Herman Cain: 'I'm not supposed to know anything about foreign policy'

Politico ^

[Sub-Driver]

Herman Cain: 'I'm not supposed to know anything about foreign policy'

By: Maggie Haberman November 16, 2011 10:06 AM EST

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, whose editorial board interview with Herman Cain produced one of the most memorable videos of 2012, spent a day on his campaign bus with some nice highlights.

Among them:

He defended his view that presidents and presidential candidates don't need to be immersed in the fine print of world affairs - they simply need to be leaders who can surround themselves with the right people and sift through their advice.

"I'm not supposed to know anything about foreign policy. Just thought I'd throw that out," he said, a dig at his critics.

"I want to talk to commanders on the ground. Because you run for president (people say) you need to have the answer. No, you don't! No, you don't! That's not good decision-making," said Cain.

[samtheman]

We have someone in the WH winging it now. Clearly, on the job training for President doesn't work.

And the ONLY reason such an inexperienced person was able to get elected is because he had a) the entire media on his side and b) his dim-witted opponent on his side.

No Republican will ever have those two gifts in any election against a rat.

[over3Owithabrain]

Me too. It's amazing. Cain, a successful businessman and intelligent man, has been reduced to a bumbling clown by the jackals here. He also has had a live radio show for several years where he showed everyday his ability to discuss various issues at depth. But hey we must destroy a good man and solid conservative who has taken a beating his whole life for having the beliefs he has.

I never want to hear around here again that people are tired of politics as usual. At the end of the day they all want a slick politician who dazzles them with words and smarminess. Every time a successful businessman comes along with ideas to steer this country away from the shipwreck they get dismissed as kooks and idiots.

So enjoy your slick politicians folks - bitch about them when they are Democrats and praise them when they are Republicans. After all y'all know better than some idiot like Cain with his lousy resume.

[Matchett-PI]

"At least he doesn’t think there are 57+ states"

Or that Hawaii is in "Asia".

[Captain Kirk]

That’s the problem with a massive world empire. NOBODY can understand it. This is yet another argument to bring all the troops home and close those bases in 120 countries NOW.

[samtheman]

Isn’t this what a primary is for, comparing candidates?

There hasn’t even been a single vote cast, and you are upset with people criticizing a candidate?

Did you get upset when people on FR criticized Rick Perry?

(Just curious.)

[justsaynomore]

When I first joined FR a few years back, there seemed to be a lot more DISCERNMENT on FR. Seriously! What happened? People used to take liberal news sources with a grain of salt. Now they act like it is gospel.

Did you all forget that the liberals do not want a conservative in office? That this is a deliberate attempt to take down Cain?

Do you REALLY believe Cain thinks he doesn’t have to know foreign policy? He is receiving briefings every day from his foreign policy team(see link below). He knows he has to know some foreign policy but he also knows that he cannot know ALL foreign policy. You surround yourself with the right experts. Cain mentioned John Bolton, for example.

Again, here are links to Cain discussing foreign policy in interviews. I know Cain haters could care less, but hopefully it will show those who are serious about learning about Cain to see for themselves.

with Dick Morris - http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/herman-cain-interview-on-new-ideas-to-tame-iran-dick-morris-tv-lunch-alert/

Henry Kissinger who said he had talked to all the Candidates and only Cain was asking the right questions?
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/282241/kissinger-digs-cain-s-brilliant-video-robert-costa

with Bill O’Reilly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJjAJeyYhAg

Cain’s Position on Israel: http://dailycaller.com/2011/08/28/the-u-s-must-stand-with-israel/

Summary of Foreign Policy Stance:
http://www.hermancain.com/the-issues

Values Voters Speech:
http://www.therightscoop.com/herman-cain-brings-the-house-down-at-values-voter-summit/

Seeing Green in Red China
December 3, 2005
By Herman Cain
http://www.economicfreedomcoalition.com/news/press-opinion-120305.asp

Back to Terrorism Reality: Islamic Fascists are the Enemy
July 9, 2007
By Herman Cain
http://www.economicfreedomcoalition.com/news/press-opinion-070907.asp

Anatomy of World War III
July 26, 2006
By Herman Cain

http://www.economicfreedomcoalition.com/news/press-opinion-072606.asp

_________

Statements specifically on Libya:

Presser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJylwgRHrgQ

South Carolina FOX debate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWX8lckeH38&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL0CC93A67FC94A391

CBS debate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s2eMm1rgdo

[IMR 4350]

What?

You mean you don't want to vote for someone and just guess what their foreign policy might be by the person they choose as their adviser?

But! But! But! Hope and change can mean anything you want it to mean. OH wait.

[over3Owithabrain]

Nice phony argument dude. Not engaging it sorry

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Surely you are ignorant or naive. Even Michelle Bachmann has bettered her knowledge in foreign affairs is less time than Cain. Cain has been too busy selling his book and touring around on his popularity parade.

For some reason he sees no reason do do the necessary home work and learn about how Government operates.

[Jonty30]

:)

What matters to me is the value system they hold dear. If they are really conservative, they will make their decisions along conservative lines.

[samtheman]

I wasn’t arguing, just asking.

You don’t want to answer, that’s fine.

By not answering, you make my point.

[USS Alaska]

Even from Politico this is pretty damn....

Stooooooooopid, and so are you.

[altura]

Well, Lady J, except for Michele Bachmann none of the candidates are Washington insiders who sit in on the briefings.

You might call it refreshing that Cain admits his ignorance on these things rather than trying to fake it, or you might call it disquieting that he doesn’t seem to know even as much as the average citizen who is interested in foreign policy.

If I know more about Libya than one of the candidates, it’s pretty scary.

[patriot08]

Wha??
Keeping digging the hole, Herman.

[altura]

Good post, but I’m not sure Cain is the man we should trust to pull the trigger so to speak.

[justsaynomore]

There are some folks on FR who have legitimate criticisms of Cain, based on facts. Heck, there are things I disagree with Cain about (which hasn’t even come up on FR yet LOL)

But what is going on here is piling on based on questionable new sources. Do you vet your candidates based on liberal news sources? What do you think people’s impression of Palin was ONLY from liberal news sources? Was that a fair vetting???

What about judging a candidate by their own words and writings, by what others say about them? In Cain’s case, I link all the time to facts, words directly from Cain, 6 years worth of Cain commentary, books, speeches. There is another 4 years of his show podcasts - 10 hours/week of Cain talking about the issues. There is also his track record in business, as well as testimonials and references from those working with him.

Add to that some common sense when vetting - do you really believe Cain could be an idiot and been as successful as he was?

The people here piling on Cain have not taken time to vet him AT ALL. Jumping on the latest liberal talking point is NOT vetting.

[Theo]

What part of this is not true?

“... presidential candidates don’t need to be immersed in the fine print of world affairs - they simply need to be leaders who can surround themselves with the right people and sift through their advice.”

I want a wise man or woman as president. I don’t what a know-it-all. A wise man knows that they need wise counsel.

[patriot08]

Another blatant display of diarrhea of the mouth from Cain.

Now it Perry had said anything of the kind here, we would have at least a week of threads ranting and raving at how stupid and unworthy he is. Double standards are like that though.

________________________________

You beat me to it. If that had been Rick Perry who said that the Cain fanatics would crucify him.

.

[Norseman]

>>So come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab. I see you shiver with anticipation.<<

You’ve found the Reagan clone???

[kevkrom]

Good post, but I’m not sure Cain is the man we should trust to pull the trigger so to speak.

I remain decidedly unconvinced about the field as a whole (minus my absolute stand against Romney). But I'm going to point out when folks are right, when they're wrong, and when they're getting a raw deal.