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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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Cain's ego must be huge for him to think he has what it takes to be president. I have never ever seen someone running for president who is so dumb- and I honestly think I include George Bush in that bunch.
Hard to believe Herman can overshadow Cowboy Ricky on the dumbness scale.
What Mr Cain should have done was hem and haw around for like 30 seconds as Mr Obama does and then talk for thirteen minutes without saying anything of substance. The liberals would think him brilliant.
It's amazing how desperate liberals are.
It's amazing some people still repeat what Rush says.
starbuck
I'm glad you listened to him today as I didn't get a chance to but, I will admit most conservatives think alike. Thanks for the compliment.
Do you have a reading comprehension deficiency? Where in my post did I say I listened to him? Most gopers have that deficiency, they can't think or reason on their own.
Excuse me!,Excuse me! Enough said!
A GOP presidential candidate debate looks a lot like "The Gong Show". Maybe they can get Chuck Barris to host the next one.
Seriously....Cain disagrees with Obama..but he just can't remember why....lmao
He had to ask the interviewer which Libya!
He gets Libya confused with Labia...lmao
ROTFL
hahahahahhaha
What about our little rocket scientist we now are stuck with and his "57 states with one more to go"?
You don't have a problem with that?
Obviously not ~ and apparently no one else did because the "little rocket scientist" was elected president. Lets see if sexual harassment and waterboarding are as warmly received as the 57 varieties.
Now where did I put that nuculur bomb?
OMG...that was just painful to watch! Even if you don't like Herman Cain. When he had to ask the interviewer about Libya, wanted to cringe. That is bad, but even scarier is that people actually want to put these guys in control of country. Amazing.
"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."
Huh?!?!? So you are arguing that as president you don't have to know everything, BUT that you "believe in having all the information, as much as (you) possibly can, rather than making a decision or making a statement about wether (you) totally agree or didn't agree, when (you) weren't privy to the entire situation?" But you just said you don't need all the information? Is that like you were for it before you were against it? I'm sorry, can you repeat the question? LMAO!!!!! Seriously, all you Obama haters, this is the best you have to offer up???
All I can say is BRING ON THE ELECTIONS!!!! Bwaaaaahaaaahaaahaaahaaaaa!
This is the best comment I read I so far. Its so funny LOLLLL and I totally agree with you Concerned Citizen001
Concerned--Following Cain's logic could give Rick Perry a brain freeze.
"...agree or not disagree..."
Seriously? They both mean agree. So many red flags in this quote it's disturbing.
He was just misunderestimated.
Don't wanna vote for none of them smart Democrats. Gonna vote for a Republican or Tea Partier. You know: Dumb and Dumber!
The GOP run-up reminds me of tryouts for America's Got Talent. You gotta feel sorry for these guys!!
laura..like I said..all that's missing is Chuck Barris as the host!
Kaddhafy?? how many different ways are there to spell that guy's name?
All I can say is, with debate performance like these, Obama/Biden will be back in the White House in 2013. Herman Cain sucks, Rick Perry is pitiful, Mitt Romney is gone with the wind, Michelle Bauchmann is clueless, Ron Paul is good but no one want him...LOL and Newt Gingrich is....zzzzz....LOLLL . Sorry for America if any of these idiots win the White House. America has the best man for the job already. Its the republicans who are trying to railroad him.
I know, right. I mean Romney basically can't get above 25% or so in the polls (dating back to the last campaign he ran), and every other flavor of the month (yes that includes you too Hagen Daas Black Walnut - look it up, he actually gave himself that moniker) may be able to get a few percentage points above Romney but will never survive a General Election. This is epic!!!
The Republican/Tea Baggers seem to want somebody, anybody other than the one candidate that looks like he has the stability to actually get the nomination. Priceless!
" All this Stuff" what a break down ion English..... What does he mean stuff..... This man is definately not qualified to run this country... If he doesnt know foriegn policy or what has recently took place what would he do in a crisis.... uhh uhh ask a news man the for the answer... Please Mr Cain go back to making pizza.... That maybe you can do... YOU AINT PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL!( one of his words aint)
The typical remedy for "Things swirling in my head" is to put the tin foil inside your hat before you go out in the morning. Best to specify a hotel room with lead lined walls so you can sleep without your hat on.
All that stuff twirling in your head...... What does he mean..... DId he forget what just took place???? Dont say another word about Rick Perry his flub was not nearly as Mr Cains.....
Cain is learning. Why just yesterday he reached behind himself and discovered his butt!
Obviously Obama botched it badly on Libya. Getting us involved in an illegal war. Not knowing who the opposition was which is now declaring sharia law as they are in Egypt. Burning the christian churches.
And what does Obama have to say about that? silence, just silence.
You mean support of the Libyan rebels that practically the whole world (NATO) supported. And some Republican's like Backmann and McCain said Obama wasn't doing enough to support the rebels. Illegal my a$$. Obama did a GREAT job with the Libya conflict. Not a single U.S. serviceman died.
Say it ain't so Joe...say it ain't so.............seriously....cause it ain't so....I'm just sayin'
yup. he botched it....and badly. If you like illegal wars, costly ones at that, and sharia law being implemented, thats your perogative. I see a huge middle east war coming. get back to me then.
We wouldn't want to confuse Joe with facts.
laura,
Tell me where I was wrong.
and not until then....I promise.
