Fact Check! Herman Cain’s Ice Cream Meltdown
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Tom Williams / Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain might be in the midst of his campaign’s first crisis, all thanks to ice cream.
Now leading in at least one national poll, Cain is frequently asked if he is the new political flavor of the month. Cain’s canned response is: “Haagen-Dazs black walnut tastes good all the time.”
Here’s the problem: Haagen Dazs no longer makes black walnut ice cream. It was a limited edition, and is no longer available. So, in a manner of speaking, you might say that Haagen Dazs black walnut was – by definition – a flavor of the month.
When contacted by ABC News, Hazel, at the Haagen-Daz customer service line, said, “We don’t sell black walnut. The sales nationally did not meet our expectations, unfortunately. It did not behoove us to continue with the product.”
The ice cream did not meet expectations. Cain better hope that is not a metaphor for his candidacy.
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So, in a manner of speaking, you might say that Haagen Dazs black walnut was – by definition – a flavor of the month.
Just like Cain! How often in life do you see that kind of symmetry?
Posted by: Searambler | October 13, 2011, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
“Shows how well he researches something before he speaks.” – Dewyb
No sense in researching something as silly as ice cream.
Only PC correct Liberals would waste their time doing that before they ever said anything.
Regarding his 9-9-9 plan.
I’d rather see a 13-9-5.
13 – Corporate Tax
9 – Federal Income Tax
5 – Sales Tax
Posted by: Noz | October 13, 2011, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm
Thank you for this hard-hitting, salient, timely report. I guess I won’t vote for this guy, either.
Posted by: Throwback | October 13, 2011, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
Ok, Noz, here’s the problem…you’re paying the corporate tax, too. Don’t think these guys just pick up a bundle of cash out of their desk drawers and pay taxes. Their revenues come from you; no matter what they make, it all ends in retail or government purchases. The scale is different but the result is the same. Guy makes screws for tv’s, gets hit with a tax, raises his price for his screws. Tv manufacturers have to pay more for screws, charge more for their tv’s. You buy a tv, you’re paying the screw tax. And wait til you hear about washers!…
Posted by: Throwback | October 13, 2011, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
Aw c’mon ABCNews!!! I mean… REALLY!!! Let the guy enjoy his surge in the polls. Why a hit piece as such?
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | October 13, 2011, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm
They will use him just like they used Michael Steele anyway. Teabaggers need a black face to say what they want to say to President Obama because for some reason they don’t like to be outed as racists. If he gets the nomination, republicans will coerce him to put who they really want on the ticket as VP. If the ticket wins, they are going to destroy him (Cain) politically or literally. Then they will have elected the republican they want without that person actually having to win an election. Nothing this crew does surprises me. From getting elected bleating about jobs, and then submitting constitutional amendments against gay marriage, voter id laws to supress the working class vote, and anything else except jobs. Herman Cain is one of a long line used by the Republican party to spew what they don’t have the guts to.
Posted by: Clt | October 13, 2011, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
Posted by: Throwback | October 13, 2011, 1:48 pm
I’m sure what you’re saying Throwback but if it relates to the Federal Sales Tax, only the end user pays the tax. The manufacturer doesn’t pay any sales tax for the product they need to make their goods.
Posted by: Noz | October 13, 2011, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
Why is Herman Cain getting so much attention because he was a business CEO?. I’m just guessing but I’ll bet Godfathers pizza ranks the in lower 50% of the fast food industry. If he’s elected America will probally rank in the lower 50% of world economies. Now he’s up in New hampshire trying to convince those common sense people that since they don’t have state sales tax they need a federal one.
Posted by: tmferretti | October 13, 2011, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
“Now he’s up in New hampshire trying to convince those common sense people that since they don’t have state sales tax they need a federal one.” – tmferretti
Well if he can sell the idea to the good people of New Hampshire then he’s our guy!
Posted by: Noz | October 13, 2011, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
When Michael Steel was campaigning, the DNC stole & published his Soc Sec #. They lied & maligned him, not on issues, but personally. A strong black conservative scares the living hell out of those white, racist liberals. (the party of KKK Bird, Al Gore Sr, etc.) And now we see it again.
So transparent, so lame.
Posted by: A Nono Mouse | October 13, 2011, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
Who cares what flavor ice cream ANY of them like. We need a LEADER – you don’t need to eat ice cream to lead. These types of questions are stupid and a waste of time!
Posted by: CC | October 13, 2011, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
NOZ
Don’t worry, he can’t sell it to NewHampshirites or any other Americans with half a brain. CEOs will tell you, their biggest problem is the lack of a customer base willing to spend money, not taxes or regulations. Now this guy wants to even lower deman further with a 9% sells tax.
Posted by: tmferretti | October 13, 2011, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
herman cain is getting a lot of attention from democrats as he he is there worst nightmare..a successful black man from the private sector who has rejected the governmant hand feeding.he has common sense and knows the value of hard work in the real world.he has actually walked the walk.his 999 has flaws but its where we need to go when 50% of population pays no federal income tax.
