The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Herman Cain Endorses Newt Gingrich

Posted on | January 29, 2012 | 29 Comments

NAPLES, Fla.
Does anyone else remember — because I do — how the Perrybots used to claim that anyone who supported Herman Cain was, in effect, supporting Mitt Romney? I even had friends who supported Perry tell me that Cain wasn’t “really” running for president but was aiming for a Cabinet position in a future Romney administration. Well, my friends owe me an apology now:

Former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain endorsed Newt Gingrich Saturday at an event in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“I hereby officially and enthusiastically endorse Newt Gingrich for president of the United States,” Cain said during a meeting of the Palm Beach County Republican Party.
Cain cited the former House speaker’s “bold ideas” as the basis for his choice, saying Gingrich wasn’t afraid to propose big ideas that would benefit the nation, even if they invited the ridicule of his rivals.
“There are many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is that I know that Speaker Gingrich is a patriot,” Cain said. “Speaker Gingrich is not afraid of bold ideas and I also know that Speaker Gingrich is running for president and going through this sausage grinder. I know what this sausage grinder is all about. I know that he is going through this sausage grinder because he cares about the future of the United States of America.”

Of course, the Perrybots won’t apologize for slandering Cain’s supporters. The Perrybots were wrong about everything, but they keep acting as if those of us who were right owe them an apology. I guess I should let it go, but I’m haunted by memories of their graceless arrogance.

At one point Saturday afternoon, I looked at the campaign schedule and thought about driving to West Palm Beach for that event where Cain endorsed Gingrich, but it was a two-and-a-half hour drive and I was too exhausted after a day spent coping with connectivity issues. So I took a four-hour nap, woke up and went to McDonald’s for a burger and fries.

Sunday there’s a noon Romney rally here in Naples that I’ll cover. The New York Times has a long article about how Team Romney fought back in Florida.

Category: Election 2012, Fear and Loathing in the Sunshine State, Florida, Herman Cain, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich

Comments

29 Responses to “Herman Cain Endorses Newt Gingrich”

  1. MrPaulRevere
    January 29th, 2012 @ 12:45 am

    I think the whole concept of endorsement is overrated, to put it mildly. The notion that supporters of one candidate are waiting to be told whom to back after said candidate drops out is just silly, and it insults my intelligence. Cain supporters were an electic bunch who did not appreciate being told what to think or whom to vote for.

  2. Adjoran
    January 29th, 2012 @ 1:31 am

    What happened to “the people” now?  I thought Cain had already endorsed US?

    I suggest a changed header – “Cain endorses Gingrich; Women, minorities, Stephen Colbert hardest hit.”

  3. AngelaTC
    January 29th, 2012 @ 2:14 am

    Yes, I’ve often wondered about that too.   It always seems to be really exciting for the supporters of the candidate who is receiving the endorsement, but not much more.

  4. K-Bob
    January 29th, 2012 @ 3:16 am

    You’re just not getting with the “bot” program.

    Also, the annual “Conservatives are Stupid” research is out.  So joining a gang (of “bots”) is a natural thing to consider.

    We must celebrate our ethnic, “bot-hood” and get our own waiver from Obamacare.

  5. Denverwindowwashing
    January 29th, 2012 @ 5:03 am

    If things insult your intelligence, tell those things to $%# off, figuratively speaking.  E. Roosevelt said “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”  This lesson can be applied to letting things insult your intelligence; Unless being insulted is what you seek of course.

    Endorsements show a person with convictions as opposed to the fearful, frightened majority of folks.

    Our founding fathers perhaps could be said to have created the beginning of our Bill of Rights based on a man’s endorsement.

  6. Adjoran
    January 29th, 2012 @ 6:13 am

    Off topic – but at least in the state:  I see some of our usual conspiracy nutters are apoplectic about the Florida redistricting because Alan West is going to have a tougher district.  The exact charge is something like “the GOP establishment is screwing Alan West!”  It’s not only false, it’s ridiculous.

    Florida’s new reforms change how districts may be redrawn.  Gerrymandering is generally out; geographic and political boundaries are to be broadly respected, the number of voters in each district must be closer to exactly equal, AND it must pass muster with the Justice Department ’cause Reconstruction jes’ ain’t a-done yit.

    Math is hard, but we hold 19 of 25 seats now, and the state gets two new districts after the Census.  The lines had to be drawn to comply with the law.  It is mathematically required that several districts give up some of their Republican base areas and become more competitive so that we have a chance to snag the new ones.

    West’s district is surrounded by Democratic territory – with names familiar to those who remember 2000.  There is no way to redistrict at all in conformity with the new rules which would NOT involve him getting more Democrats in his district.

    These reforms weren’t “establishment” plots – Rubio was one of the original guys behind them, and they make sense.  Frankly, it is silly to assume “the establishment” is out to lose a popular new Congressman like West.  In fact, his popularity argues for making his district tougher because he already has a national fundraising base.

