GOP Contender Herman Cain Demonstrates Clueslessness On [ME] Policy, Confused By ‘Right Of Return’

[ProSense]

GOP Contender Herman Cain Demonstrates Clueslessness On Middle East Policy, Confused By ‘Right Of Return’

Former pizza executive Herman Cain announced on Saturday in Atlanta that he is “running for the president of the United States, and I’m not running for second.” Previously, Cain has shown a lack of depth on foreign policy, stating at one point that he doesn’t know enough to say what he thinks about the Afghanistan war.

Despite his shallow understanding of foreign policy issues, Cain is still trying to go on the attack against Obama and create a partisan divide on Israel. He said last week that an “arrogant” Obama “threw Israel under the bus” in his recent speech on the Middle East. Trying to sound a hawkish note, Cain said his “Cain doctrine” is “You mess with Israel, you are messing with the United States of America.”

But this morning on Fox News Sunday, Cain showed just how limited his understanding is of the Middle East peace process. Asked by host Chris Wallace what he would be prepared to offer Palestinians as part of a deal, Cain responded, “Nothing.” Just moments later, Cain was dazed and confused when Wallace referenced the issue of “right of return” of Palestinian refugees:

WALLACE: Where do you stand on the right of return?

CAIN: The right of return? (pause) The right of return?

WALLACE: The Palestinian right of return.

CAIN: That’s something that should be negotiated. That’s something that should be negotiated.

Wallace then helpfully offered Cain a definition of “right of return” — “Palestinian refugees, the people that were kicked out of the land in 1948, should be able to or should have any right to return to Israeli land.” Cain again showed his lack of knowledge, veering completely off his pro-Likud script. “I don’t think they have a big problem with people returning,” Cain said. Watch it

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What an idiot!

:rofl:

[Schema Thing]

1. he's quicker on his feet than Palin

but only slightly.

[Brother Buzz]

25. In what respect, Charlie?

[customerserviceguy]

2. Just another idiot

who thinks that the presidency is an entry-level political job.

[treestar]

3. No way this guy is qualified

If he wants to run for office, why doesn't he start lower?

[PatSeg]

7. He may not really want to be president

Like so many before him, he could just be looking for publicity. Maybe he wants a gig on FOX News too.

[treestar]

8. That seems to describe all Republican candidates so far!

[PatSeg]

14. Definitely NOT my father's republican party

The new path to fame and fortune? Run for higher office but be sure you don't win.

[izquierdista]

4. Sunday talk shows need to be more like quiz shows

Have a panel of judges to buzz out the doltish answer. When asked a budget question, and giving the answer "I like turtles", the judges could dump a Nickelodeon vat of slime on the election contestant.

Apparently, the American public has difficulty distinguishing an idiot unless he is covered in slime.

[Historic NY]

18. "Gong Show"......contestants.

[Ikonoklast]

5. How publicly painful.

Just another clueless business person.

[DrToast]

6. Whatever. I'll bet he can make a mean pepperoni pizza!

:)

[Very_Boring_Name]

9. In what respect, Charlie?

[Hippo_Tron]

10. Tribal sovereignty is just that, it's sovereign

God, even George Bush could pretend he knew what the fuck he was talking about better than this guy.

[Enrique]

11. is that like when the customer didn't like their pizza

they could bring it back? :shrug:

[yellowcanine]

27. Heh - that was my first thought. If the pizza is bad you can return it.

[Clio the Leo]

12. I plan to watch Obama's AIPAC speech AFTER watching this interview...

.... to cleanse my brain of the dumb.

[ProSense]

13. "an 'arrogant' Obama “threw Israel under the bus'"

"You mess with Israel, you are messing with the United States of America."

Someone should get this idiot to reconcile his stupid with the fact that Obama is the POTUS.

:rofl:

[provis99]

15. he's a stupid man who ran his corporation into the ground.

Sort of a male Carly Fiorina.

[On the Road]

16. This Guy Won the Post-Debate Focus Group Poll

by a very big margin. It is a very weak Republican field. I would not rule him out.

