Herman Cain Flip-Flopped on the Killing of Anwar al-Awlaki

The Atlantic ^ | 10-03-2011 | Chris Good

[PerryBachmann2012]

In early May, GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain said it would be illegal for the Obama administration to assassinate Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S. citizen and suspected Yemeni terrorist known to be included on a "kill list" maintained by U.S. military and intelligence branches.

"In his case, no, because he's an American citizen," Cain said after a nationally televised presidential debate on May 5, when asked specifically about the Obama administration's targeting of al-Awlaki. "If he's an American citizen, which is the big difference, then he should be charged, and he should be arrested and brought to justice."

Several weeks later, in an interview with The Atlantic's Conor Friedersdorf, Cain said he hadn't heard of al-Awlaki or the administration's goal of killing a U.S. citizen. But Cain repeated that he opposed the idea: "I don't believe that the president of the United States should order the assassination of citizens of the United States. That's why we have our court system, and that's why we have our laws."

Yet after U.S. forces killed al-Awlaki on Friday in a joint drone and jet strike, Cain reportedly praised the assassination. Hot Air's Ed Morrissey reported on a panel discussion at a tea-party convention in Chicago on Sunday, where Cain appeared:

In a brief Q&A with our panel after his speech, Cain told the crowd that he fully supported Barack Obama's decision to strike Anwar al-Awlaki.

[fireman15]

Because conservatives apparently get led around by the media to a new ‘flavor of the week’.

I understand the frustration you must be feeling in your attempt to sell a guy with a lot of liberal positions to a forum full of conservatives. But I am not sure that attacking conservatives with sarcasm is helpful to your goal of winning us over. Was it helpful when Gov. Perry said that conservatives who disagreed with his "dream plan" for illegal aliens had no heart? It was an arrogant thing to say just as many of your posts here have been.

I am watching Herman Cain on Hannity as I type. This is prime time coverage... it might as well be an infomercial. Campaign money isn't everything. Gov. Perry could spend a million dollars from his huge campaign war chest and it probably wouldn't be as helpful as this one episode is. Cain is simply a terrific speaker who connects with his audience. He just kicked his “book tour” off on the Hanity show.

[fireman15]

Because conservatives apparently get led around by the media to a new ‘flavor of the week’.

I understand the frustration you must be feeling in your attempt to sell a guy with a lot of liberal positions to a forum full of conservatives. But I am not sure that attacking conservatives with sarcasm is helpful to your goal of winning us over. Was it helpful when Gov. Perry said that conservatives who disagreed with his "dream plan" for illegal aliens had no heart? It was an arrogant thing to say just as many of your posts here have been.

I am watching Herman Cain on Hannity as I type. This is prime time coverage... it might as well be an infomercial. Campaign money isn't everything. Gov. Perry could spend a million dollars from his huge campaign war chest and it probably wouldn't be as helpful as this one episode is. Cain is simply a terrific speaker who connects with his audience. He just kicked his “book tour” off on the Hannity show.

[NautiNurse]

Wow, just the other day your tag said he was at 150.

Movin' on up! Does this mean Cain is no longer the dark horse candidate?

[Netizen]

I think so. :)

Did you happen to watch Van Sustern tonight?

[NautiNurse]

No—we’ve been wrapped in Tampa Bay sports tonight between Rays playoff baseball and Bucs Monday night football.

[marty60]

REPLACE with WHAT?

[NautiNurse]

Why do you shout when you can’t or won’t read the information provided to you? It makes you look foolish. I am glad you are in the Perry camp.

[marty60]

True about Obama.

He lied on his Passport application. He was forbidden to get the $20,000in U.S. scholorship money. Sorry.

[Polybius]

To: PerryBachmann2012 .... Nice try. Rick Perry called conservatives heartless. ..... NautiNurse

1.) Texas is a very conservative state.

2.) The conservative Texas Legislature passed a certain bill by a margin of 98%. So, maybe there were many serious considerations other than merely just "me conservative Tarzan, you NOT conservative Jane".

3.) During constant attack on stage by non-Texans throwing Sound Bites to address complex Texas issues, Perry mentions the word "heartless".

4.) Some voters, like NautiNurse, got their tender feelings hurt.

5.) Some voters, like NautiNurse, think is it more important that she got her tender feeling hurt in the heat of a "30 Second Sound Bite Contest" than it is to kill a terrorist linked to the Fort Hood Massacre.

Who is Anwar al-Awlaki? Imam contacted by Fort Hood gunman Nidal Malik Hasan has long radical past

And that is the 1-2-3-4-5 Plan that made Mitt Romney the current leader in the GOP Polls.

======================================

Herman Cain in 2011

Herman Cain said Wednesday that he would be unable to support Rick Perry for president if the Texas governor were to eventually win the party's nomination. .... The former businessman said, for instance, that he could support former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney....

======================================

Herman Cain in 2008

HERMAN CAIN'S ENDORSEMENT OF MITT ROMNEY PUBLISHED IN THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION PRIOR TO SUPER TUESDAY, 2008

[NautiNurse]

It is disturbing to witness the agonizing desperation of Perry supporters as their candidate drops in the polls. Remarkably similar to Fredheads exploding when Thompson’s campaign didn’t meet expectations in 2007/2008.

