Steffi Badanes & Kristi Gallup
Blogs Editor & Guest Blogger
On Saturday December 3, Herman Cain announced that he was suspending his 2012 presidential campaign. So what’s going to happen to Herman Cain and the rest of the presidential candidates? We give our thoughts on what’s to come.
Steffi: This is something that should have happened a long time ago. With sexual harassment allegations, radical statements such as “If you’re not rich and you don’t have a job, blame yourself”, and his lack of knowledge of the Libya situation, Herman Cain’s chances at the presidency were very slim. But just because he’s out of the race doesn’t mean he’s out of the spotlight. Herman Cain is now putting his “Plan B” into motion by creating a new website, TheCainSolutions.com, to push ideas from his platform, such as his 9-9-9 tax reform plan. Herman Cain is taking advantage of his current fame, and he will continue to use it to push his unproductive plans and make more money for himself. Honestly, I think Herman Cain could become the next Sarah Palin.
Herman Cain went from a pizza executive to front runner for the Republican nomination. He had strong Tea Party support until suspending his campaign. When Cain announced the suspension of his campaign, he said he would be endorsing another candidate. So the remaining Republican candidates are going to be fighting for that campaign-boosting endorsement. Whoever Herman Cain endorses will basically be Cain’s replacement as “Tea Party God” (which is why I don’t believe that John Huntsman or Mitt Romney will get his endorsement).
Having Herman Cain as a presidential candidate was great for the media and late-night comics, but in all honesty, he was unelectable.
Kristi: Unfortunately, Herman Cain’s campaign was tainted by many claims of sexual assault, most of which seem to be just stupid complaints made by desperate women clamouring to gain their desired fifteen minutes of fame. Most of the allegations against him (one having supposedly taken place about two decades ago) are made by women with which Cain tells the press he does not remember– this is no surprise considering the majority of the population can’t remember what they had for breakfast.
It was not just the fame-driven women who forced Cain to withdrawal from the race, but the over-bearing press that constantly imposed the accusations made against him in political conferences, a grandly rude gesture. Though the press has every right to question political figures, Cain wanted to get his political message across to viewers who were interested in his plans to improve America’s economy and debt–the focus being on how to fix our nation, instead of the supposed scandal of the month. His plans are reasonable while also being reachable– his 9-9-9 plan would produce a 9 percent corporate flat tax, a 9 percent personal flat tax and a 9 percent national sales tax. It removes all payroll taxes and unites all tax payers on an equal platform which ends nearly all deductions and interest favors. It is also not regressive to the poor for if citizens fall below the official poverty line they would not have to pay the 9 percent tax.
Regrettably this efficient and economy boosting plan wasn’t enough to retain the press’ attention. With the continuity of all the sexual harassment accusations floating about, Cain’s campaign lost its footing with his policies becoming the last thing on the peoples mind. But you haven’t seen the last of him, the candidate he decides to endorse in the election will be in great luck for Cain still has many supporters that will take his word to vote for whichever Republican candidate retains his greatest approval. Though he hasn’t decided yet on his endorsement it would not come as a shock if he endorsed Newt Gingrich, a close friend, who seems to be currently winning the most popular vote of the people.
Video by AssociatedPress
