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Herman Cain says, ‘I don’t want anybody else to label me’
Iowa Independent ^ | 5/18/11 | Lynda Waddington

Posted on 05/18/2011 10:22:42 AM PDT by justsaynomore

CEDAR RAPIDS — Although it was difficult to turn on the television or pick up a newspaper in the lead-up to the 2008 presidential contest without reading a story about how a woman or a black man was going to fare in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, Herman Cain says that particular “novelty” has passed.

“I think President Barack Obama does get some credit for being the first African American running for president,” Cain told The Iowa Independent Tuesday night at a Linn County GOP chili cook-off. “It’s not talked about as much this time because the novelty of happening to be of a darker hue, or the novelty of happening to be a female isn’t as big of a news story as it might have been in 2008.

“I believe that the big story in 2011 and 2012 is not going to be about color, not going to be about gender, but about content of ideas and character. That’s what the story is going to be about.”

Any residual belief that the residents of predominantly non-ethnic Iowa aren’t open to welcoming and promoting another person of color, he said, should be cast aside.

“I have absolutely no qualms about me being an American black conservative — I’m an A.B.C. — I don’t want anybody else to label me. I’m an A.B.C., an American Black Conservative,” he said.

“I have been so warmly received by the people here in Iowa. They aren’t looking at color. They are looking at the content of my ideas. They are looking at my character and they are looking at what I can bring to the table as a leader in the toughest job in the world as President of the United States of America.”

If his public remarks were any indication, Cain is right. From the moment he entered the event, he was greeted with warm embraces, applause and firm handshakes. Before he was ushered to his awaiting chair at the front table, he was first brought cups of chili for taste-testing. When he was finally given the microphone, his voice flowed easily between a slow and deliberate cadence, sprinkled with “that’s rights” and “amens” from the audience, to a booming crescendo filled with urgent rifts of rhyme, often difficult to hear to the end due to applause.

He’s also right about being immune to labels. He’s part Southern Baptist preacher, pulling his flock toward stark realities while simultaneously offering glimpses of a future promised land. He’s polished, but not brass or pretentious. He’s wealthy, but hasn’t forgotten his family’s roots in poverty. He’s comfortable around others, quick with a smile and a laugh, and, obviously, a lover of life’s journey.

He’s the archetypal hero of Joseph Campbell fame — a self-made man of ordinary beginnings that seems poised to answer the call of a new adventure full of promise not only because of the victory that could be his own, but because of what he believes will result for everyone once the task is complete.

“I didn’t get the memo about this country,” Cain told event attendees, relating the state of the country to the dismal state of Godfather’s Pizza when he was asked to take it over and ultimately led it back to prosperity. “I believe we can turn things around.”

He wants to change the tone in America, he said, and make it acceptable again to be successful.

“There are folks who want to make us feel guilty,” Cain said. “But I’ve earned my success and I’m proud of it. … We don’t have to apologize for it.”


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: blackrepublicans; cain2012; hermancain; iowa

1 posted on 05/18/2011 10:22:47 AM PDT by justsaynomore
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To: justsaynomore
Herman Cain

born December 13, 1945 in Memphis, TN (Meets the Jus Soli Requirement)

Parents were
Luther Cain Jr., born March 16, 1925 in TN, died March 29, 1982 in Atlanta, GA
Lenora Davis, born July 27, 1925 in GA, died August 20, 2005 in Atlanta, GA

Both parents were US Citizens at the time of his birth (Meets the Jus Sanguinis Requirement)

Herman Cain is a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN unlike Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama.

2 posted on 05/18/2011 10:24:02 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Natural-born citizens, are those born in the country, of parents who are citizens. De Vattel)
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To: justsaynomore

When will they start attacking Cain?


3 posted on 05/18/2011 10:27:20 AM PDT by Principled (Get the capital back! NRST!)
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To: K-oneTexas; Tucker822; Kartographer; freekitty; carmody; Dead Corpse; MsLady; Publius772000; ...

Pinganator :-)


4 posted on 05/18/2011 10:27:28 AM PDT by justsaynomore ("I sure wouldn't have taken 16 hours to make that call - and jeopardize that mission" - Herman Cain)
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To: justsaynomore
“I believe that the big story in 2011 and 2012 is not going to be about color, not going to be about gender, but about content of ideas and character. That’s what the story is going to be about.”

All know how much I support Herman Cain, but he is wrong on this, to the informed voter it will be and always has been about the candidates ideas and character,but for the 'Lamestream Media' and the American Idol watchers it will be about popularity, celebrity and PC nonsense.
5 posted on 05/18/2011 10:28:59 AM PDT by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: Principled

I’m sure they’re working on it. Right now they are hoping ignoring him works. :-)


6 posted on 05/18/2011 10:31:44 AM PDT by justsaynomore ("I sure wouldn't have taken 16 hours to make that call - and jeopardize that mission" - Herman Cain)
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To: Kartographer

He probably knows that, but you can’t say that. Can you?


7 posted on 05/18/2011 10:33:12 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright (American Thinker Columnist / Rush ghost contributor)
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To: C. Edmund Wright

Not if you want even a chance at the American Idol watchers’ votes you can’t. ;-)


8 posted on 05/18/2011 10:40:22 AM PDT by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: Principled

The MSM can’t attack Cain since they set the racism bar so low by calling all attacks on Obama racist. They are doing the only thing they can right now: ignore him. When he starts to win more straw polls and debates, they will be forced to attack and be revealed as partisan hypocrites.


9 posted on 05/18/2011 11:52:31 AM PDT by sportutegrl
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To: Principled
When will they start attacking Cain?

When one of three things happens:

1. When he hits double-digits in GOP preference polls.

2. When he gets within a few points of 0bama in a head-to-head matchup.

3. When 0bama begins mentioning him by name (a sure sign of getting under The Won's skin).

10 posted on 05/18/2011 11:57:14 AM PDT by ScottinVA (Imagine.... a world without islam.)
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To: justsaynomore
“I think President Barack Obama does get some credit for being the first African American running cunning for president,”

There Mr. Cain! Fixed it.

11 posted on 05/18/2011 12:04:54 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Tell me you haven't asked yourself what mistake Obama made, that wound up causing Laden's death?)
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To: sportutegrl

And when they do, I suggest we call them racists to their face, then slap our sides and laugh our asses off to mock them.


12 posted on 05/18/2011 12:06:37 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Tell me you haven't asked yourself what mistake Obama made, that wound up causing Laden's death?)
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To: justsaynomore
I recycle!

Photobucket

13 posted on 05/18/2011 3:04:42 PM PDT by GraceG
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To: GraceG

Very funny! :)


14 posted on 05/18/2011 6:47:07 PM PDT by justsaynomore ("I sure wouldn't have taken 16 hours to make that call - and jeopardize that mission" - Herman Cain)
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