Herman Cain Takes The Prize at Florida Straw Poll While Perry Places Second
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(Joe Burbank/AP Photo)
Herman Cain pulled off an upset win over Texas Gov. Rick Perry at the Presidency 5 Straw Poll in Orlando, Fla., today gaining 37 percent of the 2,657 votes after wooing Florida Republican delegates with a series of strong speeches at CPAC and P5.
“Thank you to the Republican voters for this incredible honor of being named the winner of the Presidency 5 straw poll in Florida today,” Cain said in a statement. “This is a sign of our growing momentum and my candidacy that cannot be ignored. I will continue to share my message of ‘common sense solutions’ across this country and look forward to spending more time in Florida, a critical state for both the nomination and the general election.”
Perry, who stumbled through parts of Thursday’s debate, placed second, beating Mitt Romney by one and a half percent. They were followed by Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, and Michele Bachmann.
Cain’s Common Sense Solutions campaign was able to strike a chord with Florida Republicans, promoting his 9-9-9 economic recovery plan. The plan calls for a 9 percent business flat tax, a 9 percent individual flat tax, and a 9 percent national sales tax that he says will create $430 billion in revenue and 6 million jobs.
Perry issued a statement that was less an acknowledgment of Cain’s victory that it was a swipe at Romney.
“I want to congratulate Herman Cain on his victory today,” Perry said in a statement. “Floridians and voters nationally want a candidate who is clear on the issues and talks honestly about the future, not someone who takes multiple sides of an issue and changes views every election season. Today’s vote demonstrates that Floridians are energized and ready to help get America working again.”
The two campaigns were quick to overlook Cain’s first place finish and turn the results into an opportunity to go on the attack.
Senior Romney advisor Eric Fehrnstrom took to Twitter shortly after the Straw Poll results were announced and jabbed at Perry for his distant second-place finish, despite pressing all week for a win.
“Words that Rick Perry probably wants to take back, from this morning’s breakfast: ‘I have all my hopes on Florida,’” Fehrnstrom wrote on Twitter.
In a follow up interview with ABC News, Perry spokesman Mark Miner called Romney’s third place finish “very devastating to his campaign.”
“He’s been running for president for five and a half years and he comes in third place today. Whether it’s his inconsistency or his liberal positions, the people of Florida continue to react to him every year he runs for president,” Miner said. “He’s expecting to be crowned president without the effort and today showed he’s not just going to be crowned president of the United States. You have to work for it.”
The Perry campaign made a strong push for a win in the P5 Straw Poll, sending mailers to delegates the week before, beefing up a leadership team with high-profile Florida state legislators and courting delegates at a breakfast reception Saturday morning. Perry made personal appeals throughout the weekend to Floridians, saying it was a “mistake” for candidates to ignore the importance of the poll.
Some suggest Perry’s missteps in the debate and position on immigration may have hurt him among the party faithful in Florida.
William Breazeale, a delegate from Orlando, told ABC News he entered the weekend wanting to vote for Perry based on his jobs record but said Perry’s response to a question about in-state tuition for illegal immigrants at the debate would cost him a win at the Straw Poll.
“Rick Perry, as you’ll see, has lost a lot of conservatives in here by being pro-illegal immigration, and he can say he’s against it all he wants, but if you give benefits to any illegal aliens, you have lost the support of true conservatives,” Breazeale told ABC News.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott told ABC News immigration is a hot issue for Florida voters but that the real focus of the 2012 election will be job creation.
“It’s all about jobs,” Scott said. “That’s what people are worried about.”
Scott said his son, a delegate for the P5 straw poll, was contacted by Bachmann, Cain, Huntsman, and Perry.
The Romney campaign has downplayed their participation in the Straw Poll, saying they have spent little to no money on the event.
Earlier in the campaign, Romney said he would not participate in any of the states’ straw polls and would instead put his money toward primaries and caucuses.
Bachmann, who also did not heavily pursue delegates in the Straw Poll, placed last with 1.5 percent of the votes, a stark contrast from her first place win in the Ames Iowa Straw Poll in August.
