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Subscribe to RSSHerman Cain suffered his own memory lapse in response to a question about Libya just days after Rick Perry's campaign tumbled following Perry's debate misstep.
Cain struggled for an answer when asked by the editorial board of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel whether he agreed with President Obama's approach toward Libya.
Cain said:
OK, Libya. [Pause] President Obama supported the uprising, correct? President Obama called for the removal of Khaddhafy. I just wanted to make sure we're talking about the same thing before I say, 'Yes, I agreed' or 'No I didn't agree.' I do not agree with the way he handled it for the following reason -- nope, that's a different one. [pause] I gotta go back and see. I got all this stuff twirling around in my head. Specifically, what are you asking me that I agree or not disagree with Obama?
Cain had previously criticized Obama's handling of the uprising in Libya in a debate this spring. Cain accused the administration of lacking clear objectives in Libya -- or, for that matter, Syria -- and called for the U.S. to develop a foreign policy strategy for each nation on earth.
The moment, though, invites parallels with Perry's moment of forgetfulness during last week's presidential debate. Perry struggled to remember the identity of the third federal agency he would eliminate.
Obama had weathered criticism from some GOP presidential contenders at the time for having authorized U.S. military airstrikes to aid the uprising against Kaddhafy's regime. Kaddhafy was captured and killed last month in Libya.
Cain has previously said that he didn't feel the need to master every detail of foreign policy issues, a sentiment he reiterated in his interview with the Journal-Sentinel, which was conducted on the record for about 30 minutes this morning.
I'm a much more deliberate decision-maker. It's a point that I keep coming back to. Some people want to say, 'Well, as president, you're supposed to know everything.' No you don't. I believe in having all the information, as much of it as I possibly can, rather than making a decision or making a statement about whether I totally agree or didn't agree, when I wasn't privy to the entire situation. There might be some things there that might have caused me to feel differently. So I'm not trying to hedge on the questions, it's just that that's my nature as a businessman -- I need to know the facts, as much as possible, I need to hear all the alternatives...I would want to hear all those views, look at the information, then I make the decision as the commander in chief.
This isn't the first time Cain has risked looking dismissive on foreign policy issues, either. He said, for instance, that he didn't feel the need to known the name of the president of Uzbekistan.
"I’m ready for the ‘gotcha’ questions and they’re already starting to come. And when they ask me who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan I’m going to say, you know, I don’t know. Do you know?" he asked in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network last month.
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herman cain can't remember sexual harassment, he can't remember what he said about Libya AND HE WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT! This convenient demensia works well with him. I hope Mrs. Cain takes her hubby home with her before he forgets where he lives! I feel sorry for Mrs. Cain, she is probably a good person, now she is being forced to cover up for her hubby. It's sad isn't it? What's next Republicans? How sad! A very sad day for the The American People of the United States WITH NO END IN SIGHT !
Actually, there is a man in the White House right now that doesn't seem to remember anything that his "former" pastor, Jeremiah Wright said even though he was a member of his church for 20 years! And he doesn't remember avowed terrorist Bill Ayers even though he and Ayers lived in the same neighborhood and had been seen together on numerous occasions. How's that for "can't remember?"
Wake up, the sad part of this as you say should be that Americans look at someone's position or politics before they act or decide on sexual harrassment. There is a double standard out there. Wipe it all out. The people need to clean out this smell fast or it will spread.
Whether you are Democrat or Republican or Independent there needs to be an investigation FAST and punishment fast. Not a question of political party, just a question of what we will do to eliminate this from society. I say castrate the fools. Then put them in a cell for 20 years to be someone's b--ch.
Yeah, why does he have to know all this foreign policy stuff.. he's a businessman for pete's sake... And everyone knows businessmen just make decisions on the fly... they don't take votes... they decide how its gonna be.
So if this guy ends up being president, then he's just gonna call up all those foreign leaders and tell them how it's going to work from now on... Cause that's how businessmen roll...
Geeze.....seriously??? Go home, Herman and take care of your wife....
