(CNN) - Former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain took a moment Monday to clarify his position on Libya: He needs more information.
After an uncomfortable eight-second pause to collect his thoughts, the GOP contender explained that he would need to know more before he could unequivocally agree or disagree with President Barack Obama's actions in the conflicted country.
Cain was meeting with the editorial board of the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel when Libya came up.
"Okay, Libya," he responded when asked whether he agreed with President Obama's actions in the region. Eight seconds later, after looking up, biting his lip and blinking repeatedly, Cain asked, "President Obama supported the uprising, correct?"
"I just want to make sure we're talking about the same thing before I say 'Yes, I agree' or 'No, I do not agree."
But just as Cain, a former conservative talk radio host, started to respond to the question, he then changed his mind.
"I do not agree with the way he handled it for the following reasons - um, no, that's a different one," he said, before uncrossing and crossing his legs, shifting position in his seat, and adjusting his jacket.
"Let's see, I've got to go back, see," he continues. "(I've) got all this stuff twirling around in my head."
"Are you asking me did I agree or not agree with Obama?"
Cain finally settled on a response after hearing the question rephrased a second time.
"It's not a simple yes/no because there are different pieces and I would've gone about assessing the situation differently, which might have caused us to end up at the same place, but I think more could've been done was, what's the nature of the opposition?"
He explained that he would have gotten more information on determining who the opposition was, but said, "I'm sure that our intelligence people had some of that information." Although he declined to criticize the president, Cain said he didn't think enough was done.
And before he was challenged on the clarity of his response, Cain asserted, "I'm not trying to hedge on the questions, it's just that's my nature as a businessman, I need to know all of the facts, I would need to know all of the alternatives."
"It's not a clear yes/no," he said again. "Because of all those things I think that should have been assessed… I don't know that they were or were not assessed."
"I didn't see reports of that assessment."
Campaign spokesman J.D. Gordon described the video of Cain's awkward moment as "out of context in some measure."
"He just had to think about it," Gordon said, because the candidate "had been getting a lot of briefings on the subtleties of the Arab Spring."
Gordon pointed out that Cain had been fielding questions from several editorial board members for 45 minutes and "skipping around from every topic from A to Z."
Cain's popularity fell 11 points in a CNN/ORC International Poll released Monday, falling to third place behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Cain's candidacy has been plagued by allegations of sexual harassment in recent weeks, which he has said are not true.
And he had a simple explanation for his apparent stumble at an event in Wisconsin late Monday: “I mean, they asked me a question about Libya, and I paused…so I could gather my thoughts," he said. "You know, it’s really complimentary when people start documenting my pauses. You know it’s one thing to document every word. It was a pause. That’s all it was. Good grief.”
–CNN's Steve Brusk contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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I've said it all along, and I will say it again. Herman Cain is running to be Chairman-In-Chief. He has no clue what the job of POTUS really entails. He probably thinks that he will get a day off once in a while.
Would someone please ask Mr. Cain what are his sources for news and current events?
Does he even know where Libya is?
Next in line please...Newty; What's your story this time? well, we are NOT buying it!
Stuck with chuck Romney. My question to Romney and it is never asked. 5 rich boys zero service to the country. Why?
Why? and you want to save America. Give us your first born. Maybe
I think Mr. Cain thinks being POTUS is a business venture. His answer just confirmed what we all knew about the GOP and that is to go AGAINST anything the president is for even if you don't understand the issues.
Thank you Mr. Cain for reaffirming YOUR party is only out for one thing. To make our president a one term president at all costs.
Cain has done nothing in thought, word, or deed to come close to the dastardly deeds of Newt!!!!
Oh Herman, your done. Pack it up, the party's over.
This is the problem with not knowing these things going into the presidential race. There are too many countires, too much history, and too many leaders to think that one can get "caught up to speed" in a short period of time.
At the Fox Debate in early May, Mr. Cain expressed some pretty clear cut opinions that he disagreed with Obama on Libya policy. Six months later he draws a blank? The only unanswered question about Mr. Cain now is who is he going to blame for this failure.
This is the problem with not knowing these things going into the presidential race. There are too many countires, too much history, and too many leaders to think that one can get "caught up to speed" in a short period of time.
This turkey is done before Thanksgiving. Too bad there is not one viable candidate. On congress throw the bums out.
The election cycle's Sarah Palin has been officially identified.
What a silly man he turned out to be.
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So, they asked Herman if he disagreed with Obama on Libya.. in his hurry he quickly answers "yes" because he knows all Republcians are trained to disagree wven when the President is right (which is most of the time). Poor Herman couldn't think of a reason to disagree though. Silly Herman.
Another one bites the dust!
Silly Herman couldn't think of why he diagrees with the President on LIbya.
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Like a good trained Republican he was quick to disagree, but didn't know for what.
Simple answers are the best...Listen closely Herman..."Of course I support the President of the United States. He is my President. Yes I want his job, but until then and until I have the gathering of intelligence that he has, I defer to his decision"
I thought he was trying to re-enact the SNL skit on Perry.
a true politician, yes, no, maybe
Great. Let's put someone in the toughest job in the world who doesn't even read the newspapers. He didn't even know the Chinese have had nukes for forty years. How pathetic that this person is taken seriously by anyone as a candidate.
"Libya!? I didn't touch that woman at all! She's a liar...OH, not Lydia? LIBYA....yeah I dunno"
HELLO, these are NOT smart people GOP.
Cain seems to be just another moron. Instead of stumbling around, the best would be to say "I don't know". Nobody can know everything all the time, although, he should at least know Obama's position on Libya. For that he doesn't need much background info.
Even I know my position on Lybya, and I'm not even running for dogcatcher.
Cough...cough...let...me...think...Can...I...have...a...drink...of...water?...oh...that...could...you...restate...the...question...please... Gotta think faster than that if you want to be the leader of the best country in the world mister Cain...SC
The President of the United states.......... Wow. Good luck with that.
This goes to show you, the Cain is merely a Republican business man all for protecting the wealthy's tax cuts. The only thing he can really talk about is the 9-9-9- plan and how to pursue a "conservative approach" in fixing out economy. But when it comes to world, foreign affair and humanitarian issues, he is going to fail in presenting himself I think.
Cain the has-Bein... Again proves running a country has nothing to do with running a business, look where the last businessman that thought he could be president put us, we are still dealing with the short-comings 3 years after...
Libya was kinda a big deal. He didn't remember it? But he sure knew he didn't agree with Obama's actions (whatever those were). Kinda says something don't you think?
Don't let this guy near the launch button.
...I'll have mine with Canadian ham, please....
No American lives lost, only $1 billon spent and Gaddafi dead and Mr. Cain's not sure weather he supports that??? We spend $10 billion in Afghanistan each month and Mr. Cain is if favor of prolonging that! Hmmmm.
The BIGGER story is he favors collective bargaining for federal employees....I have resigned myself to accepting that he is clueless....I think he is just begining to get a handle on what it means to be "Conservative"...are these candidates really the best we have to offer?
Its part of the job..the American People expect our Leader to understand what;s going on around the world....People just watching the news could of given a better answer..... Better step up to the plate if he is serious.... This is a serious job he wants and if answered wrong could affect a whole nation and other nations.....
Poor guy, it's too complicated for him. Perhaps if Ghaddafi wore a skirt, Cain could terrorize him.
Give this man a break. We all know he memory problems before this story broke. It is not easy keeping the right story straight. Lets give him a break and have him concentrate on his "I don't recall these women." stories before asking him to comment on foriegn policy.
For goodness sakes. And this is the Republican front-runner? No wonder the GOP is washed up.
Cain probably is a great businessman. He's not presidential in his knowledge or ability to absorb or collect facts. This isn't liberal bias, it's just an observation based on his weak answers in many situations.
Does Cain even know where Libya is? His knowledge of this subject - and most others - is thinner than a coat of paint. So embarrassing. Just proves that making pizzas and shilling for the restaurant industry doesn't prepare you to be the leader of the free world.
This guy is so not ready for this job...
Unbelievable. What's the next flavor for this month because this one yuck!
Someone pull this turkey out of the oven...because he is done.
This guy is so clearly in over his head that he can't even see the top of the hole he's in. He keeps trying to explain away the mountain of evidence showing that he isn't even close to being competent enough for the job of President, but his struggling just makes him look more like a clueless liar. He needs to bow out and he needs to do it now. I can't believe his wife and kids aren't telling him that he's making a complete fool out of himself. Either they are mortified or they are dumber than he is.
The most important thing was whether Pres. Obama supported it or not. If Pres. Obama did then Mr. Cain HAS to disagree (regardless of the merits or success of the Presidents support). So, knowing what President Obama supported he had to disagree. This it the method that the GOP voters choose to make decisions. The GOP is one of the major problems with out country. The Dems are a second, but they are further behind the GOP.
Anyone with any intelligence at all should have realized that Cain should have never been considered for the position of President – he should stick to selling Pizza !!!!!
.... and this man wants to be President??? How does the saying go?... Be afraid... be very afraid....
Republicans- NOT ready for prime time, and certainly NOT the Presidency!
"Good Grief". That is what I say.
Herman sir, this is your next commercial... A throng of hundreds are firing machine guns of various sizes, calibers and type at something with zeal. 12 seconds later we the viewers see what all the fuss is aimed at. If you then emerge from an unscathed M1 Abrams tank and cry out Im still here... Guess what ?
Most people will realize the point that being bitten by hundreds of mosquitoes does not slow down a rhino, charging forward. You are that rhino, go forth and save America please!
Cain: Not ready to be President.
Not ready for prime time and if the allegations are true, will never be appropriate for the job.
Welcome "flavor of the month", Mr. Newt Gingrich. So long, Mr. Cain, you've been a blast!
It must have been that gotcha media we heard so much about last time around...
It's not as if Libya hasn't been a pretty major story in the news over the past several months, especially in the past weeks. Good grief, indeed. And Cain is running for president???
put a fork in him, he's done
And Cain joins Perry at the bottom of the toast pile.
It's becoming clearer that Cain doesn't possess any in depth knowledge of policies, either foreign or domestic. Being in charge of a national company that makes pizzas does not mean Cain is ready to lead a nation.
This man is completely out of touch. He is not fit to be our president at all.
Herman Cain and some other GOP contenders are so into going against EVERYTHING that President Obama has done that at times they can't really say WHY they are against it. And this seems to be one of those moments. The GOP mantra has been not to give Obama any credit or praise on anything, make him look like the bad guy on everything, and say how you would do it different. And of course facts don't matter at all. Just the other day Cain blasted Obama on ending a NASA program that President Bush had called to end himself. Romney says Iran will not have a nuc weapon if he were president and would attack not saying where he would find the troops nor money to do such a thing. Newt flip/flopped on his Libya support once the president did do what Newt wanted in the first place. This all plays well with the rabid right wing Obama-hating base who care not about truths but will not play well overall in a general election.
Still just a pizza guy. Not presidential material
First there was $arah, then came Scott Brown, then Rubio, then Trump, then Perry, then Cain, then Newt....poor ol' Mitt can't get more that 25% ..... who will be next?
Poor guy, he forgot his talking points! What a joke of a "candidate."
now let's make fun of Mr. Cain for one stumble.
Goodbye Herb. You were entertaining for a while but your 15 minutes just ended.
Poor Cain. He has shown that at the end of the day, he is just another black man, with all the faults most of them seem to have
The fact that some repubs support this guy is testimony to the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the republican party.
Has he even ever left the US to go on vacation? All politicians need to spend some time plying their trades abroad.
"(I've) got all this stuff twirling around in my head."
"Are you asking me did I agree or not agree with Obama?"
This was just a funny and pathetic as Perry's brain-meltdown.
These GOP candidates don't even know where half of these countries are in the world. Or anything about their history and relationship with the U.S. And to think these people want to have access to the "football". Brrrrrr....
