Commentary — 25 October 2011

 

What is there for the President to “get” exactly? This is coming from the same man who said that the poor should blame themselves…for being poor. If we follow Cain’s twisted logic to its ultimate conclusion, then personal accountability is the only variable in prosperity; not presidential economic policy.

The truth of the matter is that retired presidents get a pension near $200,000 annually, a secret service detail and guaranteed speaking engagements for the rest of their lives, north of $50,000 per appearance. Cain’s cynical rhetoric aside, no president is ever “out of work” or “looking for a job” after leaving the White House, be it after one or two terms.

Just putting that out there.

His tweet is disingenuous in every way and comes from someone who’s earned more than $250,000 in 2011 alone as an author and motivational speaker.

Cain himself really doesn’t even have a job, truth be told. When he’s not embarrassing himself trying explain his stance on abortion or insulting Black voters, his time is largely free to schedule at his whim.

Cain wants to have it both ways. Out of one side of his mouth, he will allege that jobs and prosperity go to the hardest-working and most deserving. If true, then there is no economic crisis in America, capitalism is a finely-tuned meritocracy and has rewarded the cream of America’s crop accordingly.

Out of the other side of his mouth, he argues that America is in need of a president who implicitly understands the fundamental tenets of business and job creation. The contradiction must be highlighted. Why the need for job creation if the poor and unemployed are to blame for their own plights? If people are “choosing” to be poor, then no amount of job creation would change this fact.

Here’s another question…

If Herman Cain’s economic plan of 9-9-9 was so well-thought-out, why did it only take all of two news cycles to expose it as of disproportionate, negative impact to the poor? Going further, how did it only take one more news cycle for him to fundamentally change his economic plan to “9-0-9,” to adjust for this revelation?

Had he not done the simple math or were the majority of Americans in his socioeconomic blind spot?

Ultimately, it says that Cain is the one who “doesn’t get it.” He didn’t figure the poor into his economic plan because he is blind to them. The essential argument of the Occupy Movement is that there are far more people living in poverty than there are living in penthouses. Cain’s supposed bailiwick is economics/job creation. Yet, he gleefully suggests that the poor are such by their own choices. One can’t claim to love America while simultaneously showing contempt for such a wide swath of its people.

Bank of America, after receiving some 20 billion in federal aid will be laying off some 40,000 employees AND has raised its fees. Meaning, BofA not only took away 40,000 jobs, but also increased their ex-employees’ cost of living in the same month. According to Cain’s logic, we should blame those who were terminated, and further loosen the supposed shackles on big business.

I’ve never sold a slice of pizza in my life, but I am clear Herman Cain is nowhere close to understanding the economic issues of America.

And I haven’t even touched on his undying admiration for former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, who universally has been blamed for leading our economy down the destructive path of deregulation and the consequences which resulted.

Herman Cain is hijacking the presidential process to sell more books, book more speaking engagements and ultimately raise his national profile…not unlike Sarah Palin’s political involvement in recent years.

Our responsibility as voters is to recognize it for what it is and stop buying into the farce that he is in the running for the Republican nomination or is anything other than a snake oil salesman, peddling the racism that Republicans want and need to hear.

This supposed campaign is not about becoming president, this is about becoming the next Sarah Palin.  It’s about being quotable, controversial and ultimately cartoonish.  Such behavior and commentary aren’t even close to becoming electable and the GOP surely is not going to stand for two Black men squaring off in November 2012 for the White House.  Cain’s sideshow antics should be seen for what they really are and be treated accordingly.

 

 

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal.  Visit https://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly and contact him at [email protected].

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Mo'Kelly

Morris W. O'Kelly (Mo'Kelly) is a columnist, radio and television commentator. Visit https://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo'Kelly. Find him on social media - @mrmokelly

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