[Vanity] Stop the Herman Cain for President nonsense

EEE | 17 MAY 2011 | EEE

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I'd never thought I'd see the day when conservatives fully embrace affirmative action. The myopic and destructive support for Cain for President is TOTALLY based on the simple fact that he's an articulate black man and self-made businessman, so conservatives can say, "See! See! We're not racists, we love black guys too!" But so was bland boring white guy John Cox, a businessman who ran for President in 2008, also without having zero experience in elective office. So where was the support for him?

Please spare me the inevitable BS about how you'd rather support a businessman (or use the old pick names out of the telephone analogy) than "career politicians." I am not talking about lifelong bureaucrats serving in departments or agencies, I am clearly talking about elective office. Herman Cain has ZIPPO, NADA, ZERO experience in public office and the simple fact of the matter is that in the modern political era, the American people has overwhelmingly looked to state executives (Governors), retired or military Commanders, or Senators who still had some lower-level executive or business experience for President.

Now, if Cain would have won his Senate race in 2004 or at least had been Mayor of Atlanta and then won a Congressional seat and then ran for the Presidency, then this vanity post would be moot and I would be a likely supporter (although his age would have been an issue). I have no problems with Herman Cain, I admire his background, his intelligence, his business acumen, but right now to support him for the Presidency would be a huge mistake.

Number of factors why Cain shouldn't run and he if does, he shouldn't be supported:

AGE: Herman Cain is 65 years old. The GOP has a stable of younger, more dynamic stars on the rise that refutes the narrative that they're not the same-old party of old guys. It's time for a new generation of leaders, and Cain was needed 10 years ago.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: No businessman, Congresscritter, and only 2 Senators in the modern era have ever won the White House. It is EXTREMELY (no pun intended) difficult for a businessman off the streets to run for President because the perception is that the American people have always supported someone who at least won elective office first. Herman Cain has never held elective office and that makes him a non-starter.

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: Look, let's get serious folks. Herman Cain is not photo-genic, and you know what I mean. The liberal media and entertainment industry will reduce him to a caricature and completely ignore the issues, all the while spotlighting the youthfulness of Obama.

Herman Cain is not electable folks. That's not to say he doesn't have a role in the election. He should surely be a spokesman for the GOP or serve on some type of conservative outreach panel talking to inner-city blacks about how destructive liberal policies are, or he should have even been GOP Chairman instead of the disastrous Steele. All Cain will do is split the conservative vote and we get another RINO for the GOP nominee.

[Brookhaven]

A guy like Cain though, they will completely savage to the point where there won't be anything left even for turkey vultures. Oh, they won't do it outright. They'll have so-called black "leaders" like Jackson and Sharpton and other black intelligentsia speak on their behalf. They'll have black liberal entertainers call Cain an Oreo or a "sellout." And they'll mock his looks and mannerisms.

It won't work; there's too much depth to Herman Cain--he's no lightweight. Besides, you can't win a fight if you're too scared to fight it. And that sounds like the case you're making, we should be scared to even fight this fight. Sorry, but to me that has been one of the core problems with the GOP--they have allowed themselves to be beaten over the head by "politically correct" rhetoric, because they are afraid of it. So they run away from it (which gurantees they lose everytime). It's time we take on the PC crowd head on.

The other candidates simply can't and will melt.

Cain won't melt. This is a guy who knows who he is, what he believes, why he believes it, and is confident about all of it. And that brings us to the one thing that Herman Cain has that is missing from the other GOP candidates: vision.

Herman Cain brings a vision of America--its values, people, and future--a vision that comes across in his statements and how he has lived his life. That, imho, is the reason he got such a huge response at the SC debate. The American people are yearning for someone with vision--an American vision. That was the secret of Reagan's success, and I believe it will be the secret of Cain's as well.

[txhurl]

Amazing, isn’t it.

I need a damn bumper sticker for my truck THIS YEAR and Cain is askin me to put his there and I am overjoyed to do it.

[caww]

Not playing this nonsense.

[Brookhaven]

Conservatives are already mobilized and just waiting for her to declare.

