Cain: “I’m not supposed to know anything about foreign policy”
posted at 6:03 pm on November 16, 2011 by Allahpundit
I can’t tell if he’s joking or not, which is a recurring theme lately in some of his pronouncements about foreign policy. He was joking, I think, when he said he’d offered to make Kissinger secretary of state again. He wasn’t joking, I thought, when he answered a question about whether his grasp of foreign policy is too slight with “9-9-9,” although the Standard’s John McCormack theorized last night on Twitter that maybe he was actually saying, “Nein, nein, nein,” in which case he was joking. The fact that we’ve reached the point where no answer is too goofy to be instantly ruled out as non-serious seems … problematic.
Cain brought up the GOP debate on foreign policy two days earlier.
“That’s a tough subject. You don’t want to get your facts mixed up,” he said.
He defended his view that presidents and presidential candidates don’t need to be immersed in the fine print of world affairs – they simply need to be leaders who can surround themselves with the right people and sift through their advice.
“I’m not supposed to know anything about foreign policy. Just thought I’d throw that out,” he said, a dig at his critics.
“I want to talk to commanders on the ground. Because you run for president (people say) you need to have the answer. No, you don’t! No, you don’t! That’s not good decision-making,” said Cain.
Is he being sarcastic in his use of the word “supposed,” as if to say, “If you listen to my critics, they’ll have you believe that I don’t know anything about foreign policy, but of course they’re wrong”? Or is he honestly saying it’s okay for a would-be C-in-C not to know much because, after all, he’ll have plenty of advisors and generals to steer him once he’s elected? Gingrich, for one, appears to think it’s the latter, telling Laura Ingraham this morning in response to what Cain said that “I think it’s fairly important in a dangerous world to have a president who knows something about foreign policy.” (Important, but not disqualifying: As of yesterday, Newt was still open to a Cain/Gingrich or Gingrich/Cain ticket.) Evidently there’s no video to help us judge, so in lieu of that, via the Right Scoop, here he is elsewhere today reiterating that he might not know everything but he does know how to surround himself with smart, capable people. And below that, via RCP, a harmless yet irresistible clip of Cain wondering how to say “delicious” in “Cuban.” I’m pretty sure it’s the same as in “Mexican.”
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2
I never expected him to be. Maybe a good shot at VP nominee or a position in a Republican administration, though.
whatcat on November 16, 2011 at 7:03 PM
Ain’t nothing like the real thang baby! Love me some Cain!
milemarker2020 on November 16, 2011 at 7:04 PM
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 6:58 PM
My mother’s first vote was for Nixon in ’68. Other than a protest vote for Nader in 2008(against Obama and McCain after he picked Palin. Living in Illinois it didn’t make a difference) she’s always voted republican. Ditto for my late father.
I trust her political instincts….except for the Nader thing.
annoyinglittletwerp on November 16, 2011 at 7:05 PM
“Context”? I don’t care if he said it in the “context” of a Bar Mitzvah or in the “context’ of a Rain Dance, who but a lying Muslim or a brainless and clueless Infidel would ever say such a thing?
“Like most of the world’s major religions the Islamic faith preaches peace, love and tolerance. Indeed, terrorism is the antithesis of the basic tenet to which the one billion Islamic followers all over the world adhere. – Rick Perry
I think it would have been a good time for him to have had one of his 53 second “Brain Freezes”.
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 7:06 PM
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 7:01 PM
Did you see my 6:58 PM post in reply?