[GSLevel9]

17. in defense of Cain and /or any other candidate for office with little experience...

As I remember explaining to people 3 years ago...

The President does NOT need to be an EXPERT on the cultural norms in Tajikistan.

A GOOD President will surround himself with people who ARE experts on the cultural norms in Tajikistan.

Ane effective President brings forth his view of the world, his personal philosophy and his own understanding and notion of the concept of the United States.

Then he surrounds himself with people who KNOW everything and these people learn and iunderstand the President's views and they implement his policy.





I mean... does ANYONE actually believe that Obama ACTUALLY suggests specific numbers for monetary policy? Or controls fuel allocation for the US Army? Of course not...

That's the argument I made 3 years ago and to avoid looking like a damn hypocrite I'll argue it for Cain.



Intelligence in specific portions of the ocean of knowledge is overrated. Organization, motivation, the ability to inspire and resolution of character are 100% more important.

[ProSense]

19. There is no defense for Cain

"does ANYONE actually believe that Obama ACTUALLY suggests specific numbers for monetary policy?"

What does that have to do with not being able to answer a question posed by Chris Wallace on Fox?

This ranks up there with Bachmann's idiocy.

Cain isn't dealing with a complex issue here. He was asked a question about a specific position, and he clearly had no idea what Wallace was talking about. If he wanted to be a loud mouth on ME policy, he should have been aware of the basics.

The President doesn't need to be an expert, but a working knowledge is critical. How the hell is the buck going to stop at an idiot? Who makes the final decision?

[treestar]

23. To a point

Still there are things that are general knowledge among politically savvy people and this would be one such item.

[fujiyama]

26. I heard the same line of reasoning by Bush supporters in 2000

especially after his little quiz when he was asked about Musharraf, and various other world leaders. They said, (I'm paraphrasing) "Well he has Colin Powell and his Dad's buddies by his side. That's good enough for me".

It was bullshit then and it's bullshit now. No, I don't expect the president to be an absolute genius and expert on every single issue out there - but I do expect him or her to have a basic grasp and understanding of pressing political issues - both international and domestic. At least when Obama ran, it was fairly clear he had an understanding of the issues and could articulate his view on them. I'm certain that well before even running for the Senate, Obama could give you his views on the "Right of Return" and what the Israelis thought of it.

I'm no expert on the middle east conflict, but I can give a brief explanation of the history of the founding of Israel, the basic history of the conflict, and the main contentious issues both sides have. If this guy doesn't even have an idea as to the "right of return", he's very ignorant and in over his head. He's basically another Palin.

I want a presidential candidate to have an idea of what and who he'll be dealing with. Whatever one has to say about Netanhayu, he's no idiot. And he knew that Obama was going somewhere quite a while back. He also knew he wouldn't be dealing with a moron - and that Obama might actually be a bit of a thorn in his side. Likewise, I'm certain Obama, like Biden, and Hillary (and for that matter, most Democratic presidential candidates that have run the last several elections), knew what Netanyahu would mean to the peace process. These people dealt with the issues in varying capacities, especially in the Senate (and in Hillary's case, somewhat first hand during her husband's presidency).

That doesn't necessarily mean the candidate has to have direct experience in the Senate but the very minimum his viewpoint on the conflict should be more than " Obama is throwing Israel under the bus. You mess with them, you mess with us". That's not articulating a policy.

[opihimoimoi]

20. Def NRFPT....sadly delusional .....vain

[davidpdx]

21. I'm 10 minutes into Cain's speech, I feel stupider already

I'm considering filling up the bathtub and scrubbing my skin until it's red.

[Peacetrain]

22. A true Palin Moment

[golfguru]

24. We have more serious problems than Palestinians returning to Israel

only 1 in 14 teens are finding jobs this summer.
People receiving food stamps is at record high.
Unemployment refuses to budge below 9%, and that
does not include those who have given up looking
and those who are working below their skill level.
Gas prices are straining budgets.

What is Herman going to do about these problems?
Why don't they ask Herman those questions which
affect most of us? No wonder I rarely watch Sunday
political shows. Important questions are rarely asked.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

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