The WaPo had an interesting article on him in today's paper. Fascinating stuff they write in the press!! As if I needed something to destroy the last vestige of faith I had in the media, they come out with a new genre -- let's call it "political fiction." In the beginning of the article (written by Sandhya Somashekhar), it is stated, "Four years after Barack Obama campaigned for president, steering clear of provocative statements about race, Cain has floated to the top of presidential polls doing just the opposite." Either Sandhya Somashekhar was sleeping through Obama's election bid or she is being disingenuous or the color of her own skin has colored her vision. Obama did not steer clear of provocative statements about race.
The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person who, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know, there's a reaction that's been bred into our experiences that don't go away, and that sometimes comes out in the wrong way, and that's just the nature of race in our society.
-Barack Obama, March 2008
But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.
-Barack Obama, March 2008
Michelle Obama, in January of 2008, said in an interview that race is an important issue in this country -- and went on to say that a disproportionate number of African American women are dying of breast cancer because of "health disparities."
In my view, these are provocative statements.
The difference between the Obamas and Herman Cain is that the Obamas see race as an issue that holds back black people. They take skin color very seriously... and the fact that Barack Obama sees a "typical white person" as somebody who is naturally afraid of any black men they don't know is telling. Herman Cain has a sense of humor about race, he calls out the black community for mindlessly voting Democrat, and refers to himself as a "black walnut."
Cain doesn't believe that racism is something that holds people back. Black people don't care to hear this, according to Edward DuBose of the NAACP. Edward accuses Cain of "engaging in very dangerous, irresponsible...rhetoric" and goes on to say that Cain is doing this in order to be accepted by white people. But why would Cain think that a person's skin color holds them back?? He's a black man who has been a successful businessman, a preacher, and now a presidential candidate. I think his life is a testimony to the accuracy of his point of view.
Herman Cain is not perfect - nobody is. He is not the "ideal candidate." He has his folksy 9-9-9 plan. While I support a fair tax (i.e., a tax in which all citizens would participate), it seems that his 9-9-9 plan would leave in place a tax on income as well as instituting a tax on purchases, which would leave the door open for extreme taxation in the future.
I have a natural aversion to a "progressive" tax code. I don't think that success should be punished with higher tax rates. I don't think that any particular class of people should be allowed to pay no taxes, and I certainly don't think that there should be a government check coming to you if you didn't make "enough money." I just don't know that the 9-9-9 deal is the best answer to a real problem.
Another count against Cain is his lack of diplomacy. Some of his statements have caused me to wonder what he would say while dealing with foreign dignitaries.
I left that Democrat plantation a long time ago, and I ain't goin' back.
- Herman Cain
The liberal mainstream media... they are doubly scared that a real black man might run against Barack Obama.
-Herman Cain
By the way, it's OK to call me black... I am an American black conservative. An ABC. OK. It's OK. It's OK. I'm not hyphenated.
-Herman Cain
I'm ready for the "gotcha" questions and they're already starting to come. And when they ask me who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan I'm going to say, you know. I don't know. Do you know?
-Herman Cain
Yeah... not so sure about that.
But here are my choices... do I want someone in office who might offend some foreign dignitary, but will stick to our Constitution? Or do I want someone in office who will bend over backwards NOT to offend, but will inflict damage of all kinds on our country? Do I trust Mitt Romney? NO. I'd have to be a complete fool to trust that slick son-of-a-gun. He's an opportunistic politician. Do I trust Rick Perry? NO. He's a step up from Romney, but still playing politics rather than trying to solve problems. And when he does "try" to "solve a problem" I don't think I care much for his methods. (Forced immunization against sexually transmitted diseases for tweens anyone?)
No, Herman Cain is not the perfect candidate. But, so far, he's the one I like the best.
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