.
After watching the video of Cain on Libya, Cain Had a "Perry" moment!
Doomed! He's going... going... GONE!
Rebecca - you are the one who is stumbling === Heman is saying the Opposition in the long run could be worse than Gadafi - but apparently you have no clue about that since you are a totol ingnorant as most so called journalists in the USA!!
Former Godfathers pizza ceo Hermain Cain. Thats all i have to say about Cains qualifications. sarcasm.
why this guy would ever be considered a front runner and a favorite of the teaparty is beyond me.
he supports the patriot act as 90% correct. he supports the TARP as correct in intent. he favors a national sales tax. he flip flops on the federal reserve issue. he thinks abortion is a personal decision but want to ban it, and let the woman choose. he wants to take military action against iran just in case.
seriously?
tea party?
and he will defer to expert opinion in matters that he doesn't know much about, which is a lot.
like obama doesn't rely on the same experts.
Are GOP candidates showing signs of early dementia or is it just plain ignorance !!???
I see nothing wrong with Cain's answer here. He is exactly correct in saying that he would need more information. As President you would absolutely have more information to develop a strategy in this kind of a conflict. In fact, I wish more candidates would have the honesty to say just that, " I would need more information. "
So much for cutting education huh Herm...you might want to attend night school...
We certainly need that Cain decisiveness in the White House.
That silver tongued devil. What a generic answer – it'll work for ANYTHANG you have no clue about. OK, this guy is definitely not serious about even being a citizen....
Hey Herman, Libya is in Africa.
Please let the GOP keep fumbling. OBAMA 2012.
This joke of a presidential candidate is either too stupid to see how truly unqualified he is for the position ... or he's simply not honest enough to admit it.
The pizza man knows nothing about foreign policy. What an embarassment.
Cain doesn't seem to know Mitt about anything.
Bye Herman. Pause and think about that one.
All of the bloopers that the candidates are making only show more clearly what Jeremiah 10:23 says. Over thousands of years of human history there has not been any individual or human government that has solved the serious problems facing humanity.
He didn't pause...he was backpedaling because he hasn't a clue.
at least its a semi-honest answer. these guys have no idea what the real president has in his briefings on a situation like libya. he wouldnt know assets available, intelligence reports or any number of things. i would like to see more thoughtful answers from candidates before they automatically assume a sitting president is wrong.
its not just obama. had the same issue with folks criticizing bush without knowing all the background details.
Yeah, Cain, you get back to us on that... I would like to see a Obama vs Cain debate... Get your popcorn and pizza ready.
didn't he get nansty to a reporter recently, about him not being a fool and studying the issues? he is such a fool. reminds me of craig huey
I keep asking, is this group of fools really the best the right has to offer.
Another example that this guy is not ready to lead our Country! I do not and cannot see him as the Commander-in-Chief. He is way out of his league. President Obama is heads and shoulders above Cain. Cain is just not Presidential material, plain and simple… As president he will need to be ale to deal with more than one issue and be able to keep them straight in his head. He can’t even do that while on the campaign trail.
Maybe he should have called Princess Nancy, she would have explained to him what we did in Libya....
Where are those experts when you need them?
Even when Mr. cain has had a lot on his plate to ponder later, he is still showing a lack of general knowledge all presidential candidates should have treasured by now. This recent example of his lack of info goes hand in hand with Mr. Perry's latest Oops moment.
I think it was probably his bottom lip he stumbled over.
Uzbeki-beki-beki-stan-stan
(on Libya) Let's see, I've got to go back, see," (I've) got all this stuff twirling around in my head.
He's on a foreign policy roll!
Do I agree with what Cain said? It's not a simple yes/no because there are different pieces and I would've gone about assessing the situation differently. I don't know that they were or were not assessed. I do not agree with the way he handled it for the following reasons – um, no, that's a different one. I'm not trying to hedge on the questions, it's just that's my nature as a businessman, I need to know all of the facts, I would need to know all of the alternatives. I just want to make sure we're talking about the same thing before I say 'Yes, I agree' or 'No, I do not agree.
Does this guy have a clue about what's going on outside the pizza business?
Seriously? I know children who have a better grasp of the situation than Cain does. Libya has been in the news for months and he has had every opportunity to do the research, so his "I need more information" dodge is utter bovine byproduct!
Herman Cain know nothing about Foreign Policy and petty much nothing else. He now Pizza and that It.
Another one bites the dust.
Really? The only canidate who makes good sense and really respects the lives of our soldiers is Ron Paul. The repubs are going to nominate Romney And lose to Obama. The repubs are so corrupt that they want no part of R P. Actually the lobbyist who control the party want no part of R P. Oh yeah both parties are equally corrupt.
Unless Mr. Cain is going out of his way not to praise President Obama's way of handling the Libya affair, choosing to stumble on such a recent international not to say something positive shows a truly R-candidate.
What a lot of words to simply state that the guy had no clue what to say, what he was talking about and is in deeply over his head.
Sorry but bumbling around being antsy and scrambling for a non "I don't know" answer is not collecting your thoughts. Funny how as each of the "front runners" gets in the spotlight they collapse like a house of cards.
Good grief All we want is a president that has all the answers, is that so wrong?
Cain is showing that he is not fit to be in the spotlight. He needs all the information before making a decision? Sorry, that doesn't happen at the President's level and on complex issues such as the Middle East.
The media should leave Cain alone. He seriously needs some quiet time until after the presidential elections.
Watch video of this. Unbelievable! And to think a significant number of Republicans want him as their President. Ridiculous! Doesn't the man ever read a newspaper? Or watch TV news? He has study up to know what the US did in Libya????
I'm never impressed with new Politicians familiarity with foreign matters. But ask many people on the street about foreign or even domestic question and not many can answer them correctly. People are not as tuned it as they should be. I would think Cain would familiarize himself with at the very least current events. You know reporters are going to ask about them. I think Cain has two strikes against him. One more and I think he is out!
Sometimes pauses indicate "gathering one's thoughts" – but this pause was not that. Rather, this pause and the tortured attempt at a reply indicated ignorance on one of the most pivotal events in the Middle East in recent decades. OK, so maybe he couldn't dig into the details, but he could have at least communicated that he knew what President Obama's role had been – pretty much anyone who has seen the news has at least an idea!
Yet another indication that Cain is in no way ready to be the Commander-in-Chief of this country...Uz-beki-beki-beki-stan maybe, but not this country.
Are you asking if I agree with President Obama? Because, if so, I know the answer! No!
LOL – This guy has done the impossible – he makes Perry seem intelligent.
This man is probably a very good businessman, but he does not have a clue about foreign policy and that's an important thing to know to be POTUS.
It would seem that some or our Presidential hopefuls are lacking in important areas that office would entail!!
He looked like he was trying very hard to remember the conservative talk radio talking points against Obama's actions in Libya. Problem is, those have changed so often (every time Obama and the U.S. were successful, they had to come up with a new thing to complain about) he couldn't remember the latest talking point.
Quick to disagree with a good man, but long to remember why.
His response sounds like a true problem solver!
A Perry moment??
This guy is one big hot mess. Now I just want to know if we are talking about the same thing because you might be talking about something that I don't know nothin' about. So I have to wing an answer and I want to be able to say that I answered something you didn't ask so I can blame the mainstream media for asking something I didn't answer.
why did we not get just such reporting on the current president when he was running. This may have given us all information to determine if he was ready or not too. Why now? Why this person? I am happy it is happening but why not then?
His handlers did not warn him about this question. For a Republican to admit that President handled this situation masterfully would be against the entire obstructionist mentality of the GOP. Couple that with Cain's amazing lack of knowledge regarding world affairs and it's easy to see why he couldn't answer the question.
Republicans can't just run against the President, even if they really did a great job of blocking any progress toward helping the American people. They'll need to offer something beyond gifts to the rich for their economic policy and ideas about dismantling our federal government. So far the Republican plan looks like something one would design to turn America into Mexico – where the top 1% lives large while everybody else lives day-to-day.
Why would this surprise anyone? My child has as much experience in Foreign Relations as this man. And yet...there are people who support him for the office of POTUS. Wow...
wow, almost as eloquent as Palin!
Geez, any fool that read the news or watched tv once or twice a week would have been able to answer the question.
Just shows this guy would be a disaster at running a whole country, especially one that is supposed to be the world's leading promoter of democracy.
Good grief, Herman Cain absolutely has no qualifications to be the President of the U.S. Maybe a Pizza Hut but that is about the extent of it. Anyone of us following the Libya story would have come up with a better response than him pausing and asking them to repeat the question.
Apparently this man never reads a newspaper. He didn't know China had nukes. I know more about Libya than he does. And this man goes around threatening other countries. He is going to torture captives. Whose children will have to die to pay for all his blunders?
And this is a man running for President of the United States!
Yes a pause....and an inane answer
This did not look good for a presidential candidate. Almost, but not quite, as bad as Perry's goof last week. I think they're going down pretty fast.
He doesn't want to look like he agrees with Obama at all. If he does, then he could be seen as being like Obama. That could be a problem when it comes to a primary or caucsus.
See folks, there's more to being President than managing money.
"(I've) got all this stuff twirling around in my head."
What things? Cobwebs?
Jeez, this is a presidential candidate?
He couldn't find Libya on a map and he wants to be president. Ha.
the irony here is that the reason he stumbled so bad is because he couldnt find anything wrong with the way Obama handled Libya and couldnt bring himself to admit it.
I think Cain and Perry should play Beat the Clock! Now That is Must See TV!
What can we say here folks.... It speaks for itself...
As a businessman? Sometimes the President must act without all the information he would like to have. If elected, what's Cain going to do, hem and haw while missles might be heading our way?
We need LEADERS, not business men.
He didn't know about Libya??? What, was it such a small part of the political scene that he didn't know we were over there? Hasn't he gotten the GOP talking points memorized after six months???
After all of these months on the campaign trail it appears that Mr. Cain hasn’t bothered to pick up a newspaper, magazine or a book, and has yet to discover that new fangled technology called the internet. It seems his entire campaign staff has failed miserably in their duty to brief him on topics that are not only known and understood by most high school freshman, but are very relevant for a person that’s seeking the office of POTUS. However, with one or two exceptions, being uninformed and blindly ignorant of the world that exists outside of their own myopic bubble seems to be the one common thread among the majority on this ship of fools, so he has plenty of company.
How would this guy have enough information to debate Obama on foreign policy if he has no opinion on how Obama handled Libya? Is this a joke? This is what Republicans are offering to potentially be the next President? I am really glad his fifteen minutes are up. He is a disgrace to business-politician wannabes.
This guy truly needs to go back to selling pizza.
Like Palin and the "midnight ride of Paul Revere", Cain and "what did Obama do in respect to Libya" response, I was embarrassed for the both of them as well as the republican party candidate line up. I lower my head and moved it from side to side, I feel really bad for the right conservative party . . . what happened to you guys. The republican leadership, without thinking, bash and disagree with Obama executive decisions for no other reason but to make him a one term president. And Herman Cain is a clear example of empty criticizing coming from the right.
This is summed up with the phrase " the GOP contender explained that he would need to know more" .... Yep, the man dosent know enough about how the world works. This is not the land of talk radio or pizza, this is the real world. He is not ready for prime time.
Not ready for prime time player. That video was PAINFUL.
His greatest maximum was for VP; now thats faded. He needs to pull a 2008 Romney and. not unlike Bachmann, save
his money for 2016. Those accusing ladies have his el braino rattled. As for tha ladies- too many Herman. Too many. May I please offer a simple solution- RUN, don't walk, to the nearest exit.
Herman! Herman! You have NO knowledge of the goings on in the World ... you really ARE NOT QUALIFIED to be POTUS! Libya? where's Libya?
You had a good run ... but the truth keeps catching up to you ... pack it in! Time to head for home!
