The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

The Herman Cain Story

Posted on | October 6, 2011 | 69 Comments

A new Pew Poll shows the astonishing surge for Herman Cain in the GOP field since the Sept. 22 debate in Orlando. Cain trailed Rick Perry by four points Sept. 22-25, but by Oct. 1-4 Cain led Perry 18-15, while front-runner Mitt Romney softened slightly, declining from 25% to 22% in the span of little more than a week. If this trend continues another two weeks — as the Republican candidates meet again in debates Oct. 11 in New Hampshire and Oct. 18 in Las Vegas — the contest may begin to be viewed nationally as a race between Romney and Cain.

Was this all a result of a single debate debacle for Perry and of Cain’s surprise win Sept. 24 in the Florida Straw Poll? Or is it the fact that Americans are learning more about Cain and liking what they see?

Moneyrunner got an e-mail today with a brief biography of Herman Cain that concludes this way:

He did all this starting from rock bottom (his father was a chauffeur and his mother was a maid). When you add up his accomplishments in his life—including reaching the top of three unrelated industries: information systems, business management, and banking—Herman Cain may have the most impressive resume of anyone that has run for the presidency in the last half century.

Go read the whole thing, and then ask yourself: Why do all the “experts” keep saying Herman Cain can’t possibly win?

UPDATE: Welcome, Instapundit readers! We will celebrate like the natives of Vanuatu when John Frum finally returns.

UPDATE II: You know what black America really needs? More self-righteous lectures from white liberals!


Category: Cargo Cult of the Blog Gods, Election 2012, Herman Cain, Instapundit, Polls

Comments

69 Responses to “The Herman Cain Story”

  1. Anonymous
    October 6th, 2011 @ 10:28 pm

    I think, besides his amazing ability to put real solutions on the table, Cain wasn’t forced on us by the media, like Bachmann and Perry were.  The media sold them so hard, they had nowhere to go but down.  Cain just kept offering solutions and not rhetoric, and while the media forced others into the role of “frontrunner”, Cain forced himself into it, and people know the difference.

  2. Anonymous
    October 6th, 2011 @ 10:34 pm

    I’d dispute your point on Bachmann even the “friendly” media was asking her if she was a flake. What we need to be on guard against now is the media push for us to be reasonable and bow to the inevitable nomination of mittens.

  3. Instapundit » Blog Archive » NEWS FROM AMERICA’S WHITEST CABLE NETWORK: Lawrence O’Donnell lectures Herman Cain on how to be b…
    October 6th, 2011 @ 10:38 pm

    […] UPDATE: Why do all the “experts” keep saying Herman Cain can’t possibly win? […]

  4. JeffS
    October 6th, 2011 @ 10:45 pm

    Why do all the “experts” keep saying Herman Cain can’t possibly win?

    Because the “experts” don’t want the real thing, they want a sock puppet.

  5. Anonymous
    October 6th, 2011 @ 11:02 pm

    Hi….I just came here from Instapundit…..Happy now?

  6. chuckatpdo
    October 6th, 2011 @ 11:02 pm

    Why do all the “experts” keep saying Herman Cain can’t possibly win?
    Because they can’t fathom that the first real black President could be a Repubican?

  7. Anonymous
    October 6th, 2011 @ 11:04 pm

    Seems to me that Romney is the one that the media has forced on us. Just my perception.

  8. Pat
    October 6th, 2011 @ 11:15 pm

    Imagine if Palin endorsed Cain. He is short on lots of stuff but he knows how to get up to speed. Yep, that would make it real interesting.

  9. Aracona
    October 6th, 2011 @ 11:22 pm

    Cain is the MAN!

  10. Anonymous
    October 6th, 2011 @ 11:28 pm

    You know who should be happy? Roxeanne De Luca.

    Note to self: Send memo to islanders canceling tomorrow’s planned sacrifice.

  11. America, please give me something I would like next year. « Concise Magazine
    October 6th, 2011 @ 11:36 pm

    […] do people keep saying that Cain cannot win? He can. Share this:ShareTwitterLike this:LikeOne blogger likes this post. Posted in: Goodness, Kings, […]

  12. Ritchie The Riveter
    October 6th, 2011 @ 11:42 pm

    Why … because the “experts” are mired in their own conventional wisdom … that of the professional/political complex.