    Please don’t stick your hand in the crazy.  West’s district at link below:

    http://tinyurl.com/btohfk

  7. Instapundit » Blog Archive » HERMAN CAIN endorses Newt Gingrich….
    January 29th, 2012 @ 8:09 am

    […] HERMAN CAIN endorses Newt Gingrich. […]

  8. ThePaganTemple
    January 29th, 2012 @ 8:15 am

    Adjoran, I never heard of this, and I bet most other people haven’t either, but you’re right, when the news spreads its going to be controversial and will make many of us madder than hell. Way to get out ahead of the curve with the RNC talking points in an apparent attempt to blunt the controversy. Now allow me, if you will, to argue the opposite position.

    If West has more Democrats in his district, that’s a good thing for the Florida GOP Establishment. It will accomplish one of two things.

    One, it will destroy West’s chances for re-election, therefore ridding the Establishment of a potential thorn in their sides.

    Two, it will make West, in order to maintain his electoral viability, adopt a more moderate stances. West will, in effect, have to become part and parcel of the Florida GOP Establishment.

    And he won’t even have to get an orange tan.

  9. Adjoran
    January 29th, 2012 @ 8:34 am

    Oh, please!  Listen to yourself!  You are saying the Florida GOP “establishment” (Rubio) crafted this law, which has been in the works since Rubio was Speaker of the Florida House and before West was even elected, so they could screw a guy out of a seat he hadn’t even won yet, because they thought he might be a pain in their sides later?

    If that’s not it, then show me a plan to redraw those districts which complies with the new amendments but does not add Democratic areas to West’s district.  You can’t because it is just not possible – look at the damn map before you jump to conspiracy conclusions.

    You want me to believe the Florida GOP establishment would find a popular Congressman – whose job doesn’t interfere with whatever they do down there very much anyway – so scary they would rather lose the seat than see him reelected?  Are you nuts?

    Ray Davies saw you coming forty years ago:  http://tinyurl.com/op66pd

  10. Opinador Compulsivo
    January 29th, 2012 @ 9:21 am

    Linked at El Opinador. I like Cain, and I’m liking Newt a bit more every day. 

  11. ThePaganTemple
    January 29th, 2012 @ 9:29 am

    Well, you didn’t exactly make it clear that these redistricting plans were drawn up before West was elected to his seat.

    But yeah, I can see a scenario where the establishment would rather not be bothered with a guy like West. You make the mistake of assuming they are as driven by partisan ideology as the average voter. They are not, they are driven by one two things and two things only-

    Power And Control.

    Ideology to many if not most of the two-party establishment is nothing more than a tool, like a hammer, or a wedge. Look at Charlie Crist. Does he strike you as particularly ideological? Or does he maybe strike you as the kind of person who has no true core values? Well, he and other like him are a big part of the problem many of us have with the establishment.

    As for West and what he can and can not do for or to them, he can do quite a lot when it comes to bringing money back to his district, and as to who that money benefits.

  12. granmary
    January 29th, 2012 @ 9:30 am

    Womanizers unite to keep sleazy politicians going.

  13. Anonymous
    January 29th, 2012 @ 9:44 am

    The biggest problem I have with all of the griping about “the Establishment” is how much it sounds like talking about how The Man Is Keeping Me Down.

    Whatever amount of truth there is in the statement (and I’m ambivalent…there’s certainly too many people in power who are happy enough with the status quo), the way the message is being delivered just makes the messenger look dumb and whiny, not to mention paranoid, especially when the thesis is stretched to the breaking point.

    When my favorite theory starts to explain everything, I find that it pays to step back and figure out what I’m missing, because things are never that simple.

  14. ThePaganTemple
    January 29th, 2012 @ 10:03 am

    How much evidence do you need? How about from the horses mouth? How many times have you heard GOP talking points to the effect people like Palin are unelectable, and how the GOP nominee needs to be somebody who can appeal to Democrats and the moderates, independents, etc? We’re always being told, for example, how we need to moderate our positions on illegal immigration. Only most of the time they’ll just say “immigration” as though implying that a slam at illegal immigration is a diss at immigration in general. And you can apply that same thing to any number of issues. At one point you could apply it to gun control, which most Republican leaders used to support in moderate doses until it became obvious it was a big loser to the more liberal Democrats who never met a gun control measure they couldn’t masturbate over.

    Look, you believe what you want to believe, but I’ve followed this kind of stuff for some time now. Saying there’s no such thing as “the establishment” isn’t exactly like saying there’s no such thing as the Easter Bunny. It’s more like saying there’s no such thing as French whores. You should know better.

  15. Anonymous
    January 29th, 2012 @ 10:12 am

    Yes, you bring up some issues where I would basically agree with you (and to which I alluded in my comment).  But then you go all tinfoil hat on West’s district issue without knowing much about it, demonstrating my point.

  16. Anonymous
    January 29th, 2012 @ 10:54 am

    Disappointed, but I always knew Cain would endorse his Georgia buddy.

    I wanted Cain for President, rather than Endorser in Chief…so I guess it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.

    We are screwed.

