Republicans Raising Cain

I seem to recall that someone here thought that Mitt Romney couldn't be elected because he is a Mormon. The implication, apparently, was that Waspish prejudice wouldn't allow it. That is nonsense, of course. Romney has two basic problems. One is that a lot of Republicans are not convinced that he is authentically conservative. The other is that a lot of voters across the spectrum are not convinced that Romney is authentically anything. The latter, I suspect, is Romney's biggest problem. Romney's religion has been of zero interest so far because that kind of prejudice just isn't a factor among Republicans.

Nor is racial prejudice a factor among the Republican electorate. The contrary is a matter of faith among Democrats. Here is an excerpt from an interview with actor Morgan Freeman on CNN.

PIERS MORGAN, HOST: Has Obama helped the process of eradicating racism, or has it in a strange way made it worse.

MORGAN FREEMAN: Made it worse. Made it worse. Look at, look, the Tea Partiers, who are controlling the Republican Party, stated, and what's this guy's name, Mitch O'Connell. Is that his, O'Connell?

MORGAN: Yeah, Mitch McConnell, yeah.

FREEMAN: Mitch McConnell. Their stated policy, publicly stated, is to do whatever it takes to see to it that Obama only serves one term. What's, what does that, what underlines that? "Screw the country. We're going to whatever we do to get this black man, we can, we're going to do whatever we can to get this black man outta here."

MORGAN: But is that necessarily a racist thing?

FREEMAN: It is a racist thing.

MORGAN: Is it not Republicans, wouldn't that say that about any Democrat president?

FREEMAN: No, they would have gotten rid of Bill Clinton if they could have.

Freeman doesn't seem to know enough to have opinions about any actual Republicans, but he does demonstrate his own prejudice. He thinks Republicans are racists despite recognizing that, in fact, they aren't treating Obama any differently than they did Bill Clinton. That's precisely the kind of self-imposed confusion that indicates prejudice.

Freeman would doubtlessly be unimpressed by the fact that Herman Cain won the Florida straw poll.

Cain, who has never held elective office, received nearly as many votes as the three next finishers combined. A big cheer went up from the delegates in the cavernous convention hall when Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Cain's winning total: 986 votes out of the 2,657 that were cast, for a percentage of 37.1 percent.

The Florida straw poll has been a very reliable predictor of Republican nominees, but it's hard to take Cain seriously just yet. We are still talking about a man who has never held elective office even if, unlike Obama, he at least has successfully run something. Godfather's Pizza is something.

What this surely indicates is that the bloom is off Rick Perry and that there is no rush back to Romney so far. Okay, but let's imagine for a moment that Herman Cain was Governor Cain from, I don't know, Tennessee. Let's say he was as good at running a state house as he was at running Burger King and Godfather's. Say he was an authentic conservative.

I say, making those assumptions, that Herman Cain is the Republican nominee by a mile. The Tea Party people would love him. The Christian Right would love him. The Republican rank and file would love him. Independents would love him. I say, making those assumptions, he'd be the next President.

Prejudice is part and parcel of the human condition. Republicans are no freer of it than any similarly large group of Americans. I think we can say that Republicans are less prejudice than Morgan Freeman.

Comments

[Alex]

I call bull. You're coughing up the same ol' drivel about Romney that his detractors, at least one of whom was decidedly bigoted toward Mormonism, coughed up during the last election cycle. Romney is an executive and a problem solver. His citizens needed a health care solution, and he worked with his state legislature to find one. I think it was a great idea, and he's right to stand by it. Romney worked to balance his state's budget. He's the one candidate who's actually fought and worked and compromised with the other party to do things which are for the good of ALL voters. And someone like you regurgitates the weak line that Romney doesn't stand for anything...If Romney weren't Mormon he'd be president right now. Perry is just as handsome and strong-jawed as Romney, but whereas Romney somehow was dinged for his looks ("he's too normal;" or "he's too clean-cut"), there's not a word about that with Perry. And Cain! WTH?!?!?! I feel like the Republicans are keeping him around just to prove that they aren't racist (i.e. "I cannot be racist because I have [one] black friend"). Rubbish!!

[William]

It doesn't matter if I think he can win or not -- I am for this man. If everyone that really prefers Herman Cain as the nominee votes for him, without concerning themselves with his "electability", he can win by a landslide.

I've actually met with Mr. Cain on multiple occasions and believe he's a man of character, accomplishment and love of country. That's the kind of man I want to see in the White House.