3 strikes and you're out..
He is the same candidate who did not that Chinese had nuclear bombs since 1960s. Wow! What an ignorant fool and he wants to be the Commander in Chief. Libya did not happen a long time ago. It just happened. Mr. Cain... An advice for you.. Please read newspapers. Does anyone in GOP read newspapers (blink blink Palin...)
I recall a time in the past when you could ask a presidential candidate anything and they straighforward answers.
This guy actually makes Palin look good!!
Can someone please inform Mr. Cain that the commander in chief often has to make tough choices without knowing all the information? It's amazing that people claim to be "strong" on National Defense and also want this guy as President.
Maybe Herman should pause his campaign, permanently.
Did anyone in his right mind expect Mr. Cain to comprehend the politics and war in Libiya and the U.S. involvement in it? I am no fan of his philosophy or his style. But give him time to learn the tricks of the campaign trade. I am sure he will learn enough to at least get a passing grade pretty quickly.
Maybe he doesn't know where Libya is or what happened there.
You mean he had to stop and think? Oh my goodness! Who would do such a thing?
Cain is so far out of his league it is no suprise he stumbles and lies, and the truth will soon catch up to his lies and finally it will be all over for Herm
Finally an honest answer. All the other candidates said they would have done it differently. Finally, one of them actually says, "I need to see all the facts first"
Oh my, he didn't answer the question that the elite media wanted in 30 or less and now he's not qualified.
Is this story true ? Is it possible for someone running for president to have so little knowledge of the world around him ? Maybe it's to many briefings , afterall if you havn't noticed the world evolving around you it must be overwhelming to try and learn current events of the last 50 years . Who are his supporters ? Do they also not know things ? C'mon america , this is rediculous !
You're done, Mr. Cain. Next!
Not presidential material at all.
I hope you enjoyed your ride while it lasted, Herman.
And some people want to let THIS GUY run the country? Scary.
You know, there's no way this guy's qualified to be president, but I've been at those editorial board meetings and it's perfectly reasonable for someone to pause for 8 seconds to gather his thoughts before answering. Sheesh.
I am not sure how anyone can support a candidate like Cain, who clearly crumbles under pressure. He cannot handle tough questions nor can he handle being confronted when he is not entirely in control. And then he blames the media? Sorry but someone with such an inadequate personality has no business being in charge of anything, let alone the greatest nation on earth.
I respect his response. He wasn't that well informed, but he didn't try to bluff his way through the question or lapse into a lot of anti-Obama rhetoric. Sounded like an honest answer to me.
It's obvious that Cain is not ready to be president. This isn't the first time he's stumbled on foreign policy. Again, the President of this country is not just president on domestic issues.
3am phone call comes in, as president, do you take it?... 8 seconds later, and World War 4 starts...
He would have required all of the facts...but he was sure that he didn't agree with president Obama's decision It was painful to watch..
Yeah, he's done.
Isn't it amazing these Republican candidates. They want to be President but are clueless of the most basic aspects of foreign policy. You would think they would spend some time reading up on the world so they would appear savy and well informed instead of looking foolish in front of the camera.
he might as well of said i dont agree with him because hes a democrat
Most teabaggers could not even point Libya on a map, so I am really not surprised.
Is it news that this clown has no clue about the world around him? If that phone rings at 3am the only thing he can say is 9-9-9.
Cain is not able to stay on top of world events. He is the weakest link when it comes to foreign policy
Clearly unqualified for the job
Which goes to show you cant always run the country like a business Mr Cain...sometimes you dont have the opportunity to go back and look to see what everyone else put as their answer before you roll the dice...the funny little one liners that sound great in the beginning....only get you so far...sign up ahead...get off this exit
Another brilliant Republican candidate. Does he even know where Libya is? Perhaps he can see Libya from his kitchen window.
Cain, you give most thinking people pause.
one stumbles the other mumbles., so Obama the Best on Foreign Policy. He killed Bin Laden, Gaddafi, Saddam etc, cut Pakistan aid, brings Iraq troops, ends Iraq war, etc...
First off, I think Cain is not Presidential material, and I disagree with the almost everything he has said, but give him a break. I have a bit more respect for a guy who doesn't have a canned answer for everything and actually says he needs more information. Since the GOP seems to make a point of making decisions based on "gut feelings" and not data or information, at least he is open to the idea that information may be needed to make a comment/decision. We should applaud that.
for crying out loud...you know nothing about foreign policy to begin with, you don't have an answer and when all else fails just disagree with what went down and how it was handled...eventhough our actions in Libya were considered a success.
Honestly, this was hard to watch. He had no idea what he was talking about, so proceeded to tell the interviewer how he would do it better. Painful, just painful. This candidate is a sham. I just wonder if he is a front for the Koch brothers, who wanted one of their own in the White House. Very sad, if this is where politics is heading. But not surprising. The rich guys already own most of our politicians and now write the laws that help them. Putting a puppet in the White House is the natural next step.
Being a contender for president should mean that he's already well aware of Lybia and what's been going on there. It seems like Cain just isn't paying attention to world events. not a good thing for a potential president.
Funny how ALL the GOP candidates all believe they would have done a better job than President Obama, but not one of them will give anybody any specifics on what EXACTLY they would have done better on pertaining to this subject. Its as if they just disagree WITH EVERYTHING THIS PRESIDENT DOES. First they said that helping out the Libyan people is the wrong thing to do, and now that it appears to be a success, now their story is they would have done a better job. Like Iraq I guess.
Ridiculous. And his attempt to spin it was just as sad. I'm embarrassed for him. Throw in China who he didn't know has had nukes for 40+ years, and he's toast.
Bring the jam cain's toast
That's it! Stick a fork in it Cain.
Every republican candidate deserves empathy for their own "Perry Moment" every now and then.
GOP lineup: Simply Top Shelf.
This is just another example of why Herman Cain is utterly unqualified to be president. The Republican presidential field of candidates is pathetic.
This Man never came into this race to win the nomination let alone become President of the United States. He came into the race to boost his personal profile and sell books. He has all of a sudden found himself in a place he never expected to be. His eventual fall was inevitable, it was only a matter of time.
Not as bad as they make it sound. But not Presedential material either.
You can't make this stuff up. Epic fail.
Remember something: This is the very best the GOP has to offer, the very best.
Herman Cain is simply selling his brand...much like that Palin woman. He has no substance, no knowledge of international affairs, no concept of how to run this country. The USA is not a "business" he can manage from a desk. Cain is not a serious GOP candidate for the office of the president. He is simply the GOP needs in order to have more time to find a REAL candidate.
In other words, he didn't know what to say. At least he didn't say he could see Russia from his backyard.
Wonder what Obama would have said if he had been asked a "gotcha" question like that a year before he won.
At least he answered that he needed more info. Obama would have avoided the question altogether.
Bye Herman. It was fun while it lasted. Next up: The Newt!
The bloom has gone off the rose. For all the faults of our nominating system, at the end of the day everyone goes through the same wringer.
Where does the TeaPubs, the party of doom & gloom & just say "no", get these blithering ill-equipped candidates anyway? Do they hold a contest to get the worst? It sure seems so. The Prez must be re-elected in 2012.
For goodness sake, give the guy a break, ask him a question about pizza, maybe he could answer that.
Yeah, except if it were Obama having done the same thing, FOX/FAUX News would run Obama's blundered 24/7; and then jumping to the conclusion of how he can't think on his feet. But Cain does it and, oh, no big deal, just a memory lasp...
The truth is, Cain didn't have an answer, that he should already know. People can see through BS, and Cain is clearly someone that has been inventing himself as he goes along, instead of being prepared for the most powerful position in te world, POTUS.
Republican thinking, what Herman Cain reflects here. I would like to mention few points to Mr. Cain. Libya and people of Libya are not your property. Who the opposition was ? Opposition was people who were tired of ruthless dictatorship. Opposition was just public frustration. Apparently, this guy do not know anything about foreign policy. Same as most republicans. He do not have value of life for people belong to other countries.
Republican party is destroying USA and its own values. They are slowly getting rid of moderates from the party. Look how they behave with comparatively moderates like Colin Powel and McCain.
"Bye Herman. It was fun while it lasted. Next up: The Newt!"
--------
Maybe... but if you think Gingrich will be easily tripped up, you're sorely mistaken.
Elect a lobbyist president. Is this a good idea?
Let's see, not a single American life lost and no one captured, the American side spent less than we spend in one week in Afghanistan, Obama forged an game changing coalition and we deposed a homicidal dictator. Unfortunately from the Republican perspective, there was no opportunity for their friends to steal a bundle (literally) of cash. Can't win them all.
14 more "debates" with this guy and the rest of them? Priceless!
RON PAUL 2012! Cain, Perry, Romney, Gingrich are all done. Not one has a bit of sense about them. They are big government shills
Cain need to do what he do best make pizza and mess around with other women. Gloria can't be that dumb i hope the question is do she know where he man is tonight...or maybe he can see Libya from his home. Reject Reject damage goods bye bye........Herman Cain
By the way Mr. Cain, if you said you don't have all of the details/facts to give an intelligent answer about Libya, then how can you be informed enough to say that Obama didn't make the right decision? The only way a person can conclude that President Obama made a wrong decision with Libya, is to actually KNOW what happened in regards to Libya!!!! Some of you GOP are in such huge denial, it's pathetic. As long as it's anti-Obama, you're 100% behind that, right?
I watched the video on HLN this morning. That guy looked like he couldn't put a coherent thought together. It looked to me as though the interviewer had asked him a question that he had not prepped for nor had an answer for. In fact, I don't think he knew what the President's policies were around Libya. That's a major faux pax for someone wishing to be president. This is not his first flub on international issues. It tells me he should not be allowed near the oval office.
"What's the nature of the opposition?"
Planescape Torment 2: The Nameless One vs. Herman Cain
Yep there goes that Gotcha Media asking those tough questions..........Come on someone ask him what magazines he reads...........no wait better not go there that one was way too tough for the well seasoned Palin
Turn out the lights Herman........Back to making lousey pizzas
Honestly the only reason he paused was because he didn't know the paticulars of his own argument, he couldn't slam the Obama administration, or even say what he would do differently because he didn't know. I'm sure after he reads up on the issue he will have a laundry list of things that the current administration did wrong, and that he could have done better, i do credit him this time because usually when a member of the GOP doesn't have an intelligent answer they go straight into character assassination.
Is everyone seeing that Ron Paul is the best choice yet? Enough of this crap that he is unelectable. Im sick of dealing with these idiots who think they can be president because they are popular. Let's get someone in there who knows what the hell he is doing!!!
How did this guy get to be CEO of Godfather's Pizza?
Maybe if he'd worn his ubiquitous yellow tie....
I don't expect a candidate to know everything about world affairs, US policy, economics and so on. There is just too much to know to be an expert on every single issue. What I do expect is for a candidate to not be a molester of women, someone who thinks it is fine to stick your hand up a woman's dress without an invitation. This guy is bad news and needs to get out soon, he hasn't got a chance.
I hope that America can clearly see the stark contrast between this "pretender" and President Obama. I’m not sure how the Republican Party benefits from having such a weak candidate speak for them. As a Conservative, I’ve voted for the GOP candidate in the past; never again. America has serious problems and we need a serious person to lead us through these difficult times. I will vote for President Obama.
I wonder how complemented Perry felt for his pause in recalling the Dept. of Energy.
Too many things swirling around in his head. That's a good excuse. I got news for this guy. If you can't understand all the major issues going on in and outside the country you do not have the brain power to run it.
You should be teaching people how to upsell wings with their pizza order. Not running for president.
This guy is a joke.
That's the problem for people who consistently tell lies "just because". Ever notice that later on they can't really remember specifcally what they said about a person, the subject matter? But if a person tells the truth, there's no problem remembering what one said because their words reflect their true belief. This bozo, like most of 'em, has his mind stuffed too full of the wrong things, such as glee about possible big money and power, nothing else.
