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HILLSDALE, Mich. -- Those looking for Herman Cain to display a specific and thorough understanding of foreign policy were likely disappointed by tonight's address at Hillsdale College.
Also disappointed - those looking for insights into the future of a campaign that today Cain said was going through a "reassessment."
The former Georgia businessman largely reiterated the same foreign policy message he has harped upon out on the campaign trail. He told the crowd of nearly 400 gathered at Hillsdale College that it is imperative America clearly define its friends and enemies while demonstrating military and economic might. It is what he on the campaign trail calls an extension of the Reagan philosophy, "peace through strength and clarity."
But Cain remained vague about the parameters with which he would define America's relationship with other countries, and mentioned few specific examples.
"We cannot make any nation our friend, but we can make them respect us," said Cain. "And when we are strong militarily and strong economically and demonstrate that we stick to our moral fiber, nations will respect us rather than look down on us."
Tonight's speech comes after Cain has experienced weeks of criticism for botching foreign policy questions, most notably during a meeting with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel where paused and then proceeded with a rambling answer about whether he agrees with how President Obama has handled Libya.
The largest cloud hanging over the Cain campaign during tonight's speech though, was the news his campaign may be undergoing a "reassessment." The comments came during a conference call with senior staffers this morning in the wake of yesterday's news of a Georgia woman claiming to have had a 13-year affair with the candidate.
Senior campaign staff spent the day downplaying the comments and saying it was simply a reference to reassessing campaign strategy.
As his speech began tonight, Cain tweeted, "Team HC: The definition of reassess is: To consider again, esp. while paying attention to new factors. Doesn't sound like dropping out."
As he ducked into a car that would take him to the event, Cain told NBC News, "9-9-9. 9-9-9. We're doing fine" in response to a question about the future of his candidacy.
One day after an Atlanta woman came forward alleging a 13-year long affair, Herman Cain told staffers he is reassessing his candidacy. NBC's Lisa Myers has more.
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Trust me, no one is looking for Mr. Cain to have a thorough understanding of foreign policy. It's more like , "can he open his mouth for 30 seconds without putting his foot in it?".
According to Mr. Cain, all his issues are attacks on him by those afraid of him becoming president. Assuming he doesnt drop out of the race, he will never have that concern in the first place. Other then his few supporters, not many independents, or democrats would come with in a foot of his lever.
If the Republicans want to make a legit run at the white house they have to start getting rid of the weaker candidates and settle on 2 or 3. Those top three should be Romney, Perry and Gingrich. They are the best money raisers of the 8. None of these 3 will beat Obama , but they have to start the process now to at least have a "chance". Top republican brass have to put pressure on the others to drop out. Obama is out raising ALL of the candidates put together, so the republicans have a long way to go and they have very weak candidates.
You saw it here first!
Cain planted this woman to give himself a graceful exit. "I'm quitting to spare my family from ugly political attacks"
Mr. Cain won't "officially" end his campaign since doing so might affect (legally and practically) his ability to continue receiving campaign contributions.
But, the Cain campaign is over and the beneficiary is: Newt Gingrich.
Newt and Herman are both from Georgia. How much about Herman (his "private" life) did Newt know prior to the sexual allegations? But, surely Newt is above such crass political tricks. Don't you think?
Here's a free campaign tip for Cain
Stick to defending your innocence of any scandals and attempt to convince your teapublicans this is just a giant conspiracy by the liberal media and the left wing...you can convince them to stick with you - they'll believe anything.
When you go out and try to explain your foreign policy - even your most ardent supporters are going to shake their heads while looking feverishly for an alternative candidate.
Your best shot is to push the fact you are unethical and immoral - drop the attempt to convince others you have any idea of whats actually going on in the World.
What the hell Cain knows about foreign policy? Oh hell that is right they sale pizza's in foreign countries. And he didn't know China had nuke bombs for years and years. I bet he can see Iran from his bed also.
He can see Labia, oops I mean Lybia from his bed.