The quote was from 2001 and a Muslim man in Texas had just been murdered for no other reason than that he was Muslim. Perry, as governor, was calling for calm in his state. Since that time, he has received the “Defender of Jerusalem” award from Israel in 2009, has traveled more times to Israel than any other candidate (beginning with his trip in ’91), has set-up the “Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce”… here’s the link again:
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/09/10/quotes-of-the-day-798/comment-page-1/#comment-4902079
When he received the award from Israel he said:
In an interview from last week with the SC “The State” paper, he said that “there should be no air between the US and Israel” because they are our only consistent friends in the region
http://www.thestate.com/2011/11/11/2043198/video-rick-perry-interview-today.html#storylink=addthis
Aslans Girl on November 16, 2011 at 7:08 PM
Having principles and knowledge in order to be able to wisely assess a situation and steer a course is not the same as delegating the fine print to others. He seems to be trying to equate the two. He should better having run huge businesses.
He seems to be tossing out the need for knowledge and understanding as superfluous. I hate to say it, but this is a very foolish statement.
At for whether or not he’s joking, at this point, it appears to me to be more of a deflection—throwing that out to excuse not giving a substantive statement.
If I’d put my foot in my mouth as many times as he has, at this point I’d be working overtime to convince people I could bring some serious knowledge to the table.
INC on November 16, 2011 at 7:08 PM
And I trust your political instincts … … except for just about everything.
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 7:08 PM
Would that be you?
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!
Texas Gal on November 16, 2011 at 7:09 PM
The flaw with the argument your making is that every president will be listening to their generals, advisers, the media, the people who write or meet them in person and should be getting some advice from previous presidents and the world at large through the study of the best resource out there for a general breakdown on how things play out, history.
Now, on Libya, we have had many months of information coming out, from the White House, from Europe, from the generals, the people and the experts not to mention the people who were fighting Qaddafi themselves. Cain should have access to that information even easier than I do, and from that information be able to make a comment on Libya. That would allow people to judge his judgement on the information he is given. But instead, his only answer is that he would listen to… Well Herman Cain, give us a hint of how your judgement will work. I am not going to trust you on your word alone. If you find Cain’s answer acceptable, then you are going to be totally ecstatic with Newt’s! Newt surrounds himself with the smartest and most accomplished people available, studies history to understand the pitfalls of many possible actions and benefits of many others, listens to people, reads the newspapers, and comes up with an actual plan on how he would act and gives it to the people to criticize.
Cain is playing you people like a death metal drummer plays his drums.
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 7:11 PM
Perry seems to love Islam and love Israel. Maybe he thinks Israel is one of those 57 Islamic states. That’s the most charitable explanation I can think of to reconcile the two. Either that or paleface speak with forked tongue.
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 7:12 PM
Hurrah!!!!
RedLizard64 on November 16, 2011 at 7:13 PM
If he would say as President he would fire Petraeus at CIA and all the 3 and 4 start generals in the Army and their counterparts at State, that would be a very good start.
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 7:16 PM
But the statement he made was a lie. So I could care less what the circumstance was. Unless of course he pulled out a, You thought I was serious? Man, I got you guys!
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 7:16 PM
No, that would be me and the other 60% who never bought into his game.
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 7:17 PM
Say it again and Say it Clear brother (sister)!!!! The Chior hears you!
RedLizard64 on November 16, 2011 at 7:17 PM
The Tuskeegee Airmen, who proved themselves to be some of the bravest and most effective combat pilots in history, almost never came to be, because some in command positions considered them to be stupid and untrainable.
Let them believe that Cain doesn’t know anything about foreign policy.
Mr. Grump on November 16, 2011 at 7:18 PM
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 7:12 PM
Israel knows a “forked tongue” when they see one and they sure as hell don’t give them awards like their “Defender of Jerusalem”. I’ll trust them here. And I’ll trust Perry’s absoultely STELLAR record of friendship with them.
In one of the links I’ve provided above, one story relates that once when Perry was in Israel, he told a lawyer there that if ever they needed him, to let him know. When the second flotilla — with American activists on board — was on its way to Israel, the lawyer asked Perry to help. He sent a letter to Holder reminding him that it is unlawful for American citizens to take part on aggression towards our allies.
When I choose a presidential candidate, one of my three main criteria is support of Israel. When I learned of Perry’s unwavering support for them, I just smiled. Perry’s record is above and beyond what I hope to see in a candidate.