When I watched Perry's 52 second ooops moment,I said to myself,self,you will never see a more deflating moment in any political career,even worse than the Howard Dean scream. But I just saw it....when Herman was asked about Libya....holy $hit. IT IS OVER HERMY !!!!! If you send money to this guy,you should seek help.
Could we give him (and the rest of the Republican field) a pop quiz at the next debate asking him to identify the following on a blank map: (i) Libya, (ii) Syria, (iii) Iraq, (iv) Iran, (v) Afghanistan, (vi) Pakistan, (vii) India, (viii) Russia and (ix) China. We could do it Final Jeopardy style and give them a minute to do so while we watch (which should be plenty of time).
I have a strong suspicion that no one except for Romney and Huntsman could do it. Certainly not Perry and Cain. That suspicion is also reflective of the amount of credence I give any of these idiots when they start repeating memorized slogans about certain countries (which inevitably get garbled because the candidates have not the slightest clue why they're being told to say what they're saying and, as a result, can neither explain the rationale underlying their stance nor apply it to different situations/hypotheticals).
Does listening to these debates and these pre-canned, superficial non-answers not insult anyone else's intelligence? Have we as a country really digressed to the point that the candidates can't have meaningful non-superficial policy debates? Is it because the Republicans view education and rational argumentation as "liberal"?
starbuck49 - - THAT was funny! Thank you!
It didn't stop anybody from electing Obama was he said that there were 57 states in the US. And guess what, he became president. I hope he can remember that after next year, when he won't be president anymore. Not only did we not have a "hope and change" nation, but we are worse off than before.
Who is going to take it away from him from this bunch of clowns running now?
"Unhappy" is right, scheesh! Some folks are just so full of hate they're not able to deal with reality at all!
unhappy,I couldn't help but think of the other night when some right winger like yourself was spouting stuff,like you,and Chris Matthews said people like this are just "UNHAPPY" with their lives.....HMMMM.
I have hope now. As a woman, I was paying more for health insurance for that sheer fact. Obama changed that for me. As a woman, I was paid less for the same job as my male counterparts. Obama changed that for me. As a black farmer, I was getting less in assistance as my white counterparts. Obama changed that for me. As a consumer, I was constantly being misused by financial institutions, Obama changed that for me with the Consumer Protection Act. As an American, I was less secure whenever I went outside the country because of that sheer fact. Obama changed that for me. He made the rest of the world understand that we were not belligerent bullies who killed anyone who disagreed with us or had what we wanted. I don't care that he said there are 57, 67 or even 77 states.!!!!
this lapse of memory kinda reminds me of the guy in the White House right now! "Hmmm...I was a member of Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years and I don't remember anything he said." I never was a friend of the terrorist Bill Ayers. Or the last Democratic liberal president before him...the liar in chief..."I never had sex with that woman." Or how about his wife when question before a congressional committee about dealings with Whitewater..."I don't recall, I don't recall, I don't recall." I guess anyone, no matter what party, can have a lapse in memory, huh liberals?
chilie
Like you, can you remember what this article is about? hint: Godfather pizza man
chilie, that's only because Republicans can't remember ANYTHING about their own failings. Just look at the number of folks that are still unemployed or underemployed and know that it all began with a "Repubilcan."
I guess like the true liberals, you don't like comparisons when it puts your man in a bad light.
As I recall Ronnie couldn't recall funds being transfered to either the "north conspiracy " or NicaraguanRightists or Iranian Muslim fundamentalists 141 times to answer congress either??
Just remember the immortal words of Ronald Reagan...."well,I don't recall..........
Oh really! Hmmm, I seem to remember that the unemployment rate was less than 5% when Democrats took over Congress and caused the downfall of the housing market when they said that "everyone should have a house whether they can pay for it or not." Seems to me that the liberals took over Congress in 2006, 2 years before Bush left office. And still when Bush left office the unemployment rate was nowhere near what it is now. And wasn't it our current president who said, "If you pass this stimulus, unemployment won't go over 8%." Yeah, it was our current president who said that.
and talk about not remembering...our current attorney general, Eric Holder, couldn't remember anything about "fast and furious" where one of our own border agents was shot and killed, even though it was proved in emails that he was lying and knew about it several months before when he was briefed about it several times.
