Pizza tycoon wedges into politics (Georgia Senate)

The Hill ^ | 5/28/03 | Peter Savodnik

[LdSentinal]

Republicans have traditionally relied on gun owners, pro-life activists and anti-tax crusaders, among others, to win elections.

Now they can count pizza kings in their corner, too.

Late last week, conservative activist Herman Cain, owner of the Godfather's Pizza empire, launched his bid to win the GOP Senate nomination in Georgia, where Democratic Sen. Zell Miller is retiring.

Cain, who has spearheaded an effort to scrap the tax code in favor of a consumption-based system, is one of several pizza tycoons who have dabbled in politics.

Tom Monaghan, former head of Domino's Pizza, drew nationwide attention with his donations to the pro-life group Operation Rescue.

John Schnatter, Papa John's founder and chief executive officer, has given to Republicans in Kentucky, where the chain is based -- $5,000 to the state GOP, $1,500 to Rep. Anne Northup and $250 to Sen. Jim Bunning in 2000; and $1,000 to Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2002, Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show.

Michael Miles, Pizza Hut's chief operating officer, gave $1,000 to President Bush's campaign in 1999, according to an FEC report.

And now there's Cain, who overnight has turned the GOP primary in Georgia into a competitive race, pitting Rep. Johnny Isakson against the pizza tycoon turned politician. Rep. Mac Collins said May 15 that he also would seek the GOP Senate nomination.

"Heâ's just sort of a perfect marriage of a black conservative from the South -- pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, Reagan Republican, who understands the business world," Alex St. James, chairman of the African-American Republican Leadership Council, said of Cain.

The group is helping Cain get his campaign off the ground, St. James said.

Isaksonâ's campaign manager, Chris Carr, said he didn't know a lot about Cain other than that he's been the CEO of Godfather's Pizza.

"Our candidate is a conservative candidate and is right in line with what Georgia voters are looking for," Carr said. "Johnny has a 25-year record of being a fiscal conservative."

Carr added that the congressman likes pizza but that he's not sure which toppings he prefers.

Katherine Kim of the National Restaurant Association declined to comment on the pizza-politics connection.

"I'm not sure that this is something we have any information on or could make any correlation," she said.

A 2002 FranchiseHelp survey reported that 94 percent of Americans eat pizza and that pizza is the fourth most popular food in the country, behind cheese, chocolate and ice cream. The report also said that 3 billion pizzas are sold yearly

[mhking]

I don't know enough of Cain; I'd like to hear more...

[Taxman]

Herman Cain for U.S. Senate ping!

[JohnnyZ]

Kingston is currently waiting on the sidelines, watching to see how the Isakson & Collins candidacies take shape (straight from horse's mouth). I think either Collins or Cain would be great, but the value of Herman Cain in the US Senate would be astronomical. He would get tons of national time to push conservative policies of reforming the tax code, etc, that just wouldn't be taken too seriously or paid any attention if Mac Collins was pushing them.

[onyx]

>>>... Herman Cain in the US Senate would be astronomical. <<<

Indeed!

[.45MAN]

That makes three. I know that dansangel would do the same..

It's good to know that Pizza is a conservative food..

[onyx]

Thank you for the AP post! My memory is now refreshed, your honor! I KNEW I'd heard the name Herman Cain from somewhere, but NOT from the pizza chain. Steve Forbes' campaign!

Forbes' had two excellent campaign chairs, both black.

I'm so excited about this, I hardly slept.

[EllaMinnow]

Thanks! I didn't realize it was him - I remember him well.
I agree, this is great news! I wish I lived in Georgia, so I could vote for him.

[onyx]

I too, wish I lived in Georgia so I could vote for him, but we can write letters to editor and help in other ways!

I'm from CA, so what do I know!

[dansangel]

Just imagine, a black, Republican US Senator from Georgia!

Excellent....I hope we can make it happen!

See .45MAN? Pizza....food for the gods! LOL! :-)

[onyx]

I am sooooooo excited about Herman Cain's run for the GOP nomination for the US Senate! I hardly slept at all!

Just imagine, Cain could actually be the catalyst of tax reform, real reform! Flat tax, consumption tax, --- plus, he might even change the mindset of many blacks who still view the GOP with so much skeptisism.

[dansangel]

Flat tax, consumption tax, --- plus, he might even change the mindset of many blacks who still view the GOP with so much skeptisism.

I hope you're right. I need to do my research on him before I can get excited, but it surely is nice to dream, isn't it?

Have had my hopes dashed in a big way by Perdue, so put me down as "cautiously optimistic."

[onyx]

I see you're both in Georgia. Whenever you post, or see an article posted about Herman Cain, please ping me. Also, if he opens a campaign headquarter's please relay the info to me... like the address, telephone, etc.

[onyx]

You're in Georgia too! Wonderful! Please see my post #32, okay?

[dansangel]

No problem. Would you do the same for me? Thanks. :-)

[PhilWill]

I agree - Herman Cain's candidacy is exciting. His biggest issue will undoubtedly be the need for tax reform. He will have a battle on his hands against Mssrs. Isakson and Collins, who have been House members for some time and have far more name recognition.

Apparently Mr. Collins, who is from the Columbus area NOT the Atlanta burbs, plans to run on that issue, also. If the debate becomes who will make the most effective advocate for the FairTax, then we win, regardless of how the vote comes out. Georgia is probably the only state in the nation where candidates will be competing on that basis, but the groundwork for this type of campaign was laid last year.

If it can happen in GA, it can happen in other states. This is definitely a step forward for those of us who believe that FTR should be a huge campaign issue - everywhere. Now if the WH were to make it a campaign issue, that would give us some awesome momentum!

[JohnnyZ]

onyx, there's a Cain article on NationalReview.com by Delroy Murdock. You can even have posting honors.

[LTCJ]

Please add me to any ping going out on Cain and I'll reciprocate.

I'd like to know more about how "Conservative" he is. If he's strong on RKBA, tax reform, pro-life, etc then I could get very excited about backing him down here on the coast - but RINOs or "moderates" need not apply.

Thanks!

[JohnnyZ]

If he's strong on RKBA, tax reform, pro-life

From the article:

>>> "He's just sort of a perfect marriage of a black conservative from the South -- pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, Reagan Republican, who understands the business world,"

Bears repeating!

[LTCJ]

pro-Second Amendment

There's pro and then there's Pro.

I've seen too many politicans claim to be pro-2ndA by stating they're not for banning hunting rifles (including Max Cleland and D. Fineswine, BTW.) A pox on their houses.

[JohnnyZ]

He doesn't list his policy positions on his campaign website yet, but here's what I can gather from his website that would suggest he is likely a committed pro-gunner:

"Now is the time for me to be your United States Senator, because I am better prepared than ever before to help protect life, restore lost liberties, and encourage the pursuit of happiness by all. "

"They want an opportunity, one less problem in their life, or one less barrier to an opportunity to have to deal with."

"People make better decisions about their lives than government "

www.cainforussenate.com