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.
That is the dumbest thing I've ever read on FR and I've been here a tad longer than you.
You are saying that Cain knew when he left the Navy, that in 20+ years he would be CEO of Godfather's.
LOL! THAT gives new meaning to illogical!
The dumbest thing is to stay poorer than necessary. Cain was confident enough in his skills as a businessman to use his own money to buy a partnership in the failing God Father’s Pizza national chain. In business success is never guaranteed. Cain not only turned GFP around, he made tons of money in that venture, many times more than he could have made as a rocket scientist for US Navy.
You obviously don’t have a clue about Cain’s business history...but think he could foresee a career at GFP 20 years before it happened! LOL!
LOL Cain did not decide purchase of GFP 20 years in advance! He was already running Burger King when he bought the GFP chain in a partnership.
EXACTLY!!!!
But YOU said he left being a rocket scientist because there is more money in pizza!...like he knew 20 years in advance!
Find somebody else to bug...you bore me!
(Pssst, lonely) He did it because he could!
A brilliant, well rounded, scientist behind the Naval Mission program, capable successful, great role model, gentleman is Herman Cain.
We should be so lucky as to have him as our President!
You don’t know Herman Cain unless you’ve read his book,
“This is Herman Cain” from cover to cover. A great read!
Jimmy Carter was and is, a penut farmer, and a Communist.
It takes more than brains. It takes common sense. It takes organization and knowing how to delegate. It takes being honest, dedicated, and loving one’s country to build it up rather than to tear it down as so many have done and are doing.
Herman Cain has more experience and skills in making lemonade out of lemons than any other candidate current or possible. If he could do it with large companies, he can do it for the country. An all American proven master of repairing what is wrong with America!
Never saw Cain commit a gaffe yet. He is no fast talker like the Grinch; no smooth talker like Mittens; no. He is thoughtful, does not talk down to the people and they love him! His answers take in more than the simplistic question asks for. He is a born trouble shooter! Go Herman Cain!
I like Herman...I just don't want him for POTUS. I would like to know more about his professional and academic background thru somebody's eyes other than his own.
I was for him util he started not handling crisis well, IMO.
How much of those things o you know about Obama? And how many of them do you know about any other Republican candidate?
Exactly why I want to know. Cain is the one who we know least about.
Perry's trascript has been made public.
How would you have handled false accusations like the ones the left made up and publicized all over the country? Early on I asked one man, what would he do if a woman came onto him and he, being a good husband, ignored her. She became so infuriated at his disinterest that she decided o make trouble for him in the company they both worked for. NRA said they never had a report anything like that about Herman Cain. Why isn’t that enough for you? Would your company say the same about you? If you were a public person, how else would you have handled that terrible slur
under the same circumstances?
How would you have handled false accusations like the ones the left made up and publicized all over the country? Early on I asked one man, what would he do if a woman came onto him and he, being a good husband, ignored her. She became so infuriated at his disinterest that she decided o make trouble for him in the company they both worked for. NRA said they never had a report anything like that about Herman Cain. Why isn’t that enough for you? Would your company say the same about you? If you were a public person, how else would you have handled that terrible slur
under the same circumstances?
Well, then you just vote for Perry, like a good little
Texan.
He falsely accused Perry of racism over the "Niggerhead" rock...with absolutely no proof, or reason to, and immediately accused Perry for the harassment charges. I thought jumping to conclusions and making those kinds of charges were irresponsible...and made Cain look bad because none of it stuck.
When he didn't understand the question and "had things swirling around in his head"...I was not impressed!
Cain has a habit making jokes when he doesn't know the answer. He jokes toooooo much!
IMO, he doesn't act presidential.
As I’ve said, if Perry is more your speed, go with Perry.
As I’ve said, if Perry is more your speed, go with Perry.
". . . Every other candidate meets that standard . . . even Ron Paul . . ."I don't have "a candidate." That has always been my position and my disagreement with you who have selected one beacon to which you have attached your undivided loyalty. None of these candidates has yet proven himself worthy of my undivided loyalty. I have vigorously defended a couple from dishonest and unfair attacks (Newt and Perry), but I have not attached myself to any candidate.
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