They are ready, but they are NOT mobililzed.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Cain has just as much right to run for president as any RINO blue blood, career politician or you and I have. After all, that's what the "PRIMARIES" are for aren't they?

Those RINO bluebloods still had elective office experience. Even Romney was a Governor.

Or is this simply about a "black guy" as you brought out in a previous post?

No, it's simply about the hypocritical nature of FReepers to tout black conservatives who have zero experience in public office for President. Alan Keyes, Condi Rice, Colin Powell, and now Herman Cain couldn't win an office if it was a game at a summer carnival.

[caww]

By the way... walk ten seconds in my shoes...you'd be singing a different tune. Most people who know about me live and in person are congratulatory. Be careful who you determine the need to correct..... Some fools do rush in.

[widdle_wabbit]

I posted a video. Wrong one?

Don’t you dare call it nonsense, caww.

Here is Cain telling Clinton his numbers don’t add up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WP5dYfBBzU

[rob777]

"A guy like Cain cannot sell limited government and less spending to Congress & the people than say a Sarah Palin."


I may agree with the lack of experience argument, but I strongly disagree with the above argument. Cain, in my opinion, is the person most likely to be able to sell the limited government argument to the American people. His rise to success from humble origins is the classic American success story. That kind of thing still resonates with a large number of Americans. He has the positive hopeful approach that Ronald Reagan had, while too many other conservatives come off as perpetually pissed off. He also combines the charismatic speaking ability of a Baptist preacher and a down to earth style with a sharp intellect. After having his formal training in Mathematics and Computer Science, he moved into the less technical area of food service management. This shows a great deal of flexibility. I would like to see him run even if it is simply to inject his can do spirit and optimism into the primary debates.

[caww]

I do, and dare, and I will call your game nonsense...for last time..am not playing.

[ri4dc]

RE> If Cain was white you’d call for the hook to remove him from the stage. I just call ‘em as I see it.

All YOU see is the color of someone’s skin, absent their accomplishments. You make a rather bold statement here about me without knowing me, pal. It is YOU who are trying to paint with broad strokes FReepers as fundamentally racist. It’s offensive to me, because I believe most FReepers are not racist. I am convinced beyond a shadow of doubt based solely on your posts here, however, that you are racist.

RE> If he’s running for a Senate or Congressional seat, that’s fine. But we’re talking about the Presidency here.

He’s not, he’s stated his intention to run for POTUS. Get over it.

RE> How many times have I said I would have no problem with Cain had he held prior office?

How many times do you need to be told that it’s irrelevant to many people?

RE> I would stay home and hunker down and prepare for what’s coming because none of the other candidates can take down Obama.

I understand that is your opinion. I don’t share it.
It’s folks who stayed home in 2008 who gave us this mess.
When your man RP got his butt handed to him in 2008, did you cry and stay home then?

RE> The John Cox analogy is totally valid here.

No, It’s bunk. I don’t CARE about John Cox. I care that the next POTUS turns this ship around. If John Cox wants to run, let him announce. Since he’s not, he is irrelevant to 2012.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

You're missing the point. I don't care that he, or anybody else, never held elected office.

I DO care. I want someone with a proven conservative record in government. Someone who got things done IN GOVERNMENT, not just the private sector. Lots of businessmen ran for office vowing to clean up Washington yet became the very creatures they ran against. Herb Kohl is a great example. He was a successful businessman, ran for the Senate, and became a total statist. I mean, name a bill he introduced?

Politicians have a centuries old history of sucking. Our country is in the crapper due to the experienced politicians we keep electing to office. If we really want to reduce the size and influence of government in our lives, why should we insist that we need somebody from the government to address the issue?!

In order to change government, you have to have someone who still worked in government and understood how it works. Nominating Cain won't change that except it'll only emboldened the RINOs and Rats (who'll join forces).

I have no problem with voting for somebody who has a proven record of success outside of politics. Somebody successful in business, the military, or other field of endeavor. No problem at all.

Well, Cain should have used that record of success in business at the local or state level. To make the leap to the Presidency is too egregious.

[widdle_wabbit]

I’ll back up, if you will watch the video just posted.

Either way, I apologize for any statements on my part which may have caused undue pain.