Joe..do us all a favor...quit dating your cousins, get a GED, get rid of the "Easy Rider" rifle rack in the back window of your pick-up and PLEASEEEEEEEEE Don't Vote!
Gee, no one can say what I said wrong. Just personal insults? Really?
It has to run in the family, his dad has a desk right beside him in school.
Are you really that Obtuse?..I said you were wrong in my first comment....
don't vote,
What was factually wrong?
I wouldn't exactly call it a war first of all. We didn't have a single man over the ground over there. It was a mission that was supported by NATO and we went in, took care of it, and it was done. Now, invading Iraq over trumped up reasons...that I consider an illegal war. President Obama has showed himself to be a shrewd commander in chief who gets the job done with little or no loss of American lives.
Joebuck-473118
laura,
Tell me where I was wrong.
-------------------------
Joebuck-473118
don't vote,
What was factually wrong
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I think where you got confused is that you mistook Obama for G.W. Bush and the illegal conflict that was so costly in both dollars, sense and most importantly American lives is Iraq. But that's how we roll in reality ;)
Sorry to point out your errors. The Iraq war was agreed to by congress and supported by nearly all democrats including Hillary and Bill.
The war in Libya was not, Obama thought he was above the law as he has in several other cases as well.
OK Joe...read this slowly and maybe you'll comprehend it...Obama didn't botch anything in Libya he handled it exactly right, it wasn't an illegal conflict (NATO was running the show) and it had a positive outcome for Libyans...who are muslims bTW.
Weapons of mass destruction? Really? When President Obama makes up lies in order to invade a country and countless thousands are killed because of that lie, then I will be against him as well.
don't vote
Ohhhh,, so NATO rules over rule our own rule of law. Now I get it...LOL Thats funny.
Ask your wife what she thinks of sharia law.
laura,
Umm, there was no lie, even the NY Times admitted that.
Nothing gets past you Joe...except for perhaps those U.S. government classes you slept through.
don't vote.
Have anything besides insults?
I must have missed the part about Libya invading any NATO member.
Joe...sharia law is a muslim thing. They are muslims. It's the Middle East (take a geography lesson for crying out loud). Who are we to tell muslims in THEIR OWN country what laws they should have. How is Sharia law being practiced in Libya impacting you?
don't vote.
Hmm, lets see, maybe because a few select courts here in the U.S. have considered letting it over ride our law already. I take it you don't care about human rights, especially the rights of women?
It isn't hurting me, whats the problem right?
Joe..you are the poster child of what's wrong with the American educational system.
don't vote.
I take it you don't have an answer. Thats fine. Just say so.
It would help your cause if you quit with the childish insults though. Just saying.
Someone take Laura's computer away - what an idiot. Oh wait she's a liberal that makes it OK.
Joebuck - you couldn't be more correct. Why even try to talk sense to liberals??? Remember when Bill Clinton talked a girl just out of High School into oral sex - and they all ran to his rescue like it was all her fault. Just leave him alone - its adults - I don't care if he rapes everyone as long as he does a good job as President - that's a liberal. Same thing here - at some point if Obama gets reelected (and he won't) they will be crying when does the final distruction to our counrty.
Joe
The Iraq war was agreed to by congress and supported by nearly all democrats including Hillary and Bill.
The vote for going to war was 88% republican and 48% democrat, all based on LIES.
Joe, I thought you were a TP/Republican, until you said "ask your wife". The TP/Republicans do not believe that women have any rights of their own. As far as Sharia Law, the Republican Governors and State government are trying their best to get it started. The extreme laws against women and their rights to their bodies and their decisions.
Joe, you and the other TP/Republicans who keep throwing the words "Sharia Law" into the air all the time are the ones who want such a law.
Shame
I just got the new I phone today with SIRI,really cool. But on my way home some fat cat in an Escalade cut me off,so I yelled"you fat moron" and my phone called Rush Limbaugh......and he cut me off too....
It's part of the beauty of the United States. Any flaming idiot can run for the Presidency.
and they are....
Chuck Barris has to be chomping at the bit to host a GOP candidate debate
Cain: I would have done it differently. Interviewer: How exactly? Cain: Now what was the question? What ever it was Obama did, I would have done it differently. LOL
Considering how these people are falling apart, is it any wonder that Newt Gingrich is creeping up in the polls? Hell, if Romney has a serious gaffe, Newt may vault into the lead. Hes the most qualified of the bunch to hold the office ~ but Newt being Newt will probably keep him down in the second tier. Even the GOP faithful don't think Gingrich can be trusted with the keys to the kingdom.
Yea if you just stand still in this race you're surging.
Evereyone of them will get a chance to drive the clown car.
Meanwhile,in a secret underground laboratory the scientists for the Koch brothers are furiously trying to clone the perfect GOP Presidential candidate. They have the DNA of Rush Limbaugh,Ronald Reagan and Herman Cain....they ended up with a drug addict who couldn't remeber who he was humping.....back to the drawing board...
I ain't seen anybody this dumb in a coons age.
Too funny!
Ron Paul... that's all...
Gee, so much to do about nothing.
If my memory is correct....
Our sitting president claimed that during his campaign, he was to visit ALL 57 states.
The point I was making is that its just fatigue from campaigning.
Obama suffered from it too as I just illustrated.
Get it now?
BTW, yes I would last in a debate with Obama.
His track record of running this country into the ground is more than enough to run him off the podium.