Posted on 05/13/2011 6:20:11 PM PDT by radioone
GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain (GA) swung through Austin, Texas today fresh from his strong performance in the presidential debate in South Carolina a week ago. He spoke during breakfast to a capacity crowd from the Austin Economic Club. Cain’s speech ran about 25 minutes. He used no notes, and the closest teleprompter was a couple of blocks away at one of the local TV studios.
Mr. Cain speaks from memory and from his heart, so as he is quick to point out, he never delivers quite the same speech twice. The themes and issues will be consistent from speech to speech, but Cain’s is not a stump speech. The speech he delivered in Austin was equal parts CEO business lecture, motivational address, political stemwinder and Baptist sermon with jokes and personal anecdotes peppered throughout.
Cain hit all of the major issues, coming out strong for border security in this border state (“Instead of suing Arizona, they should have gotten a prize!”), hammering away at liberal politicians and policies (“The problem with liberals is, they can’t handle the facts!”), race (“I am black, but I happen to be an American first.”) and his conservatism (“I escaped the Democrat plantation and I’m not going back.”) Cain closed with a simple call to what makes him an optimist, and what makes him believe he can win, as well as what he tells his grandkids when they ask for his advice: “Believe in God, believe in yourself, and believe in the greatest country in the world, the United States of America.” The audience gave Cain an enthusiastic standing ovation after the speech, a rare reaction from a group that is used to hearing from everyone from sitting governors to former presidents and other major national political figures.
After the speech he held an improptu question and answer session with the local media, and more than held his own. As I tweeted during the speech, Cain combines his strong speaking style with his extensive experience atop national restaurant chains and the National Restaurant Association to deliver a message that’s serious, often hilarious, and very effective.
Herman Cain made light of his current status as “not a top tier candidate” but he may be the most gifted orator in the contest on either side of the aisle in the 2012 race, including the president. The South Carolina debate has clearly put the wind at his back in the short run. What remains to be seen is if he can sustain the momentum over the long haul of a competitive national primary.
I like this guy and he will get my vote in the primary.....but the question is......Is he black enough?
yes, I am being sarcastic.....
I had a phone call from the Dick Morris organization Thursday evening, “conducting a poll.” I think if I had stayed on the phone long enough with them they would eventually have gotten around to hitting me up for money.
Their first question was “who in the current field of Republicans most meets your requirements as a candidate for POTUS?” I said that my person is not currently in any office, but it is Sarah Palin. The guy on the phone kind of hem-hawed around like he desired me to come up with another name. So I cut him off and said:
“Let me save us both some time here! Sarah is my first choice; but there are two others who would probably be alright, too. They are Michelle Bachmann and Herman Cain. They are the only three that I know of who have the stones, the backbone and the principles that I consider Conservative! End of interview! Have a nice evening!” And I hung up the phone.
Good grief! How did I miss this? I would have loved to be there, and it was practically in my neighborhood...............
I like Herman Cain and think he is a breath of fresh air. Frankly, we need a business man that knows how to create jobs. He could have a VP or advisors who were politicians. Grey Eagle
That is why he is not going to make it.
think of the most boring middling candidate and that’s who we’ll have...Dole (God love him) and McCain...
the "enlightened" in this country are nothing but country club elitist...
> but the question is......Is he black enough?
Herman Cain is the descendant of slaves.
Barack Obama is the descendent of mohameddan slave traders.
Which one do you think is more “Black” in the American sense of the word?
Sorry, but I’m in the camp that doesn’t believe that Palin can win a general election. It’s not her fault, but living in Ohio, I don’t believe she can carry the state (speaking anecdotally, so take with a grain of salt). If you don’t carry Ohio, you’re doomed.
I’d rather see Cain bring aboard somebody with some foreign policy experience, like Patraeus. I like Bolton, but he’s too controversial.
Oooo! That will leave a mark! Obama cannot break wind without his teleprompter!
I heard him on KLBJ yesterday during the Todd and Don show, with Lisa Fritsch sitting in for one of them. She is a black female who left the plantation just like Herman Cain. He joked about being willing to debate obozo and not need a teleprompter, unlike obozo.
Same here. I heard the interview on KLBJ yesterday. Lisa was subbing and she really asked some good questions, and his answers were right on target.
I think Cain is my frontrunner now, unless Sarah turns her motor over.
He’s probably told Michelle that his little “Don’t get between Michelle and her tamales.” gaffe was due to someone sabotaging his teleprompter.
Either Herman or Allen West. I’ll take either one over the current resident in the white hut.
I’d take ‘em both, today.
No kidding. zero has to go in 2012.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.