    They either know nothing else but “their” way of doing things … and Herman Cain is not following their “rules” and hiring lots of them to work his campaign, so there is no way in their eyes that he can win …

     … or they do understand that his way could put him in the White House — and understand the threat of obsolescence that a successful, yet non-conformist campaign could present to their reputations and meal tickets.

    Therefore, they seek to mitigate that threat by invoking the conventional wisdom.

  13. Adjoran
    October 7th, 2011 @ 12:13 am

    Cain could be surging, or he could be the “flavor of the week” instead, it will take a few weeks to establish that, not just several polls in the same time frame.  Bachmann was a solid contender in all the polls until she encountered some actual success in Ames.  She’s mired in single digits and showing no signs of coming back now.

    Cain does have a gaffe problem – he’s pretty much stuck his foot in his mouth with unforced errors twice now, or three times, depending upon whether you count the whole muslim kerfluffle as one blunder or the ban-mosques-if’n-ya-wanna and not-in-my-cabinet as separate mistakes.  Stating he could not support Rick Perry because his Daddy wasn’t fast enough painting over a rock he didn’t own on property in the middle of nowhere thirty years ago seems a bit harsh.

    Hiring the experienced Gordon as spokesman seems a good move – the job is going to get a lot tougher if Cain’s success continues.  Ellen Carmichael was young, fresh, and effective, I thought, but Obama got there first by hiring Doogie Howser for his press sec, so the novelty was gone.

  14. Herman Cain: Great Resume, Good Sounding Ideas, No Executive Experience » Right Across the Atlantic
    October 7th, 2011 @ 12:26 am

    […] not sure I understand this outpouring of support for Herman Cain. As Stacey McCain noted today, he’s had a meteoric rise in his polling numbers in the last couple weeks. That’s […]

  15. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 12:43 am

    Bachman received a ton of media coverage.  Even though a lot of it was negative and revolved comparing her to Palin, it was great exposure.

  16. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 12:43 am

    They are tryinig to force him upon us.  But the Tea Party movement will not allow it to happen.

  17. Gov. Palin won’t run — Palin for president in 2016 — Cynthia Yockey, A Conservative Lesbian
    October 7th, 2011 @ 12:51 am

    […] Dear Stacy McCain has poll results and more insights on the surge in support for Herman Cain. […]

  18. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 1:17 am

    Don’t be too sure about that, the money is heading Romney’s way and so will the press. The mythical yet oddly powerful GOP establishment is scared to death us wingnuts will succeed in nominating a real conservative. Even though most of the media is part of the leftist movement they gotta follow orders like everyone else. So when the left elite and the Republican elite meet at that place in Kentucky where the big Owl tells them what to do the big push will be behind Romney.

  19. Cloudrapture7
    October 7th, 2011 @ 1:52 am

    I’ll tell you why he can’t win, simple, he’s not a conservative and not a viable candidate.,  He is off on a book tour now making one blunder after another.  He’s as bad as Biden the gaffe machine.  He attacks Perry at every corner and yet he is the one with all the secrets to hide.  This man doesn’t believe we have a right to own a gun.  Read what he told Blitzer on CNN.  He is for affirmative action.  (because he benefited from it)  He doesn’t want the FED audited.  People I could go on and on but you get the picture.

  20. WestTexas
    October 7th, 2011 @ 1:53 am

    Why do the experts  keeping saying he can’t win?
    My guess would be that they have talked to him one on one and found he is NOT qualified to be president. Throwing red meat to the base does not make one qualified. The people on the Cain Train need to do their homework on Cain. He is NOT what he seems.

  21. Cloudrapture7
    October 7th, 2011 @ 1:57 am

    This is all Palin would need to finish her off.  Get behind a stealth candidate who is only in the race to kill off Perry and land him a VP slot.  This man is not qualified to be president of any country.

  22. maxi
    October 7th, 2011 @ 1:59 am

    If Palin endorses Cain I’m done with Palin. She promised she would only support true conservatives and Cain is NO conservative.

