The American Spectator : Aiming for Ames

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Aiming for Ames

By Robert Stacy McCain on 8.9.11 @ 6:09AM

Herman Cain's bus tour rolls across Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- Lois Vanderbur drove 30 miles from her home in Mapleton to attend Herman Cain's event Monday in Denison. When the event was over, she went to eat at a nearby McDonald's, where I overheard her tell her friend Rose Wolden: "Obama was an hour late for his speech and promised to raise taxes, and then the Dow fell 550 points."

Mrs. Vanderbur, 68, is a very well-informed grandmother. When I asked her about the stock market tumble, she whipped out her iPhone, called up the latest numbers and told me that the Dow Jones Industrial Average had, in fact, closed at 10,809.85 for a one-day loss of 634.67 points. Forget all that stereotypical talk about Iowans being a bunch of ignorant hicks from flyover country. Their state's most famous product is still corn -- and the cornfields here are better measured by the square mile than by the acre -- but the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses have made politics at least the state's second-most important export, and few Americans are more civic-minded than a politically active Iowan.

Mrs. Vanderbur and Mrs. Wolden were among more than 60 area residents who crowded into Cronk's Café in downtown Denison for Cain's mid-afternoon event, the second stop on his statewide "Common Sense Solutions" bus tour. The overflow audience heard Cain rip into President Obama's response to the recent Standard & Poor's downgrade of U.S. national debt. "Today, the president, Senator [John] Kerry and other Democrats now want to blame somebody for the credit downgrade -- other than themselves," Cain said. "They control the Senate. They control the White House. Obama's Treasury secretary [Tim Geithner] is in charge of the Treasury. Now they are trying to blame the Tea Party movement for the downgrade. How pathetic is that? That's not leadership, folks -- that's not leadership."

The Denison crowd responded enthusiastically to Cain's message, as had his audience during a luncheon speech in Sioux City hosted by the local Republican Jewish Coalition. At that event, which also drew more than 60 attendees, Cain explained his objections to the 2010 Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act -- best known by the names of its two Democrat sponsors, Sen. Christopher Dodd and Rep. Barney Frank -- and then added: "Here's two other problems I have with the Dodd-Frank bill -- Dodd and Frank."

That line got a huge laugh from the GOP audience, but Cain's criticism of the administration's economic policy is serious -- and taken seriously by Republicans like Mrs. Vanderbur. "I have followed Herman Cain since he was president of Godfather's Pizza, because I live in an investment family," she said. "We are very conservative. We invest money in the stock market. We're very active in keeping track of what's going on worldwide, and Herman Cain seems to offer what we need at the present time." She explained that, in 2008, she supported former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the GOP primary campaign. "I'd say Herman Cain is probably capable just like Mitt Romney, and [Cain] doesn't have the baggage of the health care policy that [Romney] had in Massachusetts. Previous to that [in 2000], I went to the Ames straw poll for Steve Forbes, so that tells you where my mind goes.… We need somebody in Washington, D.C. that understands the bottom line."

The bottom line in Iowa this week is a Thursday debate that will be televised on Fox News and Saturday's straw poll in Ames, where few observers expect Cain to finish better than fifth place. One well-placed Iowa Republican operative said Monday that he expects the three top finishers at Ames to be Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, although not necessarily in that order.

The results at Ames may be somewhat overshadowed by Saturday's expected announcement by Texas Gov. Rick Perry that he will join the GOP 2012 presidential field. Yet if Perry does enter the race, he'll enter at least six months behind many of the other contestants, who have been criss-crossing Iowa with feverish intensity in recent weeks. Cain's Iowa bus tour marks his 26th visit to the state this year and -- as an indicator of how heavily candidates like Bachmann and Pawlenty have been campaigning here -- some have complained that Cain hasn't been to Iowa often enough. But the candidate and his staff were encouraged by what they saw during their first day of the bus tour, which ended with a rally at Bayliss Park in downtown Council Bluffs.

More than 120 people turned out for the event. Local GOP chairman Jeff Jorgensen has endorsed Cain and vowed to bring at least one bus-load -- and possibly two bus-loads -- of supporters to Ames. One reporter who had been present for Bachmann's noon rally the same day in the same park said Cain's crowd was actually slightly larger than hers, which is remarkable considering that she has advertised on TV throughout the state.

"This is just an indication of the enthusiasm and the support we have here in the state of Iowa," Cain said after the Council Bluffs rally, where nearly every attendee sought him out to shake his hand and have their photos taken with him. "People who have never been to Iowa, they can't understand what's happening.… We believe that our support here in Iowa is about as solid as we can get, so we're thrilled with the turnout we had here today."