Posted by: catman | October 13, 2011, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
tm…i am with business owners everyday 7 days a week and contrary to what liberals preach its regulation and taxes of all forms thats killing business. our uncertainty over taxation causes alot of people to not spend money. people sitting on 2 years of unemployment also kills demand.
apparently people with half a brain voted for what we have now. i will take those with less than half a brain because the so called self appointed smart people have certainly done nothing in 3 years.
anyone with half a brain knew it was jobs jobs jobs from day one…not health care , cap in trade, gay marriage, gay armies and vilifying wall street. fundemental fatal blunders by the smart guys.
Posted by: catman | October 13, 2011, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
CATMAN
Hermann Cain is not my worst nightmare a prayer will be answered if he somehow gets the republicans nomination. He’s even easier to beat than Sarah Palin. We’re debating a mute point, Cain will never get the republican nomination, the tea party won’t allow it. Do you honestly believe when consumer confidence and spending is the biggest contributor to this recesssion that a 9% sales tax which will definitly lower demand is the answer.
It really doesn’t matter who the republicans nominate, Presdent Obama is too smart and articulate (almost as good as Bill Clinton) to lose a debate. The republican candidate will actually have to answer hard questions instead of the softballs the media has been throwing at them so far.
Posted by: tmferretti | October 13, 2011, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
CATMAN
I too know at lot of small business owners. They are closing their doors because they are tired of sitting around all day or night waiting for a few customers to come in. Its not taxes or regulations that have contributed to their bankrupcy.
Posted by: tmferretti | October 13, 2011, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
This is what passes for journalism in the 21st century.
Posted by: Beckwith | October 13, 2011, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
This scandal will surely sink his presidential campaign. It’s a deal breaker I tell you.
Posted by: newcountryman | October 13, 2011, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
This scandal will surely sink his presidential campaign. It’s a deal breaker I tell you…
Posted by: newcountryman | October 13, 2011, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
Picking on a black man because of his choice of ice cream???
Seems pretty racist to me!
Posted by: Tyre Jones | October 13, 2011, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
tm…dont you think everyone knows obama is a great debater . this is now a weakness because that really means he is a great talker as 3 years has gone by and its all talk? where i live small business owners are working harder and making ends meet with less employees and making a profit. i am actually seeing a rebound of the survivors.
i believe that everyone should pay tax.ii also believe that a national sales tax is a great way to raise money. the canadians have as much as a 14% GST and they seem to be doing a lot better than we are.when you have skin in the game you care about how your govt spends money. when you dont you think it grows on trees.
consumer confidence picks up when your neighbor has a job. we need to take jobs and get off the govt dole. those jobs do exist. when you milk unemployment your next employer has a hard time with that because he was working and paying tax during that period. study after study will show you that people find a job within a month of being cut off from unemployment…even in denmark.
its time to get back to work and we dont need the unions to do it. besides as we have seen lately union bosses have higher pensions than senators.
Posted by: catman | October 13, 2011, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
CATMAN
We agree on one thing, jobs is the key. Its how to create them is what we disagree on. I believe the fastest way to create jobs is to increase spending, either by the government or by the public. Business wil invest all that money they are hoarding when they feel confident there are enough customers out their to give them a return on their investment.
If you can think of a quicker way I’m open to the idea.
Posted by: tmferretti | October 13, 2011, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
the tea party wont allow him to be nominated? thats where the liberals dont get it. the only color conservatives care about is green, green paper in particular. racism is like farts…..he who smelt them likely dealt them and its always the left raising that card.
Posted by: catman | October 13, 2011, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
CATMAN
My problem with Herman Cain is not his race or the tea party’s view of him, in fact I think it would be kind of great to have two black candidates running for president, 40 years after the civil rights movement. My problem is with his statements to the effect that Americans aren’t rich because they don’t want to work and are not very smart. Also, I’d like a flat tax , but his numbers 999 just don’t add up.
Posted by: tmferretti | October 13, 2011, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm
ABC, at the top of their News Game.
Posted by: Don | October 13, 2011, 6:07 pm 6:07 pm
Agree with him or not, Herman Cain is out talking about serious issues. I wish I could say the same about ABC News.
Posted by: jacksmith | October 13, 2011, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
tm i agree the 999 doesnt add up but i like the concept of everyone paying something. also it would be great thing to have two black men competing for the same job as it says alot about this country. i dont know what the appropriate mix is 999 or 3 10 5 but it would be a good start. many people call for a flat tax but dont understand that it does hit harder at the lower levels in terms of net disposable income-
cain speks from the same experiences i have had in life and that is look not to others to solve your problems but solve them yourselves.
i have a brother and a son who sat around for 2 years when they lost their job. the son went and financed his own masters degree while my brother sat turning down jobs because the money was less than he was making. after 2 years and a day he took a job and 9 months later he thanks his lucky stars that he did.
the real issue the unemployed have that never gets talked about is back taxes an child support. the minute those people start working again the state takes their money for those items and they are in the hole again. the state of california is more vicious than the IRS will ever be.
have a nice day.sincerely.