The Republican Party of Florida’s Presidency Straw Polls have a history of selecting the Republican nominee and often times next president. Ronald Reagan won the first Presidency Straw Poll in 1979, and George H.W. Bush won Presidency 2 in 1987. Though he did not win the presidency, Bob Dole was chosen as the winner of Presidency 3 before he obtained the Republican nomination. Presidency 4 was held in 2008 but did not involve a straw poll.
Cain has done well in several straw polls this election season. At the Western Conservative Summit in Denver this July, Cain received nearly 50 percent after delivering a powerful speech, prompting many delegates to ask to switch their votes. Perry, who had yet to declare his candidacy but spoke at the conference in July, placed second.
ABC News’ Susan Archer, Emily Friedman and Amy Walter contributed to this report.
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Why am I not surprised this is completely buried on this website. Maybe because the winner wasn’t Perry? Huh media?
Posted by: keredte | September 24, 2011, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
Cain wins the Florida GOP straw poll? Uh, yeah. This just goes to show the utter worthlessness of political straw polls: Cast most of your votes for the guy who has NO chance whatsoever of being your party’s candidate. Brilliant strategy conservatives.
Posted by: CharlieOS | September 24, 2011, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
Those Tea Party racists are at it again. By voting for a self-made black man, they sure have shown their stripes….
Posted by: Tink it Threw | September 24, 2011, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
It would be nice to have a man like Herman Cain as President….a man with common sense and lots of business acumen. Our current President is such a sad example, even Biden looks good compared to the incumbent.
Posted by: hillcoguy | September 24, 2011, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
*GASP* racist Tea baggers backing a black man for president??
Posted by: Will i am | September 24, 2011, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
How in the hell will the left marginalize Republicans this time?
Posted by: LarryDavidSandwich | September 24, 2011, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
Jeannine Garaffalo sobered up long enough to say that he was just a plant. SInce he was conservative and black, he obviously can’t think for himself. But, thankfully, because she’s a dimwitted lefty, so she can say that about blacks, and isn’t racist. (wink, wink)
Posted by: Tink it Threw | September 24, 2011, 7:10 pm 7:10 pm
Yeah, a straw poll. By the most rabid republicans. This guy will never carry a national election.
Posted by: attitude | September 24, 2011, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
I don’t think that Herman Cain has any more business experience than Mitt Romney … but nobody TRUSTS Romney. I would be more inclined to trust Herman Cain. He is not a career politician and I don’t think he has any “favors” to pay back …. but that is just a guess.
Posted by: Carol S | September 24, 2011, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
Cain makes a lot of sense but he needs to read the Supreme Court’s decisions on Heller vs the District of Columbia and McDonald vs Chicago.
I’d like to see a Paul / Cain ticket. Because of his age Paul will only be able to serve one term which will give Cain time to get up to speed on the issues he doesn’t quite understand yet.
Hopefully that will give us at least 12 years of good leadership. Something we haven’t had for a long time.
Posted by: oonogil | September 24, 2011, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
Attitude: these are the hard core conservatives that show up for these things. If Cain can get momentum and gets the nomination, he’d get every conservative vote. And that’s what really scares the left….
Posted by: Tink it Threw | September 24, 2011, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
the gop debate last nite was really pathetic, cos all of them came with almost zero serious and decent economic plans to overturn the mess bush 2 terms and obama 1 term have put america in.
by constantly refering to reagan, those gop clowns showed us they are clueless and it is easy to portray now reagan as hero, but this dude with all due respect, havent done much for middle class and he hasnt done anythin to help the poor in this country.
huntsman’s plan is to free the market even more, yeah for sure, thats the silver bullet we all wish for, specially after the subprime scandal…
wall street detains the real political and economic power in america, politicians wont do anythin’ to stop that, because they work for them, so wake up folks, if u think casting ur vote in 2012 might change smth, u r fooling yourself.
Posted by: djoy | September 24, 2011, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm
Congratulations to Herman Cain!!! He’s been my personal favorite from the very beginning. I hope he wins the election in 2012. Then we can call all the liberals who snipe at him racists.
Posted by: Kala | September 24, 2011, 7:58 pm 7:58 pm
I LOVE Herman Cain!!! GO Mr. Cain!!!! Congratulations!