There must be some scared Republican candidates out there, judging by the way they keep trotting these women out. If I were a Republican voter I would be beating my head against a wall in frustration. If I were a Democrat I would be on my knees giving thanks. If this election wasn't coming at such a serious time for our country it would be laughable.
If he's not quitting the race, it must only be because he's taking in more in contributions than he's spending -- and he probably enjoys the celebrity. (He sings well.)
He never had a prayer of being elected or even of getting the nomination. At least those of us living outside a booby hatch like to hope so.
Newt Gingrich seems to be next up at bat. His baggage is all piled up on his historical conveyor belt but the sort of people who support him are very good at forgetting what they don't want to think about. Newt ought to be watched.
The tea holes and republican'ts would rather support a fat, ugly white adulterer or a skinny, black sexist than a Mormon, it should be quite evident by now. How many sexual abuse claims have we heard about Mitt Romney? I rest my case.
We already know this idiot's foreign policy details - Ummmmmmmmm, I don't know the President of Ubeki beki beki stan stan - do you? Then the incredible, mind numbingly blown question about Libya - yep, no need to reiterate the obvious Herman - we already know the only thing you've mastered is molesting woman and cheating on your wife!
I heard the other day he was the first candidate to be afforded a secret service detail
Wrong, he is not the first one..
.
At the rate the man is going, he may yet make Clinton look like a slow operator. Oh well, I wasn`t going to vote for him anyway.
Dammit Herman, for the last time, it's LIBYA, not labia!!
White Democrats have been lynching black men for over 200 years. If conservatives produced these accusers, you'd be laughing your asses off. They're pitiful. Liberals always try to emasculate black men. Liberals are pitiful and racist.
Ya' know, JFK shagged (at least) dozens of women WHILE he was in the White House (and a nice, married, Catholic boy he was, too). For that matter, so did Eleanor Roosevelt (and, by report, Hillary Clinton - wonder if she or Bill took "seconds"?). FDR had a mistress. Even LBJ had 'em (and that is hard to even imagine). Grover Cleveland (yeah, fat, old Grover) was a real mack-daddy in his day. Jefferson was sleepin' with the help, and so on and so forth. Note that ALL of those are/were Democrats, btw.
SO, frankly, I don't really care about Hermie's love life. We'll make a deal - the D's don't dig up Hermie's fascination with white women and we won't talk about Obama's alleged AC/DC tendencies. I don't know if either of those charges are true, but, in any event, they're irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.
That said, Cain's response to the foreign policy questions was, to put it mildly, under-whelming. Actually, that's not correct - they were overwhelmingly bad, not to say disconcerting.
Now, any candidate can get sideswiped by personal scandals (and/or alleged personal scandals - what am I to think when a lady claiming that she and Hermie did the naked mambo for 13 years has nothing to show for it but a book inscription calling her a "friend"? Sheesh. Couldn't he have at least given her a gift certificate for a pizza? She really must be the world's worst lay... or a liar.). HOWEVER, I think most candidates for President would figure out that someone's likely to ask them a foreign policy question now and then, so what is the excuse for being so totally unprepared? I mean, this was not a "Name the President of Pakistan" type of ambush journalism inquiry. These were pretty straightforward questions on foreign policy. Ya' ought to be able to do better than a Beauty Contest entrant from North Carolina.
So, I'm sorry that we have this cheesy, petty, pointless side-show with all of these loser women coming forth to berate Hermie for "bad behavior" (be it real or imagined). I think it's a stupid distraction which simply serves to further lower the level of discourse (a trip into gutter politics which was brought to you by the same Dems who were so upset that the R's were fixated on Bill C's fondness for fat chicks). I think Hermie was going to self-destruct on the basis of his own inadequacies without the need for this sleazefest
While womanizers Cain and Gingrich (although I'll never understand why) continue to grab the headlines....where are all of these accusers with Mitt Romney? For Cain and Gingrich to somehow claim they are victims of a conspiracy to bring them down, defies logic. The fact is, neither of them can keep their penis in their pants as evidenced by these claims of sexual abuse. Gingrich was dumb enough to marry his tramp!
Where's Newt's divorce papers? No one has seen them yet.