With those words, he waved good-bye and boarded the bus that will carry him all the way to Ames on Saturday.

About the Author

Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (19) | Leave a comment

POST American| 8.9.11 @ 8:48AM

AS Barack (Persian for RAM) Obama is
doing his CFR darndest to get the Rockefeller
med saturated public through the 'Bill' Gates
of that 1.5 QUADRILION in FAKE USURY
derivatives debt ----yet another CAIN?

And even as our LONG designed economic,
cultural, economic and political destruction
barrels on -----------NO ONE DARES connect
A to B, or R to C to T.

Glow--BALL---ists TAKE NOTE.

Southern_Comment| 8.9.11 @ 9:02AM

Are you one of the Rockefeller med public?

Alan Brooks| 8.9.11 @ 10:02AM

"Are you one of the Rockefeller med public?"

No, Dee See/PostAmerican isn't smart enough to do that.
Anyway I live in the Midwest, and they do agriculture very well, and their hearts are in the right place- but (like PostAmerican/Dee See) their brains are not. They are trying to pour old wine in new wineskins.
You have to see it up close for a long time. In 1994 I rang a writer up at National Review, don't remember who, to tell him the Midwest is more violent than he mentioned in one of his pieces. He replied "I didn't see that in my travels there."
Well of course you are not going to see much of the seedy side of life from a hotel window, or at friends' homes. I have spent decades in the Midwest, and it is no longer the idyllic scenario any of you might represent it as-- in any way. That is something out of Dorothy and Auntie Em a century ago.

Southern_Comment| 8.9.11 @ 8:59AM

I like Cain and wish we were putting him more in the forefront. Bachmann, although a good watchdog has the problem of her husbands clinic (and will turn people off because of the Christian soccer mom image). Romney not only has Romney care, but has the added challenge of the libs pushing him constantly - immediate turnoff to a conservative. Perry, well there are a lot of things I like about Perry, but something I don't like his immigration stance - first, he needs to define that better and second, Texas shares the same problem as Az - what's he doing about it? Pawlenty, to be honest I need to go read about (for some reason it's like the Peloponnesian Wars, puts me to sleep right from the beginning ) no charisma, or it's simply just not getting into the outlets I get my news from. Other than the loyalty oath, which is just plain silly, I've heard good things from him - exactly what he says he has common sense and something this government desperately needs.

YeloStalyn| 8.9.11 @ 10:12AM

I'm with you. Right now... I WANT to vote for Cain... but he's just not getting the traction he needs. So... I fall to Bachman. I would like Paul to be more... well... presidential. His ideas are good for the most part, but his delivery is abysmal (sorry Paulites... it's true). Pawlenty is just, well... "there." I like what I've heard... but he doesn't excite me. And we need someone "exciting" if we're going to try and win ANY youth vote. Romney is a lib. He was elected in Mass.... enough said.

Southern_Comment| 8.9.11 @ 2:08PM

Paul loses me on his military stance - although I agree with him concerning the fed. He's got an added issue of his supporters - no offense to all but he's got a few loons in that lake.

BackToBasics| 8.9.11 @ 9:19PM

I like Cain and Bachman the best. Cain seems both knowledgeabile and very sure of himself when he speaks. I like Bachman too.

I think Perry is at the center-right side of the Republican establishment; but he's still establishment. He's more conservative than a RINO and than either Bush I or II but they still like him enough to back him. Perry, comes out of almost nowhere AND as a late starter and gets maximum coverage that comes from establishment connections. In my lifetime we've already had 3 presidents from Texas and I'm not a fan of any of them, although I reluctantly voted for Bush I and II and third party in 2008.

I see him as a more conservative Bush but not conservative enough for me to back during the primaries. He's not so clear on illegal immigration but what I've read so far shows his range goes from hands-off to soft. In other words he will do nothing to enforce Federal regulations about it. He criticized Arizona's law to enforce Federal laws already on the books. I remember when he said this and here's just one of many sites that quote him.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-.....-for-texas

Cain and Bachman are it for now for me. I do not see them as not getting enough traction yet. I think they will have to make names for themselves as neither the media nor the Repub establishment will help them. From what I've seen they've done well so far considering such weak outside help. That's a quality every president should have, the ability to go it alone against all headwinds if necessary. I'll continue pulling for Cain or Bachman during the primaries as long as they remain in the race.

