The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Raising Cain?

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Michael Barone argues that Herman Cain should be considered among the top tier of GOP contenders for the presidency. I agree. Fred Barnes also gives him a good write-up. But I also argue that he should now be subject to some serious vetting. Some of the vetting involves investigative journalism. Other parts, though, merely involve asking him to answer certain questions -- which, I feel certain, he can probably ace. I write about those questions at CFIF today. Among them:

4) How does your business experience translate into political life? (Some business experience does so; some doesn't.) Practical politics, unlike some businesses, isn't merely about commands carried out by underlings; it is largely about successful negotiations carried out in large part in the public eye. Did your business background give you negotiating skills? When and where and how? In what other ways have you developed a skill set specifically applicable to governing? Have you been involved in organizations where the structure isn't entirely vertical but at least largely horizontal, with competing realms of power?

Again, read all about it, here.

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Simon Templar| 10.3.11 @ 11:57AM

Quinn,

You are asking him to untie the Gordina Knot. I hopes he responds just as Alexander did.

Have you ever worked in a corporation before?
If so, you would not have to ask that question. Political. Negotiations? LOL.

Quin, what we need is someone who does not identify too much with the monster called Washington DC. Someone who understands it well enough to take it down. What you are asking for is someone who can govern the government as if it is a seperate entity and nation in and of itself. The kind of leadership we need is someone who will be willing to take the sword and do some bold swift cutting and not follow the conventional thinking. Yes, vetting and knowing more about one's background is necessary as it gives us insight into their character, experience, and future behaivor. Please no Gordina Knots.

Clint| 10.3.11 @ 1:33PM

Cain Played The Race Card On Perry For The NiggerHead Rock Issue.

Oldefarte| 10.3.11 @ 3:15PM

As always, I agree with Quin's intelligent analysis; but the essential point with Cain is that he has private business experience. I'm skeptical of his 9 plan of revenue, but same would have to be debated in congress if proposed [and could simply be defeated if not economically feasable]. As to his negotiating abilities, as a CEO from the private sector, he'd be inclined to command his instructions for policy implementation to subordinates [who then would be tasked with the negotiations for same], and he would would not need to perform any more horse-trading than ordinarily necessary within business negotiating scenerios. The important factor would be his demanding his proposals be carried out by subordinates [as opposed to the current office holder's weakness as an administrator as exampled by his Treasury Secty/Citibank fiasco recently]. His potential wishes/selections regarding SCOTUS judges etc no doubt would be from a potential listing of conservative candidates presented to him, and no doubt his selection would be based upon their ruling historically concerning business-friendly decisions. As to his foreign policy philosophy, I'd guess that he'd be fairly conservative [even Ron Paulish in nature] again due to his business background [these foreign envolvements have cost us money and loss of military lives, while we have gained practically nothing in return]. I'd almost be in favor of his selection of Paul as his State Secty in that regard, as this country needs to get out of these foreign countries for the foreign aid cost savings alone. Cain's only drawback is his lack of political debating skills, which is a huge plus in my opinion [and no doubt I'm not alone in thinking thus]!!!!!!!!

Dai Alanye| 10.3.11 @ 3:19PM

I'd back Herman Cain* against Obama, but the man is obviously weak in policy areas other than economics, and his triple-nine tax plan is merely a gimmick. We need to hope he'd choose very wise advisors once elected.

*[But then, I'd back Joe Biden against Obama.]

martin j smith| 10.3.11 @ 4:40PM

Cain will have to learn not to play into Socialists hands on matters such as the race card or gay issues or other related matters. He needs to be coached how to respond or not to respond or hold off responding to questions. He also and others as well need to learn how to hand MSM interviews or perhaps avoid them altogether.

martin j smith| 10.3.11 @ 4:40PM

SpiralArchitect| 10.3.11 @ 4:42PM

It is unlikely there is any vetting remaining after the ungodly amounts used on Zero while he was running for office. Any office.

aware| 10.3.11 @ 5:22PM

Countdown to Cain implosion....10....9...8...

Here is Cain on the economy on Sept. 1, '08, just a week before collapse: http://004eeb5.netsolhost.com/hc126.htm

If you are clueless by Sept. '08 as to what was about to happen there is very little chance you know any better now.

tonypal| 10.3.11 @ 5:53PM

Hell, Obama's been president for nearly 3 years and still doesn't have a clue.

aware| 10.3.11 @ 6:27PM

Agreed. But now I don't think we have the margin of error we had after Bush the Lesser. Bammy used it all up. In fact, it may not even matter at this point who gets the nod, it is going to be a disaster.

Oldefarte| 10.6.11 @ 12:55PM

No, the collapse came on 1/1/09, when Obama and Democrats began DISMANTLING THIS COUNTRY through excessive regulation; legislating WELFARECARE, NON-STIMULUS TO LABOR UNIONS; creating legislation oversite proof czars [ie Van Jones]; etc. This country's economy would have been on the increase by now if John McCain would have been elected, but instead the electorite 'acted [voted]stupidly' in placing these complete morons in charge. The fork in the road comes in November of 2012, and we will go one of only two directions. Either we begin the slow upward path to survival and future prosperity, or we die an immediate death of economic and political collapse from our election of either a Republican or the Democrat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prester John| 10.3.11 @ 6:08PM

You know, given that Cain grew up in the segregated South and remembers the days of White and Colored water fountains (unlike BHO), I think that people can be just a tad forgiving about his comments about NH gate.

That's not to say I wouldn't like him to preface every gotcha question with, "If what you're saying is true, then I think.....".

Ron| 10.4.11 @ 12:53AM

Who is Cain ?
He admits to being a Dem but when did he switch ?
He has pandered to the lib media over the race card, muslim card, and gay victim card and threw Perry and the Debate audience under the !Then we find out the guy supported Romney in 2008 but will support Obama over Perry in 2012 ?
Is he a Romney stalking horse ?

Sandy| 10.4.11 @ 7:06AM

Cain used the race card against Perry for political gain. What goes up always comes down. Cain apparently never learned the lesson that you don't step on people's heads on your way up the ladder, because you will meet those same people on the way back down. Cain has had his Bachmann moment, and as fast as he has gone up in the polls, he will now be going back down with equal speed.

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