Posted on 11/24/2011 2:39:23 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
So, it’s no secret that Herman Cain has experienced a jaw-dropping dip in the polls – and not because of the competition. We’re all familiar with the inexplicable statements and his take on controversial positions … several out of error, misinformation and/or misunderstanding of certain issues that a man running for president maybe ought to know. Political prognosticators are saying that his continuous flubs and gaffes are to blame for his falling from top spots in Republican polls more so than allegations that he sexually harassed and assaulted women in his past.
For a guy presumably wanting the title of Commander-in-Chief, the faux pas’ are serious and damaging enough for some to call into question his readiness for the job. Some of his excuses about being tired, for example, as the reason for delayed thoughts on President Obama’s handling of Libya during a recent interview, just won’t fly. After all, national security calls will very likely come in the middle of the night after very little sleep
But the flubs are just that – flubs. They should not be representative of Herman Cain’s intelligence – or lack of it. Whether caused by fatigue, failing to brush up on issues he’s not firm on or reluctant to give interviews, nothing Cain says should define his past and his brilliance as a highly educated scientist and business man.
Seriously. How many Americans have a bachelor degree in mathematics or a master’s degree in computer science? How many can use their knowledge of applied physics to study and analyze the motion of missiles or projectiles of all types and the conditions that influence motions of weapons on behalf of the United States Navy? That’s not knowledge you can pick up in trade school easily.
Dumb and Cain should not be in the same two sentences.
Admittedly, he is guilty of having a limited world view. And, perhaps, he should fraternize enough with people of all faiths to know that American Jews, Sikhs, Muslims, Catholics and Evangelical Christians all want the same thing: to work, raise their families and be good citizens.
Had he been more exposed to diverse friends, he may not have declared that he’d be uncomfortable having a Muslim in his hypothetical future Presidential cabinet.
Had he been exposed to more hard working immigrant Hispanic families that are just like his, he may not have been so quick to pander to the legions of Americans frustrated with the illegal immigration problem in the nation. He wouldn’t have joked about plans to build an electric shock fence on the Mexico-US border.
Had he traveled more and been more widely read in history and foreign policy, he might have told Christian Broadcast Network’s David Brody that he doesn’t knowing much about other nations including who the president of a fictional “Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan” is or might have known that China already has nuclear weapon capabilities.
All of these flubs and gaffes don’t prove that Herman Cain is dumb as some are claiming. All it reveals is that he may not have a firm grasp on certain topics and doesn’t have the media team or isn’t listening to his team well enough to bone up on areas he is unfamiliar with.
It may be helpful to note that expert campaigner Mitt Romney doesn’t do too many media interviews and will rarely speak impromptu or reply to a random reporter’s question yelled at him on the trail. He’s disciplined.
Granted, that is what makes many people hate the man: being so rehearsed, established, polished, controlled (a.k.a. boring) and robotic. It has kept Romney from getting caught in any gotcha moments, especially given he has a record and reputation of flip flopping. You can’t flip flop if you’re not talking. You can’t contradict yourself any more once you limit your speaking roles to the confines of an organized debate whilst you’ve gone over your talking points and know them like you know the freckles on your face.
But what Romney lacks as a candidate whom many Republicans are willing to embrace is what makes Cain so appealing. He is charming and likeable. Cain’s humility and folksiness, a similar trait which has garnered Sarah Palin many fans, have helped elevate him to where he is now.
He is the anti-arrogant intellectual. He has the quintessential bootstrap story. Cain, who once cleaned toilets and flipped burgers at Burger King, is prototypical all-American: anyone can rise to the top with strong work ethic and dedication. You cannot grow up in a household where your dad worked three jobs as a janitor, driver and barber to feed the family and not appreciate the value of hard work.
Black pundits have pontificated that perhaps Cain is ashamed of being Black or of selling out to “the man” especially after he went on CNN and said Blacks are brainwashed against Republicans.
But, he knows his Blackness very well. The man never said he wasn’t Black.
