Posted on 05/28/2003 10:23:09 PM PDT by 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
My sentiments exactly!
Will be glad to share any info I come across.
Howdy Taxman:That's exciting news about Herman Cain declaring his candidacy for the upcoming U.S. Senate election!!!
What a great thing for the concept of tax reform, since U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA) already favors the Fair Tax Act of 2003 (HR 25) and Herman Cain is also a staunch advocate for that same bill.
Here're a couple of Cain's writings about the FairTax. Note that they were written before he declared for the Senate race, when he was still Chairman of the Godfather Pizza Corporation. He's since removed himself as Chairman of that Corp. Also, I don't know if the email addresses shown on these websites are still applicable.
These two postings by Mr. Herman Cain clearly illustrate the man's skill as a communicator and show his clarity of thought on the issue of Fundamental Tax Reform (FTR).
FTR -1! * * * FTR-2! I don't reside in Georgia, but I enthusiastically support Mr. Cain's candidacy for the U.S. Senate and I agree fully with his call to r-e-p-l-a-c-e the abominable Income Tax System (and IRS) with the FairTax (HR 25). Our nation and its citizens will be far better-off when the FairTax is enacted.
For those who would like to learn more about the FairTax, click here!
Immediately following the 2004 election, I look forward to sending an email which begins with the salutation: Dear Senator Herman Cain:
Cliff Cofer - West Des Moines, Iowa
Bye, bye...Income Tax (and IRS)! We won't miss ya' at all!
I agree. Herman Cain's announcement that he's running for the U.S. Senate (GA) is exciting news. There is no more enthusiastic supporter of the FairTax (HR 25) than Herman Cain... and no one who does a better job of presenting it.
Here's the Announcement of his Senate candidacy... and here's Cain's campaign Website.
No doubt about it... with Herman Cain on the campaign trail, folks are gonna hear about the FairTax! High time, I say!
Cliff Cofer - West Des Moines, Iowa
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