Posted on 10/07/2011 8:43:16 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Today, the Susan B. Anthony list and National Organization for marriage released a joint scorecard for the Republican candidates for President at the annual Values Voters Summit. Ordinarily, a release like this carries few surprises, and in this election cycle so dominated by fiscal issues, a scorecard devoted to gay marriage and abortion is unlikely to carry the same weight it would have in the past. However, what may surprise those perusing the score card this time around is the fact that one candidate – the one widely interpreted as the most conservative in the race – actually falls to the Left of most of his peers on both issues.
That candidate is Herman Cain. According to the scorecard, Cain, who many have interpreted as a Huckabee-style populist outsider, looks more like Ross Perot when social issues are discussed. On abortion, Cain is one of only two candidates who have refused to sign the Susan B. Anthony’s pro-Life pledge, a pledge which asks candidates to “commit to key pro-Life goals if elected to the Presidency in 2012.” The other candidate who has refused to sign is (unsurprisingly) former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, whose record on abortion is famously confused. However, Cain still ends up to the Right of Romney in the aggregate on the issue, given that Romney is the only candidate to refuse to make it a priority to appoint pro-Life appointees to Executive Branch offices if elected.
It is on gay marriage where Cain takes more liberties. In fact, on gay marriage, he appears indistinguishable from Libertarian Rep. Ron Paul. Cain has refused to sign the Pro-Marriage Pledge, refused to support the so-called Federal Marriage Amendment, and has “Unknown stances” on every other issue the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) scores, other than defense of the Defense of Marriage Act, which every GOP candidate is on record supporting. In contrast, candidates like Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and even Mitt Romney have openly said “Yes” to every question asked by NOM.
Given that Cain is perceived as the conservative standard bearer who has eclipsed more socially conventional candidates like Rick Perry, this raises an important question: Is Cain actually conservative enough for his support base, or are social issues actually in their twilight years?
So has Romney.
But neither Romney or Cain would sign the pledge.
Neither one has ever "advanced" or signed a pro-life law.
FWIW, Cain apparently wants to promote gays in the military and wants to apologize for the fact that a couple of people in the audience booed a gay soldier who came out of the ship's closet at the last "debate". Cain apparently is really sensitive to the plight of gays and will obviously work very hard to ensure they have equal rights.
A real strong social conservative..... NOT.
Agreed. Plus, we all know how relentlessly Frum knocks himself trying to determine if the RINOs are socially conservative enough.
Oh wait...he doesn’t?
His hypocrisy is transparent.
Yep. I’ve lost a few freeper friends already in the Perry vs. Cain fight, sadly.
The point is that a president is supposed to go through the correcr channels to pr9omote his stands. He doesn’t present a bill to Congress. After onsideration, they present bills for his signature.
Cain has said he would appoint pro-life judges. Do you have a problem with that?
You take it that personally, huh?
Yes, that is sad.
His OWN words:
“I support right-to-life issues unequivocally and I adamantly support the first three aspects of the Susan B. Anthony pledge involving appointing pro-life judges, choosing pro-life cabinet members, and ending taxpayer-funded abortions.
However, the fourth requirement demands that I ‘advance’ the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. As president, I would sign it, but Congress must advance the legislation.
I have been a consistent and unwavering champion of pro life issues.
In no way does this singular instance of clarification denote an abandonment of the pro-life movement, but instead, is a testament to my respect for the balance of power and the role of the presidency.”
_________________
African American Businessman Spends 1M to Urge Blacks to Vote Pro-Life
http://www.lifenews.com/2006/09/13/nat-2583/
National Right to Life Conference Speech
http://hermancainissues.com/speeches/right-to-life-conference-speech-62411/
Herman Cain on Abortion
http://www.ontheissues.org/2012/Herman_Cain_Abortion.htm
2004 - Herman Cain blasts Roe v. Wade (Free Republic - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/1063707/posts
And Alveda King affirmed on Facebook that she knew and worked with Cain on Pro-life issues over the years and testifies that he is Prolife
Herman Cain: Defund Racist Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz
http://www.lifenews.com/2011/01/18/herman-cain-defund-racist-planned-parenthood-abortion-biz/
Yeah, I thought so, David is truly a bitter guy who advised Pres. Bush on his "compassionate conservatism" and loves moderate/liberal versions of "faith."
How won’t “sign a pledge.” Woopty woop.
Unless things change dramatically, I’ll be voting for Cain in the primary and in the general election.
I have heard somewhere the 999 gizmo was intended as a temporary bridge mechanism, only there till fair or flat tax could be implemented. Sorry for the sketchy facts. It was only something I saw in passing and I was focused on Palin and not paying much attention to Cain at the time.
More LIES.
On “the View” just this week Cain reaffirmed that he believes being gay “is a choice,” and that if elected President, he would reinstate “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the former ban on openly gay military service members.
As for the debate - Cain FIRST said that he did not think the audience was booing the fact that the guy was gay, but they were booing DADT. Then he went on to say we should support our soldiers.
Well, if that is his position, then he misunderstands the role of the Executive. Although the president cannot vote in Congress, the president can push legislation through congress. He can meet and confer with representatives and push whatever agenda he has. He can draft and submit legislation to congress for consideration.If Cain doesn't believe the president has the authority to "advance" legislation, then what good will he be as president??????? Who is going to "advance" the Cain agenda if not Cain?????
If that was his "excuse" for not signing the pro-life pledge, then I have to question his commitment to the pro-life cause
You are so right on the money, P-M.
I don't even buy the "change advance to support" stuff. The only reason that could have been presented was due to getting caught as squishy on life and wanting to pretend there was some issue there. I don't blame SBA for refusing to play his stupid little game.
Now we've got a mod running around changing other people's threads...not based on errors...but on the mods political sensitivities. And that on a very mild thread about Cain. Just a statement by SBA group why they think Cain is questionable.
This is JR's free republic, but is FR now officially siding with Cain? Are various mods allowed to side with their candidate of choice? If so, then out with it.
This statement from Cain reveals a PROFOUND ignorance of the Constitution and the role of the Executive.
If he actually believes that as president he cannot "advance" this legislation, then he has no business running for the office.
He frankly has some serious 'splainin' to do before he gets my vote.
I thought one of the major reason’s to vote for Perry was because he alone could knock out Romney?
If that is true and Cain can do it shouldn’t we at least consider Cain?
Also, wouldn’t Cain surging ahead of Romney kind of negate the argument that he is Veeping for Romney? haha
Kind of a twofer for Cain???
Just out of curiousity . . . have you ever checked the account status of this fellow you call “moder_ator?”
that is pure, unadulterated spin.
Every president "advances" legislation.
An example: Who proposed supply side economics and lobbied extensively (advanced) for tax cuts from rates that were enormously high?
Another example, who proposed an American Jobs Bill, and who is out advancing that cause?
Which president lobbied extensively for an attack on Iraq until he got a letter of authorization out of Congress?
Nobody’s perfect. We need to defeat Obama. We also need the most conservative candidate running who has a chance.
Right now, Perry’s performance in the debates was abyssmal. If he improves, things will change.
Its still a few months before those early bird primaries.
I want Obummer OUT and I want the most conservative elected - which at this point means almost ABR - Anybody But Romney.
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