Posted by: Cin | September 24, 2011, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
Herman Cain would be my first choice of the field at this point (and yes I’m a racist tea party older white lady, IDK do you call us ladies???) If people would listen to him, he is a smart man and probably the kind of person we need to get out of this economic mess
Posted by: samhiguchi | September 24, 2011, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
I saw Cain as a winner very early on after the SC debates. I thought he sounded the best. But after listening to him in several of the debate I found that most of his answers were just “slogans” and “sound bites” with very little back up material. I still like him, but doubt he has what it takes to win and doubt if he has the ability to run the country. I believe he is very good VP material and I think that is the position he is angeling for.
I am independent and voted for BO in the last election…..but I think he too has turned into slogans and sound bites and is not doing a good job of running the country.. His main attribute turns out to have been his speaking ability and not his leadership ability.
Posted by: Rick | September 24, 2011, 8:04 pm 8:04 pm
WOW I NEVER THOUGHT HE WOULD OF WON A STRAW POLL…… LOL H ELL GO CAIN
Posted by: Cain Man | September 24, 2011, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm
Cain doesn’t even know where Israel is. The man is an idGgit/
Posted by: Nancy | September 24, 2011, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
cain is for sure a cool dude, but cracking jokes and throwing slogans lik 999 and so on, isnt enough to become the next president. he is surely more talented than perry, romney n gingrich, but he is far less honest in my view than ron paul, so he has da pedigree to become a vice president, nothin ‘more
but i do think that gop used his as a “black toy” in order to paly the race card against obama.
saddly cain is playin’ their game. Dont get me wrong i didnt say that gop was a racist party, not all, racism can also be found in some democrat fields, but we all agree that many tea party voters are simply bashing obama simply beacause of the color of its skin, and it is dead wrong and stupid.
you have every right to be against his policy, but come on, get over the race issue, are u part of the 21st century or still trapped in the caves of your ignorance.
Posted by: djoy | September 24, 2011, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
This is turning out to be more fun than I thought.
Posted by: Cassandra | September 24, 2011, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
DJOY: I have heard from liberals – in the media or those who would lose powerful positions – that the Tea Party is racist, but I’ve never seen it at all. No racism is expressed or tolerated by the Tea Party. If it was there, there would be endless UTube examples. But, I see more aggression and racism at SEIU meetings than Tea Party rallies. Again, the left knows that, but it so easy to throw baseless charges when the media never fact checks, but simply repeats factless charges.
Hell, Solyndra Exec’s just pleaded the 5th in front of Congress, and only NBC covered it, the others ignored it. Liberals/Obama just can’t seem to get the same coverage conservatives get.
Posted by: Tink it Threw | September 24, 2011, 8:46 pm 8:46 pm
Attitude: these are the hard core conservatives that show up for these things. If Cain can get momentum and gets the nomination, he’d get every conservative vote. And that’s what really scares the left….
Posted by: Tink it Threw | September 24, 2011, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
************************************************************************************************************
Have at it. Go extreme right and you guarantee Obama another term. Your choice. A straw poll is like a zealot convention.
Posted by: attitude | September 24, 2011, 8:48 pm 8:48 pm
Somebody do a recount, there may have been hang chads on
those straws!
Posted by: michael | September 24, 2011, 8:50 pm 8:50 pm
Cain doesn’t even know where Israel is. The man is an idGgit/
POSTED BY: NANCY *******I wouldn’t be too critical, Bush
told an audience that Africa was a nation.
Posted by: michael | September 24, 2011, 9:00 pm 9:00 pm
I am so pleased for Herman Cain. He has this quality that no liberal has, it’s called common sense.
Mr. Cain would never allow the “brilliant” Stephen Chu (head of our anti-Energy Dept) to waste billions of our tax dollars producing $125,000 electric cars at a company in Finland.
I’m for Rick Perry (who likewise has tons of common sense), but good for Cain. When we take back the presidency, Mr. Cain will get an important cabinet post. He will do an awesome job for my country and I am thrilled for him.
Posted by: joinamerica | September 24, 2011, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
Isn’t this the guy who sells cookies?
Posted by: richard roberts | September 24, 2011, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
This was an establishment poll.
You needed to register early and pay $175 to become a delegate and vote in the poll.
Perry should have won this. His loss shows that the establishment has doubts to his electability.