  17. Pathfinder's wife
    January 29th, 2012 @ 10:54 am

    This points to either two things: Gingrich is a reformed and better Gingrich…or he has refined is pandering/scam artist bs to a rapier point after all these years.  
    Either way, it does not matter: a reformed crusader of some standing would be good for the country, and with the shape the country is in she deserves and could use a sneaky, but adroit at it, SOB.  The big question is: what will the country go for, and is Gingrich the person to pull it off and then lead?

    Notice I did not say a thing about the Republic…on purpose…

  18. Steak & Eggs Morning News Round-Up: Florida GOP Voter ‘Horrified’ by Newt; Romney Opens Double-Digit Poll Lead : The Other McCain
    January 29th, 2012 @ 11:14 am

    […] the market for a lovely South Florida condo, tell them to contact Dan Collins.PREVIOUSLY:Jan. 29: Herman Cain Endorses Newt GingrichJan. 28: Santorum Daughter HospitalizedJan. 27: ‘Swarmin’ With Mormons’Jan. 27: Santorum […]

  19. Tennwriter
    January 29th, 2012 @ 11:20 am

    The Big Fight at the moment is against the Establishment, so its natural that everything gets interpreted, and occasionally over-interpreted t hrough that prism.  Not really that big of a problem until Conservatives decide to give up because of th e Man, and right now that’s not happening.

  20. richard mcenroe
    January 29th, 2012 @ 11:41 am

    You know, I always wondered why Newt yelled at that nice John King fellow.  He’s had no trouble with the question before… 

    http://tinyurl.com/5th6cyw 

  21. richard mcenroe
    January 29th, 2012 @ 11:43 am

    He hasn’t changed his behavior in 68 years.  My guess is he’s just gotten better at hiding it — he thinks — and the public is less discriminating.

    Herman Cain… is a disappointment.  I still believe he was railroaded, but after the Colbert stunt and now this I have to concede he is probably not a serious enough person for office.

  22. Shawn Gillogly
    January 29th, 2012 @ 2:09 pm

    And Bill Clinton playing sax on MTV was?

    A guy being able to laugh at himself, or the general state of politics, is not necessarily a bad thing. He ‘was’ railroaded. And given a choice between Newt and Romney, I’d take Newt as well. I’ve made my opinion on Mittens clear. If he’s the nominee, I’m voting 3rd party. If that’s what it takes for the Establishment to get it, so be it.

  23. ThePaganTemple
    January 29th, 2012 @ 2:39 pm

    It was Adjoran, Mr. Republican, who brought up West in connection with the Florida redistricting. Go back and read the entire exchange. He didn’t point out the redistricting plans were drawn up before Wests’ election until after my initial reply. In his first comment, it was he that alluded that they occurred after West’s election. There’s no tinfoil hat on my head my friend. I don’t need one to see which way the wind blows.

    The Republican Party, and the officials thereof, have made it plain they think we are so filled with dread at the thought of a second Obama term, they can force whatever candidate they prefer on us and we will feel we have no choice but to play along.

    It’s like their playing Russian Roulette with the party’s base, under the assumption the rank-and-file have no choice but to accept their ultimate “wisdom” on these matters.

    Hell, they aren’t trying to hide it any more. Just listen to them, watch them, and pay close attention to what they say and how they act.

    Who is it Bob Dole supports again? And George H. W. Bush? He supports who again? Oh, and of course-John McCain?

  24. ThePaganTemple
    January 29th, 2012 @ 2:43 pm

    What does Georgia have to do with it? Can’t he endorse him just because he feels closer aligned with him than with Romney, or Santorum? I’m from Kentucky, so should I support Paul because his son is one of my Senators?

  25. Anonymous
    January 29th, 2012 @ 5:37 pm

    The “Colbert Stunt” drew over 6,000 college age students.  Cain said he knew they werent all there for him, but it was a chance to share the conser4vative message with a group that might otherwise automatically vote for Obama.  He said a key to his “Solutions Revolution” is to reach out beyond the normal GOP audience.

    So I say mission accomplished, 6000+ in person, plus all the TV viewers

  26. Bob Belvedere
    January 29th, 2012 @ 6:29 pm

    Good idea.  Let’s.

  27. Anonymous
    January 29th, 2012 @ 11:01 pm

    Cain was on to something there.

    Conservatism gets zero play on the college campus so Cain being able to get across a few Conservative (and fairly nonpartisan) thoughts out to college kids is a pretty big feat.

    Cain is obviously committed to the Conservative cause.

  28. Anonymous
    January 30th, 2012 @ 8:53 am

    Newt and Cain do have the same attorney, Passantino, who worked for NRA while Cain was its head.

    Just saying…

  29. The Damn Dirty RINO
    January 30th, 2012 @ 4:02 pm

    Being accused of graceless arrogance . . ….

    Penance of life falls on him . . . . . . isn’t all that bad, really.  I mean, people have been accused of worse things, after all.  And, of course, having picked the wrong election cycle to support the most solid, consistent conservative in the r…