Aslans Girl on November 16, 2011 at 7:20 PM
Even the Marines need a good house cleaning
“General, this is my cultural advisor, Mr. Shafiq Mubarak. Mr. Shafiq is my right hand and I can’t do anything without him. Mr. Shafiq directly assists in direct engagements with Afghan leaders and political decision makers. He has been instrumental in the pursuit of the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, the winning of hearts and minds.” – Marine Corps Col. David Furness
By knowing where to pee?
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 7:21 PM
Mr. Grump on November 16, 2011 at 7:18 PM
Comparing Cain to the Tuskeegee heroes now?
Good ‘effing gawd.
Most of Cain’s troubles are of his OWN making!!
annoyinglittletwerp on November 16, 2011 at 7:21 PM
You need to stay after school and write this 100 times on the blackboard, then repeat until you understand it -
“Like most of the world’s major religions the Islamic faith preaches peace, love and tolerance. Indeed, terrorism is the antithesis of the basic tenet to which the one billion Islamic followers all over the world adhere. – Rick Perry
It’s not really that difficult. Just pretend that your son Rick Perry never said it and someone else did, like the head of CAIR or the MB.
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 7:26 PM
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 7:16 PM
In the ten years since, he has defended Israel unequivocally and has divested from companies with ties to Iran. When he said that Islam was “peaceful”, yes I disagree, but I believe he was appealing to their better instincts, encouraging them to be so. Texas has Muslims and he is governor of all its citizens. Until the US forbids Islam in America (which I wish it would since it isn’t a religion but a political idealogy), political leaders should try to encourage moderate forms of it.
Aslans Girl on November 16, 2011 at 7:27 PM
Faulty analogy. Hmmm, too bad there was not a Latin term for that. Oh well. Nice try, but I have defenses up against Cainiacisms.
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 7:30 PM
HAH HAH, that was in my original reply to you. I just decided it was too long. I write too much too often.
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 7:32 PM
I thought you said unbiased observer. That doesn’t sound like an unbiased opinion.
Oh that’s right … you’re the one who knows the hidden meaning to words (inappropriate)… what’s the hidden meaning to “unbiased”?
I would say that not carrying 60% of the polls is better than not carrying 90%, 93% or 95%.. how about 96%.
Texas Gal on November 16, 2011 at 7:32 PM
(Patton): What’s the matter with you?
(Perry): I, I guess I just can’t take it sir.
(Patton): What did you say?
(Perry): It’s my nerves sir. I, I, I just can’t stand the debates anymore. (Perry starts sobbing more)
(Patton): Your nerves? Why hell you are just a God damned coward. (Patton slaps Perry’s cowboy hat with his gloves) Shut up. I won’t have a yellow bastard sitting here crying, in front of these brave men and a woman who have been wounded in debate battles. (Perry continues to sob) SHUT UP! (Patton then strikes Perry again, knocking his cowboy hat off. He then turns to the primary voters and yells:) Don’t vote for this yellow b-astard. I won’t have sons-of-b-itches who are afraid to debate stinking up an election! (Turns back to Perry:) You’re going to all the debates my friend. You may get rattled and you may get shaken and what little you have for a brain may freeze up for embarrassingly long periods, but you’re going to all the debates. Either that or I will stand you up in front of a firing squad. I (Patton grabs for his pistol) ought to shoot you myself, you God damned little brain freeze bastard. Get him out of here! (You can see the anger in Patton’s eyes; Two aides grab Perry and carry him out of the room.) Send him up to all the debates! You hear me! You Goddamn COWARD! (Patton tries to compose his anger, and starts walking out of the room.) I won’t have cowards in the Republican party.
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 7:33 PM
GMTA, but I bet you spelled it correctly, unlike me!
