Posted on 10/23/2011 1:32:35 PM PDT by rzman21
John Rossomando Follow John on Twitter
Confucius once said that you don’t mean what you say unless you say what you mean. But increasingly Herman Cain has shown a difficulty in conveying what he really means.
And this becomes even more crucial as Cain’s views fall under the microscope that he largely avoided prior to unleashing his stroke of marketing genius with his 9-9-9 plan.
But pitfalls such as the details of that plan or his stance on abortion show he either hasn’t thought through his strategy or recognized the need to message discipline. He showed excellent discipline as recently as earlier this month when MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell attacked him for not having participated in the civil rights marches or the Vietnam War in the 1960s.
“The danger of anyone becoming president without any political experience is not just that he doesn't know many things, but that he doesn't know what he doesn't know. Cain has an additional problem: He doesn't know what he thinks,” writes columnist Steve Chapman at TownHall.com. “Not that he is bashful or tentative in expressing his opinions. On the contrary, he is all blunt candor and glib certitude. The problem comes only afterward, when he has to take responsibility for what he said.”
Abortion is the is key issue apart from gay marriage for social conservatives, and Cain cannot afford to give muddled answers.
Answers like abortion is “ultimately the decision that a family or mother [to] make” and that government shouldn’t be involved in the decision don’t cut it. People want clarity, not someone who sounds like a politician and who takes both sides on every issue.
Until now, Cain’s biggest selling point has been his willingness to tell people like it is and not sound like a politician. But now unless he learns message discipline, he will flame out and become “the flavor of the week.”
If Cain wants to win, he needs message discipline and needs it now because he will not just find himself outclassed by Mitt Romney or Rick Perry. He will find he can’t keep up with the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or his dirty-tricks squad.
It’s now or never.
Oh, please.
Well there you go! I’m voting for Mitt! /sarc
Attack Perry, Attack Bachman, Attack Cain, but say nothing about Romneys Obama care for Mass.
I have to pick someone to vote for and it won’t be Romney.
Here we go again...
When Bachmann was in the lead, the media tore her down, then Perry, now Cain.. The media will keep doing this, and many here seem to be willing participants, until Romney is nominated.
What I’m getting from my friends and neighbors is that they like the fact that he isn’t a polished politician. He’s real and he’s been out here among the little people in the real world.
Is it just me, or is Herman Cain the only presidential candidate whose credibility is “undermined” by his “gaffes”?
I suppose Mittens’ credibility is not undermined by his flip flops, neither is Perry’s undermined by his attendance at a La Raza meeting.
As far as I’m concerned, the only thing I would consider a “gaffe” at this point is 999, but I know that Mr. Cain is smart enough to be malleable on something like that.
It’s as if the press is turning up the heat on Cain for non-issues, because they have nothing else, and they just want to see if he can take the heat, even though it’s for made-up stuff.
Not voting for RINO Romney...no way...no how!
These people are human beings. If everything we said was scrutinized (especially by these slimes in he MSM) what would others think about us?
It is beyond disgusting watching conservatives dutifully following the media and Leftists narrative. They must laugh their a$$es off at us at times.
BS
Which one of the candidates is a polished politician?
And what is the criteria for being considered polished?
I'll add to this and say they are scared sh*tless of Cain. Think about it; a successful Black Conservative. This has the potential for the Black Community to NO longer see themselves as victims on the White Liberal Plantation...and they simply cannot allow this to happen without a fight.
Yeah they’ve been saying that “gaffes” will destroy a politician for as long as I can remember.
When John Engler was running for governor of Michigan the first time, he declared that he would “drive his Oldsmobile to Mackinaw Island”. He served 3 terms as governor of Michigan.
You mean like when he said he wants to visit all 57 US states?
Cain’s “gaffes” are just imperfect solutions expressed imperfectly. Maybe I missed the news that Mittzy, perry, or Obumo have achieved perfection. I think Herman is the classiest out there - normal guy, very intelligent, bold yet somewhat humble.
Better to have someone who trips over his words, than someone who skips over his conscience. :-)
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