Cain is my 2nd choice so far. I fear he will be marginalized like Gary Johnson and Ron Paul are.
Posted by: the truth | September 24, 2011, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm
ATTITUDE: “Have at it. Go extreme right and you guarantee Obama another term. Your choice. A straw poll is like a zealot convention.”
—————–
Again, I guess the conservative “zealots” aren’t so racist, hmmm? It’s OK, you knew they weren’t, but it makes good press.
The Dems went extreme left, and the Republicans gained a historic 70+ seats. 5 women ran for Governor, and 4 of them won. The Republicans just won 2 special election seats, but no worries, huh?
Cain isn’t extreme, he’s just spewing common sense, and when he’s heard, people see it. He has leadership and executive experience, something Obama has shown the whole world he lacks.
Posted by: Tink it Threw | September 24, 2011, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm
At this point in time the only republican I would even consider voting for is Governor Johnson. Governor Johnson is willing to put some real issues on the table which is more then I can say for the other brain dead spineless dishonest candidates. Governor Johnson said; “Today’s mess didn’t just happen,” “We elected it — one senator, member of Congress and president at a time. Our leaders in Washington, DC, have ‘led’ America to record unemployment, a devalued currency, banking scandals, a mortgage crisis, drug crisis and economic crisis” The former governor may be best known for his support for legalizing marijuana. He also opposes continuing America’s military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. I don’t know much else about this candidate but I’m willing to listen to him as I’m not at all happy with any of the other candidates.
Posted by: T Trump | September 24, 2011, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
I find it cute the conservatives are suddenly getting behind Cain when they did not care about what he had to say even just days ago. “If you can’t beat them, join them,” right?
He needs to use less quotes from random places though. He’s quoted a song from the Pokemon the Movie 2000 soundtrack (of all things) several times already. Not only that, I feel like most of his soundbites are of him quoting something; not exactly full of originality.
But wasn’t Cain the guy that was described as having prejudice against Muslims when he said he wouldn’t appoint a Muslim judge because Shariah law might creep in? So for those of you who are claiming the conservatives and the Tea Party don’t have issues of certain people’s race and religious beliefs, I would guess otherwise.
Posted by: omgbreathe | September 24, 2011, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
Does this mean that I am only half racist and half hater for not liking Obama, but liking Cain?
Posted by: ssss | September 24, 2011, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
OMGBREATHE: Even Jesse Jackson has said that blacks can’t be racist, because of the collective black experience.
Ergo: Cain isn’t racist because he’s black. I can’t be in my support of him, because his decisions aren’t based on racism. Very logical.
Posted by: Tink it Threw | September 24, 2011, 10:13 pm 10:13 pm
Nancy, and Pres. Obama thinks there are 57 states and you still voted for him.
Posted by: Lizzie | September 24, 2011, 10:28 pm 10:28 pm
OMG! WTH just happened???????
Posted by: LMorch | September 24, 2011, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
I didn’t see this kind of publicity when Ron Paul won the California straw poll recently, but regardless, I am so happy the media has to choke on the fact that their man Perry didn’t win. Love it.
Posted by: keredte | September 24, 2011, 10:40 pm 10:40 pm
Perry didn’t win because he is as dumb as a pine nut not fallen too far from the tree. The question I have is why Perry is a distant second versus dead last with Bauckman chic…
Posted by: MysteryMove | September 24, 2011, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
Caine won only because he promised a pizza for anyone that would vote for him.
Posted by: AP | September 24, 2011, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
even though am not am american, i see mitt romney as the future of the country. He’s good at debate, but i still wonder why he lost the straw poll.
Posted by: cater | September 24, 2011, 11:50 pm 11:50 pm
Lizzie | September 24, 2011, 10:28 PM:
“Nancy, and Pres. Obama thinks there are 57 states and you still voted for him.”
=======================================
LOL! ……. “Wow, such an important issue in regards to the problems our country faces.”…. hehehehe… for a 1st grader, that is.
