Posted on 05/16/2011 11:33:00 AM PDT by 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.
At this point in time, Herman Cain is near the top of my preferred candidate list. I could care less if he has not been part of the government. It may even be a positive over others who have been perverted by government.
With so many RINOs and a kook apparently in the running, it is refreshing to me to see a sane experienced professional conservative in the mix.
What? Keep doing the same thing over and over and expect a differnt result.
17 percent unemployment/underemployment, 14 percent on food stamps, deficits the eye can see, GDP growth less then population growth, inflation of food and fuel, these are not conventional times. Herman Cain has a good chance.
You claim Cain's supporters are looking at race then smugly state he should do race based spokesman work? Hypocrite much? Let's turn the tables on you:
She should surely be a spokeswoman for the GOP or serve on some type of conservative outreach panel talking to working moms about how destructive liberal policies are, or she should have even been GOP Chairman instead of the disastrous Steele.
If Palin looked like Madeleine Albright you she wouldn't get one thread a year on FreeRepublic.
Right. Forget Cain.
I don't support Paul anymore.
So we want to keep doing the same thing over and over (getting career politicians) and expect different results?
Strawman. I'm looking for someone who has a history of GETTING THINGS DONE - in elective office. Results. You cannot compare business experience with elective office experience, it's not the same level.
SO you’re a Newt supporter huh?
I say that Cain, like all the others, is a daisy if he does it. The presidency is there for the one with the intestinal fortitude to TAKE IT. It’s not given. I don’t think Cain has what it takes, but let the man talk. Let them all talk.
And I'm going to go out on a limb and bet you think Palin is?
I'm not talking about Cain's background. I said support for Cain for President is affirmative action because he has no elective office experience. FReepers are supporting him simply because he's black, period.
The Presidency is the highest office in the land. You've got to have some type of public office experience to run for the job. Like I said, if Cain would have won his Senate seat this conversation would be moot.
I’m not dis’ing Herman Cain. I like him.
My point was that support for a person does not necessarily translate into a votes.
I welcome all comers into the race. The more the merrier. Palin, Bachmann, Paul, Gingrich, Trump, Pawlenty, Daniels and anyone else who thinks they would want to run...except Willard Romney, he needs to sit down and STFU.
I don’t think Cain can win, but I don’t think he’s worth a vanity post against his candidacy’s getting FR attention.
1. No, I don’t think you are racist or accusing others here of “affirmative action.” (I DO agree that any black candidate enjoys a certain amount of inoculation against charges of racism, but that only goes so far. Just ask Clarence Thomas, right?) I agree that the double standard largely lies with the left, including the MSM.
2. I want people like Cain in the running, for awhile, to skewer business-ignorant politicians — hopefully mostly Dems! — and bring PRIVATE ENTERPRISE as an issue into the forefront. Sort of like how a John Bolton candidacy, although probably weak on economic issues, would help sharpen the focus on foreign and military policy.
Funny, you say it is a strawman to bring up 'keep electing career politicians' yet you then you want someone with history "in elective office". As for business experience, I'll argue it is exactly what we need. Business is accountable to keep their books in order, politicians aren't. Business is accountable to show results. Politicians aren't. Business succeed when they reduce expenses, maximize profits, and turn around successful products. Politicians are exactly opposite. The business model of government is to maximize expenses, have negative profits, and are rewarded when what they are selling fails.
I go back to the definition of insanity because that is exactly what I'm seeing.
I do see your Paultard roots are showing though. Tear down whomever isn't your preferred choice. What I see with most Cain supporters is they would be happy also with a Palin, Bachmann, West or many others and don't tear them down.
Series, this sounds like a trial balloon to see how many Cain supporters are here.
I would love a Cain Palin ticket or visa versa.
Cain fits in with all the sundry names that appear and then disappear in the primary. The GOP is being setup for either another McCain to rise from the dead or a new face who will suddenly emerge singing Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran, raise a pile of money and get acceptance from the press.
You mean like Obama? /s
I'm interested in Cain's business perspective but in no way to I think he's objectively electable.
I'm not asking for "experienced" or "career" politicians. I want someone who has at least served in some capacity in elective office, and no one has ever won the WH in the modern era without at least having been elected to a lower-level first. You guys clearly aren't getting it.
I like the fact that he has NOT been in office.
Yeah, and you don't know how he's going to handle the pressure of dealing with Rats and RINOs in Congress since he has no experience of doing so. Bottom line he'll fold like a cheap suit because the Presidency is not like a CEO.
It’s a selling point to me. I’m sick of corrupt politicians that talk a good game and do not do jack $hit once in office. It’s time for a change to something else.
Buddy, you have someone who has taken on corruption and her own party (Palin). All other candidates besides Palin ARE the status-quo.
All of the “experienced” folks are the ones that got us into this mess. They all seem to get there and only then care about getting theirs. With the nation and many states teetering on the precipice of what would be bankruptcy if allowed by law, why not the guy with experience bringing a company back from the same place? I know it was just a pizza chain, but it actually had a bottom line to adhere to, which is more than the govt can stake claim to. I will wait and see the rest of the field, and if Palin gets in I will have a hard choice myself to make, but Cain and Palin are worthy of that deliberation. Mitt and Newt are not.
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