Seriously? He's great for comic entertainment since Sarah P. backed out.
Cain is such an embarrassingly bad candidate, it's painful to watch him. The Republicans have his rock bottom in their search for a viable candidate. Now it's Newt or Mitt–a washed up scandal ridden muppet and a corporation wearing an expensive suit. I'm sticking with the Prez.
He is definitely qualified to sell pizza.
I'd see if this was truly a past history question. It was a current event question. I hope they have already ordered the big tent for the GOP convention. Move over Barnum and Bailey!!
Obviously a trick gotcha question from a mouthpiece of the "democrat machine." Herman should learn from Sarah and only talk to Faux News.
a) how much time did it take Obama to make a decision regarding our actions in Libya? Probably more than 8 seconds. Also, Cain is admitting that he doesn't have all the intel, etc that Obama did, so, without that, how can he say whether he supports the actions or not. Any one of the candidates that say they unequivocally would have done things different is just giving us a story since none of them know all the facts leading to Obama's decisions. Only if they have access to the same data the President did at the time, could they give us a completely truthful answer.
Just a pizza man. Cain is not Presidential material
Just pitiful. He needs to come to grips that he is being used by the gop/tea partiers.
I cannot believe there are some people defending this guy. I swear the conservative morons live in some kind of alternate universe.
This is what I would say to Mr. Cain. Stop playing game of know it all card. You simply don't know the answers and we are not going to wait here an hours or so for your yes or no. You either say yes or not. Don't think about gathering information think about what would you do if you put yourself in a position of President. I don't think I would vote for you. Thank you and you have a miserable day.......
Looks as if he was looking for a way to disagree with Obama. It is ok to agree with what the other side if that is what you believe. I guess he was looking for the right answer for his Tea Party supporters.
I saw this piece yesterday on the evening news, and even I could identify the events that took place in Libya. I thought this has got to be the biggest clown in and around town; he did however manage to chime in that the President didn't handle the situation right, but he could not articulate why.
Herman Cain just go back to your corner; you have nothing to offer America in terms of leadership, therefore you are part of the problem.
gkingii: In what way is that a "gotcha" question? I would be surprised if all other candidates with possible exception of Michelle Bachmann have a carefully scripted, campaign-approved answer to that question. That's a part of running a campaign against an incumbent. Your handlers are supposed to prepare and prep you against these expected questions. That's why Perry's stumble was so newsworthy because the misstep reflects not only on him but also his staff, and additionally, Perry's ability to pick the staff that can best help him, since as a President, he'll be tasked with filling the cabinet with competent people he can trust.
Hang it up, Herman.
Cain has clearly shown that he can't be trusted to answer the hot line phone at 3 am.
@FedUp "At least he answered that he needed more info." And yet Cain also said he would have handled it differently and more should have been done (such opinion based on needing more info?). "Obama would have avoided the question altogether." Hypothetical useless because he already answered the question with actions.
Some people on here tried to defend him because he took his time to answer the question (REALLY). He was sure of one of his answers that he disagreed with the way Obama handled Lybia, he knew that he had to be against the President (THAT IS ALL HE KNEW). LMAO
I guess he wasn't expecting a question about an important foreign affairs issue so he did not even prep an answer to a simple question. Not only is he not presidential material but his staff is inept at best. NEXT!
The few stating that Obama would have avoided the question or stating that this was a "gotcha" question are really in denial of the facts. Any question that makes your guy look stupid is a "gotcha" question. The Libya situation has been going on for more than 6 months and he still can't formulate an adequate answer. Obama's understanding of international relations and events far surpasses anyone in the GOP field. The closest to him would be Ron Paul, but the GOP doesn't want to hear Ron because he tells the truth on issues.
As a black woman I supported Obama like many of us who simply wanted a minority represented in the white house for once and I appreciated how the media minimized some of his associations with his crazy pastor and friend Bill Ayers, but now that we have a chance to vote for an even better black man who has not been tainted and bought by washington the media is silent...kinda makes you wonder that if you are black and not a democrat you don't get protection.
He is a pizza executive who views the presidency as "CEO of the United States, Inc." In his days as head honcho of a pizza company, he could mumble anything he wanted knowing he was the boss and his employees had to listen to him and do what he says like it or not. Not anymore.
I wonder how long the pause would be if the reported asked him whether he was runing for President or not....
This guy is "toast". Mr. Zling, Sling!!! Tell the Tea Party crowd what they want to hear, then the Idiots jump up and say "yeah"!!!! Oh what a little education would do – Sarah Palin included. Toasters all the way!!!
Cain was done before he started. Flavor of the Month, is all. The "new" flavor of the month is Newt "I like to screw around on my wive(s)" Gingrich. Republicans have demonstrated they're absolutely clueless on what a viable candidate looks, acts, and sounds like.
It's obviously unfair to expect Herman Cain to know anything much about Libya. After all, that Arab Spring happened ages ago. They should ask him something more appropriate, like what continent is Libya on.
Ubekibekibekekistanstanlibliblibyayaya.
Herman asks "is this a country or a pizza topping".
His 15 minutes are over. Now, it's a Gingrich-Perry fight until the increased spotlight and scrutiny of their background trips them up, too. Romney is a lukewarm choice at best. If the supercommittee fails, there will be a brand new round of the blame game and it will be up to the voters to decide who is really at fault as we head into destructive automatic cuts and a probable 2nd debt rate downgrade. If the GOP insists on damaging cuts to Social Security and Medicare with no increased net tax revenue while giving trillions in tax cuts to business, this country will blame them for the ensuing disaster.
All of you that justify this did you miss the part where he stumbles and says "Wait nevermind, that's from something else" ?
Wow,really. Best answer always, I would have done it better. But they never say what.
Herman Cain you are NOT ready for prime time!
Cain sounds just like a student trying to bluff his way on an issue he knows nothing about.
Remember, just last weekend, Mr. Cain participated in a debate on national security.
Mr Cain stumbling looks bad in the video, but can be forgiven. His comments later in the day indicate he's a liar and he accepts no personal responsibility for his actions. Coming from a man who blames the poor and middle class for losing their jobs, that makes Mr Cain's lack of personal responsibility unforgivable.
It also makes me doubt his version of the sexual harassment charges.
Cain obviously did not know enough to even begin to address the issue, other than to say he disagreed with Obama, although he did not know what he was disagreeing with. What is truly frightening is that he had support of 20+% until his alleged sexual harrassment came to light. Who is uninformed, Cain or the average voter??
If Cain's not careful he will talk his way out of the gig at FOX. The real reason he is running. I don't think he ever really expected to be where he was in the polls
They should have asked him about Uzbekibekibekistanstan
gkingli = Fed Up,
To the contrary, please remember President Obama did answer the "gotcha" question during the primary about Bin Laden/Pakistan, and he ended up being exactly right.
I may not agree with Obama on everything, but the best thing he has going for him is the circus act running against him. Now that Cain is showing his lack of qualification, the new "anyone but Romney flip-flopped again" is Newt...
He couldt give an answer but it would have helped him if he could remember what Obama did so he could be against it. That the whole of the GOP strategy these day. That's what you get when Candidates are already bought and sold before they even win the job. After all,the Koch bros are Cains 'brothers from another mother'.
This is not a gotcha question. It is a question about a current event that unfolded over a number of months in a 24 hour news cycle environment. With the number of politicians, news analysts, journalists, politically active celebs, ambassadors, etc. that have commented on the the Libya situation for the past few months, Herman Cain had absolutely no clue about the situation. He's been coached obviously and his attempts to have the question rephrased are likely linked to a common technique (using keywords or phrases to trigger memorized talking points). If he had some level of understanding of the world around him, he would have been prepared. I think its fair to have a higher expectation of those who are running for our country's highest office. So yes, you do need to have a broader understanding of a variety of topics and I expect you to be able to communicate those thoughts more clearly.
I watch the news. I know that Obama used NATO instead of putting our own boots on the ground and his approach proved successful. I wish Obama had designed the Iraq invasion too.
And this is not a major headline? Wow. I asked my 8-year old about Libya this morning, and he was able to tell me more than Cain.
You know - that country in the northern part of Africa.....been in the news the last few weeks.....final hint: the rebels forcefully removed the dictator that was there....no? nothing? Can I get an "oops"?
C'mon Herb, I know it's not one of those 'beka 'beka stans but seriously, "brother" (insert your own Rick Perry joke here) you have to do better than that. That wasn't a pause that was an eternity –just a complete mental breakdown.
Send in the next clown: Fig Newton, you're up.
It's interesting to note that Cain's default response is to disagree with anything that President Obama has done. That appears to be the Republican playbook. Why can't we have an honest discussion about the things the President has done right, the things he has done wrong, and the things he could have done better? By saying everything the President has done is wrong, the Republicans loose all credibility with this voter. Being a political conservative, I want to vote Republican, but given the current freak show of candidates, that's become very difficult to do so.
Hello,
as for me,someone who is pushing his way to the white house,has to wait a moment or more information in details.why America went to libya?is so funny...i personally am not a politician,am just a political fans.i discover that America and Natto went to libya?not that they love libyan people but their economic Gains...Ghadafi do so well,for his country and people but unfortuately no president is a saint,as long as power is concern but Herman cain don"t need seconds before he supposed to asnwer this simple question as someone fighting to be America president...
Thanks,Eddy lord is a musical activist from France...
It's time for Cain and Perry to bow out gracefully and let Ron Paul rise up – let's see how he takes the heat and then I'll know who I'm voting for.
He didn't do his assignment before He run for President. Before you run for President you give your thoughts at least a year in advance and you got to have a plan for all things. Romney wrote a book about his plan a year before He ran for President, plus He was well informed on all current events.
"FedUp
At least he answered that he needed more info. Obama would have avoided the question altogether."
I think he answered the question with drones, no loss of US lives, and overthrow of a dictator who killed hundreds of US citizens.
Pretty good answer, I think.
This is what happens when you absolutely have to try and find a way to oppose success. The GOP has chosen to put themselves in this position.
More importantly, a pretty big percentage of Republicans have been backing this guy. Is there some way we can identify these people and yank their voting privileges?? Cuz if you weren't bright enough to see thru this fraud, you shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a voting booth.
"(I've) got all this stuff twirling around in my head."
"Are you asking me did I agree or not agree with Obama?"
This was just a funny and pathetic as Perry's brain-meltdown.
These GOP candidates don't even know where half of these countries are in the world. Or anything about their history and relationship with the U.S. And to think these people want to have access to the "football". Brrrrrr....
It's not that he paused; it's that once he finally spoke, he used words a high school junior might write to b.s. his way through a history essay question he knows nothing about. I don't think I can watch any more Perry/Cain clips; I'm embarrassed for the two of them.
Go back 2007, 2008 and review all of Barack Obama's speaking points on any subject, You will find That he (President Obama) is well informed on not just foreign policies but the entire gambit as well . . . Check it out, I dare ya!
It says a lot about the current GOP field that the "correct answer" is always "I disagree with whatever it was that President Obama did or is planning to do," even when the candidate him or herself can't provide a reason for that disagreement, can't point out what it was that Obama did "wrong" and most importantly can't say how he or she would have handled the situation differently and how that would have produced a better outcome. It would be funny if it weren't so sad. This is what we get when the right wing media gets to choose the candidates - all hat, no cattle x 6 (I'm excluding Huntsman because he actually does seem to have some brains and integrity, and Paul because he's clearly crazy but not in the way Fox News seems to like - they are hardly promoting him at all). God help us all if one of these fools makes it into the White House.