Posted by: catman | October 13, 2011, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm
lol… he’s a joke! 9 9 9 will only benefit the richer still.
Posted by: Lorrie | October 13, 2011, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Here is the problem…..Hagen Daz is NOT the only company that sells black walnut ice cream! It is still in the running…..
Posted by: Vickie | October 13, 2011, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
CATMAN SO are you saying that the state should not expect to be payed back?
Posted by: John | October 13, 2011, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
Haagen Dazs (sorry for the misspelling….I don’t eat this brand….to expensive)
Posted by: Vickie | October 13, 2011, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
I would actually enjoy a real debate between Romney and Cain without most of the detractors on the stage.
Posted by: John | October 13, 2011, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
john…i would say that is unrealistic for the state to hammer these people as they are. so many people i have met would go back to work but the state is taking 50%of what they make. while unemployed the state stays off their back. how you deal with i dont know.
Posted by: catman | October 13, 2011, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
So which is more ridiculous: This story about Cain and ice cream or the story about Ron Paul’s eyebrow?
Look, the media is saying it’s Romney v Obama in 2012. Everyone needs to just accept it and quit thinking for themselves!
Can’t wait for the Vanilla v Chocolate versions of the same person battle in 2012. Yes, I checked, most brands of ice cream still sell vanilla and chocolate.
Posted by: Independent_Thought | October 13, 2011, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
WTF! This is our mainstream media? NO coverage of Solyndra, NO coverage of Fast and Furious, NO mention of LightSquared or Sunpower? They should be absolutely embarrassed by this high school newspaper journalism. The MSM died on Nov 4 2008!
Posted by: subnuke98 | October 13, 2011, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
Really ABC??? That’s the best you got?
Posted by: Todd | October 13, 2011, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
I;m sorry ABC for not understanding but is this story an analogy your trying to make?
Posted by: Robert | October 13, 2011, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
ABC News is the BEST! (That’s the only kind of comment the editor will let me submit.)
Posted by: Omar G. Hernandez | October 14, 2011, 2:32 am 2:32 am
Flavor of the month. So true! LMAO!
Cain’s plan ABOLISHES SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. He says that people should look to the state, churches and charity for help. LOL
Posted by: Sandy | October 14, 2011, 8:19 am 8:19 am
God this is a stupid article…!! Can we please assess Mr. Cain’s ability to become president without being bothered by silly childish comments like this one???
Posted by: Fabrice | October 14, 2011, 9:16 am 9:16 am
CATMAN
I too know a lot of people who won’t work unless they get the wages and benefits they want. Most of them are sitting around the bar at the American Legion at 8:00 AM. We need to start programs that would require these people to do something, community service, etc before they can collect unemployment or state assistance.
Posted by: tmferretti | October 14, 2011, 9:29 am 9:29 am
tm i agree. that i am certainly in favor of. in that same vein allowing these people to have the state stop garnishing their wages.
Posted by: catman | October 14, 2011, 11:25 am 11:25 am
Way to go, ABC…what a newsworthy topic and how demeaning!! “Flavor of the month”; really? Could you be more stupid and catty? You all have Joe Biden, Barney Frank and malevolent idiots like them that you revere, yet you pick on a serious presidential candidate? ABC, you’re more irrelevant all the time…
Posted by: Paul Castelin | October 14, 2011, 11:58 am 11:58 am
Cain’s followers need to get a sense of humor. And yes, he’s just another smooth talker whose charm alone can’t help get us out of our mess.
Posted by: Vanilla Ice | October 14, 2011, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
Cain reminds me of the caribbean dictator, Francois Duvalier who ruled in Haiti. I had a co-worker whose father was a Haitian ambassador. Duvalier invited the parents of my friend for dinner, but had their food poisoned. :(((((((( She lived in fear. Relatives raised her.
Posted by: Amanda Wolf | October 15, 2011, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
If this ism the best this guy/gal could come up with then the news media is in trouble, I’m with Herman on his flavor of ice cream. I don’t think he’s qualified to be president but then I don’t think Obama is qualified either; but as far as ice cream goes Herman has great taste.
Posted by: Ginowan777 | November 1, 2011, 8:34 pm 8:34 pm
Are we serious…. Fact checking ice cream…. Holy hell ABC how about you talk about the issues!
Posted by: Joey | November 3, 2011, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm
Remember when everyone so obstinately insisted that Cain would be the nominee to overtures of plantations and brainwashing? So, how’d that pan out, and why should I believe any of you about Newt?
Posted by: Cru | January 25, 2012, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm