example him thinking you can pass emergency spending and pay for it later. Logically that should be the way it works but Washington doesn’t work logically. Once spending is approved it will never be paid for but added to the deficit.
    I also have concern of a common mistake people make. They have good ideas about holding down spending and government prior to taking office. However once elected they get sob stories from about every group then end up trying to solve everyone’s problem.  When they try to solve everyone’s problem, cost booms and government booms.  They end up harming society instead of helping it.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EJGOSD7BRBBY4ZQQEUCFQU4GHU W

    The argument of this guy can’t win is lame. Most people see though it as really meaning “vote for my guy” or “he is a guy I hate”. That is the type of argument that leads to nothing but political insiders getting elected. “let’s vote for who can get elected not who is best qualified”. It is no wonder why we have such lame incompetent leaders we do.

  • Anonymous

    If Cain won the election we would get to enjoy at least 4 years of silence from Morgan Freeman and Jeanine Garofolo

    • retired.military

      Nope they will still go on about oreo, uncle tom and house n*gger.   Look at how Colin Powell and Condi Rice were treated.

    • Anonymous

      You give them too much credit.

    • http://www.rustedsky.net Anonymous

      She’s not a bad actress.  (Not stellar, but she’s been steadily employed.)  We’ve got to get off the idea that someone who immerses themselves in constructing fantasies has a good grasp of reality also…

      • retired.military

        Oh you mjean like Roseanne Barr.  I cant stand even looking at Jeanine or hearing her talk.

        • http://www.rustedsky.net Anonymous

          Well, she’s not my cup of tea either at this point, but after Mystery Men (she was good in that) and “The Truth About Cats And Dogs”, I give her credit for acting ability. 

          Politically?  Different matter completely.  I try to divorce politics from personality, or job performance.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/EU5DQWQTTHTPO4A4ZYSL3AAV2U Adjoran

    I like Cain, but he does need to remember that a President or candidate for that office can’t shoot from the lip like a CEO or Director of a private company.  He’s had muslim gaffes, and then saying he couldn’t support Rick Perry if he wins the nomination, apparently because Perry’s Dad didn’t paint over a rock he didn’t own in a remote rural place fast enough thirty years ago, one wonders.

    And “999″ may be catchy, but it doesn’t add up on calculators with the other nine digits and full functions.  In fact it explodes the deficit, and the only hope to avoid severe downgrades which would run our interest costs through the roof is the promise of an economic boom which does not match either economic history or take into account worldwide conditions.

    PLUS that’s not even really his plan, it is supposed to be a transitional phase to the Fair Tax, which doesn’t add up either.

    “999″ is catchy enough and simple to explain, but I’ve seen nothing that marks it as remotely sane policy.

    • http://www.rustedsky.net Anonymous

      What doesn’t add up to you about the FairTax proposal?  (WWW.Fairtax.Org)  Just curious, not trying to be confrontational or anything…

  • Bonnie_

    I’m a Reagan baby (cast my very first vote to elect Ronald Reagan) and I have always voted Republican, party line.  I’m very interested in Cain.  Let’s put a successful businessman in the White House and see where that takes us.  A socialist community organizer hasn’t done us any good.

    The Tea Party movement chose the Republican party as the place to start reforming politics.  Instead of trying to start a new political party the movement took over a dying one — the Republicans.  They could have chosen Democrats too, except the Democrat party has embraced leftism and is too far gone to come back.  The Republicans that the Tea party elected to Congress last time around aren’t the RINOS that we’ve suffered through before.  President Cain will have the willing support of a strong bench of principled conservatives, and he’ll have think tanks and law schools full of willing Constitutionalists on his side.  This is an exciting time in American political history.

    Unless we nominate Romney.

    • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

      @Bonnie:disqus ,

      Romney is certainly one of the least appealing of those seeking the Republican nomination.  However, he does pass the ABO test, and thus –should he win the nomination– he will get my vote in the general election.

      By all means let’s move the candidates of our choice through the nomination process.  But once that is over, and it’s time for the General Election it becomes a binary choice set.

      Vote ABO!

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VZWMBJM7ATP5HWJG23SJWT3JKI San Diego Steve

        Romney would lose to Obama because he, Romney, is duplicitous and dull as dishwater.  He represents the worst of the old RINO “appeal to everybody” attitude – always a loser.  Cain has energized the Republican race and he gets my vote!  Also, he is the Dems worst nightmare!  All conservatives should be supporting Cain right now because he will beat Obama, and, with a little luck, save our country.

        • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

          @yahoo-VZWMBJM7ATP5HWJG23SJWT3JKI:disqus ,

          Right now 0bama has to run against his own record, which is far more duplicitous than Romney’s.  As I said above, I count Romney as one of the least appealing candidates in the Republican field.  But, should he win the nomination, he will indeed get my vote for President because he passes the ABO test.