Aslans Girl on November 16, 2011 at 7:37 PM
I suppose you folks, in retrospect, think it was just dandy while John McCain explained to everyone who would listen, that he had a very limited understanding about economic issues and would counter that weakness by hiring the best and brightest economic minds the country had to offer? That was cool until the economy collapsed and he suspended his campaign and lost the election to Obama.
Please, give me the person who is at least trying to hide their weaknesses, not advertise them. Sure, its honest to “admit you don’t know everything,” but its also incredibly stupid.
Zetterson on November 16, 2011 at 7:38 PM
He’s a loose canon and I’m ready for him to bow out of the race.
jediwebdude on November 16, 2011 at 7:52 PM
Here is Unbiased. I supported Palin, until she decided not to run, but I also supported Bachmann and Perry at the same time and I was still out on whether I could support Cain because the information was too low to make a decision. When Palin dropped, I let it go, and put most of my backing towards Bachmann, that will be a wasted 250 dollars. When she went down for reasons I am unable to understand, I went in for Perry, but being broke did not support him with money. But was still asking for more information on Cain. The only responses I ever got were 999 and he is conservative with not a single policy claim on conservative. While supporting Perry, I was still asking the questions about his conservatism and whether he was really conservative or just lucky his state keeps him in check, and I am still out on that question. When Perry went down, I really tried to find out what Cain’s conservatism meant, and I still have no clue. 999 sounds like a plan for increasing the take government steals from everyone’s pocketbook, and I can support taking more from the poor, and even myself, I cannot see taking more from the people who hire me and have to have money to do that.
Once Cain showed who he really was, it went downhill from there. I was semi soft supporter of Cain while the jury was out on what his policies would be. Now that there is no fog of war concealing what little policy he has, I have made my judgement on him. That my friend is unbiased.
Unlike you, I am not willing to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, it is up to him to CONVINCE ME that he will govern in a way that I want my country governed. It is not up to me to convince myself that he is the man because people like you keep trying to tell me he is.
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 7:54 PM
I do not like that Patton dude. Scary mean he is. Hitting his hat and all!!! That’s abuse. But that Perry guy sure took the beating well.
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 7:59 PM
InkyBlinkyBarlyVoo is a jackass.
carbon_footprint on November 16, 2011 at 8:00 PM
InkyBinkeyVarleyVoo: Patton would kick your sissy ass.
carbon_footprint on November 16, 2011 at 8:01 PM
LinkeyBrinkyParleyNoo: Think about ending your jackassedness.
carbon_footprint on November 16, 2011 at 8:03 PM
Wow! Just Wow!
That clip does not do any good for Cain. “People say I don’t know this and that and that and that.”
He’ll surround himself with good people? Um, Mark Block & JD Gordon & …
And about “people making excuses and blame, blame, blame”? Mr. Cain is the epitome of this statement.
TriciaNC on November 16, 2011 at 8:06 PM
Sorry, but that’s not some kind of an “honor from Israel”, but rather a private one bestowed by a Brazilian born investor, Guma Aguiar, who has sports investments in Israel and who was committed, by force of a court order, to a mental institution.
whatcat on November 16, 2011 at 8:10 PM
Has his dear friend, Rick Perry, gone to visit him yet?
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 8:16 PM
Here’s a photo of Perry’s award-giver by the way, Guma Aguilar. Excuse the quality, but mugshots just really don’t do anybody justice.
whatcat on November 16, 2011 at 8:20 PM
You guys remind me of the senator who was pushing a decidedly mediocre friend of his for a judgeship, when asked about the decidedly average grades and achievements of his friend he replied something to the effect of, “average people need represented too”.
I’m sorry you guys feel the need to be represented by a president of similar caliber but it’s not going to happen. His ability to fool some conservatives by mouthing sweet conservative nothings into their ears won’t work on independents.
jarodea on November 16, 2011 at 8:29 PM
Sorry for the poor (as in none) editing above.
jarodea on November 16, 2011 at 8:30 PM
Did I mention that LinkyBrinkyChrisFarleyMoo was a degenerate?
carbon_footprint on November 16, 2011 at 8:45 PM
How did you ever get the idea that I’m for Perry?
