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.
My but you have a huge chip on your shoulder and a negative attitude. Like one of those people who always has to be right and will move the goal post as preposterously far as necessary Not a good way to go through life. But have a wonderful evening anyway.
Cindie
I was actually rather impressed with him too. All I heard was that he was a bigger RINO than Romney but he seems pretty conservative to me. I still have Cain, Gingrich & Perry as my top 3 but I was impressed with him the other night.
Cindie
And exactly when was it he ran for POTUS before? You are simply a hoot! At first I thought you were just bitter but you’re incredibly uniformed too. Good Lord! I do think you need prayers so I’m going to include you in mine.
Cindie
Cain ran for public office several times, including a campaign in 2000 for President and 2004 for Senator, neither of which were successful. In May 2011, Cain entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.
This is common knowledge to most people!
LOL! Embarrassed much?
I would still appreciate the prayers.
Yes, I think we all could. I do sincerely believe we all deeply love this country and in the end we all want the same thing. We just disagree on how (or who) to get there.
Cindie
Read more with pictures @
http://jayraskin.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/is-herman-cain-off-his-beamer/
Since you learned what I knew, do we still disagree that much? Just askin’?
Your contention appears to be that had it not been for affirmative action, Cain would not have gone anywhere.
Opportunity is one thing, what you do with it is another. Where you go from there is a function of what you do, in any subset of the workforce, and given the need, government-imposed or market driven, to hire from a specific group does not mean you would not select the most qualified person for the job within that group. To do otherwise would guarantee failure. Just being black won't get you farther than the front door.
But you make a good point about the biggest problem with affirmative action: those who do accomplish something will be denigrated as if they only got the position because of the color of their skin. It still happens today.
Cain had already done one career (and yes, in those days, if you weren't singing and dancing, you'd better be noticeably better than your white counterparts if you were going to advance in most jobs--just reality) before that even became a factor.
I think the implication that he and Obama are only where they are because of affirmative action does Mr. Cain a grave disservice. Especially when compared to the sock-puppet community organizer with all the uberslick handlers.
I’m not sure what you mean about “learned what you knew” but as far as a candidate, yes I think we do disagree. Cain is my first choice now and has been for some time. There are other candidates I would gladly support were they to get the nomination and some I would have to drag myself to the ballot box to pull the lever but Cain, for a variety of reasons has my enthusiastic support.
Cindie
And you are for sure the top guy in your village!
Average beats at least three of the most recent four to hold the office. But of course, you wildly underestimate Cain.
Two responses and you didn’t manage to identify who you are supporting?
Begone troll.
Go ahead....see what “accomplished experienced politicians” have done for us. Right. Check. Got it.
And I'm not running for anything!
I watched debate that CNBC hosted. Cain kept talking 999, But he also kept speaking in the sense of doing away with all regulations and letting the good bankers do whatever they want because that would be good for the economy. His view on the matter was quite clear.
Holes in his bio...and that I wasn't as stupid as you thought I was.
Yea, and he even delivers his smarts with that fiery southern black preacher thang.
Really, I think he’z probably a pretty good guy. Just not sure America's ready for another black president, specially back to back.
Not being racial, just kinda feelin the heartbeat is all.
Yea, and he even delivers his smarts with that firey southern black preacher thang.
Really, I think he’z probably a pretty good guy. Just not sure America's ready for another black president, specially back to back.
Not being racial, just kinda feelin the heartbeat is all.
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