You seem to forget EVERY bill that the dems brought up and presented it to the President, he vetoed it. Bushy vetoed more bills in his last 2 years than he did in his first 6 years.
The last year of shrubs administration. Unemployment climbing every month in 2008.
www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2009/jan/wk2/art02.htmCached - Similar
If someone schedules me for an interview with the founder of Godfather Pizza, I would make sure to get to know who it is, and just as important, how to pronounce his name. It's a mark of being professional, respectful and proper. This 'laissez-faire' approach to knowing who the world's leaders are, for a man wanting to be the leader of our country, is remarkably lame. Especially these days when we live in the reality of a global economy. Goodwill is all the more important these days when it comes to wangling better terms for our country and our exports.
Cain is showing just how ignorant he is. He has shown us that he is forgetful, doesn't follow foreign affairs and is only self-serving. Not what I would call good presidential material. So far all the candidates that have been proposed are failures. Who are we suppose to put our trust in when there seems to be so little intelligence out there, or is this the best we have? And if this is the best that is out there then God help us. We may as well keep Obama and try to get different people in the House and Senate so maybe we can get something done. The elected into our government aren't working with each other, they are working against all of us...The People.
No one is perfect but come on - running for President of the greatest country in the world, and these are the best the Republicans can do? (don't get me wrong, I absolutely used to be a Republican). Makes one fully realize that voting for a person just because they belong to a specific party, is absolutely wrong. Sad...they have lost all credibility, and completely on their own. Voters-please wake up-we need smart people to get good, positive things done (without obstruction).
Cain was not privy to all the information that the President of the United States had about Libya but had not problem in criticizing President Obama's foreign policy decisions. Cain thinks he has so much swirling around in his head now and can't keep it straight now, what is he going to do if he did become President. It would seem that being the CEO of a big corporation doesn't give one the experience needed to become President of the United States.
Like the joker in there how has any???? All his skills were learned at Acorn . . . spend, spend, spend . . .
good one stilbornyesterday...........
all is he said is we should of asses who we helping more also for all you idoits who trust mnsbc watch the video he was just asking for specifications his answer was he supported going into libya as far as he knows but would of got more info of just who we helping before he made his descion if it was him
http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/video/?bcpid=13960334001&bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAGgk8Us~,dLqgruaIT6qax7DY_kjdAMdXZHYCM8zP&bctid=1275195602001
His response to every substantive question can't just be "I'd consult expert bureaucrats." If that's really his stance on every important issue, why do we even have a President? Why not just install the most well-educated, well-informed bureaucracy ever to exist and let them run things for us?
Hint: The reason we don't is because our Constitution provides that we elect a President to make the final calls on those decisions.
In order to decide which Presedential candidate we prefer, we've got to know what he thinks about these things. Herman Cain has been on the scene for a while now. We still don't know what his personal stance is on much of anything. How do we know what set of principals will guide his daily decision making? Just consulting so called "experts" is not enough. Literally every President in the history of our country has done that. Shoot, I could do that. A Presidential candidate must tell you what their opinion is on given matters so you can vote for or against them based on whether you agree with them or not.
If Herman Cain's Presidential case really boils down to (i) a pizza advertizing campaign rebranded as a tax plan (i.e., 9-9-9 or $9.99) and (ii) a statement that he'd consult experts and do what is in the best interest of the country...then, couldn't literally any average American make an equally compelling claim they should be President?
I mean, would you vote for me if this was my Presidential campaign:
"I've got a tax plan for you. Here: "I call it the 9-9 tax VALUE menu. Corporations and Individuals will be required to choose two options from the following list of 9% tax items: income tax, capital gains tax, sales tax, inheritance tax, value-added tax and property tax. If individuals or corporations are feeling particularly patriotic, they can "supersize" their tax contribution by electing a third 9% tax from the VALUE menu. Also, I've got my foreign and domestic policy platform figured out: "I'm going to consult with experts in the field to get the best information and then use their recommendations to do what is best for the US."
If you like this Presidential platform, feel free to message me separately so I can give you the name to write in next November.
