Shock : Herman Cain wins GOP Florida straw poll

The Washington Times ^ | SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 | Seth McLaughlin

[RobinMasters]

ORLANDO — Former Godfather Pizza CEO Herman Cain won the Presidency 5 straw poll here Saturday, delivering a blow to Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s frontrunner status and a victory for a candidate who has struggled to transform his grassroots popularity into strong showings in national polls.

“Tonight’s winner is Herman Cain,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced. “It shows you something, the road to the White House come through Florida, and it pays to spend time here.”

He received 37 percent of the more than 2,600 votes cast.

“Thank you to the Republican voters for this incredible honor of being named the winner of the Presidency 5 straw poll in Florida today,” Mr. Cain said. “This is a sign of our growing momentum and my candidacy that cannot be ignored. I will continue to share my message of ‘common-sense solutions’ across this country and look forward to spending more time in Florida, a critical state for both the nomination and the general election.”

The two national frontrunners — Mr. Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — placed second and third. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, meanwhile, landed in fourth place; Rep. Ron Paul of Texas landed in fifth place; and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, sixth. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann finished last. (See the poll results here.)

[mtnwmn]

How have the Republican elites treated him? Sounds like he did just fine with the FL GOP elites:)

[andyk]

No instead you think doing nothing and clinging to our current corrupted, failed tax system is a good idea. I cannot believe with your private sector background you would stake out such a fundamentally indefensible position

A little confused. Are you on a tirade? Did you post this before waiting for my response? A fundamentally indefensible position is to support a national sales tax on top of an income tax. Repeal the 16th amendment before a sales tax is considered.

[eyedigress]

I am going to support him full bore. If McCain could do it, President Herman Cain can do it.

[cuban leaf]

He’s been my pick ever since my wife told me about him. I just didn’t think he had a chance.

[Marie]

“Please provide a source for your claim that he wants a national sale tax in addition to the income tax.”

No, it is true, but not represented correctly.

Cain’s plan calls for a 9% flat-rate income tax that *everyone* pays plus a 9% sales tax plus a 9% corporate tax.

No loopholes. No deductions. Nobody gets out of it.

Just last night, my daughter looked at her pay stub and realized that she paid 13.5% in taxes. 9% is looking pretty good to her.

One thing that I’m not sure about with his plan, is the social security and medicaid issue. I don’t know how he plans on paying for that.

[M. Thatcher]

::Happy dance::

I love Cain. And I love even more how this shakes up the wizards of smart on our side. This outcome was simply not anticipated by the "experts." delicious!

[justsaynomore]

I can only speak for my area - he won the Georgia straw poll in Perry GA last month, and is doing extremely well in AL and SC. However, in many of these areas, tea party has become a big influence in the GOP. In my county, the tea party IS the GOP :-)

[andyk]

Please provide a source for your claim that he wants a national sale tax in addition to the income tax.

That's what the 9-9-9 plan is. 9% personal income tax, 9% sales tax, 9% corporate tax. Google it - and see for yourself.

[Southern Magnolia]

Yay! So happy Cain won by a nice margin! I was worried the poll would go to Perry and Mittens.

[justsaynomore]

This might help (on the SS model)

http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-the-chilean-model-herman-cain-was-talking-about-at-last-nights-gop-debate-2011-9

[defendit]

Cain stands head and shoulders above Perry and especially Romney as far as TRUST and CREDIBILITY goes.

IF YOU GIVE AMERICANS A CHOICE WE WILL VOTE! Herman Cain is the REAL deal for us. If we want to pull America in the right direction this is the way to PULL - it was all the compromise and wish washy negotiating with socialists that has brought us this mess and national peril.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

I love GOOD fried chicken and watermelon! Southern BBQ too!

Coleslaw, chips, BBQ beans, jambalaya, dirty rice, crawdads, cheese grits, sausage gravy, chicken fried steak, Lousiana Hot Sauce, fried squirrel...

And, of course, Godfathers Pizza!

[upsdriver]

Aside from Palin who is not even in the race, Cain is also the only Conservative teaparty candidate. How will the parasidic media and the rats deal with a Herman Cain against a zero!

I really enjoyed reading about Herman Cain winning this straw poll. It brings a couple of thoughts to mind as a Palin supporter. If Herman Cain continues to shine, Sarah may endorse him instead of running. Or should Palin enter the race and take the nomination, Herman Cain could be chosen has her VP. Palin/Cain would make a wonderful ticket. Two outsiders with solid resumes of reform and results, both admired by the tea party participants.

[shield]

Not quite yet, I have to have assurance he can win. Today, just because he won the straw poll in Florida doesn’t tell me that. People can get all excited over this but this doesn’t tell me much.

[MestaMachine]

This is just GREAT!!! So much for their stupid “rwo man race”. Congrats Mr. Cain and super congrats, F;orida!!!!

[Marie]

Thank you! I have seen this before!

[federal__reserve]

Top individual Tax bracket reduced from 35% TO 9%.
NO payroll tax (SS & Medicare)
NO tax on dividends.
No tax on capital gains.

Then realize you do not buy stuff with all your earnings.
Some goes for mortgage payments, car loans, and remaining foes into savings/investments, none of which requires paying sales tax.

[andyk]

Andy, my federal tax bill runs right around 20%-22% every year. That is on TOP of social security payroll tax and medicare tax. If all those get eliminated per Herman’s plan, why should I not be happy paying 9% national sales tax?

I hear that, and I appreciate your sentiments. I appreciate it the same way I appreciate the way in which the original income tax applied to actual income at a rate of 1% (plus 6% at $600K+), followed by the victory tax, ad blech.

It certainly sounds delightful compared to what we have now. I sincerely believe that it is a disaster to add a sales tax on top of an existing income tax.

[The_Media_never_lie]

I live in SC. I really hope Mr. Cain will be back for another rally so I can be there!

[MNJohnnie]

Basically your argument is akin to saying "because we might get cancer later, we should not stop abusing alcohol now."

You are more then a little confused if you think doing nothing to fix our current broken tax system is a sound idea.

Go re-read your posts.

Because fixing the system might result in corruption later, you are arguing we should not fix the current system. Because any fix will not be perfect, you are advocating that it would be better to do nothing.

Boiled down to the facts, that is what you are advocating here.

You are making the perfect the enemy of the good. That is not a sensible thing to do.