  23. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 2:10 am

    No, that’s what we’ve got as President now.

  24. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 2:10 am

    Bullshit.

  25. Thomas Knapp
    October 7th, 2011 @ 3:16 am

    Cain’s personal story is interesting and inspiring.

    His business experience and success seems like a plus, especially with respect to things like balancing large budgets across multiple enterprises.

    On the other hand, his support for (among other things) putting every man, woman and child in the United States on a perpetual monthly federal welfare check (the “Fair” Tax “prebate”) ought to be a non-starter with conservatives and libertarians.

  26. jwallin
    October 7th, 2011 @ 3:43 am

    They say he can’t win because they’re …. raaaaacist!

    Although Cain isn’t without his baggage and mouth, I’d vote for him over Romney if the choice is there come primary day.

    If Romney is the nominee, then Obama probably wins.

    It won’t be so bad if Romney does as he’s shown he can be browbeat and pushed into reversing himself more than Obama does.

    I fear that the Health Care Act won’t be voided and we’ll endure a few years of terrible destruction to the system. Don’t know if we’d be able to recoup beyond 2 years.

    Boehner’s a RINO. He only looks conservative cause he’s standing next to Reid and Obama. They’d almost make Stalin look right wing.

    What I wish is that Huntsman decides to get out so we don’t have that threat hanging over everything till the convention.

  27. Rich Vail
    October 7th, 2011 @ 5:38 am

    He’s far more qualified than the current occupant of the White House…at the very least, he’s held a job that has earned a profit for the company he worked for.

  28. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 7:14 am

    “Pew Poll shows astonishing surge for Herman Cain….”
    Note to “Only a moderate like Mitt can win RINOS”
    Your premise is void and real people reject your democrat indulgence.
    Otherwise, the public will get wise to Cain’s base populism and RINO views and cast him off in the not too distant future.

  29. Carol
    October 7th, 2011 @ 7:15 am

    Herman Cain is the best communicator in the field by far, he can hire experts to help him in areas where he is weak.  His judgement appears strong and clear and purely American. I will be voting for him in the florida primary.

  30. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 7:21 am

    I have bad news for you. Conservatism is not as narrowly defined as you would like it to be, and nobody is going to take your unsupported word for anything. Some might even wonder if you’re Concern Troll 2.0.

  31. Bob Belvedere
    October 7th, 2011 @ 8:07 am

    With an Instalanche comes trolls.

  32. Bob Belvedere
    October 7th, 2011 @ 8:10 am

    I think his real Muslim problem was when he went afterwards and kowtowed to Muslims with direct connections to terrorists.  I think you’ll find, Adj, that most conservatives agreed with him about not trusting the bastards – any of them.

  33. Bob Belvedere
    October 7th, 2011 @ 8:12 am

    Is you is or is you ain’t, you dirty rascal you?
    http://thecampofthesaints.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/troll-doll-green-01.jpg

  34. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 8:29 am

    I had an issue with Cain SAYING that he wouldn’t appoint a Muslim to his cabinet. It’s better if he glides over such questions from the hostile MSM and then, once elected, simply don’t appoint any Muslims, without drawing any attention to that fact.

    Now, if Cain is elected president, he’ll get non-stop questions about it. “Have you picked out your Muslim cabinet member yet, or are you still a raaaaacist?”    

  35. Patrick Rich
    October 7th, 2011 @ 8:35 am

    If Republicans take (and hold) the Senate and House, the principal criteria for President will be “doesn’t veto legislation” and “appoints acceptable federal judges, including Supremes.” But in order to achieve these basic conditions, the candidate must be electable in both the primary and general. THAT is the overriding issue, and THAT is why Bachmann and Paul and Huntsman et al are a sideshow. Cain/Perry/Romney… They are the question. Is there more than one correct answer? Really?

  36. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 8:42 am

    We could start a new internet “parlour game,” Troll or Not Troll? In this case, I say Troll.

    Cloudrapture could be a well-meaning Paultard, just speaking his (sophomoric) mind, which technically = Not Troll. 

