Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
Doesn't this seem like a more serious problem to you?
HERMAN CAIN: My China strategy is quite simply outgrow China. It gets back to economics. China has a $6 trillion economy and they're growing at approximately 10 percent. We have a $14 trillion economy -- much bigger -- but we're growing at an anemic 1.5, 1.6 percent. When we get our economy growing back at the rate of 5 or 6 percent that it has the ability to do, we will outgrow China.
And secondly, we already have superiority in terms of our military capability, and I plan to get away from making cutting our defense a priority and make investing in our military capability a priority, going back to my statement: peace through strength and clarity. So yes they're a military threat. They've indicated that they're trying to develop nuclear capability and they want to develop more aircraft carriers like we have. So yes, we have to consider them a military threat.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Your campaign. You have shot to the top of the polls nationally. You are running ahead in the key early states --
That's not who I want carrying the football. And that's not the journalist I want interviewing a man who might carry the football.
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Oct '10
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
Like one of the writers over at NRO quipped, I wouldn't hire Herman Cain to run a pizza company. Herman Cain is clearly not ready to be President of the United States and has large gaps in his knowledge of policy and appears to be wildly unknowledgeable about foreign affairs. We just got through electing a President who was demonstrable unready for the job and now a large portion of Republican primary voters appear to want to do the same thing again. It is good confirmation that I made the right choice when I left the party in the 90s. If the Republicans nominate Cain, they will have managed to find a nominee even less qualified for the role than Sarah Palin.
Edited on Nov 2, 2011 at 6:30amOct '10
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
His 'outgrow' them approach is simplistic, and he should know they already have a nuclear capability. (Perhaps he means nuclear-powered carriers.) But we are cutting defense as Russia and China are spending more, and China is soon to launch its first carrier, so many of his points are spot on.We can grow faster if we are willing to deregulate and cut spending, which would put us in a better position vis-a-vis China. He does need to get up to speed quickly, though.
Dec '10
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
I plan on listening to the whole interview, but my first impression is that at least Cain understands that that focusing on growing the US economy is more important than making China an adversary, This is a far better response than many US politicians, first and foremost, Mitt Romney. China has a long way to go, and many hurdles to cross as it becomes more dependent on internal freedom for it's economy to continue bustling. Nothing fans the flames of internal strife than a strong middle class who could call for additional reform from within.
The point about journalism is, in my mind, a given. And to the point about whether Cain is a serious candidate, I defer to Thomas Sowell's appraisal. To paraphrase, he said that, though we want a candidate that is outside the political culture, the position of President of the United States of America is incredibly difficult, and we don't want someone who is learning on the job, the result of which has been made quite clear with Barack Obama.
Edited on Nov 2, 2011 at 3:02amOct '10
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
i'm not a social conservative, so this sexual harassment issue is not a big deal.
but cain's tendency to wing it on foreign policy is.
Dec '10
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
John Marzan: i'm not a social conservative, so this sexual harassment issue is not a big deal.
but cain's tendency to wing it on foreign policy is. · Nov 2 at 3:15am
I'm a little confused, and I don't want to over-generalize, so please correct me if I misunderstood.
Is it only social conservatives who find making unwanted sexual advances, especially from a position of authority, to be a character flaw that might reflect on a leaders virtue in general? Or, is ti only social conservatives who believe that personal morality and abiding by things like cultural norms, marital vows or agreed codes of conduct give any inclination as to how a person might conduct themselves when given immense amounts of influence and authority?
To simplify, is personal behavior an indicator of virtue, and does virtue in leaders matter?
Oct '10
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
I'm willing to be convinced that 'developing nuclear capability' refers to the propulsion systems of the aircraft carriers (a point of discussion over the past couple of years) rather than weapons, which China has had since 1964.
Of course, I'm already convinced Herman is willing to wing it.
Feb '11
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
Claire, I share your misgivings, but I have no voice in this primary contest. What am I to do if Cain miraculously secures the GOP nomination? Can we really sit this election out on principle? I and many others did this in 2008. It didn't turn out so well. What if Cain picks someone like Bolton as VP? Does that solve our problem?
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
Well, color me flummoxed. He knew he would be grilled on the Politico scandal, which has positively dominated the news in the last 24 hours. He knew 999 would be a point of inquisition, as well as his campaign strategy. He received two questions on China, to which he answered that, yes, China could be a potential military threat, and that a robust economy and military would be cornerstones of his approach, which would be the opposite of our approach under Obama. On a macro level, it resonates, doesn't it? Would we prefer he haul out a big red reset button?
Sep '10
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
Claire Berlinski, Ed.: -
That's not who I want carrying the football. And that's not the journalist I want interviewing a man who might carry the football. ·
Cain would not be my first choice if the likely choices weren’t confined. If Romney were asked the same question he would have a well-rehearsed answer, Cain did not. One is a professional politician, one is not. Are you suggesting anything more can be learned form Cain’s reply. It is noteworthy that Cain routinely makes himself available for interviews were his positions are probed. Romney on the other hand does everything to avoid these situations. I would vote for Cain if he were nominated, I would not vote for Romney. The country survived eight years of establishment GOP governing. Bush did much to harm conservatism; Romney has the potential to do more. Most journalists are as bad as or worse than this one.