I appreciate that he had to stop and think about it – great not to have a recorded message from Fox news at the tip of his tongue for once. But if he didn't know, why did he say that he disagreed with how Obama handled it without giving any example of how he would have done it better? He implied that Obama somehow didn't use the intelligence that was out there – how does he know that? And what more about the opposition would he have liked to know? I'm a big fan of saying you don't know when you don't, that's fine. But "I don't know but I'm sure I could have done it better" is just silly.
“I mean, they asked me a question about Libya, and I paused…so I could gather my thoughts," he said. "You know, it’s really complimentary when people start documenting my pauses. You know it’s one thing to document every word. It was a pause. That’s all it was. Good grief.” GOOD GRIEF CAIN – if that's "just a pause" I wonder what your other glib dismissals REALLY represent, i.e. "it was just a harmless gesture" ??? Can you say – couldn't formulate an articulate or even coherent answer, even after several pauses, talking to himself, etc.???? Go back to closing down pizza shops and putting people out of work to increase the company profit margin.
Yep!, he's done.
Come on folks, Cain's not a serious presidential candidate. I sit down & watch the GOP debates as entertainment, popcorn and all!
My 10 year old nephew saw this interview and knew the answer, ENOUGH SAID.
Are the republicans really serious about nominating a credible candidate? Obama is looking better everyday
It wasn't a "gotcha" question. Any casual observer of currents should at least be able to express a clear opinion. Saying that he didn't like the way Obama handled Libya without saying what he'd do differently reveals that he doesn't have a grasp on this or many other foreign policy issues. We saw the real Herman Cain: only good at delivering prepared talking points but that's all.
So many comments here give Cain credit for , ehmm, wanting the "facts first".
The real funny thing is, how come they are ALL criticizing Pres Obama when they obviously don't have ALL the facts first? They just shoot off their mouths, all those candidates without having all the facts. Cain proved that's the case (let's not even mention barbie and the 2 Rick boys). None of them have been informed of the classified decisions that come out of the White House or Pentagon. How dare they? These immature bully boys. Grade D.
There is currently no national sales tax. Herman Cain want to implement a NEW national sales tax. I can not believe conservatives are being blinded by the pro-Cain main stream conservative media. The man in a RINO that wants to implement a new tax on WE, THE PEOPLE.
Who ya gonna call, Herman? GHOSTBUSTERS? Oh, wait a minute, I know: DIAL 999!
In your best interest, Mr. Cain, stick to Pizza!
Herman may not be the polished politician that most of you seem to want, but at least his answer is honest. He still has lots of support. Obama stumbles frequently also.
I understand because Mr Cain has been busy studying up on Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan. He can answer any question regarding that country.
Herman, sorry, you have shown us very nicely that governing a super power and complex society is way over the head of a businessman. It's not all about money. It's about diplomacy, complicated situations, negotiations, constitutional and ethical decisions, weighing and balancing contradicting evidence.
You, Mr Cain, have been found lacking. BTW have you heard that there are a couple more countries (kidding) with nuclear capabilities? Oh, Gaddafi apparently had bio and chemical WMD (thats weapons of mass destruction). What would you have done since you surely don't have all the facts?
That was most painful to witness. The guy doesn't know squat about the subject and instead of admitting it he tries to tap-dance with lead shoes on. Pretty pathetic if you ask me. Mr. Cain, you can return to the pizza parlor kitchen where you belong.
I like reading some of the Cain supporters comments about how would Obama react to a "gotcha" question, etc. Folks wake up, Obama reacted as POTUS if you disagree with his decisions, fine, but he did not hem and haw and gather his thoughts. Cain had a benefit that Obama did not have, what happened is history to Cain. Did he miss that briefing on foreign affairs?
Can we please stop considering this guy a serious contender for the presidency? He has NO understanding of foreign policy, and the fact that he can't form a coherent opinion on Obama's handling of Libya shows that he hasn't been watching the news at all this year. A presidential candidate doesn't need to know everything, but basic knowledge of current events would be nice.
Can you imagine a Herman Cain as president, and a Rick Perry as vice president? And the Republicans want deep cuts in the Departmen of Education budget.
@Fedup: "At least he answered that he needed more info. Obama would have avoided the question altogether".
One small problem there, my friend: Obama was the ONE to solve the problem. No avoiding decisions here. He took action and succeeded. Thank you, Mr President.
Mr Cain is not up for the job. Maybe he can take lessons on debating and thinking on his feet from Newt Gingrich. Neither of them are qualified to even speak to Ron Paul about foreign policy, but at least he could stop putting his foot in his mouth.
Herman Cain and the entire field of GOP candidates = Moot Topic.
In other words: another know-nothing with no actual background education on the subject or thoughts, beliefs and ideas of his own regarding the appropriate policy decisions to be making with respect thereto, forgot the pre-prepared lines fed to him by people he paid to have the education and think the thoughts for him....most of whom are actually similarly ignorant and vapid and merely generate said pre-prepared lines by looking at polling data.
A pause or a moment to collect his thoughts is understandeable... but he obviously didn't know the subject, which is a major national security current event. No excuse for someone trying to be president. Absolutely no excuse.
It is a tribute to the success of the Tea Party that they are getting exactly the candidates they have demanded: Perry, Cain, Bachmann, etc. The rest of us aren't intimidated by the idea that our President might be more intelligent or knowledgeable than we are.
Another "taken out of context" moment? This guy has an excuse for everything. If he can't answer a question about one of the most covered political issues in the last 6 months, he has no business trying to get the job of running this country. Looks like the Kock brothers didn't invest well with this one – next!
What will he do when he gets the "3 am phone call"
i'll answer it for you Cain. Obama was amazing in handling the war in Libya even though all the GOP said from the beginning that he was making a bad mistake. On behalf of the enitre Republican Party, we apologize to Mr President.
It's not a simple yes/no because there are different pieces and I would've gone about assessing the situation differently, which might have caused us to end up at the same place, but I think more could've been done was, what's the nature of the opposition"
I just can't stop laughing at that answer.
I have no problem with someone taking time to collect their thoughts. Normally, it shows that they are actually considering the question and would like to give a thoughtful answer instead of immediately spouting off a canned answer for the sake of appeasing the republican base. But in this case, Mr. Cain took those 8 seconds to come up with the most wish washy answer I have ever heard. First he says no, then he says yes but with certain conditions, and then essentially says no but that he would have come to the same decision just in a different way. He is obviously full of it and has been since day one. Maybe if he settles all of the things "twirling around" in his head he can concentrate on actually solving problems through the private sector as the businessman he claims to be.
I could just see that Bozo in a face to face meeting with the PM of Israel ...let's see. Pause. You're our friends – right?
Another GOPer who can't think on his feet. Maybe it's because there's nothing going on in his head, except all that swirling. In any case he's simply not ready for primetime. Where does the GOP come up with these people? I know they have some intelligent, qualified people in their party. But they cultivated their "base" for so long that nobody who's intelligent and emotionally mature can get nominated for anything. They don't want moderates in their party so I guess we'll just have to vote Democratic.
@gkingii
"Wonder what Obama would have said if he had been asked a "gotcha" question like that a year before he won".
Are you serious.... "gotcha"? This position is for leader of the free world. Obama got it right on Iraq before he won...after he won, he got it right also!!! If you are seeking the post make sure you are prepared to run with the big boys. How long has Libya been in the news? Even if you are not familiar with the country from your educational background you should at least have some knowledge based on current events for the past couple of years. If Cain can learn basic wold and current affairs, how is he gonna lead.
Can't believe that to answer intelligently on basic foreign policy is elitism and to be asked about this topic amounts to a a "gotcha question". Seriously!
Correction...If Cain can't
For those of you who are complaining that he simply took a pause to think: What answer did he finally give? He didn't. He said he would have done it differently from Obama, but never said in what way. Copped out by saying he would need more information, although the same result would have come from it. That's not an answer, that is avoiding the answer. Geeze! you people actually vote?
Annie,Atlanta, well-put. It was difficult to watch him twist in his chair and fidget. Then the "no that's something else....got so much swirling in my head" was awful. Really contrasts his jovial "beki-beki-beki-stan" bit. Unelectable.
Please, I can't take anymore of Herman Cain, the more I hear and see the more I am CONVINCED President Obama is the best person to lead this country!
@Four and The Door (who stated) "All can beat Obama. The question is who can win large enough to sweep majorities in the Senate and House along with Governor races? I think Romney right now. He's got broad enough appeal and for all the right reasons. Experience, knowledge, vision, intelligence, integrity, ambition..."
--
Romney, huh? With a sweeping Republican majority to boot? Not going to happen, dude. By the time America gets past the next 13 scheduled Republican debates, we will ALL have become exhausted by Mitt Romney and his "groveling for votes" talking point rhetoric.
As for Herman Cain, was this interview a book signing event or a presidential campaign event? There is such confusion between the two, especially for Mr. Cain, who seems to have great difficulty deciding which is more important to him, become President of the United States or sell his book.
If this gentelman becomes in fact Obama's opponent I'm gonna have to vote for the first time in my life. Not for Obama, but against Cain.
That's what happens when you only get your news from one source like Fox. Facts are not important to Fox but a president really neess to understand all the facts.
that goes to show the presidency is not for everybody with fifthy cents more than their needs require, being under pressure bring out the truth
Not fair! He was expecting, "'Who is the President of Ubeckkbeckkycanstan?"
I know more about Libya than he does, and can point it out on a map. Seriously, he has people who can brief him on current foreign policy, he can read the news on the internet on NON-BIASED sites. If he was in an interview, which you can kind of call this, your job is to know enough about your audience and what they way ask you. He should been able to answer that questions as well as others immediately, that would be his job as President. He is a joke.
I don't count off for stopping to think, but I do count off for attempting to look like he knew what was going on.
Just like Palin's bad interviews... if you don't know what you are talking about, just say it, but you do have to do it quick and honorably.
gkingii – says – "Wonder what Obama would have said if he had been asked a "gotcha" question like that a year before he won." GOTCHA QUESTION????? Are you serious???? This was a very basic question about something that has been front and center in the news and congress for the better part of a year???? I guess by your standards, we're not allowed to ask them anything! Defending the indefensible – why?
This Clip is better than Saturday Night Live! Cain is finally showing America that he has no clue about being POTUS.
it would be funny if it weren't true. this man lives in a paper bag, and knows nothing about foreign policy. I cannot measure his stature with the likes of Kenneday, Kissinger, Rumsfeld, Powell, and many many more. HE is such a big dummy.
extra cheese and pepperoni plse. thanks mr cain
Cain was able to acknowledge that he needed more information. This is somewhat refreshing in a time where every candidate attempts to not only know it all but also pretends to have pondered an issue over time. What is most revealing is that Cain's knee-jerk reaction was that Obama handled Libya improperly. Cain is so used to bashing Obama, he starts any response to any question about Obama with an immediate condemnation. Let's see if Cain can build on this newly found open-mindedness. If he does, he surely will lose his political base.
Manfreedy & Johnson are looking so much better than this fiasco of an interview. (i..e for those not familiar with M&J, google or Wiki The Penguins of Madagascar)
For those of you who read an article that CNN ran the other day about how to tell when someone is lying, this is a textbook case. He exhibited every one of the things to look for to tell if someone is lying. Classic!
What if we stopped all the Libya, Iraq, Iran issue, and CAME BACK HOME, just like RON PAUL has been saying for all these years?
I'm voting for him, he has EARNED my vote with his truth and honesty. And with FREEDOM.
RON PAUL 2012!
Joke is on the GOP! he doesn't even have the appropriate campaign staff in place! he has not intention of becoming President, but he's so happy you are all buying his book!
Problem is with these Republican candidates that the first thought on a question like this is "I need to disagree with Obama here. Now how do I do that when I don't know the issue?"