Cain once told a policy review team, “Because I am a Black American, I’ve had to perform better than my White counterparts. This is a personal standard that I’ve set for myself: I’ve got to perform a little better in order to get the same opportunity. I can’t just be as good; I’ve got to be better. It should not be this way, but it is.”
A man who still mentors young Black youth isn’t one people can say hates his people. Several of his critics haven’t volunteered at all for anyone, nor done much for their own people. Yet, they cast plenty of stones.
A man who once sat on a Congressional Economic Growth and Tax Reform Commission and promised that his industry would give welfare recipients jobs, training and a chance to gain economic success isn’t one who doesn’t want other Blacks to succeed and do well.
There are different types of “smart”: intelligent smart, street smarts, book smarts, job-readiness smart, quick-on-feet-thinking smart. Cain is a few of these above, but – certainly – he is anything but dumb.
Those saying otherwise obviously aren’t smart enough to read up on the man and his accomplishments.
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Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt represents small, women, and minority owned business and technology companies at The Ghatt Law Group LLC, the nations’ first communications law firm owned by women and minorities. She's won landmark cases on behalf of her clients which include national civil rights and public interest organizations. In addition to actively authoring several blogs, being a radio show host and sitting on the boards of three non-profits, she is a tech junkie who has been developing online web content since the very early years of the Internet, 1991 to be precise! Follow her on Twitter at @Jenebaspeaks, on her blog, Jenebaspeaks, which covers the intersection of politics and technology or on her Politics of Raising Children blog at The Washington Times Communities section.
Hahahaha! Really?! Shoot us a copy of your resume (don’t worry, you can xxxx out your name/contact info.) and we’ll compare it to Mr. Cain’s. I’m a life-long recruiter & career counselor, so don’t you folks try this at home.
Great post. Thanks for your service to the nation.
You more than deserve the multiple corrections, and I think we all know who the troll is here. It backfired on you because people are too smart here to buy your nonsense, and here we are.
So which candidate do you prefer, by the way, and do you really think you are helping his chances with your transparent attempts to tear down Cain?
I am happily retired . But thanks anyway.
You’re last name wouldn’t be Bachmann would it?
He was a ballistics analyst for the Department of the Navy - he wasn’t “in the Navy “.
Uh-yes.
Thank You but it is my twin sons service that really deserves the thanks. One is Enlisted Army the other is Enlisted Navy.
Ravenstar
OWS or Ron Paul fan?
My Father served proudly in WWII on a Sub Chaser and a Navy Tug Boat that had to pull stranded Landing Craft off the Beach at Iwo Jima while under intense enemy fire.
Maybe you misspoke...
In this case, that means trimming a lot that isn't supposed to be there, getting what is supposed to be done squared away, and eliminating waste across the board.
I reckon it all depends on what the objective to determine who is right for the job.
I have started a company, and I do not consider myself qualified for the job, even though I have run mine lean from the start.
All my best to them and please thank them for us for serving America.
In case you did get the question...
Bachmann is now synonymous with “petty little ankle biter”.
One thing that I am right about though - Cain will not be the nominee.
See my #169 to that person.
Where did you get that?
Bravo!
I think it's a continuation of Obama who had accomplished nothing. Whenever it was that Cain ran for POTUS before he wasn't taken seriously and shouldn't have been this time.
The man couldn't get anywhere running for the senate. His campaign staff is weird to say the least.
And his wife voted for Obama!
Frankly, I think it's laughable!
Did I make an error thinking you were dissing the Navy with that comparative statement? It reminded me of those who call Cain the Pizza Man or the Burger King to diminish his accomplishments. I'm sure the Shareholders of the Companies he salvaged from failure appreciated his talents.
If I read something in your comment that was not intended, my apologies.
Most of all I think he can't handle controversy.
Whether you are impressed with Cain as a businessman or not, he has done what he has done.
To call him "a continuation of Obama" tells me that you haven't been paying attention to either or both.
First, Cain got his start before affirmative action.
Obama rode it all the way.
Cain believes in hard work, as his resume indicates, Obama believes in 'redistribution' and has never had a 'real job'.
The only comparison between the two is a contrast, unless you are looking only on the outside.
I think you do yourself and this forum a disservice by your statement.
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