Anyone who has seen that video realizes that the president meant to say “forty”-seven in context with his entire sentence, and that the mess up was a simple mistake any tired person would make after 15 months of campaigning. But, of course, the right-wing nuts would make a big deal out of a slip-up of “forty” vs. “fifty”, but would keep their mouth’s completely silent when their previous Republican, so-called ‘fiscal conservative’ president was racking up “four-thousand-nine-hundred billion” worth of debt with the nation.
Posted by: Georgie_Bushie | September 24, 2011, 11:51 pm 11:51 pm
The know it all pundits said Herman can’t win. Keep saying it. Go Mr. Cain !
Posted by: Bob | September 25, 2011, 12:05 am 12:05 am
Rick Perry…Sucks !!!!!
Posted by: James | September 25, 2011, 12:16 am 12:16 am
I was so Shocked when I read that Mr Cain had Won!……..
I just want the economy to turn around and for people to start earning a decent living again….cause there are a lot of people out there thats Truly Hurting…….
I dont Think Perry will win the nomination….he is Excessively Arrogant coupled with a Cock-Sure-Attitude is a turn off to me…and That leads to war ….
Posted by: James | September 25, 2011, 12:22 am 12:22 am
I’d like to see Herman Cain get the nomination and take Ron Paul as his running mate. Cain can shut down any race-card remarks before they get started. Especially the idiots who call the Tea Party racist because its a cheap-shot that’s hard to disprove. He’s got the street cred to help keep him immune from Washington cronyism and give him that “Washington outsider” image. And he’s got the leadership to tell America what NEEDS to be done and actually DO IT.
Ron Paul on the other hand brings the political finesse and foreign affairs experience Cain will need to help show him political traps others might set for him, and to give him a broader view of things from a trustworthy source. And between them, they can provide a (hopefully) incorruptable force against Washington’s business as usual.
Posted by: Phydeux | September 25, 2011, 1:10 am 1:10 am
Perry’s “problem”:
1) He’s a Republican.
2) He’s a Republican from Texas.
Posted by: JLS1950 | September 25, 2011, 2:05 am 2:05 am
Abc, why did you pick a photo of Perry that makes him look alot like Nixon? I am not a crook, hand in the air doing the slicing motion with loose skin flapping.
Posted by: ssss | September 25, 2011, 2:51 am 2:51 am
Perry’s good point—-
He isn’t Obama.
Posted by: ssss | September 25, 2011, 3:11 am 3:11 am
Nancy, and Pres. Obama thinks there are 57 states and you still voted for him.
Posted by: Lizzie | September 24, 2011, 10:28 pm 10:28 pm ———————————————If you are besides yourself because Obama made that miistake, how do you feel then about Bush mistake in Iraq, and his eight years of blunders? Small change for you I bet.
Posted by: GARCIA | September 25, 2011, 4:38 am 4:38 am
Looking at Mr. Cain , there is confidence written all over his face. I am hoping he gets the Republican nomination. Vote for the man.
Posted by: Owen | September 25, 2011, 4:43 am 4:43 am
What are we going to Do….If Obama Wins….????
Posted by: James | September 25, 2011, 4:44 am 4:44 am
Ron Paul is still my first best choice for president.
Congratulations to Herman Cain though. If he was as eager and genuine about getting out of Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Libya and ending the global policing and nation building as Paul, I’d be much happier.
At the least Bachmann, Romney, and Perry were told to pound salt.
Posted by: dom youngross | September 25, 2011, 6:51 am 6:51 am
Garcia – Bush mads a mistake in Iraq? How is that? Iraq is now free and, is not in the hands of terrorist Iran and kept the bad guys BUSY OVER THERE – NO TERRORIST ATTACKS SINCE 911. Bush did what he was supposed do!!
Posted by: Temagami | September 25, 2011, 6:53 am 6:53 am
Ron Paul for president? A man who says it is OK for Iran to possess nukes? I don’t think so.
Posted by: Manitu | September 25, 2011, 6:55 am 6:55 am
Cain has the business back ground and experience needed to change the policies that are discouraging small businesses and turn the economy around. He says what he means and (I think) means what he says.