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 9:00 PM
Isn’t it way past you bed time or do you plan on skipping school again tomorrow?
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 9:02 PM
Don’t worry about it. If Perry reads it, he will never know the difference.
InkyBinkyBarleyBoo on November 16, 2011 at 9:04 PM
Sounds more like American Idol to me.
You can claim to be unbiased about Cain if that makes you feel better. I realize that I don’t hang out at HA like a lot of others here, but I’ve been around the Cain threads enough to know you do not have an unbiased opinion of him. You’ve stated you believed the accusations of sexual harassment against him are not true, yet you also claim he is masking his true self by using a word like ‘inappropriate’. That’s an indication to me that you aren’t unbiased, you suspect him of trickery.
Texas Gal on November 16, 2011 at 9:09 PM
Well, now that you have analyzed me, let me analyze you. You are the type of voter who really has no principles, you swing with optics, you look to others to tell you what to think, and marketing has a great deal of influence on your decision making.
Cain has an important place in this primary. He’s had a core group of supporters for a long time before most of those here at HA heard of him much less saw him. His support is directly tied to his message. He brings energy to the primary unlike any of the other candidates.
For the record … I’ll vote for whoever is the GOP nominee. I want the best and the strongest with the ability to garner the most votes. I’m not swayed by talking heads with agendas and false accusations that defy logic and a specific segment of the conservatives who are in desperate need of a social con in the Oval office.
Texas Gal on November 16, 2011 at 9:11 PM
Friend, may I call you that? Bias is a dislike for someone or something based on little to no information.
A jurist is biased and cannot be seated if he already has rendered a verdict on the person. In either direction, guilty or not guilty.
Cain, I left the judgement until I acquired enough information. Maybe I was a bit harsh on him, maybe it was based on the biased pushing I was getting from HA commenters about how conservative he was. So, there may have been a bit of backlash from the destruction of over hyped expectations.
As for your charges about my judgement, you did not read my answers in full, or did so with bias in mind. Likely the bias was planted by the people who were responding to my well reasoned arguments with vitriolic abuse.
here is my position on Cain and the SH charges.
I do not believe the accusers, fully.
I do not believe Cain fully.
I think the Accusers are lying.
I think Cain is either lying or is using statements that allow him to feel he is telling the truth while leaving the door wide open for part of the charges against him to be legitimate.
This is not a court of law, what he is accused of is not something that will ever see a court of law, with the exception of tort possibly. It is not criminal.
What I think happened is that Cain spends too much time in his life trying to hang out with the lovely ladies. It probably is an ego flaw he carries with him. He probably has convinced himself that it is not inappropriate to do so, despite being a Pastor, a husband, a CEO and a presidential candidate.
I think the Accusers likely have at least the truth of having spent time alone with Cain.
Thus, I think Cain did do inappropriate things with the ladies. I think it is a character flaw. I never said (at least not initially) that alone was enough to keep me from voting for him. Then again, I think that his lying about it causes even more harm and sets him up to have more and more charges come out over the remainder of his campaign, and if elected time in office. That could have prevented me from voting for him over all. Of course, up to that point, he had never convinced me that I wanted to vote for him.
Now, where the vitriol started on all this is when Cain’s supporters attacked me personally as well as argued that even if the charges were true, they were nothing more than boy meets girl, makes pass at girl, gets rebuffed by girl, and he drove her home. Even if true. I disagree, and answered as such. I also am not going to let their personal attacks on me go unanswered.
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 9:32 PM
Well friend, that sure sounds to me like you have a bias. But that’s okay with me. You’re the one that insinuated that I was bias in my opinion of Cain. In my experience, objectivity is a learned skill for most people.