[Polybius]

If Cain would bother to do some cursory research, he would know that Awlaki .....

An extremely frightening thing about Cain is that he appears to be a man that loves to throw out red meat but does NOT bother "to do some cursory research" about even the most basic crucial issues.

Cain throws out pro-Israel red meat because conservatives want to hear it but Cain had not even studied the subject of Israeli security deeply enough to even know what "Palestinian right of return" meant and that it has been a very dangerous propaganda weapon used by the Palestinians against Israel.

(The "Palestinian right of return" is a term used by the Palestinians to signify the long-held Palestinian demand that ALL DESCENDENTS of 1948 Palestinians had a right to return to Israel which, of course, would mean the automatic death of Israel. That "Poison Pill" has been around for decades.)

Yet, although crucial to understanding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, the uniformed Cain first heard the term in a FOX News interview:

"Where do you stand on the right of return?" asked Wallace. ... "The right of return? [pause] The right of return?" asked Cain. ... Wallace then offered more information, "The Palestinian right of return."

After being told it was about Palestinians returning, still clueless about the long and complex history of that Palestinian position, Cain declared he was "for it".

VIDEO: Herman Cain thinks Palestinians entitled to right of return

Cain is all red meat and no substance.

The winner in all this has been Mitt Romney. Maybe that was the Romney/Cain game plan all along.

======================================

Herman Cain in 2011

Herman Cain said Wednesday that he would be unable to support Rick Perry for president if the Texas governor were to eventually win the party's nomination. .... The former businessman said, for instance, that he could support former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney....

======================================

Herman Cain in 2008

HERMAN CAIN'S ENDORSEMENT OF MITT ROMNEY PUBLISHED IN THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION PRIOR TO SUPER TUESDAY, 2008

[marty60]

Yes Cain is seriously working for Romney. I don’t think he ever expected to win. He has absolutely no experience in a National Leadership Positian. Never held a Public office.
Never dealt with a massive out of control debt. You would think that Republicans especially would have had ENOUGH of an inexperience warm body in the WH.

I sure hope Republicans are not pulling the,”if I don’t vote for the black Repub then I’m a Racist BS.”

Why do you think Cain pulled the RACE Card!

[DTxAg]

You would think that Republicans especially would have had ENOUGH of an inexperience warm body in the WH.

Obama's highly vulnerable now to charges that he was the most inexperienced person to take the White House in who knows how long, and we're seeing the damage from that. You don't fix that problem by nominating someone even less experienced than Obama was.

Cain can run around saying he has "executive experience," and from a business perspective that's right, but from a governing perspective that's just goofy. I think others are right -- he's angling for a VP slot from someone like Romney.

[Polybius]

So what gave Obama the right to assassinate an American again?

Let me guess. Could it POSSIBLY be that Anwar al-Awlaki was an enemy combatant actively waging war against the U.S. in a command and control capability? (Except that, in war, you just say "kill")

Anwar al-Awlaki's online support for Fort Hood gunman Major Hasan

After Benedict Arnold's treason, the British gave him a brigadier general's commission. In December 1780, under orders from Clinton, Arnold led a force of 1,600 troops into Virginia, where he captured Richmond by surprise and then went on a rampage through Virginia, destroying supply houses, foundries, and mills. This activity brought Virginia's militia out, and Arnold eventually retreated to Portsmouth to either be evacuated or reinforced.

According to the ridiculous notion that American citizens waging war against the U.S. can only be captured and tried, but not killed, during these battles, Benedict Arnold could have been on his horse, riding up and down the British lines, giving commands, in complete safety, because he could not be legally killed without a trial.

Absolutely ridiculous.

By this absolutely ridiculous notion, right after 9-11, al Qaeda could have had hundreds of pregnant women crossing the U.S.-Canada border to pop out U.S. citizen "anchor babies" that, 19 years later, could form an entire little army of combatants that allegedly cannot be killed by air strike ...... only captured and tried in court.

"We are taking fire from the al Qaeda Abraham Lincoln Brigade. We need an air strike!"

"Air strike denied. Members of the al Qaeda Abraham Lincoln Brigade can only be captured for trail but not killed."

Absolutely ridiculous.

When you wage war, you wage war and getting KILLED is part of the game.

"Remember, boys. Don't shoot them! Capture them for trial!"

[Crucial]

Point taken. Although I think that Congress should have some oversight when it comes to assassinating Americans.

[Crucial]

Point taken. Although I think that Congress should have some oversight when it comes to assassinating Americans.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

Well, it does. If Congress feels that the President abused this power, the obvious rememdy would be impeachment. In fact, I'd think that kind of abuse (assuming you beleive it was an abuse, which I don't) is exactly what the power of impeachment is for.

[Crucial]

Point taken. Although I think that Congress or a Federal should have some oversight when it comes to assassinating Americans. And before you say that lawyers should stay out of the business of war, I think that’s true-when it comes to fighting foreigners. I don’t take American citizenship lightly and you don’t know how many times the executive branch will be usurped.

[Crucial]

There are two things wrong with your examples btw. One, Benedict Arnold Arnold was never an American citizen and anchor babies are a betrayal of the 14th Amendment.