Posted by: deanbob | September 25, 2011, 7:18 am 7:18 am
NEWCOUNTRYMAN | SEPTEMBER 25, 2011, 7:14 AM 7:14 AM….”I notice the posts from the Left are getting less and less”……During the 2008 presidential campaign, I wondered how so many on the left were able to spend so much time on the forums (7 days a week). Many of us independents and conservatives are retired and make no bone about it. After the campaign, I read that Obama had lots of campaign money left over and intended to fund and internet group. I just wonder how many of our old friends on the left are paid or compensated for their posting? Any idea?
Posted by: deanbob | September 25, 2011, 7:36 am 7:36 am
Deanbob – You must remember that those 24/7 posters on the left for the most part are college kids, not working or just those who are just are the list for “Give me stuff via Obama.” I have often wondered if they are paid, but I have no idea – makes sense though.
Posted by: Manitu | September 25, 2011, 8:05 am 8:05 am
MANITU | SEPTEMBER 25, 2011, 8:05 AM 8:05 AM…..I understand what you’re saying; but, unless they went to school at night – in some cases after 8 PM …. . Others said they had jobs or a business (was the business blogging?) – I don’t know!
Posted by: deanbob | September 25, 2011, 8:09 am 8:09 am
MANITU | SEPTEMBER 25, 2011, 8:05 AM 8:05 AM…….Many of the ‘college posters’ showed their lack of ‘life’s experiences’. But, unless they went to school after 8PM, were all of their classes via Phoenix U? However, others stated they were working, had jobs or businesses. However, unless their job or business was blogging, even the most liberal employer needs some productivity (towards the company’s business) from their employees.
Posted by: deanbob | September 25, 2011, 8:58 am 8:58 am
Cain’s 9-9-9 proposal calls for a 9% individual federal tax rate AND a 9% national sales tax. So a family of 4 making $40,000 a year would pay $3600 in federal taxes plus 9% on everything they buy, on top of state and local income and sales and property taxes. Wow. He really wants to kill off the middle class. This regressive tax system would cause poverty in America to skyrocket. He also says it will create $430 billion in revenue and 6 million jobs. How? And in what time frame? Currently we need, and get, way more than $430 billion in revenue tax money to run the government each year. And how specifically will this lead to 6 million new private sector jobs? Sounds to me like Mr. Cain put together a catchy sound-byte plan that hurts America…..
Posted by: Searambler | September 25, 2011, 9:25 am 9:25 am
I for one would love to see someone who is not a politician given a chance at the presidency. I am so tired of lying, back stabbing politicians being elected who on support the agenda of the rest of their political party instead of their constituents. Good luck Cain! I’d vote for you !
Posted by: Glenda | September 25, 2011, 9:27 am 9:27 am
Oh yeah, and Cain’s 9-9-9 plan ALSO calls for ZERO capital gains tax, which is the way most millionaires and billionaires account for the vast majority of their income when it comes to tax time. Surprise!
Posted by: Searambler | September 25, 2011, 9:32 am 9:32 am
New Mexico GOP ran a Hispanic woman against a “gringo” woman in the Governor’s race and the Hispanic woman,Suzanne Martinez, won……No reason why the GOP shouldn’t run a self-made African-American man against another African-American man in the Presidential race……Neither one has a clear cut advantage other than ideas and intellect.
Posted by: munster42 | September 25, 2011, 10:59 am 10:59 am
Does this mean Obama has someone new to blame?
Posted by: newcountryman | September 25, 2011, 11:12 am 11:12 am
@munster42
Race is neither a clear cut advantage or disadvantage, as proven by Obama.
The idea that the GOP requires a black guy, so they can’t be called racist is ridiculous.
Posted by: the truth | September 25, 2011, 11:17 am 11:17 am
DREAM ON…..
Posted by: Drake Swarthmore | September 25, 2011, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
Cain winning a straw poll doesn’t eradicate the GOP’s history during the past 6 decades. Specifically, they never advocate for issues that advance quality of life for minorities or poor people. Having token blacks in their ranks and elevating them is an old, worn out strategy that fools no one and changes nothing.
Posted by: MikeInCarolina | September 25, 2011, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm
Liberal – left voters are mostly all about government giving them “stuff,” one way or the other. The politicians oblige and shazam we are 15 billion in debt. Pretty simple really.
Posted by: Manitu | September 25, 2011, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
Mike in Carolina – may be news to you but the “BEST” thing for minorities (or anyone else) are good paying jobs in the private sector. Dems have no clue how to make that happen. REPS led by Herman Cain ” KNOW HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.”" Giving “Stuff” to people is the “WORST” option.