At least Herman has a "Resume" . . . the current occupant of the WH has no history, never held a real job, voted "Present" as a state legislator and senator. Last week he voted "Present" on the Pipeline . . . over 10,000 jobs and 900 million barrels of oil from Canada. There are over 150,000 miles of pipeline in North America . . . and somehow 1500 more miles was a problem . . . yea . . . for the Saudis!!!
the current occupant of the WH has no history, never held a real job, voted "Present" as a state legislator and senator. Last week he voted "Present" on the Pipeline
Congress votes on ALL bills, not the President.
Starbuck . . . when barrack was in the Illinois legislature . . . he voted "Present" on every VOTE!!!
When he was in the US Sentate . . . he voted "Present" on every VOTE!!!
Go check the records . . . . are you really that Dumb or are you just a lieberal???
The pipeline you mention just came up. He has been the President for 3 years now, so how could he vote last week on the pipeline?
Last week he voted "Present" on the Pipeline
. are you really that Dumb or are you just a lieberal
BTW, it's liberal, not lieberal. When you accuse someone of being dumb, don't go throwing stones in your glass house. It makes you look like Cain or Perry. no education
Notbornyesterday.
Ironically (considering your handle), you've apparently been taken in by the conservative media. And, ironically, considering the content of your post (i.e., "go check the record"), you obviously haven't checked the record yourself.
I assume by "Present" you mean he abstained rather than casting a "Yes" or "No" vote.
Have you paused to consider how preposterous a statement the statement you're making is? It's ludicrous. You really think that we elected a man last time who had never voted while in office? That's crazy.
To make that statement, you must literally believe that Obama's abstained from voting for the entirety of his career as a legislator. You must think the newsmedia buried this fact from the public. You must think it's all a huge conspiracy.
Gosh, I mean, the guy just sat in a couple of elective offices, didn't vote and was then used as a sort of pre-chosen anti-Christ-like character by the evil liberals. Is that the thought process on the conservative right? Wow!
That's crazy. I mean, just because some pundit says something you like (i.e., you obviously don't like Obama and someone has obviously insinuated that he never voted on anything) doesn't mean you should just take it wholesale without thinking about it.
Here's the man's voting record on the Federal level. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/O000167/votes/
Feel free to disagree on any particular vote of his, but don't lie and say he didn't vote at all.
Notbornyesterday-838824
1997: opposed bill preventing partial-birth abortion
In
1997, Obama voted in the Illinois Senate against SB 230, a bill designed to
prevent partial-birth abortions. In the US Senate, Obama has consistently voted
to expand embryonic stem cell research. He has voted against requiring minors
who get out-of-state abortions to notify their parents. The National Abortion
Rights Action League (NARAL) gives Obama a 100% score on his pro-choice voting
record in the Senate for 2005, 2006, and 2007.
When he was in the US Sentate . . . he voted "Present" on every VOTE!!!
On EVERY vote you say?
I think you haven't done your homework very carefully. It took me 2 minutes to find this one. There's more
First of all, if you can look it up, he was a law professor and clerked for a variety of judges and worked in law firms. Secondly, the Governor of Nebraska asked that the pipeline be put on hold (it goes through precious Ogalala Aquifer). Third, All the oil in the world is sold on the world market, including the oil in America, so, no for Saudis, whatever you meant by that comment. GET A CLUE!!!!!
Cain has repeatedly shown himself to be an ignorant businessman and politician and still fools are following him. His fool tax proposal in his own words does not even give payroll deductions to many companies. athat 9-9-9 program was shown for what it is a poorly thought out mess.
Falling back on "President doesn't have to know everything" is rediculous. get rid of this fool people. He can not even remember or speak decisively about his own past reference to the president on Libya. You sre as hell better know more Cain does to be PResident and the Republicans who vote for him should be ashamed of themselves. You think that turnip can beat O'Bama? Please !!!! He is beating himself now. And for the record, start taking sexual allegations more consistently instead of Republican or Democrat. we know there is a double standard, just get rid of all the stench all together, NOW !!!!
