I like Herman Cain. He is funny, plain spoken, personable and when you ask him a question he answers if he can. His rise to CEO of Godfather's Pizza is a great American success story. His 9-9-9 plan. although unworkable and un-passable, still has merit and has brought back debate about a flat tax. Also, he puts to rest the attacks on the Tea Party and the Republican Party as being racist.
If Herman Cain had ever held political office. If he had been Governor of Georgia or even Mayor of Atlanta, I would be a little more comfortable with his candidacy. But Herman Cain cannot be elected President.
He has not held any executive office in Government. Godfather Pizza? That qualifies him for President? He did serve on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in the 1990s, including two years as chairman -- a distinguished position and an important responsibility, but not one that involves the management of a public agency.
Now I know there are some of you who are sick of politics and are saying "Good!" No, bad.
The president's fundamental job is to run the government. Not a pizza company, the United States of America. It is very, very hard and complex. The consequences of a mistake are very, very serious.
That is why Americans have almost always demanded an impressive resume of successful accomplishment in public office from their presidential candidates. The current president is an exception to the rule, and he had problems the first few year. Problems we are still dealing with.
Add that inexperience to the fact that Cain, when pressured in the last debate, could not defend his 9-9-9 plan, the center piece of his campaign. He just kept saying, "Go to my web site. Read the analysis." Which is like saying, "I don't know. Ask him."
Add that to several foreign policy gaffes. Including his answer on CNN that he would release all the terrorists from Guantanamo Bay for one soldier held captive, a dangerously naive statement. If Cain was elected, what do you think is the first thing al Qaeda would do? Cain has taken back that statement. But it was such a bad gaffe, I think it eliminated him as a serious contender. Much like how I felt Michelle Bachmann was eliminated when said she wished the government would have defaulted on it's loans.
I am happy Herman Cain ran. I am glad he shook things up. He cannot be President - yet.
