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  • 1
    Dec
    2011
    11:50pm, EST

    Occupy protesters disrupt Cain event

    By NBC's Andrew Rafferty

    MURFREESBORO, Tenn.  - Herman Cain became the latest candidate to get the "Occupy Wall Street" treatment while addressing students at Middle Tennessee State University tonight.

    A hand full of members from the mostly student crowd stood up and chanted "We are the 99 percent" in the middle of Cain's speech, which was to be about leadership and not politics.  Another member of the crowd yelled "sexual abuse is not acceptable."

    But the chants were mostly drawn out by booing from other students who told the protestors to "shut up" and leave.  The exchange did not last much longer than a minute, and Cain stood smirking at the podium as the protestors exited the lecture hall.

    "I committed to dean that I'm not going to address any political issues today. But do you know how tempting that is?" said Cain.

    The presidential candidate was first approached about visiting campus almost a year ago, organizers said.  They commended Cain for keeping the commitment in the wake of the new found attention his bid for the presidency has brought him.

    "The way attribute it was, they wanted to disrupt my party because they couldn't attract anyone to come listen to them talk," said Cain. "Don't be embarrassed that those young people wanted to stand up and talk about that they're part of the 99, the 99%.  We have freedom of speech, some people simply abuse it."

    Occupy Wall Street protestors similarly interrupted a Michele Bachmann campaign event in South Carolina last month as well as a President Obama speech in New Hampshire.

    But the focus of Cain's remarks was centered on his own leadership style and ascent to CEO of Godfather's Pizza.  Though he said he would remain apolitical, the former Georgia businessman generically addressed some of the jabs taken his taken throughout the campaign. At one point Cain said leaders do not have all the answers, but they surround themselves with people who do -- a remark made on the trail when addressing critiques about his lack of foreign policy experience.

    The embattled presidential candidate gave no new hints as to the future of his campaign, which he told staff this week he would be reassessing his campaign after a Georgia woman claimed to have carried on a 13-year affair with him.

    Earlier today Cain met with the New Hampshire Union Leader, where he said in an interview that he repeatedly gave money to the alleged mistress without his wife's knowledge.  Cain has said he'll need to have a face-to-face conversation with his wife before he decides if and how his presidential bid will continue.

    That conversation will likely happen Friday evening when Cain returns home to Atlanta.

    31 comments

    It is very interesting to me that the Libbies embrace the Occupy Wall Street thugs yet are afraid of the Tea Party! Further proof of the damage Obama has done to the country thru his strategy of class warfare. Consider this statement from Thomas Sowell:

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    Explore related topics: protests, herman-cain, decision-2012, andrew-rafferty, occupy-wall-street, embed-cain
  • 30
    Nov
    2011
    10:24pm, EST

    Cain doesn't rule out leaving race, to decide in 'another few days'

     

    By NBC's Jo Ling Kent

    Manchester NH -— With the future of his campaign in question, Herman Cain did not rule out leaving the race, saying once again he will “reassess and reevaluate” the impact of recent events on his family, his campaign strategy and fundraising for “another few days.” Cain indicated he will make his final decision on the campaign when he sees his wife face-to-face this Friday.

    “There’s some people who thought that I was finished but I’m going to leave it with Yogi Berra’s comment, ‘It ain’t over ‘til it’s over!’ And it ain’t over yet,” Cain bellowed to volunteers into his tightly-packed New Hampshire headquarters on Wednesday evening.

    Yet just minutes later at a press conference, Cain did not explicitly rule out dropping out of the race for the GOP nomination, calling the accusations against him “character assassinations.” Cain has been accused by four women of inappropriate sexual misconduct. Ginger White is the fifth to come forward.

    “We are going to reevaluate,” Cain said, after a one-day bus tour in Ohio today. “We had a strategy up until last weekend, we might reprioritize.”

    Cain admitted he has not yet spoken to his wife Gloria face-to-face about the most recent allegations of a 13-year extramarital affair by Georgia-based Ginger White. Cain said he has spoken to his wife by phone.

    “I have discussed this with my wife many times since Monday,” he told reporters. “She’s doing great.”

    Cain also plans to discuss the future of the campaign with her when he returns home to Atlanta on Friday. As of now, the Georgia businessman plans to unveil the third pillar of his major policies, his energy plan, but did say much depended on his conversation with his wife this weekend.

    In the aftermath of the allegation by White, Cain also conceded that cash flow to the campaign has slowed down significantly.

    “A few of our warm weather supporters have gotten off the Cain train,” he told voters, before quickly adding that fundraising in the last few days is “picking up.”

    The former pizza magnate also emphasized that this reassessment was “not a knee-jerk” reaction to the recent sexual allegations against him. However, he declined to comment on how this recent spate of news has caused his campaign to publicly reevaluate his position in the GOP race for the first time since entering.

    Cain continues his New Hampshire visit tomorrow afternoon with a meeting with the Union Leader newspaper editorial team, despite the fact they endorsed Newt Gingrich on Sunday. It will be broadcast C-SPAN.

    GOP hopefuls Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have begun to engage each other with gentle jabs, suggesting they now see the nomination as a two-man race. Meanwhile, Herman Cain tried to rally enough support to stay in the race. NBC's Lisa Myers has more.

    71 comments

    Yes Herman, it is everybody's fault but yours. How very conservative of you, blame anyone but yourself.....personal responsibility doesn't apply to you. Hypocrite and liar. No doubt you will drop out, when you can squeeze the last dollar from some more stupid and ideological supporters.

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    Explore related topics: herman-cain, decision-2012, jo-ling-kent, embed-cain
  • 29
    Nov
    2011
    9:41pm, EST

    Cain reiterates foreign policy, plays down 'reassessment'

    By NBC's Andrew Rafferty

     

    Follow @AndrewNBCNews

     

    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.

     

    98 comments

    "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." Moral fiber? Is Cain listening to himself?

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    Explore related topics: herman-cain, decision-2012, andrew-rafferty, embed-cain

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