TrueBlue| 8.10.11 @ 6:04PM

Not sure what is wrong with a soccer mom image honestly, since a responsible mother is a GOOD image if you ask me. Might not be what some people consider Presidential, but getting Congress to do anything constructive is pretty similar to herding kids around and getting them to do their chores. :)

Charles Easterly| 8.9.11 @ 10:08AM

I think that there are a few very large problems with the candidates mentioned favorably in this article.

Governor Romney and Governor Perry both have records of instituting government-forced "healthcare" on their often unwilling fellow citizens.
By this time most voters have heard of "Romneycare" but perhaps less well known outside of Texas is Governor Perry's history of forced vaccinations.
From http://www.vaccineinfo.net/ale.....1177.shtml "Governor Rick Perry is making quite a name for himself as the FORCED VACCINATION governor - from HPV for 11 and 12 year old girls in 2007, to required meningitis vaccines for college students, and now teaming up with Senator Jane Nelson ... and authorized in his executive ordered session buried in a Medicaid finance bill is FORCED VACCINATION of health care workers with penalties for non-compliance."

For a more objective treatment of Governor Perry's admittedly authoritarian actions, I can recommend "Texas Governor Perry’s Vaccination Mandate" http://www.akdart.com/abu61.html

Mr. Cain has ties to central banking/central planning, which is partly responsible for leading our country into the financial crises a majority of us are still struggling to work through and out of. If his solutions include relying on the Federal Reserve Cartel and the redistribution of taxpayer money through Federal Government programs, he will yet again advocate the failed policies of the past.

These men may "look" presidential and make articulate speeches, but each of them has records indicative of a "more government involvement is better" mindset.

Regards,

Charles

Pelligrino| 8.10.11 @ 8:59AM

Thank you, Charles. I followed the HPV issue very closely when it arose and was center-front as an issue 4-5 years ago. I was appalled. Completely unnecessary. A complete misuse of public funds (taxpayers' monies).

Completely immoral.

No moral person can examine the HPV vacinations for girls still in Junior High and not be furious.

This issue needs to be kept in the limelight. I will more closely examine the other vaccination issues. The last thing we need is a so-called conservative telling us more of what to do and how to do it in healthcare.

Because, yes, Perry will announce.

Elgordo| 8.9.11 @ 10:50AM

To COUNTER the UNFAIR DEMONIZATION of the TEA PARTY

The Dems are trying to demonize the Teaparty with generalized, nebulous attacks on them as terrorists

A Teaparty SpokesPerson(s) should clearly list the 4 or 5 itms the Teaparty wants in a discussion of the Debt Negotiations to upgrade our S&P Rating back to AAA

Then demand to know what's terrorist about these demands.

Also, the Teaparty should point out that it was the underlying policies of Obama not the contentiousness of the Debt Ceiling debate that got us to the brink of insolvency.

bill glass| 8.9.11 @ 11:37AM

I'm 100% for Cain...but I'm in a neighboring state.

Meg| 8.9.11 @ 11:56AM

I am for Cain. He loves this country and can turn it around if it won't be to late by 2013. We are going down hill very fast.

blackwatch| 8.9.11 @ 1:37PM

Herman has stumbled but he ain't down yet. If he doesn't get the GOP nod he would make a damn good cabinet secretary.

Bring an AXE to DC should be our motto.

Bob| 8.9.11 @ 6:02PM

Ames, isn't that where Michele said Pickett's Charge occurred?

Oregun| 8.9.11 @ 6:15PM

No Bob, that is where your Prez has his 57th state.

bill glass| 8.9.11 @ 6:14PM

I haven't really seen much of a stumble...1)the right of return??? not many regular folks know about that, and 2) the muslim thing? who gives a sh!t? Cain will really get to Obama, and he needs to stay in as long as he can, hopefully all the way. Keep Cain in the race!! Vote for Herman!!

Oregun| 8.9.11 @ 6:17PM

Herman is the real deal. He has my vote!

POST American| 8.9.11 @ 11:26PM

------------JUST IN!

Eyewitnesses from the English riots
are reporting police stand downs AND,
no doubt, like the recent FREEMASONIC
staged Norway horror ---it being provocateured.

"We ARE using MASSIVE third world
immigration to DESTROY British culture
beyond repair, once and for all ---FOREVER."
-Fmr PM TONY BLAIR
(Daily Mail interview)

---------------SO, across the USURER plundered
west, get ready for lots n' lots more 'benny violence'
---emphasis on the violence ---DE-emphasis
on the 'bennies'.