Ronald Reagan lived by a political point of reality. He is famous for issuing the 11th Commandment - thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.
The necessity of the 11th Commandment comes into play in a very real manner during this GOP presidential primary season. Sure, the candidates will bloody each other up a bit because it is a fight to be the party's nominee. That is expected. But, the first one to take it out of bounds, I am sorry to say, is Herman Cain.
Wednesday during an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Cain made a huge mistake. He stated he could not support Governor Perry should he be the party's nominee. "Today I could not support Rick Perry as the nominee for a host of reasons." He specifically gives the reason as a difference on handling illegal immigration.
This, of course, gives fodder to all the liberal publications and networks to enjoy reporting on the rifts within the Republican party. Reagan was a smart politician. For conservatives who fall all over themselves touting how much alike they are in philosophy with Reagan, this was a bone-headed mistake.
Many say that a lack of political experience is a good thing. That is not always the case. Actually, it is rarely the case. Cain is a talented man, intelligent and compelling as a candidate. Are we to believe that should Governor Perry win the GOP nomination, Cain will not vote for the GOP candidate against Barack Obama? Would he just sit home and not vote? That kind of myopic reasoning helped bring about President Obama in 2008. Conservatives chose to sit out the election and handed the victory to Obama.
How's that working out for them now?
Cain would be wise to focus his fight against Barack Obama, not Rick Perry. Or, maybe he is positioning himself for a VP slot with Mitt Romney.
I have no dog in the hunt yet, among those running for my party's nomination. I've made no decisions on who will receive my support in the primary election. I will not, however, be placing my support with Cain.
3 comments:
I think you're making the same mistake Cain has made. In the unlikely event Cain wins the nomination, are you saying you'd rather support Obama or a third party candidate?
No. I will support whomever the GOP nominee is, as I have my entire adult voting life. Republicans are better than Democrats in the Oval Office. Period. Cain, however, won't get the nomination, in my opinion. So, I'm not worried about supporting him anyway.
There is a lot to like about Cain, and I have the utmost respect for him, but his lack of political experience--and political sense--really shows. I do not see him getting the nomination either. And though I dislike Perry I would vote for him if he were the nominee.
Post a Comment