Oct '11
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
I think the macro answers He gave indicates that He will probably get hawkish cabinet level advisors.
But still funny the journalist failed to press on an obvious failing, tell a lot about priorities in modern Media.
Dec '10
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
Ditto . I posted something similar last night. We cannot nominate an amatuer politician for this most critical election! Lots of posters suggested that the power of Cain as a candidate was his lack of experience in politics. I disagree, and this latest gaffe on China proves my point. We need to put up the most articulate candidate against silver-tongued Obama. Then -- push him in a conservative direction with all our might.
Aug '11
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
Cain's problem here is not being very clear. Does he know China has nukes? It is unknown. "Develop nuclear capacity"-- what does this mean? I don't know what it means. Does he mean they are hiring nuclear scientists, buying centrifuges, enriching uranium, developing nuclear warheads, improving nuclear warheads or what? He should be more clear.
Cain's problem is winging it (as others have pointed out), and he hasn't been willing to take the foreign policy discussions seriously. That's dangerous. Being unclear about your foreign policy is dangerous. More so now than in prior times.
But Cain was generally right. China is somewhat of a threat. I think there is a tendency (temptation?) among some to see China in too positive of a light, and they pretend that China will be a benign influence in the region. In this story, China eventually gives up torture and gives up jailing dissidents in the next year or so, and we all go there for our holidays. I think to myself, "not true."
Feb '11
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
Don't worry Claire, there will be a clarification tomorrow, then another clarification of the clarification the next day. Nothing to worry about.
Apr '11
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
Argh! I desperately want to have confidence in Cain - and I desperately want to find Romney acceptable. Any chance of T-Paw coming back in? Is Fred Thompson still alive? Hey, maybe John McCain wants another shot! (Okay, that's going too far).
This is all so agonizing.
If Obama wins the nation faces all sorts of disaster BUT it sets the stage for a 2016 primary of ripened young GOP candidates. Just imagine an open presidency and a field of Rubio, Christie, Ryan, Jindal, Kasich, Haley, Pence, etc.? Yet, would the damage from 8 years of Obama be so devistating that it would be all to late?
If Romney wins I say there's still a good chance we face some level of national disaster, BUT Republicans will be blamed and a golden opportunity for a genuine conservative revival would be squashed. Ugh, just imagine a President Romney - even if he's competent - standing in the way of the above mentioned GOP field in 2016?
Like I said: Argh!
Nov '10
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
liberal jim
Claire Berlinski, Ed.: -
That's not who I want carrying the football. And that's not the journalist I want interviewing a man who might carry the football. ·
Cain would not be my first choice if the likely choices weren’t confined. If Romney were asked the same question he would have a well-rehearsed answer, Cain did not. One is a professional politician, one is not.
I am not particularly a Cain supporter, but I would add that Romney's well-rehearsed answer, as given in debates, is vastly more dangerous than Cain's factually weak but sound-in-principle answer. Romney thinks we need to start a trade war with China, which could act like the Smoot-Hawley tariffs and bring us into a decade or more of Depression. Cain thinks we need to unleash economic growth and reinforce our military strength. I'll take Cain's answer over Romney's, if that's the choice I'm given.
Feb '11
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
Doesn't every president learn on the job? What in the world can prepare you adequately for the job of president?
Aug '11
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
Just imagine them refusing to run in 2016, too.
I'm getting more depressed every day.
Feb '11
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
BKelley14
Ditto . I posted something similar last night. We cannot nominate an amatuer politician for this most critical election! Lots of posters suggested that the power of Cain as a candidate was his lack of experience in politics. I disagree, and this latest gaffe on China proves my point. We need to put up the most articulate candidate against silver-tongued Obama. Then -- push him in a conservative direction with all our might.
Was it a gaffe? Don't we need a good reporter to followup before we conclude it was a gaffe?
It seems to me, though, that his principles and vision are sound, even if the details need to be tightened up (as they all do especially once a candidate actually takes office).
Jun '10
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
I'm less surprised that he didn't know that china got the Bomb in the sixties, than I am that Woodruff did not jump all over that in a david gregory-like-panties-in-a-twist moment of incredulity and outrage.
If all cain has to offer is that he will surround himself with people who know these things, let's just elect the people who know these things. What if instead he surrounds himself with people like Condi Rice but he has no instinct to realize that she doesn't know what the hell she's talking about?
Oct '10
Re: Herman Cain Has Bigger Problems, and So Do We if Our Journalists Don't Notice This
That's what I find so frustrating about the Republican nomination process this time around. What went so wrong that all of the decent candidates declined to run and we ended up with a political version of the bar scene from Star Wars vying for the Republican nomination for president?
I understand that Romney is the standard Republican-Next-Guy-In-Line(tm) which makes him the front runner regardless of the polling data. He's the odds on favorite to win because the GOP is just that predictable. But he's a guy who has run to the left of Ted Kennedy on certain issues in previous elections and someone that the GOP base doesn't much trust or is enthusiatic about. So who emerges as the primary challenger to him? Herman Cain? Really? Is Cain really the best that our political system has to offer?
Edited on Nov 2, 2011 at 7:23am