It is sad that the most powerful and influential Country in the world has to have these people running for its president. I am not a huge fan of Obama, but this group of people wishing to be the republican nominee should be a real "wake up call" to the people of the United States of America. Perry and Cain are just wasting space, as is Bachmann and Santorum. Hunstman seems to be a very nice chap, but has no chance. That leaves Romney. Paul and Gingrich; neither of which would have been considered as "electable" 4 months ago, are now making more and more sense, in light of the debacles of Cain and Perry. Romney will not carry some important States; Paul is too scary, so it looks like Newt, baggage and all, just may be the guy, as long as he can keep Calista out of the spotlight. Now we are back to Romney, because Calista has no intention of not being front and center. Sorry, Newt.
Didn't the US citizens elect Nixon, Carter, Klinton and O'bammy? Do the citizens have any sense at all . . . I would suggest that the hard-working common-sense folks are an endangered species in the USA today. I would blame the National Education Association and the lame-stream Media for Dumbing Down Amerika!!!
Abraham Lincoln:
"Property is the fruit of labor. Property is desirable, is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently to build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence."
After watching the video of Cain on Libya, Cain Had a "Perry" moment!
Doesn't MSNBC have anything better to do than degrade the Republicans ??? Cain Stumbles here, Perry stumbles there. Your great Obama and the rest of his friends have been stumbling on everything for the last three years, and you people are knit picking about a few issues from the Republicans ????
Get real....
There was one that suggested Pelosi was involved in insider trading.
You should read that. It will make you feel better.
You are right ronhbk, wayyyyyyyyyyy right !!!!
Kind of like going to a conservative site and they are all very slanted to that direction, if you don't like the slant, find someplace else to get your news. I like getting more than one viewpoint myself.
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln - Republican . . . for those that went to public school!!!
LIBERAL MEDIA BIAS.
Quote the "great"—and remember to use the air quotes—Walter Cronkite: "I think most newspaper men by definition have to be liberal; if they're not liberal, by my definition of it, they can hardly be good newspapermen."
Where's Ron Paul when you need him?
I see Cain is down in CNN polling by 40% or so since October. Ouchie.
Bye bye Herman.
Obviously some part of his brain remembers he did say something about Libya. He just can't remember what it might have been, or why he said it.
He didn't even know how he handled it and he disagreed with how Obama handled it?
I would venture that Cain's fall has now reached the point where heat tiles are needed to prevent from being engulfed in flame. The greatest question about 2012 is the following: "Will there be anyone worth voting for?" Based on what the major parties are offering I would say, "No!"
This just goes to show that these candidates don't have an independent thought in their heads. Every day a handler says 'the polls say to take this position, but if you don't know certaimly don't give credit to Obama'. With different handlers and different polls their positions change like the wind because they have no opinion of their own. This man who wants to be our president doesn't have a clue about anything concerning Lybia. That was a definite Sarah Palin moment. And to think that this is the best the GOP has to offer.
Perry wants to do away with the Dept of Education. Bachmann wants to fire teachers. The Tea Party nuts want to home school their children. What's the result of all this: Complete incompetence!!
The Tea Party's chosen few are prime example of the right wing ideology. No clue on world events; no clue on US History; no clue on US and world geography; no clue on economics; no clue on job creation; no clue on foreign relations, no clue, no clue, no clue....
AHH! BUT! These right wing nut cases have all the clues when it comes to being righteous, and using their Christian beliefs for reducing Government by passing laws outlawing abortions; passing laws against same sex marriges, passing laws on immigration, passing laws against unionization, passing laws on forced immunization, passing laws on photo IDs, passing laws after laws after laws.... All with the objective of reducing government....RIGHT.....
So why is anyone surprised about Cain not knowing anything. If elected POTUS, he'll most likely sign a law outlawing knowledge.
So, I sure hope he is the Republican nominee...PLEEEAAASE.
I cannot believe that the citizens of this country are seriously considering the current Refuglican field of potentials. It's like a broke circus has come to town. Most of them are so ill equipped to even be on a national stage for consideration in a dog show much less the Refuglican nomination. The Tea Party has really dug a grave for the I.Q. of this country. Thrown a pile of dirt on the grave and then stomped all over it if they feel that a sexual predator, singing illiterate like Cain can run this country. Go Obama!