This is really interesting. It is so obvious that Cain is nowhere close to be a serious candidate. Yet, the republicans are desperately searching for an alternative to the only viable candidate they have, Mitt Romney. Every one of these completely implausible candidates, like Bachmann, Perry, Cain, now Gingrich experience a short-lived surge in the polls before it becomes painfully obvious that this one won't make it either. I think it is actually a hopeful sign for America that the only republican candidate who got a chance of making it to the White House is an intelligent person with moderate views and a record of success in business and politics.
Is is just me or is Mr. Cain starting to sound like a certain former Alaska governor who also had problems with answering simple questions and then blamed the media for asking "gotcha" questions and anything else that went wrong. Maybe Mr. Cain's campaign needs to explain to him the difference between CEO and POTUS!
Cain is sadly not very different from most corporate American CEOs – loud talking and blustery, and a good salesman to his simpering followers – but possessing little in terms of deep knowledge, analysis, or critical thinking skills.
This guy is a joke. He always needs to see reports or ask his analysts. Why is he running again? He doesn't know anything about anything. How can ppl still want to vote for him blows my mind. He can barely speak English correctly.
amazing that some people would vote for him. he doesn't care about this...he doesn't even know what is going on in the world. sadly enough there are followers of his that know more about domestic and foreign events than he does, and we are not exactly talking about the cream of the crop here, after all they support Herman Cain. how smart can you be to support the biggest idiot politician in the land? oh yeah then there is rick perry michelle bachman sarah palin and newt gingrich.
Odd how the commenters last time saying "Democrats are just afraid of Cain versus Obama in a debate!" have disappeared.
I am a CPA, and have gone over Cain's 9-9-9. It's clear....1.) He doesn't understand economics at all 2.) He is making up his campaign as he goes along and has no valid leadership around him to advise him on running the country. 3.) His 9-9-9 will be a 50% tax cut to the wealthiest Americans, and a 33% tax increase to those with family income of $60K or less (90% of the populous) and 4.) the 9-9-9 plan will cause all of us to pay a ridiculous hidden VAT which will only incrase over time and add huge costs to goods and services.
"Libyastanstan, right? That's the one in Persiarabia, you mean? Do we have troops in there or something? Obviously I would have done things better than the President, by better assessing information, or using data, or, um...er, what did he do exactly again? Did we support the uprising here?"
Ron Paul's principled stand came out of his mouth within minutes of finding out that Obama had violated the constitution by engaging US forces in Libya without congressional declaration of war. Ron Paul has always been against and doesn't need a researcher to find out the "politically-correct" answer to give. If you want peace, there is only one choice – Ron Paul 2012.
Wow. Forget about the allegations- here's a person who doesn't even know what the U.S. position in Libya was and he wants to be POTUS. I'm an engineer. I read the news occasionally and I know what's going on. The fact that he was flavor of the month shows how the teapublicans really don't care about the issues: they just want to replace Obama. Now Cain can move over for Newt until the far-right are put off by him as well. Great job GOP.
OMG! OMG! OMG! This guy seriously thinks he is qualified to run for office? Does he not watch the news? It sounds like he is getting all of information from Sarah Palin. Scary.
While I admire his effort..he isn't the candidate the GOP will pick. He is uninformed on to many issues.
Let's face it everybody who's running for President thinks that they can do a better job then in the person in office. Then the questions begin and suddenly there's the realization of maybe I can't do the bang up job I thought I could do. The job of President in the US is basically a job of suggestion. They suggest the direction they think the country should go and Congress passes the laws that mandates the direction. Veto, get serious a two thirds vote of Congress can override a veto. So instead of concentrating on all the pretenders to the throne let's concentrate on the actual law makers. See who's running in our districts and see who has the most common sense.
So...he gets woken up at 2am and told China just launched a Nuclear attack. Does he think he gets 24 hours to decide that he needs more information?
I guess Lybia was not on one of the 1 page briefings he get everynow and then.
This is exactly what is wrong with most of these candidates – they know very little about the issues that they bash others on!
Ex-CEO's and governors (current and former) are the most ignorant on foreign affairs and are not qualified to be President.
The only GOP candidate who does have this knowledge is Ron Paul, and as a Democrat, he is looking more and more like someone I would consider voting for!
Ding.....your 15 minutes are up!
Hermie's FIRST big stumble...He thought he had the chops to run AND get elected POTUS...
"...the GOP contender explained that he would need to know more before he could unequivocally agree or disagree with President Barack Obama's actions in the conflicted country."
The "Not Ready for Prime Time" candidate.
Pete the CPA is right. And Cain is so wrong. Why don't the Republicans like Jon Huntsman. He's the best in the current field.
Maine LIberal wrote, "What will he do when he gets the "3 am phone call". "
Um...Ask if they want bread sticks with that pizza?
So Herb, does this mean that the rest of the GOTP clowns shouldn't be opining on Libya since they don't have all the relevant info, too?
Newt (the smart guy according to the GOTP) has covered his bases in a Romney-esque fashion: flip-flopped and flipped again so as to try to seem like he's against Obama even though Moamar is no mo' without a single US casualty..Best thing a GOTPer could do to appear to have a shred of credibility is to say the President did well in managing the Libya situation. But credibility left the not so Grand very OLD tea party a long time ago...
My 14 year old knows Libya better than this guy. My CAT knows Libya better than this guy!!
He's DONE !
gkingii
Wonder what Obama would have said if he had been asked a "gotcha" question like that a year before he won.
November 15, 2011 08:34 am at 8:34 am |
Silly Sarah is gkingii your comments pen name? Gotcha! again and again and again
At least they didn't ask him about Becki-becki-becki-stan-stan.
Cain can see Libya from his back porch. How pathetic. Not one of the people running for the GOP nomination is ready to be president. They are all just there to support corporations and the rich and make sure that the middle class goes away. No health care for you, more wars, with torture, less government to monitor the banks and mortgage companies so we can have more boom and bust economies, to take more away from the middle class.
Blame yourself! That's from the peasants!
What happpened Cain? Did your brain get washed out. P.s The A/A community
China and now Libya. Does this man know anything about the world we live in? These tea party people have to go. All of them.
Well, at least he didn't spout the party line. If you ask any of the other Republican candidates the same question, they will say that Obama was wrong. Their reasoning would be that he is a Democrat, and they don't want him to win a second term. If Bush had done the same thing, he would have been hailed as a hero.
People make too much out of these gaffs... I would rather have a politician pause and offer a real answer than parrot the same politically correct response. Herman is competent, accomplished and far superior a choice than the man who thinks we have 57 states in office now.
It doesn't matter what the question is or whether they know the answer the only thing the GOP is trained to do is disagree with the president. Another one bites the dust!
It's like visiting your grandparent in a nursing home.
Right, right.. this is more of that "liberal lame-stream gotcha journalism" where a candidate is asked a question and is expected to have a reply. Didn't they get the memo from Fox? You can only ask questions that have been pre-screened and pre-answered by the candidate's handlers (and/or Fox News employees).
All you can say is ..... Oops.
Richard in Houston
I guess Lybia was not on one of the 1 page briefings he get everynow and then
==============================================================
Neither was LIBYA... Another fine example of our union run public schools!
But excuse me, Excuse me!!
The problem was that Mr. Cain did not know how to answer the question on Libya without giving Obama credit for doing something right. Herman, sometimes Obama does the right thing, and you need to know how to say that and move on. Instead you tried your hardest to come up with some BS answer that you hoped the media and the public would bite on.
The problem with Cain is (1) he has trouble telling the truth (2) he blames everyone but himself for his screw-ups, and (3) his ability to be glib and avoid accountability as a talk show host is not a skill that makes him a good candidate or President.
Accountability is a heck of thing.
"...and when they ask me a 'gotcha' question about Lib-ya-ya-stan-stan, I'm already prepared: I will say I have no clue...or wait, that's a different one...but if I do decide to go with "no clue" I certainly will elaborate at great length concerning my ignorance...OK...is that clear enough? Are we talking about the same thing?"
"Libya...Libya.....Can you use it in a sentence for me?"
-Herman Cain
Uzbeki beki beki beki beki beki beki beki beki beki beki beki stan stan. lol
All I know is that most of us that voted for Obama only did so because the media hyped him or we felt guilty not to... Now that we see someone who might not have canned answers and would like more information before jumping in like most politicians we take the easy shots...what is missing is how many people jumped on Obama during his first major speech in Cairo Egypt where he stuttered and stammered for 35 minutes!!! It was way more embarrassing than Cain but the media said he was just tired from jet lag even though he had been in the region for several days....
Oh Lawd, come the hell on!
His eye started to twitch for Jeepers sakes!
Total meltdown of this non-candidate.
The Koch brothers are going to disown you Cain if you don't give them their money's worth, and then where will you be?
Hawking pizzas for 9.99.
Cain has a proven track record of making tough decisions and turning around a bankrupt business into a fortune 500 company...Obama accomplished nothing of significance before becoming the president. He is a hack who has lived off of the government and he is a man-child who is clueless about what to do with our bankrupt economy. We don't need a slick politician who sucks if he is not reading a tele prompter we need someone like Cain to actually do something...
Amazing. He could not find it in himself to outright agree that the President did the right thing. I bet if Obama said the lights in the room were on, Cain (or any GOP contender) would have trouble agreeing. He would find fault whether the light was fully lit or it is mostly dim with a spark of light or need help defining what "on" meant. The GOP runners are not qualified to be President, they just want Obama out. Who cares about the country, just get Obama out.
You seriously can't make this stuff up!!!!!!!! How many more debates are there?........way to go GOTP!!!!!!
I once was a mindless liberal who could simply believed everything the government/politicians fed me. I have seen the light of becoming an independent thinker, doer, and voter... I am no longer on welfare because I quit believing that the government is the solution to all of life's problems. I feel sad for my liberal friends because they could never survive outside a nanny state, which is right where Obama and Pelosi want their little children to be...
Cain is doing the best that he can. That is why he should not be elected to anything .
It is painful knowing this man has support at all.
Excuse me ,excuse me Herman Cain! U are not fit to be POTUS.
Herman yo Pizza is smoking just like yo campaign
Oh yeah......Lybia....isn't that just the place that all the liberals live? But then again, not sure in what context the question was asked......sorry, I am still trying to figure out what to do about China developing nuclear weapons.
Thank the Koch brothers for this clown.
Mittens the Flip-Flopper is going to get flipped on the mat by Obama, and laid out flat.
Newt The Scandal laden mongrel is weaving and dodging and trying to save his strenght in the unlikely event that he has to face President Obama in a debate.
Americans have a short memory Newt....but not that short. You're not getting the nomination.
Cain....I hope you've sold a lot of books 'cause you're done bud. The Koch brothers called and they want a refund on their investment.
Cain is plain and simply a joke! He needs to be prosecuted for harassing those women too!
Cain is an idiot! Hilarious! This is the Tea Party/GOP choice? Ha Ha!
And God told Cain to run for president.
Hey, who cares about Libya when China is developing NUCLEAR WEAPONS. They will have the H-Bomb by 1964.
I know, I know...it's Obama's fault. Sorry teabags.
This just about nails the coffin to the Cain Presidency. He is now acting like a ding bat. He would be fired for Performance problems for his stupid comments today on Libya. I think he is more familiar with labia than Libya or Syria.
"Ticker: Cain's big stumble" ... the latest anyway, if you're keeping track of them as they go by.
Definitely the part I liked the best was when he appeared to be scrolling in the cobwebs of his memory for the "correct" denial of President Obama's policy. Realizing he didn't recall the right talking point, he fell apart again. But if he's running as a non-politician, he sure sounds like one, with his "I would've gone about assessing the situation differently, which might have caused us to end up at the same place, but I think more could've been done was, what's the nature of the opposition?" Huh? Especially befuddling for someone who apparently didn't even know where this admin stands on the issue and what they're doing.