[so_real]

Herman Cain is an extremely strong advocate for the Fair Tax. If I were a single issue voter, that's the one that put him heads and tails above the others. If he were able to pull off the end of the IRS tax code in lieu of the Fair Tax, he would fundamentally transform government for the better. Certainly, there are things about Cain I don't like, ie. his position on government bailouts, but I I won't rule out voting for him in the same way I've ruled out voting for Romney. They are two very different candidates. I like Cain a lot. And it has nothing to do with his race, age, or experience. If he is the GOP nominee going head-to-head against Obama, voting for him is a no-brainer.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

All YOU see is the color of someone’s skin, absent their accomplishments.

Like I said, I just call them as I see them. If Cain was white, this would be a non-story.

You make a rather bold statement here about me without knowing me, pal. It is YOU who are trying to paint with broad strokes FReepers as fundamentally racist. It’s offensive to me, because I believe most FReepers are not racist. I am convinced beyond a shadow of doubt based solely on your posts here, however, that you are racist.

Yeah, I'm racist for simply pointing out that FReepers support Cain for President merely because he's black, which is true since he has zero elective office experience.

He’s not, he’s stated his intention to run for POTUS. Get over it.

Have fun supporting the eventual RINO nominee then, because I won't.

How many times do you need to be told that it’s irrelevant to many people?

Modern political history says otherwise.

I understand that is your opinion. I don’t share it. It’s folks who stayed home in 2008 who gave us this mess.

I agree with the folks who stayed home. McCain had no chance against Obama and his machine. I only voted for McCain because of Palin. Actually a McCain presidency would have been worst because there would be no Tea Party and the statist agenda would've continued.

When your man RP got his butt handed to him in 2008, did you cry and stay home then?

Not at all, because I was realistic about his chances. The beauty of Paul's run in 2008 was that he introduced some badly needed issues into the debate. Inflation, the Fed, the weak dollar...none of these would be prime issues had it not been for Paul.

[widdle_wabbit]

“MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: Look, let’s get serious folks. Herman Cain is not photo-genic, and you know what I mean”

No, I don’t.

I voted for McCain because of Palin. Doesn’t mean I will vote for her in 2012.

Times change circumstances. Cain may well be the best we have for opposing Obama. And you know what I mean? I know, its a stretch...

Your Vanity has problems because you suggested we are just being guilted into supporting an unelectable newcomer because of his skin color.

Drop it, already.

Stop with the egregious complaint. You run the risk of hurting your candidate of choice.

[widdle_wabbit]

“Yeah, I’m racist for simply pointing out that FReepers support Cain for President merely because he’s black, which is true since he has zero elective office experience.”

Again, you run the risk of hurting Palin with this Vanity.

People don’t like what you are saying.

You run the risk of hurting your candidate.

[ri4dc]

RE> Yeah, I’m racist for simply pointing out that FReepers support Cain for President merely because he’s black, which is true since he has zero elective office experience.

Sir, what you say here is insulting and this will be the LAST time I tell you this. The above statement is NOT true for me. I can’t speak for the rest of FR and neither should you. But you insist on speaking for me believing you know my motives when you clearly do NOT. I’ve listened to Cain and support his message and tactics and I believe he could mop the floor with Obama, period. His skin color has NOTHING to do with my opinions of him. If you continue to say otherwise you are simply lying.

[CommieCutter]

What’s amazing was when I started paying attention to Cain my first thought was the racist libs would call him our “token” or any other offensive label they could find. I had no idea I could come to the FR to find the same accusation.

[o2bfree]

Cain’s message won the GOP debate.

Cain’s delivery and charisma won the focus group hands down.

You have made a ridiculous claim about Cain’s support being because of his skin color. You sound like Woopee Goldberg no less!

[RichInOC]

A nice little chunk of our viewing audience was, and in some cases still is, ready to hand the nomination over to Donald Trump, who’s less than a year younger than Herman Cain, has even less political experience (electorally or otherwise), and...well...is even less photogenic.

Look, I’m a Palin guy. Cain’s one of my back-up short list. He’s got issues he needs to address to win, just like she does, just like everybody else in the field does. Let’s see what he’s got.