November 17th, 2011
09:39 AM ET
11 years ago
BORGER: When are GOP candidates going to take on Herman Cain?
Editor's note: Gloria Borger is CNN's chief political analyst, appearing regularly on shows such as "AC360," "The Situation Room," "John King USA" and "State of the Union."
Washington (CNN) - It's hard to remember a presidential candidate who seemed more, er, unacquainted with the national dialogue - or presidential prerequisites - than Herman Cain.
At first, he seemed a likable enough fellow. With exactly one idea: a 9-9-9 tax system. Not a truly GOP-minted plan, since it includes a national sales tax, which Republicans loathe. But never mind. He was genial and a welcome addition to those early debates in which some of his fellow contenders seemed so humorless, angry and, in some cases, downright unfriendly.
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Borger - what a democrat shill????? Let's start a republican fight– sorry we get the story line and are not going to bite. Cain can express his views and we will choose from among the candidates. Why don't you do that same story about Obama who is still not up to speed???
They don't need to take on Cain. He'll take his own self down.
Could you imagine Herman actually having to debate President Obama? Herman would throw in the towel. LOL
Dumb question. The old pizza man is doing a great job destroying himself. So why bother?
Most of the Republican candidates seem reluctant to openly harshly criticize one another. I think it has something to do with that so called Reagan 11th Commandment, which I thought was one of the most brilliant campaign strategies ever concocted.
Reagan had more flaws than his fellow candidates, but he had higher name recognition. By asserting that his fellows should criticize fellow Republicans (because it gives the other side ammo) he took away any leverage they could have mustered to beat him. So, what does this have to do with Cain? I'll use Romney as the classic example. It's working in reverse this cycle.
Romney has been quietly enjoying the benefits of that strategy by constantly restraining himself, to the degree of seemingly heaping praise on the other candidates. That's a clever approach. It forces the other candidates to be civilized and not criticize Romney, because it would make them appear to be "bad boys and girls" for breaking Reagan's 11th Commandment.
Cain has taken a similar approach. He has not once criticized one of his fellows. Everyone is waiting for "the other guy" to take the first shot that causes some real damage. None of the candidates have the courage to do it, except for those with nothing to lose at the bottom of the polls.
Oh the GOP doesn't want to 'go there' by taking on the Black guy in their midst. They would inevitably bungle it, and they don't want to run the distinct risk of being seen as racist, especially against one of their own.
Besides, the truth of the matter is that Herman Cain has taken it upon himself to "take on" Herman Cain and he's taking himself right out of the ballgame.
No further action required from the competition.
Obama 2012. Seriously America.
The GOP has wisely decided to sit back and let Herman Cain finish immolating himself. This way they come out smelling like roses by NOT attacking their Black guy, and they take said Black guy out of the picture without having to waste any time or ammunition on him.
One of the best plans they've had in DECADES if you ask me.
Herman Cain has taken the far right for a joyride and the funniest part is that they don't seem to even realize it. He said ALL the things that they like to hear, went negative on his fellow African Americans saying things that they LIKE to say but can't do so in public for fear of being called racists, and being AA himself allows some of them to say "see I support a Black guy" getting past that so-called "white guilt" that some on the right claimed help sweep Obama into office. And he KNEW this all along...Cain I bet KNEW he had not much chance to be POTUS and chose to run a far right campaign to get money, attention, sale books, and in the end maybe a job on FoxNews where all far right candidates seem to wind up. It would not shock me if Cain is NOT as far right as he claims to be, and every night goes home chuckling saying that he "pulled one over on them again"! Now that the ride is about over, CAin can count his money. Black people in fact have very little problem with Black conservatives so Cain used that myth to help propel his campaign. The basic Black lifestyle from religious to family IS conservative, the difference is that those like Herman Cain DON'T fool us.....we KNOW what he's doing.
Never because they understand even though Cain is a GOP ideologue to the core he's always been a prop for the GOP to claim they aren't racists, and that Cain will "take on" himself.
Hey Gloria! When are YOU going to get out of Barry Obozo's hip pocket and start some realistic journalism regarding what he is doing to our Country? Your liberal bias is way too revealing to be anything credible in the eyes of open-minded American voters!
Why not convey the 9 Trillion dollar reduction plan in Government Spending that the Tea Party Debt Commission is unveiling today? That is REAL NEWS and what our Country truly needs? Instead you focus on Rick Perry's campaign add attacking Obama for what he DID SAY and what WAS pathetic!!
Attack mode is the style of Democrats.
Republicans need to stay above the fray, and conduct themselves in a manner more conducive to getting something accomplished. Any Republican who now goes to attack mode, will HURT their cause.