The "race card" is worn out, the only reason it's used anymore is because the Democrat Party requires it to hold a winning hand.

[George Mason]

As Herman Cain said when asked about his lack of experience in government: "Washington is full of people with experience in government, how's that worked out?" I like Herman Cain as a candidate. Unlike president teleprompter he, like most of the other Republicans, has far more executive experience in the real world than anyone in the current administration. Their experience cannot be compared with president teleprompter because president teleprompter had not before he became president and has been unable to absorb any since he became president.

[Ken Blanchard]

Alex: see George and William.

[Mike Cooper]

Who could ever trust Romney on the issue of abortion? Who could ever trust Romney on the issue of health care? What is the difference between Romney and John McCain? Both are far preferable to Obama, but neither is really a conservative.

[Stan Gibilisco]

In my opinion, the Florida straw poll results indicate that the public wants "anybody but Obama" when it comes to economic policy.

Herman Cain might make a good Chief Executive Officer when it comes to managing the economy, but what about our relations with Pakistan? What about Iran? North Korea? Iraq? Afghanistan? Pirates in Africa? Natural disasters?

As things stand now, Romney's my man. A certain amount of government experience is essential for anyone who aspires to serve in the multifaceted role of President of the United States. I think, also, that we need a moderate in that role.

[William]

Cain / Gingrich 2012 anyone? With quality people in the roles of VP / Secretary of State / Chief of Staff, I believe Herman Cain would have little difficulty in establishing a well thought out policies in areas he does not claim personal expertise. No one is an expert in ALL areas and anyone who becomes President requires quality staff to assist them.

[duggersd]

Stan, if Romney were to be the nominee and I had a choice between him and Obama, I naturally would choose Romney. Romney does a good job of expressing the conservative position on paper. However, as pointed out above, I am not sure I can count on Romney to champion the conservative values I have. In many ways, I believe Perry would do that, but I worry he is not able to articulate what needs to be done.
William, I like Herman Cain on paper, but do have concerns about how he is going to deal with Congress and the world. Perhaps a Gingrich as a VP or chief of staff could help his presidency.

[Bill Fleming]

"The Tea Party people would love him. The Christian Right would love him. The Republican rank and file would love him. Independents would love him."

This strikes me as being essentially true, but then, I am not a Republican. I believe it was Mary Matalan who quoted the old saw most recently that "Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line."

Is that true? Does the word just finally come down on the "R" side and you all just jump back into line?

If so, maybe we Dems need to learn how to do that a little better when necessary.

[Ken Blanchard]

What Matalan means is simply that Republicans tend to nominate the next person in line. Hence John McCain. But a tendency is not destiny. Romney is the heir apparent but he has weaknesses that may be fatal this time round.

[Jimi]

The fatal flaw in Morgan Freeman's comment is that he created a False Choice. He is attempting to gain support for the idea that the only reason people want Obama out of Office is the color of his skin....when everybody knows the real reason....and that is Obama's lack of leadership and experience.

No question Obama is an Idoologue....and the country is rejecting his agenda. The Democrats and their supporters have to use the race card because at this point, that is all they have.

[George Mason]

Morgan Freeman is broadcasting what the dem's will fall in line with. "Opposition to president teleprompter is racist." It's all they have.

[Bill Fleming]

"I think we can say that Republicans are less prejudice than Morgan Freeman."

I don't. But it's an interesting premise. I wonder if Morgan Freeman would be inclined to vote for your hypothetical Herman Cain, KB. Could it be that Freeman's real prejudice is against Republicans? If so, I would be surprised to hear that Republicans are all that much different from Freeman in that regard... as in: prejudiced against Democrats.

But not me... Because, well you know... um... some of my best friends are... uh... Republicans. ;^)

[William]

The "race card" is simply the last card the Democrats can play, when they have nothing else in "their hand". It used to be a "trump card", but they've worn it out.

[George Mason]

Bill; You may very well be correct. It is absolutely certain that William is correct.

[Ken Blanchard]

Bill: yes. Freeman's prejudice is against Republicans. Republicans are indeed biased against Democrats and vice verse. Party affiliation and political perspective (liberal or conservative) are biased by definition. That just means that both sides have made up their minds on political issues.

Prejudice is another thing. If I concluded in advance that all Democrats were defective in character, I would be guilty of prejudice. I have reached no such conclusions. Morgan Freeman has. He is pretty sure that all Republicans are just plain bad.