Posted by: Manitu | September 25, 2011, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
This man could be are first African -American President.
Posted by: deadwrestler | September 25, 2011, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
Do you all forget who got us into this recession…a republican administration which was given a surplus and spent every dime and had nothing to show for it…talk about reckless spending. They did not even pay for their two wars…we are paying now…they did not pay for a prescription drug program…we are stuck paying for it now…what did they use this money for? How can anyone be so stupid and think another republican will solve this problem when they caused it in the first place. Now they are holier than thou with deficit control…give me a break. This presiden thas done more in three years than Bush in eight. The stimulus did work check fact check and see…it provided between 1.2 and 2.9 million jobs saved or created. He saved our auto industry and if you think things are bad now…they could be worse if he had not. The republicans have not created one job in nine months. Look at what Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida who voted them in are doing…they are getting rid of them with recalls and anything else they can do. They promised them jobs and all they did was fire people like cops and firemen and teachers and created more jobs loses…they don’t care..Obama will get the blame is th eir thinking. I laugh when they say the rich are job creators and they should be allowed to keep their money…well so should the poor be allowed to keep their money and the middle class they have less to keep anyway. Jon creators my foot..where are the jobs? It is not fair to ask the same group of people to bear the brunt of a republican mess….it is time for their friends ..the rich to do their share.
Posted by: Pat Napolitano | September 25, 2011, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
If you are President of the United States then it is impossible to be simply a token… because you become the most visible, powerful person representing the enitre county and not just a member of a representative sub-group… and the idea of racism in the United States is also based on white supremacy… if the Republican Party nominates a black man to be president they negate the idea of white supremacy because their entire goal of existence is now based on putting a black person in the supreme office of political power.
Posted by: Dave | September 25, 2011, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
;-) …. If Romney is elected president, the only thing I’m hoping for is that he’ll do a better job than the last 3 Republican presidents we’ve had with keeping ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ manufacturing jobs in America! The last 3 Republicans we had in the White House didn’t do too well at that….
From the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) data on manufacturing sector jobs:
CARTER Years, January ’77 to January ’81:
START (Jan ’77) BLS Data on # of U.S. Manufacturing jobs = 17,803,000
END (Jan ’81) BLS Data on # of U.S. Manufacturing jobs = 18,639,000
NET GAIN in ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ Manufacturing jobs during Carter Years = +836,000 jobs.
REAGAN Years, January ’81 to January ’89:
START (Jan ’81) BLS Data on # of U.S. Manufacturing jobs = 18,639,000
END (Jan ’89) BLS Data on # of U.S. Manufacturing jobs = 18,057,000
NET LOSS in ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ Manufacturing jobs during Reagan Years = -582,000 jobs.
BUSH # 1 Years, January ’89 to January ’93:
START (Jan ’89) BLS Data on # of U.S. Manufacturing jobs = 18,057,000
END (Jan ’93) BLS Data on # of U.S. Manufacturing jobs = 16,791,000
NET LOSS in ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ Manufacturing jobs during Bush # 1 Years = -1,266,000 jobs.
LOL! …. “1.3 million ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ manufacturing jobs lost under Bush # 1″
TOTAL LOSS OF U.S. ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ JOBS UNDER REAGAN (582,000) + BUSH # 1 (1,266,000) = 1,848,000 (“1.8 million manufacturing jobs”) lost under these two Republicans.
CLINTON Years, January ’93 to January ’01:
START (Jan ’93) BLS Data on # of U.S. Manufacturing jobs = 16,791,000
END (Jan ’01) BLS Data on # of U.S. Manufacturing jobs = 17,114,000
NET GAIN in ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ Manufacturing jobs during Clinton Years = +323,000 jobs.
BUSH # 2 Years, January ’01 to January ’09:
START (Jan ’01) BLS Data on # of U.S. Manufacturing jobs = 17,114,000
END (Jan ’09) BLS Data on # of U.S. Manufacturing jobs = 12,559,000
NET LOSS in ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ Manufacturing jobs during Bush # 2 Years = -4,555,000 jobs.
