Posted on 07/17/2004 1:00:15 PM PDT by CondiArmy
At the front end of the last weekend before the Republican vote for U.S. Senate, with something historic almost within his grasp, Herman Cain found himself the man in the middle.
Both his rivals on Friday set about clawing away his supporters, in the grim, last-minute fashion traditional to Georgia.
For Cain campaigners new to politics or to Georgia, the pincher movement was breath-taking.
Over the radio, rival Mac Collins set about making sure white voters know that there's more to Cain than the color of his eyes. Under the radar, taking aim at core Republican voters, Johnny Isakson put out a mailer that flirts with the truth:
• Herman Cain "donated money to pro-choice Democrat Senator Kerrey," the flyer says.
Isakson has raised $5.5 million, but couldn't afford to insert "Bob" in the line above. As in U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, not U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachussets. Cain wrote the $250 check in 1993, when he lived in Omaha.
"Herman was president of Godfather's Pizza and head of the National Restaurant Association. Herman said the guy [Bob Kerrey] was good for small business," said Cain campaign manager Matt Wylie. At the same time, Cain was giving more significant money to the Republican National Congressional Committee.
A spokesman for the Isakson campaign, which has decried negative advertising, saw no harm in voters thinking that Cain gave cash to the current Democratic presidential nominee. "Bob Kerrey and John Kerry are cut from the same liberal Democratic senate cloth," Heath Garrett said.
• Cain "stood with Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy to extend [the] Iraq handover deadline," the flyer says. At a May forum in Gwinnett County, Cain said he wouldn't oppose extension of the deadline. "Do it at the right time for the right reason, even if we have to move it," Cain said. Bush did move the handover -- two days forward. Neither Clinton nor Kennedy were in attendance.
• Cain "ran for president against George W. Bush," the flyer says. Bush announced the formation of an exploratory committee for president on March 2, 1999. Cain filed his papers 17 days later, and quickly dropped out.
• Cain "endorsed Bush's opponent," the flyer says. Well, yes. But Isakson omits the word "Republican." Cain was behind Steve Forbes in the presidential primary.
The Isakson campaigners justified the mailer by pointing out they had endured Cain's attacks on TV since early June -- and that several of Cain's charges were exaggerated or misleading. Tit for tat.
"We have sought a positive discussion, but we have also repeatedly put our opponents on notice that we will defend ourselves if attacked," said Brad Alexander, another Isakson spokesman.
The Collins' radio spot, aired on an Atlanta Christian station and WSB, first attacked Isakson on abortion, foreign trade and tort reform. Then Collins put his sights on two issues sure to underline the fact that Cain is African-American: "Affirmative action's long outlived its time . . . any ruling that gives preference to anyone, is wrong. Mr. Cain cannot say that. When it comes to endorsements, Mr. Cain was endorsed by the regional director of the Rainbow/PUSH coalition. I'm proud to say I was not."
Cain does have the support of Joe Beasley, the civil rights veteran, who is a member of his church.
Said Collins campaign manager Dan Kidder: "No, we're not playing the race card. We think that it's important that voters know an organization that's working against George Bush and is against Republican principles, is working for Herman Cain."
.."the last weekend before the Republican [primary] vote for U.S. Senate"
Well, at least the end is in sight. (Sigh of relief). I have always disliked people who wanted to grab and exercise power over others.
Certainly is typical of the type of person Isakson is to level last-minute attacks on Cain. You see, when you attack at the last minute, maybe people don't have time to find out the truth. Barbara Boxer, among others, is a master of that tactic.
It's also noteworthy that after all their research, a couple of bogus charges are the worst thing they could come up with about Herman Cain. Tells you he's a very solid individual with a clean past and hopefully a bright future in the US Senate.
bump
No we just want our RINO's so get out of the way.
The most ridiculous argument against Herman Cain I've heard is that the status quo is wonderful and needs to be preserved by electing people with no vision and no backbone to push the bigger issues.
The worst argument is the one that points out the color of Mr. Cain's skin in order to dissuade white voters, applying it under the guise of affirmative action.
>Certainly is typical of the type of person Isakson is to level last-minute attacks on Cain. <
As versed to Collins and Cain who have spent 4 months and $4 million attacking Isackson with half truths and inuendo.Didn't your mother ever tell you people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
I was out and about my neighborhood of Alpharetta in the North Fulton suburbs(Isakson's district) this afternoon. The Cain signs outnumber the Isakson 10 to 1. Probably more than that. They were on every corner I passed. I also noticed a few on private lawns.
This is prime Isakson territory. I really think the Cain has a shot at it. Maybe not a win but he probably can force a runoff.
It is an idiomatic expression at this point, used for all kinds of socio-political power plays, from cricket (below)to the Richmond Football Club to Tony Blair's posish.
Night of the long knives 21/06/04 Soapbox This weekend the West Indies Cricket Board sacked Sir Viv Richards, their chairman of selectors. C365 examines the wisdom of this decision and the fall out for the beleaguered Caribbean outfit, on tour in the United Kingdom.
Isakson is being a total jerk and incredibly deceptive, but the Kerrey/Kerry thing is clever.
Excellent point about lack of ammo against Cain. Cain's career is an open book (in fact three books) and anyone who is interested in truth can easily research it. Unfortunately, most Cain haters aren't interested in any truth. Remember, it is easy to throw out an unsubstantiated accusation. The rebuttal always requires documentation.
I find it interesting the Cain haters hiding behind the $250 Cain gave to BOB KerrEy to mask the real reasons they oppose him. Do these people hate Reagan because of Iran/Contra. Do they hate Newt because of his affair. Do they hate Bush because he proposed the huge increase in government spending called Prescription drug benefit. Do they hate Isakson for voting against Bush's "Mexico City Policy." Do they hate Collins for voting with the pro-abortion Isakson on many issues. No, I doubt they do.
In fact they probably think the above list of things is ridiculous. Yes, they are right. It is ridiculous. Just as ridicules as hating Cain for contributing $250 to the profuseness BOB KerrEy.
HC^
Saying we hate Cain is using the verbage of the left.They say we "hate gays" because we want the marriage amendment.No one has expressed hate for Cain.We have all said we would support him if he won.The problem is like the democrats that yell hate speech several on this board have chosen to call Isakson names and say they will vote for Majette.
Kenth,
I think you meant "push the smaller issues." You know the ones like base closings and road funding.
I mean, after all, who cares about the future of our country and the need to reform the tax system, Social Security and stop abortion. Come on, it doesn't really matter that the whole thing is going to collapse in ten years, does it?
We need more policy wonks like Isakson or Collins so we can get less done and spend more money doing it!
As directed by the posting guidelines.
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Okay, so you don't hate Herman Cain. You just dislike him intensely enough to slander him (not a technical use of slander here, in case you're getting confused) by lying about him.
What I don't get is what you don't like about babies, since you support the only candidate in this primary that thinks killing babies is okay. Can you please explain that?
If Isakson makes it to the general election, I and a large number of conservatives will not be voting for him - or the Democrat candidate. But Isakson needs our votes to win, and he won't get them.
I agree.
Go Herman Cain go.
Here's the difference in print:
http://www.gachristiancoalition.org/docs/04-Senate-Primary-Voter-Guide.pdf
And with the right breaks and a groundswell at the base, Cain could... go... all... the... way...!
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