It depends on what you mean when you say, "Libya." See, we need some clarification. If, for instance, when you say, 'What is your policy on Libya," we have to understand what you mean by "is." Two, we need some assessments and clarification regarding what you mean when you say "policy." See, as a former pizza CEO, Herman Cain likes to see all the facts before he decides, because that's the way Herman Cain Rolls. Three....um....what was that third one.....um...oh wait, that's the other brilliant tea party leader.
Here he is folks... leading candidate of the GOP for president.
He disagrees w/ the president's decision, but doesn't really know what that decision was. Then he goes on to say he would have had to have more information, when the elephant in the room is OBVIOUSLY the current president did have the information and made a decision. How can you disagree w/ someone's position w/o understanding the facts or know what information that were basing their decision on? Oh, that's right, he's Obama so I MUST disagree. Then he says they may have ended up at the same outcome. How pathetic! Mr. Cain....SIT YO' BEHIND DOWN! Running a business is NOT the same as being POTUS. If that were the case, any successfull businessman would be qualified.
Ron Paul! The only sane one who will change this country for the better!
Nein Nein Nein.
That's all I have to say. This guy should be banned from even being in the debates. My left butt cheek knows more about foreign policy than this guy does.
He's like..."Well, I did real good when I charged 9.99 for a pizza, so Im just gonna stick with what I know."
THat's it! He's Homer Simpson with a yellow tie!!
Big red flag here and like all the others, he'll try to blame it on others. It's the GOP way.
This reminds me of President Obama when he was on the campaing trail stating that he had been to 57 states or trying to explain how a child with asthma would be prescribed a breathalizer or even this week when in Hawaii he referred to himself as being in Asia. Guess all you brillant people missed those gaffes.
Amazing how CNN only allows comments that reinforce their liberal bias... "Your comment is awaiting moderation" ...right I understand that I don't fit the template of your liberal views and your mostly liberal audience...I have been trying to send these posts for almost an 1:10???
LOL @ Jim E. Too funny James.
"I would rather have a politician pause and offer a real answer than parrot the same politically correct response. Herman is competent, accomplished and far superior a choice than the man who thinks we have 57 states in office now."
You managed to trot out the standard 57 states tripe. Fortunately for America, the majority of us disagree with you. To your credit, at least you didn't dare try the "Cain would destroy Obama in a debate" fantasy. Four and the Door. Four women have come forward and now on top that, we have Libya.......no, that's a different one (searching for canned response talking point)....there's the door Herb. Epic fail.
Cain: 1 Gaffe
Obama: Countless Gaffe's and can't speak two sentences without his dear teleprompter.
Cain is not able.
A knowledgable and informed candidate is always preferable. Herman, how much is a large Pepperoni?
More dirty media tricks!
The media needs to STOP with asking Cain all these trick questions........
Next thing you know, they'll expect him to provide a coherant response to a domestic security question................
Marcus
"Libya...Libya.....Can you use it in a sentence for me?"
-Herman Cain
November 15, 2011 01:03 pm at 1:03 pm |
Marcus...cut it out...I am at work reading this on the low and your post has me giggling out loud!!
bluedogboy Posted:
"China and now Libya. Does this man know anything about the world we live in?"
===================================================================================
Plain and simply......NO.
anybody truly in the know... knows that the issue with libya..even though it's not on the front page of the news...is "who" are the rebels...and "what" are their intentions... no one knows... so it's not a matter of do you agree with Obama's military intervention... but with all that is unknown...and has yet to be played out... the question is did we support the right side? I think his answer was perfect-
Poor herb, nicely cooked, but....tasteless....not even walnut topping could make it palatable.
This is what happens when you are a Koch brother from another mother, Herman Koch. You don look so good man!
You people really need to get a life! Seriously, have you watched any of Obama's blunders? How many times does he say "uh" over and over and over again when he can't find the right words. You all really need to look at Obama before you start throwing those stones at Cain. And as far as Libya is concerned, look who is now in charge there. A whole can of worms have now been opened in the middle east with the change in Libya and Egypt. Next time Obama does one of his speeches watch how many times he pauses or says uh (count the uh's) and don't forget Obama thinks there are 57 states.
I don't think he stumbled as much as Obama did: http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/obama_bumbles_off_script/
Wanting to be president is a tough job. Being the president might be tougher yet. I'd rather answer the agree/disagree question rather than the original........"WHAT should we do Mr President?"
The Republican circus would be absolutely hilarious if it weren't for the fact that these people (and Republican voters) actually consider them viable candidates...that makes it thoroughly frightening!
Cain doesn't know that China had nukes (or as Republicans seem to call them, "new-cue-lar" weapons), has no grasp of current events, as he so clearly demonstrated with this question, and thinks job interviews involve groping women.
PATHETIC!!!
Makes you cringe just watching it. Makes me laugh (hard) at and feel sad (only a little) for the republican party because this is one of their more popular candidates.
Mr. Cain proved why he shouldn't be anywhere near the Oval Office except as a visitor. Where ever he's getting his briefings or who ever is "coaching" him on international affairs or labor relations has done this guy no favors. Oh, he may be a "business man", but he's out of his element in politics! Somebody, call his chauffeur to take him back home!
Read my lips. OBAMA 2012 Landslide!!!!!! All of you hate mongers out there you will need to move to another country. 4 more years 4 more years of OBAMACARE!!!! Love it or leave. I chose to stay and love it. The rest of you guys who hate Obama can just move to New Zealand and live with the HOBBITS!!!
Uncle Tom Cain is the KOCH Brothers BOY!!!!!
If you added up all the intellectual prowess of the GOP candidates and then gave barack Obama a lobotomy he would still be smarter than all of them combined.
Herman Cain says, "Herman Cain Does NOT KNOOOOOW What Herman Cain IS talking A-bout!" (You need to read this in your favorite Herman Cain voice.
The real story here is not Herman Cain, or his incredible ignorance. The real story is the mind-boggling stupidity of the average voter. Just how exactly does a person this clueless about basic geopolitical facts even get into a position where 20% of Republican voters actually think he is qualified for the presidency? Not knowing some basic facts about the world immediately DISQUALIFIES you for this job. PERIOD. It's not an SAT test where you get to cram the night before the exam, like Palin tried to do a few years ago, or like this idiot is clearly trying to do. It's patently ridiculous that anyone even thinks that candidates who need to "get up to speed" on major issues are qualified to do this job. It's your job to KNOW the issues already, not look like you can't remember the notes you wrote on your cheat sheet. Unbelievable that anybody would be stupid enough to actually vote for this guy.
LOL poor house Ngger. When will he realize that hes just for show?
Would that all candidates pause before speaking.
I don't support Cain, but these tests are not meaningful. You just have to admit that no GOP candidate, NONE of them, could know what the President knows about a situation. He has the entire force of the United States to find out anything. That is a lot of power my friends.
It's like going to an interview. You know the kind of questions that could be asked so you'd prepare before you walk to an interview. I find it difficult to believe that Cain wasn't prepared to answer his stance about Libya, considering that it's such a hot topic.
Buh-bye, Hermie.
8 seconds? Shorter than it took the ' CLOWN IN CHIEF' to gaze at the sky before he proclaimed:
'AND I HAVE VISITED UH, I THINK UH, UH, 57, YEAH ALMOST ALL UH, 57 STATES!!!!! YOWSA!!!
"Let's see, I've got to go back, see," he continues. "(I've) got all this stuff twirling around in my head."
....Like pretty blond-haired women twirling around in his head, and how many more pizza pimp dollars he should have spent for more 'hush money'....
Cain. Bachman. Perry. Paul.
Hahahaha!
..and now Gingrich is moving up in the polls!
Good gawd these jokers and their supporters are a laugh a minute.
Unhappy with the candidates – "Does he even know where Libya is?"
Well, one thing's for sure – He can't see it from his backyard....
I bet Cain knows where HI is. Hey obama HI is NOT in Asia!
He disagrees with how something was handled but has no way to explain himself and obviously knows very little about it.
This guy is too dumb to be arrogant too. There's no point even mentioning his name since he only speaks in third person anyway. I'm surprised he didn't say his own name a half dozen times in this response.
This is what the Almost-Always-Wrong-Right gets for mocking intellectualism.
Geoz, you don't need the full power of the U.S. to know the basic facts. George W. Bush had the said full power and insisted contrary to common sense and obvious facts that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, whereas the rest of the world was just reading papers and knew that WMD in Iraq is utter nonsense.
Excuse me Moderator, I'm seeing a lot racist slurs being used toward Cain. Are you asleep at the wheel or is this the official CNN position? I'd like to know before I send this link over to Fox News.
if you do not know where you stand on the US supported Al Qaeda conquest of Lybia you should not be in this race
I'm a liberal through and through. However, if I were a Republican watching the nominees pander for votes, I would be shaking my head and asking "You gotta be kidding me! Is this the best we can come up with?" You better believe a host of independent voters are thinking the same thing. As it is, every time the Repubs get together on stage for a debate, someone is going to say (or not say) or do something stupid and the polls will reflect it. It is priceless entertainment though, I'll give them that. Kind of like watching "Debating With The Morons."
Geoz, that's not the point. My God, just listening to the news or even reading the most basic website (including THIS ONE) would tell a person SOMETHING about Libya, and give them SOME basic facts about what is going on. Not to mention that he's a complete idiot if he didn't realize that he was eventually going to be asked about this. He's supposed to have an answer for these questions, even if it's a coached answer. His clear lack of preparation for obvious questions that he KNOWS he's going to be asked shows exactly how incompetent he (and his campaign managers) clearly are. A retarded gerbil could have turned in a better answer than what he said on this issue. Unbelievable that this level of clear incompetence is actually in the running for the most powerful position in the world.
And this man want be president of the United States.
Bring on the adulterer Newt! HooRAY for conservative values!
John, the average GOP voter seems to pride himself/herself on being deliberately uninformed or misinformed by Uncle Rupert's propaganda network. The fact that ANY of these top-tier candidates could be considered for any serious position is cause to look at the sad state of the current GOP mindset. Denial and fantasy rule their cartoon world, where alternately devious and incompetant Liberals calling the shots in concert with Mullahs, climate scientist and union thugs. If it weren't happening in front of us, it would be a script Mel Brooks would have been hard pressed to come up with. Its too bad that anyone si buying this.
LOL at the Cain defenders here. Keep digging. Herb is great, please nominate Herb for the general election, the entertainment value for the next 11 months will be priceless.
If nothing else, the Republican'ts have entertained us. They've yet to find anyone smart enough but they sure have found some funny ones! Between Cain and Gingrich the only political experience they have is chasing skirts. The only more fitting candidate from that party is Sarah Palin. Now THERE'S a real brainy one – - she's smart enough to stay out of it this time. Now, before you think I'm an Obamanite, just stop. Better the devil we know than the devil we don't. I think.
First not knowing China has nukes and now this? You see those odd-looking things stacked behind you , Cain? Those are called books....
I just watched cain explain what happened to him when asked about libya. i am 49 years old, and i know a liar when i see it. i don't care if he is a repub or a dem, he is a liar. he lied about those woman and he lied about his knowledge of libya and obamas actions. you cannot vote for someone like him, we have enough of that with politicians already. how can a person of such low morals and sma;ll knowledege base be doing so well in the polls? stop this stupidity and look closely at who we want to run this country.
Wow! Where is Harold Stassen now that we really need him?
I can't believe fools like Cain, Bachmann, and Perry are still around. In past elections they would've been long gone by now. Shows you how weak their party really is. This is their best and brightest.
Well I have the video where Obama said he had been to 47 of the 52 states. The current presidents legacy will be the "Obamavilles" all over the country where the occupiers protest from. What an utter failure this administration has been.