As to the rest of your comments about the nature of thess chat room type threads here at HA where insults and trolls spin the sitemeter, that’s why I don’t hang out here.
Texas Gal on November 16, 2011 at 9:46 PM
You know, after I noticed who I responded to, I kinda felt bad about that bias statement on you. I apologize, because honestly, I think I was having flashbacks to two days ago…
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 9:48 PM
Thanks friend. Apology accepted. Sometimes it’s good to step away from the snark and rhetoric and restore perspective.
Texas Gal on November 16, 2011 at 10:04 PM
Thanks, needed someone who could read me that was not automatically offended.
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 10:09 PM
Cain is being honest. His comment reflects his experience as an executive in business.
All the politicians in the race want to give the impression that in their tiny little heads, they have the answer to every little question faced by the President. That is a lie.
A President has to build an administration of appointees and career government officials to whom he can delegate the little questions and who bring to him the big questions about which he has to make the big decisions.
slp on November 16, 2011 at 10:50 PM
Or they can look at current events, evaluate them, give a judgement call based on what information is available, and explain that to the people so the people have an idea of what to expect from the person asking for their vote.
Cain says, trust me, I will have experts around me, like Kissinger. Then does not give the people an idea on how he would respond once he has information. Is Libya really lacking enough information that he could not respond to it?
9-9-9 is his big plan, but once you get past that, what conservative policies does he promote and actually have a plan for? Remember, 4 years really is not a long time to get much done. If your spending all the time talking to experts without at least a starting plan, how are you going to accomplish anything?
astonerii on November 16, 2011 at 10:59 PM
Eh, Cain isn’t the only one. Though Perry does seem thus far to be wise enough not use Know-Nothingism as a campaign tool.
Bingo.
Wow, you are so right. Tim Pawlenty’s Michael Bay-ish is the only reason I suppported him. Rick Santorum must be able to use subliminal mind waves to broadcast marketing straight to me since I can’t imagine any other reason my unprincipled self would support him and not the flavor of the months.
jarodea on November 17, 2011 at 12:25 AM
See.
You’re analysis of me makes as much sense as my analysis of you.
If you ever decide to have an actual intellectual conversation… give me a holler.
Texas Gal on November 17, 2011 at 1:20 AM
While I doubt it’s possible with a Caniac that is an intriguing idea at least. If only for experimental purposes.
jarodea on November 17, 2011 at 3:45 AM
Shazamm, pointing out the obvious as a campaign strategery.
Kissmygrits on November 17, 2011 at 9:10 AM
Palin needs to reconsider and run for POTUS.
Otherwise, any choice from this field is going to get us another 4 years of the ‘o’.
ChuckTX on November 17, 2011 at 9:15 AM
Wikipedia says
If in reference to a German he said “Nein, nein, nein” and you didn’t get the joke, who’s fault is that?
Also, perhaps he could be pointing to a not-quite-Paulish idea of American isolationism. Obama put himself in Arab Spring, Obama got involved in Libya. Perhaps he wouldn’t do a Paulish pullout of Iraq, but have a goal trending to stay at home more.
Or perhaps he’s just riding the border of Paul’s who-needs-foreign-policy field to pick up some votes.
Axeman on November 17, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Wow racism. Idiot humor while running for the most serious job on the planet. A never ending run of clarifications and reclarifications. And you did not understand the man would not make a good president, whose fault is that?
astonerii on November 17, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Racism?? Does nobody have any idea what racism is anymore? Is it just a word that we can use to slap down, any statement of ethnicity?
I suppose you’re one of the people who thinks that if you develop a capacity that you must be devoid of that capacity at the current time–that development is practically creation-ex-nihilo.
Lighten up, Francis.
Axeman on November 17, 2011 at 12:11 PM
What was Obanas view? Oh yeah nobody bothered to ask him. They just liked the crease his pants.
Greed on November 17, 2011 at 2:20 PM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2