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| Cain's Post-Racial Promise |
| 2011-10-07 |
| When Barack Obama and Herman Cain both ran for U.S. Senate seats in 2004, Mr. Obama was the media's Chosen One and Mr. Cain was the Invisible Man. That was then. A CBS News poll released this week shows Mr. Cain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney tied for first place in the Republican presidential race with 17% support among primary voters. Two other national polls put the Georgia businessman in second place. The political wise men tell us that Mr. Cain's rapid rise—he was polling in the low single digits just three weeks ago—mainly reflects dissatisfaction with the GOP field and the underwhelming debut of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whose debate performances haven't been much better than his choice in hunting camps. Related Video As Herman Cain rides a wave of support in his bid to become the Republican presidential nominee, he sits down with WSJ's Alan Murray to talk about what sets him apart from the other candidates and how his 9-9-9 tax plan will solve the U.S.'s economic problems. That long view may prove correct in the end. Mr. Perry could find his footing in time for the Iowa caucuses, and few people would bet against Mr. Romney's campaign experience, ground game and sizable war chest, especially now that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie isn't running. Still, those explanations somehow sell Mr. Cain's accomplishment short. "My focus groups have consistently picked Herman Cain as the most likeable candidate in the debates," says GOP pollster Frank Luntz. "Don't underestimate the power of likability, even in a Republican primary. The more likeable the candidate, the greater the electoral potential." Mr. Cain doesn't deny that he's a nice guy, though he maintains that his appeal extends beyond congeniality and the missteps of his rivals. "I'm the only nonpolitician in the group," he told the Journal this week in a video interview. "I talk very plainly and very clearly about what I'd do about the economy, about energy—getting us to energy independence—about illegal immigration. I'm very specific about my plans, and that's what people are responding to." Mr. Cain's supporters also cite his inspirational life story, his accomplishments as a business executive, his successful battle against cancer. As noteworthy is what they do not harp on, which is his race. Obviously people notice that Mr. Cain is black, but it doesn't appear to be a factor in his soaring popularity. This is progress. A significant part of Mr. Obama's appeal in 2008 was the color of his skin. Supporters were willing to overlook his lack of executive experience and any number of other significant shortcomings in order to elect the first black president. The 2012 contest will tell us whether the country is done patting itself on the back. Let's hope so, because the Obama presidency to date is nothing if not a harsh lesson in the perils of identity politics. It's difficult to tell whether Mr. Obama still represents redemption, but he does represent high unemployment, stagnant economic growth and a frightening commitment to wealth redistribution. In 2008, the country elected a symbol and thought he would suffice as a leader. If Mr. Cain should somehow wind up with the Republican presidential nomination, there would be no such tradeoffs. Mr. Cain's new book, "This Is Herman Cain!," describes his upbringing, his business career and his pragmatic approach to politics. He believes that the president is a "weak" leader whose "economic policies have failed"; that "America's economy takes off when you allow workers and businesses to keep more of the money they generate"; and that "the right kinds of tax cuts will actually help the economy and help put people back to work." The book is by turns funny ("I grew up po,' which is even worse than being poor") and a little hokey ("I am CEO of Self"), but it is the product of a grounded individual who knows what he thinks and is comfortable in his skin. "One of the most important lessons Dad taught us was not to feel like victims. He never felt like a victim; he never talked like a victim," writes Mr. Cain of his youth in the Jim Crow South. "And both of our parents"—his mother worked as a maid and his father was a chauffeur—"taught us not to think that the government owed us something. They didn't teach us to be mad at this country." Is it any wonder that Mr. Cain wound up as a conservative Republican? Black individuals who don't see themselves primarily as victims are a threat to the political left, which helps explain why MSNBC commentators have derided Mr. Cain as a token and why Jon Stewart has mocked him in tones that evoke Amos 'n' Andy or Stepin Fetchit. To secure political victories, Democrats need blacks to vote for them in unison. Independent thinking cannot be tolerated. No one is hoping more than the White House that Mr. Cain fades away. If he doesn't, Mr. Obama's fear of Mr. Romney winning independent voters next year could turn into a fear of Mr. Cain peeling away black support. Black enthusiasm for the president remains high but has slipped in recent months, and a black alternative to Mr. Obama is not a scenario that Democrats would welcome. |
| Posted by:Beavis |
| #1 I didn't know he was black until I saw his picture. Didn't change my opinion. I like him. I don't give a rat's patoot what color someone's skin color is, if they are good people that's good enough for me. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2011-10-07 18:59 |