    However, look at the hyberbole: rather than being insufficiently conservative, Cain is “not a conservative”; three or four mistakes becomes “one blunder after another” and “as bad as Biden”; Cain hitting Perry a few times equals “attacks Perry at every corner.” Finally, Cain wants to seize yer guns and help push for One World Government.

    Thus I’m guessing that Cloudrapture is a Sock Puppet Troll who wandered in here from DU or Kos to muddy the waters (bonus points for identifying the specific type of troll).  

  37. ThePaganTemple
    October 7th, 2011 @ 8:56 am

    Perry is still getting the big bucks as well, I wonder what that’s all about?

  38. ThePaganTemple
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:00 am

    You’re entitled to your own opinion, but I’ll be damned if your entitled to your own facts. Cain has been in this race from the very beginning, while Perry was claiming and swearing he had no interest in running. How in the hell could Cain be in it to kill off Perry then? What is Cain supposed to do, recognize that Perry has been ordained from on-high and so bow out like a good little colored man? Jeez, you Perry-bots are as bad as the Paultards.

  39. ThePaganTemple
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:01 am

    Like Palin would give a shit about your opinion of her.

  40. ThePaganTemple
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:05 am

    I know I damn sure agreed with him, and when he backtracked that was my first real disappointment in him. Instead of kowtowing to these assholes when they questioned him about his position, he should have asked them “did I stutter”? I’m sick of these games of having to walk on eggshells to keep from offending these son-of-bitches. 

  41. ThePaganTemple
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:06 am

    And his answer should be “You can kiss my black ass. Next question?”

  42. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:06 am

    Perhaps the effects from Perry’s missteps might be delayed ripple effects?

    I’m not saying this is the case with Perry, but I’ve heard that sometimes a tree will appear (to the untrained eye) perfectly healthy on the outside, but will be ailing on the inside. By the time that the tree is in noticeably bad shape, it’s well past any hope of recovery. 

  43. Bob Belvedere
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:10 am

    Hear, hear.

  44. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:15 am

    Sadly, Cloudrapture is probably not impressed by logic.

    I’m not sure that he/she is a Perry-bot, though. I’d guess a DU/Kos puppet, or possibly a Paultard. Most of the Perry-bots will support whichever candidate wins the nomination. If Cloudrapture is a Perry-bot, we’re in trouble.

  45. ThePaganTemple
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:16 am

    That’s why I never felt any inclination to support a national sales tax. By the time these assholes are through with it, it won’t be worth three shits at the bottom of a fifty year old outhouse. Just listen to that jackass O’Reilly. Yeah he’s all for a “fair tax”. But of course there will be exemptions for food. And rent. And clothing. And medicine. And who knows what else? Probably restaurants and hotels, on the grounds that would be messing with various locations tourist economies. Don’t look now but you would be doing good to fund the Virgin Islands off what would be left. See that’s the problem with these things, people are too easy to fall for the sales pitch without taking the time to consider the downside. That’s why I’m for a flat tax all the way. A low flat tax, where everybody pays the exact same percentage, with no deductions, no refunds, no loopholes, etc. If they would put an end to capital gains tax, then I could go for replacing that with maybe a seven percent sales tax on the sale of stock, but that’s it.

  46. JeffS
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:17 am

    Jeez, you Perry-bots are as bad as the Paultards.

    Odd, with all the history revisionism, assertions, and goal post moving, I thought Anamika was posting as “Cloudrapture7”.

  47. ThePaganTemple
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:18 am

    Huntsman is going all out for second place in New Hampshire, if he pulls that off, or even a close third, he’s probably in it for a while. I think he’s actually running for VP.

  48. Anonymous
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:19 am

    I agree with you. But I’m not running for president.

    If we’re talking about pure effectiveness, why not silently seek to crush radical/political Islam, while pretending to say semi-politically correct things in public, while always having a smile on your face?

  49. JeffS
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:19 am

    A leftie troll, probably from firedoglake.

  50. ThePaganTemple
    October 7th, 2011 @ 9:20 am

    Bachmann was pretty damn impressive on Bret Baiers show yesterday, just saying.