OBAMA
2010 – For the first time since President Clinton, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics data on the manufacturing sector, the nation had a NET GAIN in ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ manufacturing jobs equal to +109,000.
2011 – For the first time since President Clinton, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics data on the manufacturing sector, the nation has had a NET GAIN in ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ manufacturing jobs equal to +192,000 so far thru August 2011.
Posted by: Forrest Gump was a Republican | September 25, 2011, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
Bush adm spent every dime and had nothing to show for it? OK, during the Bush adm how many terror attacks did we have on American soil since 911? OK – how many has Obama had? Nuff said.
Posted by: Tom Barnow | September 25, 2011, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm
A serious BLACK Repubican candidate = the liberal media’s worst nightmare. Watch them turn on this man like no other. They risk revealing to the masses what they’re really all about.
Posted by: s | September 25, 2011, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm
And Paul won one. And Perry won one. And Mitt won one. And Michelle. . . ..
Posted by: ATTITUDE | September 25, 2011, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm
TOM BARNOW, September 25, 2011, 5:47 PM:
“OK, during the Bush adm how many terror attacks did we have on American soil since 911? OK – how many has Obama had? Nuff said.”
=========================================================
LOL! …. Please answer me this question: Where do the right-whiners come up with junk like this?
LOL!… Now that’s “Nuff said”… hehehehehe!
FACT: The worst 1-day attack against Americans in our history occurred on 9-11-01, during G.W. Bush’s watch, perpetrated by a group called Al Qaeda, which was led by a man named Osama Bin Laden.
FACT: Within 6 months after 9-11, G.W. Bush quickly changed his tune about capturing / killing the master mind of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil EVER in our nation’s history.
2 days after the worst 1-day attack on Americans, Bush said he wanted Osama Bin Laden, “Dead or Alive”.
3 months after the attack (December), Bush said he wanted Osama Bin Laden, “Dead or Alive”.
6 months after the attack (March, 2002), as Bush prepared to build his case against Iraq, when asked about Osama Bin Laden, Bush replied: “So I don’t know where he is. Nor — you know, I just don’t spend that much time on him really, to be honest with you.”
FACT: 7+1/2 years after the worst 1 day attack on Americans in our history, and close to a trillion borrowed dollars and 4,300 American lives invested in Iraq, Bush leaves office with an “alive” (still wanted) Osama Bin Laden still running free.
FACT: 28 months into Obama’s presidency… after refocusing U.S. effort on Afghanistan/Pakistan instead of on Iraq… Osama Bin Laden is killed.
Posted by: Georgie_Bushie | September 25, 2011, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
Slow down everybody, just wait until the next poll is conducted to see if Perry is still the front runner. If not than we can start to make prediction. So far the GOP/Tea Party have no ideal who they want.
Posted by: Mdunson | September 26, 2011, 10:56 am 10:56 am
Funny that this guy “won”,. 2 things, one straw poll wins are bought. two, I listened to this Cain on the news as he was talking about his “win” and he did not sound presidential. His grammar was terrible. I don’t know what people are thinking to “pick” him.
Posted by: Dawn | September 29, 2011, 10:31 am 10:31 am
House Republicans have passed a bill that cuts spending elsewhere to offset some of the increased disaster relief aid
Posted by: antique | October 2, 2011, 8:30 pm 8:30 pm
There has never been a President that knew all about everything, foreign policy, etc. but Cain has the ability to surround himself with the people that knows. I have never seen anyone having his knowledge and credentials running for President of the United States. Wake up America, vote for Cain. The Black vote is very important and he is the only one able to swing the votes away from Obama.
Posted by: Everett Smith | October 5, 2011, 9:18 am 9:18 am
It is your right to back whomever you see fit to be President of the United States, however, remember, you have to live here also. If Obama wins and after one to two years you go broke, you will say to yourself, WHAT IN HELL DID WE DO.
Posted by: Everett Smith | October 5, 2011, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Cain is crass, tactless and ill informed, under-prepared to make critical choices and biased against all but the top wealthiest Americans.
In other words, he’d make a pretty average GOP candidate but a horrible president.
Posted by: H. Hoover | October 5, 2011, 11:04 pm 11:04 pm