Herman Cain's Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy ^ | October 16, 2011 | Daniel W. Drezner

[shortey22]

It took me a couple of hours of reading, cogitation, and regurgitation to critique Mitt Romney's foreign policy positions. Clearly, I didn't think it was perfect, or even all that good in many places. But, I had to assess it, mull over the content... you know, think.

Now, I desperately want to be an equal opportunity blogger, and at this point Herman Cain appears to be the co-frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination. Sure, I've had my fun with him in the past, and he has no shortage of foreign policy gaffes, but I figured that impromptu utterances during debates are only one part of a candidate's overall policy vision. The thoughts that are written down, they imply some forethought. So I thought I'd go over to Cain's campaign website and spend an equal amount of time to analyze his foreign policy thinking.

[behzinlea]

"Am I missing anything? Seriously, is there anything Cain has written that displays anything resembling an understanding of how foreign policy works? "

Not really, Wait a minute. One time he tried to form a coherent thought about Ubeki beki beki stan stan.

Unfortunately, no one has the slightest idea what country Cain was talking about--including Cain.

The foreign policy statements by Cain that this essayist collected were actually painful and embarrassing to read. I know sixth graders who have a better understanding of the world and foreign policy.

[BobL]

Cain understands Islam and he understands Illegal Immigration. I suspect that he understands Communism also.

I don’t see a whole lot left where he might be weak.

He will do MUCH BETTER than anyone since Reagan (the last time we nominated an ‘idiot’), when it comes to foreign policy.

[paudio]

Herman Cain's Foreign Policy Stance #1: Electrocute the Mexicans!

Did Cain ever say that? I only remember he support(ed) electric fence. IMO, saying he is for electric fence is different from saying he is for electrocuting the Mexicans.

I'm not supporting anyone yet, so I don't have any horse here, but I'm considering Perry and Cain. I just don't want what we wrote here becomes MSM headlines which reflects bad on FR.

[BobL]

“I’m not supporting anyone yet, so I don’t have any horse here, but I’m considering Perry and Cain. I just don’t want what we wrote here becomes MSM headlines which reflects bad on FR.”

Unfortunately you’ll see a lot of Romney people posting crap like that...in their attempt to move votes from Cain to Perry. They figure that they’ll never get people like you to vote for Romney...so getting you to Perry is half as good.

One of the unfortunate effects of having a campaign with more money than you know what to do with.

[ThunderSleeps]

Lookout for American interest first!

Amen to that. Serve America's and American's interests first. There is no shame in that - you are an elected representative of America.

[Stymee]

[rogue yam]

If supporting Rick Perry for president is akin to being a leftist, then please, KMA.

If not subscribing to the fringe right koo-koo theories of Alex Jones and Infowars makes me a leftist here, then I am a leftist.

You said things that were stupid, dishonest and ugly and I called you on it. You "defended" yourself with non sequiturs. I do not know whether you are in fact a crazy, evil, lying leftist. What I do know is that the things that you have posted to this thread are exactly the sort of things that crazy, stupid, evil people post. If you don't like conservatives criticizing you for posting garbage, then don't post garbage on a conservative board.

[not2worry]

The biggest foreign policy Perry has is with Mexico.

In-State-Tuition for illegals?

Application for illegals going to college so they can get to the head of the line for citizenship upon graduation?

Keeping company with LaRaza for Latino votes?

If this is Perry's current policy in Texas that rules him out for me as my candidate for POTUS.

[bullypulpit]

Well, as a resident on the border for a great deal of my adult life, my opinion is that an electric fence will be akin to relegating the Mexicans to Palestinian status. Even an electric fence will kill a few, and you know, kill one person in a special identity group, and you've committed genocide in this PC society. So yes, Herman Cain is a bit naive to say he wants to build an electric fence and arm the border patrol with "real guns and ammo" (USBP is currently already armed, BTW. So are Rick Perry's Texas Rangers), and a bit more silly to walk back those irresponsible remarks by telling David Gregory this morning that he was only joking. Not exactly "presidential."

Of course, Cain gets a pass on this from Gregory (Karl Rove must have told Gregory to hold of), because Cain is not Rick Perry, and he didn't allegedly "threaten the Fed Chairman with ugly things that Texans might do to him if he inflates the money supply to help get Obama re-elected."

Sign.

[bullypulpit]

Writing things that you may not agree with and saying stupid things are completely different items. I am guilty of the former. Everything I post is brilliant, and sometimes funny, I can’t type though.

[TigersEye]

First, which elected officials are politicizing national security -- could you be a bit more specific?

Let me stop the author right there. Anyone who asks a question that frigging stupid is not a pundit worth listening to.

[TigersEye]

Anyone who takes a joke seriously is a joke.

[Sprite518]

Our Economy is #1 right now. We will not have a foreign policy if we do fix our economy soon. Although important it’s not a paramount issue. I trust that Cain will surround himself with good conservatives should he become President.