The Real Tom Paine, I agree. I tend to not be partisan in general, but the clear and obvious stupidity of any human being supporting an obviously unqualified idiot like Cain or Palin makes a large segment of the Republican electorate look shockingly ignorant. Saying that you support Cain or Palin for their policy stances is like saying you support a 13 year old child for their policy stances. A 13 year old is NOT QUALIFIED to be president, so it doesn't matter WHAT they think about ANYTHING. There has to be a basic intelligence and knowledge check that each voter should put a candidate through before they can be considered for this job, regardless of their stand on the issues, and the fact that a large segment of this country seems to be too unbelievably stupid to do that is a very sad statement about us as a nation.
Cain’s handlers told him to never agree with anything the President has said or done. Period. This snake oil salesman is almost as dumb as Palin – Dumb and Dumber!
oh no...ed's going to tell Faux Noise on CNN posters. Man, I thought the GOTPers were self-reliant and tough....now they want to tell the big bad media...and Faux Entertainment.
I don't condone racism, but really? Going to tell on people to the mouth-breathing idiots at Faux? Go right ahead.
The history of Herman (or He Man) Cain:
He cain,
He groped,
He gone.
IIf you had ever listened to 5 minutes of Herman Cain's radio show you would already know that he is not qualified to be President. I can't believe he was ever above single digits in the polls.
OH NO! Please give the godfather some pizza, he is hungry and tired. It is just telling that his command of international issues are just plain vanilla.
Cain did not waffle and flip-flop like a politician here, a politician who doesn't know what he's talking about.
No, Herman Cain waffled and flip flopped around like a flippant businessman who doesn't know what he's talking about.
Throw in a management phrase here and there, make sure that HE (that's what Herm calls HISself -sic] doesn't agree with Obama on whatever it is and disappoint his TP friends.
"Hmm, Libya, Libya.... That's lady parts, right?"
In other words he doesn't remember what the official rebublican line is supposed to be so he needs to check with the party leaders on what to say lest he accidently support Obama on something where he's not supposed to be supporting Obama.
An-off moment just that...we all have them...!
Maybe Cain needs to try STAND-UP COMEDY NEXT TIME!
Rudy NYC
Would someone please ask Mr. Cain what are his sources for news and current events?
Rudy, that's a easy answer. He like the rest of the ignorant GOPee candidates gets their info from Fox news.
this will make a fantastic commercial for Obama's re-election. PLEASE get the nomination herman!!!
Fool. This guy is just an absolute fool. Do you agree with Obama's action on Libya? Cain's reply, is the answer False?
And this overt idiot is polling 1st in Iowa? Man the Republican voters are even stupider than I thought.
Yeah he paused alright, like a deer in the headlights paused. because he doesn't know what's going on really, but he sure as hell knows it's something bad.
Ok, Cain's 15 minutes are up. Who's next on the list?
Let's see: Bachmann? Check. Perry? Check. Cain? Check. Um....uhhh....oh Newt! You're up!
Obama's visiting the 52nd state in Asia:) lol
Funny, Cain has 20% support, I'll bet that's the same amount of illiterate hill billys that live in the USA.
Tsk, tsk...oh Hermie, everyone knows that you never had any chance of becoming POTUS and your latest blunder only adds further proof (as if it was needed). Your "campaign" is all just a good ole boy Koch bro chuckle; sort of like the Duke Brothers in "Trading Places".
Why is the media continually wasting time, and thereby people's time, with Cain?
joca, misstating the number of states is more like a typo than not knowing what is going on in the world. while i agree obama has been dissapointing in his inability to correct bushs mistakes, lets face fact, cain is a fool. you must know this?
The idiot further reveals himself. This whole G.O.P. candidates mess just keeps getting more and more and more embarrassing.
Oh this is akin to obama stating that hawaii is in Asia don't you think
give it a rest busy people with lots on their mind make silly mistakes
By now the electorate should have figured that this Cain, Perry, Bachmann et.al round robin is just a distraction. Mitt Romney will be the Republican candidate to run against Obama. So why is this going on?
It is a great distraction from the non-accomplishments of the Republican take over of the House. Since the 2010 election, they have done nothing on jobs, blocked any effort to move the economy, stood in the way of healthcare and have just been obstructionist. They have politicized policies that would have benefited all Americans and with the help of some Democrats, continued to protect there patrons in the corporate, uber-rich and lobbying world. With this side show going on, and it will continue into 2012, Americans are not looking past the front page of the paper to see what is happening.
Yes, Mitt Romney will be the candidate and unless he does something really dumb...and it would have to be really, really dumb, this should all stop now, and let's see which candidate and which party is really going to make us recover and get healthy for the next four years. We should have had enough of this circus...close the show and let's get moving.
In order to answer a question like "Do you approve or disapprove of the President's handling of XYZ?" you would need to be reasonably confident that you have all of the information that the President had at the time decisions were being made AND have all of the new information that has become available subsequently AND have a working hypothesis on what key actions and decisions could have been made to generate a more favorable response. In other words, it is not a failing on the candidate's part the he could not answer – it is a failure on the part of the person asking an impossible question. Most people would see that any meaningless answer is going to open you up to an endless torrent of equally meaningless critique and useless conjecture and feckless posturing.
I don't know if the candidate reasoned out his answer or fumbled his way through it. I do know that this sound byte is unworthy of the attention it has drawn. Drop it, move on.
Cain stumbles over Libya, gets foot caught on Egypt, lands in the Red Sea.
I have respect for Libya, I never groped Libya. . .
I keep hearing people on here going " he answered the question correctly in saying he would need more information"?!?! the problem is he stated that after saying he doesnt support the presidents desicion, and he woudl have done it better... how could he know this?
OBAMA 2012!!!!
To A Reasonable Person: Agreed it is hard to put yourself in anther's shoes unless you know what s/he knows at the time. This does not prevent you from, nor excuse you, from knowing what you think of what happened and what was done. If you were asked a similar question, most people can say that s/he could have done this, maybe would have done that, but to stumble around like Cain did presents himself as a person who, in a really tight situation, would not be a decisive leader.
As a CEO he had many, many intelligent officers, manager and employees who knew what the situations were and reported to him and then offered him a myriad of solutions that they had studied up on. I doubt he was down in the trenches gathering the information. Decisions from CEO's come from the opinions of those who give him/her the info.
The President does not have the luxury of a CEO – s/he must know everything about everything, because s/he is the responsible one. Cain has not shown this attribute in too many occasions that have not been "gotcha moments" but of his own making. Presidential timber, I do not believe he has it in him.
You libs at Communist News Network are so predictable. If you think you can influence the GOP primary in anyway with your hatred and vitriol you're bigger fools than you appear to be. These kind of hate filled statements only make conservatives' commitment that much stronger to end that "hopey/changey" thing ASAP. Take a look at OWS squalor and decadence. These are the life conditions that will become commonplace and universal if the GOP doesn't take complete control of the Senate, House and Executive branches next year, as predicted.
RoseCD
You people really need to get a life! Seriously, have you watched any of Obama's blunders? How many times does he say "uh" over and over and over again when he can't find the right words. You all really need to look at Obama before you start throwing those stones at Cain. And as far as Libya is concerned, look who is now in charge there. A whole can of worms have now been opened in the middle east with the change in Libya and Egypt. Next time Obama does one of his speeches watch how many times he pauses or says uh (count the uh's) and don't forget Obama thinks there are 57 states.
November 15, 2011 02:01 pm at 2:01 pm |
Oh Rosie..Obama gaffes are so 2008...why bother when we got all this new material coming from Cain! At least when Obama pauses with uh...you know there is a thought being put together intelligently. When Cain raised his eyes to the heavens...I knew it was all over!!!
So cute how Republican'ts so desperately cling to Obama's "57 states" slip-up, and now they have...TWO! Yes, the US has 57 states and territories, and yes, Hawai'i is in the Asia Pacific region (and he was at an Asia Pacific conference in Hawai'i). Pretty minor misstatements if you ask me...certainly not on the level of "Mission Accomplished" or "the HPV vaccine causes mental retardation" or "China has the capacity to develop nukes" or "Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan" or "John Wayne was from Waterloo" or "We've got to stand with our North Korean allies" or "Death Panels" or "You're working hard to put food on your family." or etc. etc. etc.
All of you Cain haters being condescending couldn't hold a candlestick next to his intelligence. And CNN has NO BUSINESS reporting this is a "Big Stumble". What is wrong with you people? Seriously, sad.
This is my favorite comment ever!!! "you are a totol ingnorant "
Maggietag, you will know when the libs have influenced your GOP primary when we force you to nominate that unelectable tool, Mitt Romney, instead of that sure winner Cain. Let's see, hate-filled statements; that would be like "Communist" or "squalor and decadence." I like that last one: both at once? A decadent squalor? How would that even work? Disgusting luxury? Are they living in solid gold tents?
When is someone from the GOP going to pull him aside and tell him that he is now just making a fool of himself and a laughing stock of the GOP in general for supporting him?
Zeke, you left out "Paul Revere rode out to warn the British that WE were coming," with a press conference the next day insisting that Revere was pro-British.
Georgia? You sure he's not from Texas?
"I disagree with everything the president has done, has ever thought about and ever will do." Come on Cain, your party-line on all things Obama is pretty easy to remember. What's the problem. He's never done anything right, and cannot possibly do anything right so long as he is the obstacle to the GOP taking more from the poor and giving it to the rich.
The GOP is so opposed to Mitt Romney, they will continue to let this clown be in contention. Seriously, is this the best they have to offer. Even his pizza was lousy. This fool did the one thing no one in politics should ever do; take your self seriously and start believing your own hype. He is no Horatio Algers. There was a silver spoon in his pocket in the form of stock given to his daddy from Mr. Woodruff (Coca-Cola). If I was Morehouse College I would ask for my degree back. Obviously, he did not study too hard. Oh well, guess "black walnut" is melting away, slowly but surely. Take a hike Hermie and all your foolish too. If you are not to careful, no one will buy the rest of those lousy books.
To Paqrat137: I agree with you – assuming some knowledge of the events being discussed, one should be able to cough up some notions on 1.) what an ideal outcome would be, and 2.) what that person would have done to try to obtain #1. It would be clear that every utterance is largely conjecture, and therefore not worth the air it is stapled to.
I believe Cain was being asked to critique or advocate President Obama's performance, hence my stated reservations – that any critique or approval is essentially worthless as it's foundation is largely conjectural – and only serves to invite a flood of vitriol which is equally worthless (but entertaining?).
There is considerable backlash on this page to the notion of "gotcha"-questions. I do not condemn them, nor do I advocate them, I simply acknowledge that 1.) they do exist and 2.) attempts to answer them are ultimately useless – meaning, self-defeating. The notion that you can use hypotheticals to accurately measure a candidate – in any dimension other than their patience – seems silly to me.
And finally, I would like to make one additional observation: opinions of candidates are almost entirely irrelevant. Being elected President does not allow the President to act on his opinions/feelings/notions/etcetera. Above it has been posited that some candidates are perhaps less intelligent and less moral than might otherwise be desired (I am not asserting that I believe these things to be true). Assume the worst is true, and won the Presidency – what then? Lawless anarchy? The destruction of civilization? Worst case, pundits observe from the side-lines, fuel the engine for the next election cycle, and give someone else a shot four years later.
For the record: President Obama may be the single most intelligent, well-educated human being to ever occupy the office. Note the amount of resistance he has met at every decision point: who, realistically, could do a better job, and how? This is (or should be) the substance of the argument, sans the furious hand waving and teeth-gnashing. Frame workable (policy) questions, pose them, survey the answers, pick your guy. Enough games.
When did it become wrong to stop and think about question and what your going to answer? Its so funny how every one is ready to attack someone and try to point out faughts were ever they can because thier afraid Obama want get elected again.
wow, I would think that a presidential candidate would be kept up to date on current events. Now just imagine that response behind the desk in the oval office. This guy needs to stick with pizza, then again godfathers isn't that good
These republican candiates are interviewing for the job of President of the United States, they really need to step up their game