There’s one angle to Herman Cain’s presidential campaign that has not been covered. One question I would like to ask: How stupid do you think we are? Clearly, the answer is very, very, very stupid.
After watching him in the debates and doing interviews, it is pretty clear that he lacks even the most rudimentary knowledge of policy and politics. I didn’t think it was possible to be alive during the last decade without having heard of neo-cons. And his foreign policy knowledge is downright scary. Didn’t know China has had nuclear weapons for fifty years? You think the Israelis would be open to discussing the ‘right of return?’ Do you read any news at all? And for good measure, the 9-9-9 plan would be horrible for everyone — especially the poor and anyone living on a fixed income. The federal sales tax of 9 percent would be a tax increase on everyone, and the 9 percent income tax would be a tax cut for the wealthy and a big tax hike for those who are barely holding on.
What makes Cain’s economic plan even worse is that he doesn’t seem to understand it all that well. I thought Governor Mitt Romney made a great point about the sales tax. He asked Cain if the sales tax included in his plan would replace the current state sales taxes.
“No, your’re mixing apples with oranges,” Cain said.
“So I am going to get a bushel of oranges and apples?” Romney asked.
“You’re mixing apples with oranges,” Cain replied.
Way to stay on message but he didn’t answer the question and I think that is because he didn’t understand it. Supporters point to his business successes and he done well but I don’t sense a whole lot of intellectual curiosity there. In his defense, no one knows everything but being proud of knowing nothing doesn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence.
The newest political scandal is almost the least important clue that this man would be a disastrous president. But the allegations are serious — and growing more so as more women come forward with stories about Cain.
Herman Cain’s response to the allegations — and it’s hard to use the ‘none of this is true’ line when there are two recorded settlements with the women in question. But his denials have morphed from one to another so much that he’s only making this much worse for himself. Threatening to sue Politico in a move inspired by Dan Snyder, won’t help things.
Mr. Cain, you are not ready for prime time and everything you do just makes that case more.