By JanSuzanne Krasner
Republicans ought to stop banging on Governor Chris Christie's door for his presidential candidacy. He will not run, and it is the right decision for this election. Instead, look towards Herman Cain, who appears at this time to be the most qualified candidate to beat President Obama in 2012 and become the 45th president of the U.S.
After his sterling performance at the last debate, which was followed by his big win in Florida's straw poll, Herman Cain is beginning to get the attention he rightfully deserves. Many more political commentators are writing about Cain's growing popularity and receiving a lot of glowing responses from their readers claiming to support his presidential candidacy.
At the same time, we see the true barometer of a candidate's success when his opponents begin to attack him. We recently heard the following from liberal activist/satirist Janeane Garofalo:
Herman Cain is probably well liked by some of the Republicans because it hides the racist elements of the Republican Party. Conservative movement and Tea Party movement are one in the same.People like Karl Rove liked to keep the racism very covert. And so Herman Cain provides this great opportunity so you can say, "Look, this is not a racist, anti-immigrant, anti-female, anti-gay movement. Look: we have a black man."
It is amazing to see the racist perspective through which Ms. Garofalo views Cain's blackness. She sees him only as a tool of the Republican Party to provide a cover for its true racism. Had she asked Cain directly why he chose to be a Republican in the first place, she and others like her might understand what his candidacy is actually about.
Cain's African-American roots as the son of a young black Tennessee farmer, living under segregation in Atlanta, have undeniably contributed to the man's character. Cain met the challenges presented by the racism that many young black Americans experienced in the early '60s by believing in himself and confronting the obstacles before him. He received degrees in both math and computer science and used them to become a very successful, self-madebusinessman. He has an impressive list of business and government experience -- his positions include former CEO and chairman/owner of Godfather's Pizza, chairman and member of the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, member of the National Commission on Economic Growth and Tax Reform, and former chairman and president of the Tax Leadership Council. These successes and experiences present a stark contrast to President Obama's own "American Dream" story.
At 65 years of age, Herman Cain has the credentials of a person whose integrity and faith have propelled him through life. He has the genuineness, honesty, courage, experience, optimistic attitude, and commonsense ideas needed in a leader.
It seems that the citizens of this country need, more than anything else, a president whom they can trust and who can see past his own ego -- one who knows that he can't fix this country alone. We need someone who recognizes the need for a Cabinet of experienced, bipartisan Americans who will unite a divided nation and attend to finding solutions.
Our nation is in need of a formidable leader who understands what his limitations are and respects the principles of our Constitution. In the final chapter of his book This Is Herman Cain, Cain emphasizes, in bold type, his three admissions:
1. I don't claim to know everything; 2. I don't pander to groups; 3. I am terrible at political correctness.
These claims are resonating in the political arena as admirable and attractive qualities for a winning candidate to bring to the office of the presidency. Herman Cain recognizes the need to surround himself with a knowledgeable team of people who, like himself, carry the banner "work for The Citizens of America." This would be a contrast to the imagery of the first tier of candidates, who offer a bit of the "same old, same old" -- that is, a political cronyism that inevitably gets in the way of good government.
Under Obama, the past two and a half years have brought only the kind of hope and change we can't believe in. Cain's ideas, coupled with his optimism and straight talk, will convince many conservatives and independents, along with some Democrats, that he will bring about the sort hope and change that can create solutions. He has the vision, persona, and concrete ideas that Americans will find worthy of their confidence.
Americans are tired of listening to political rhetoric...especially President Obama's. Nowadays, we prefer track records. Herman Cain's record is filled with challenges that he met with great success -- he has many friends and loyal employees, his actions display commitment and dependability, and he's left a legacy of business and banking experience and farsightedness.
All Herman Cain needs to do is stay the course and remain the same person he was when he entered the presidential race. It is best for him not to succumb to foolish political chatter, character assassination, and advice from old-school politicians. The voters will listen less and less to people like actor Morgan Freeman, Congressman Keith Ellisman, Teamster Union President Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., and other public figures or pundits who will attack his background by making fun of his pizza business or excoriate his "token black" candidacy.
With the help of social networks and the increase of loyal volunteers, Cain is proving that money does not necessarily make a winner. Also, the list of Herman Cain donors is growing fast and furiously. Cain's supporters have already vetted him far more than Democrats did candidate Obama in 2008.
Like it or not -- and hopefully, sooner or later, most voters will like it -- Herman Cain is here to stay.
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