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.
You're a coward.
There is absolutely no evidence that Cain is any smarter than Perry. I’ve read tons of Cain’s material. He’s not any smarter than a lot of Freepers either. He’s lucky he’s made it as far as he has. It’s definitely not been brain-power that’s got him ahead in business.
Just come out and say it.
We can agree to disagree?
You don't just disagree. You lie.
Don't count on it.
Sure, it’s his naivete and his lack of political experience that has a ton of appeal. For some reason, the most important political job in America, the Presidency, for some conservatives, has a requirement of totally inexperience and ability. Herb Cain is an anti-Candidate for many. Not too bright and with nebulous positions. If I wanted a talk-show guy for President, Mark Levin is a much better choice. At least he has some brains.
BTW, the father was a VP and designed computers for a well known computer corp...after he was discharged from the Navy where he flew and landed jets on a ship!
So why should I be impressed with Herman Cain?
Jesus Pete FreeReign...I’ve read your postings for a while..you’re a ton smarter than Cain and Perry...c’mon.....
No, you were talking about his getting ahead in business for reasons beside intelligence. Answer that one. I suspect you won’t.
Yet you think Perry is just the man for the job...
Chalk up another fail, this time in consistency.
Wellllllll, tell ya what, there, genius. I don’t have a dog in this fight, since I have yet to pick ‘my’ preferred candidate in this horse race.....but SINCE you preened and puffed up, time to weigh in.
You want to match brain pans with Herman Cain? PLEASE do. By all means. I’m no dummy myself (I’m told my IQ is north of 165 but I think all of that nonsense is....just that), and I am very impressed with the man’s accomplishments across a wide spectrum of business pursuits. You obviously either A) don’t know what he HAS accomplished in business (hint: the pizza thing came much later in his career) or B) you haven’t the foggiest idea of what you’re going on about (my guess: both).
As they say.........you can bullshit the spectators, but you can’t bullshit the players. I’ve been a player in business for a very long time. He’s the real deal. Now.....your turn to regale us all with tales of your splendid business exploits; your brilliance in the marketplace that makes little Herman Cain comparatively so insignificant; a mere wannabe.
Hit me.
I stand corrected. However, from what I’ve just read Carter graduated from the Naval Academy with an undesignated bachelor of science degree. Carter started nuclear power school but never finished it. His father died leading Carter to resign and go home to run the peanut farm.
However, Carters education was similar to Cains to include a stint at Georgia Tech where he studied mathematics.
magritte, magritte, what’s that you are postin’?
SOUNDS A LOT LIKE......RACIST S**T
IMO
Its partner lonestar already said it on another thread ...”I don’t think Cain was a good businessman but was a benefactor of being the right color at the right time.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2811755/posts?page=58#58
Spot on!
She has pulled the racist card many times in many threads.
No, it is my idea of accomplishment...and I don't think Cain has accomplished what this young woman has in the business world.
IMO, he couldn't manage her company!
Sorry Mag, I'm not running.
Our choices are what they are.
Cain is an intelligent guy. He just gets a little mixed up now and then. I not going to say why.
Perry on the other hand doesn't come across well at all.
Yawn. Herb Cain took a second tier pizza chain and kept it from going out of business, where it ended up a third tier pizza chain. Big frickin’ deal. Mitt Romney is tons better in the slash and burn business. I’m not voting for him either.
The smartest guys I know couldn’t run a business if there life depended on it. They sure would be lousy Presidents too. Not a lick of business sense. But they sure are smart though.
You can be impressed with Cain all you want. You can even believe his “wide spectrum” is impressive, but by most standards he’s mediocre at best.
Of, and in the battle of IQ’s, mine’s not too shabby as well. And as far as Cain’s “magnificent” accomplishments, it really depends on your perspective.
You can vote for Mr. Mediocre business guy if you desire. I prefer accomplished experienced politicians. Herb can go back and run a Burger King franchise.
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