Herman Cain: Questionable Character?

I already examined the key message of Herman Cain's campaign with the 9-9-9 plan, finding it to be unsustainable, unreasonable, and unfair. Now, the Pizzaman has come under fire for what seems to be his first blunder:

Cain, at a campaign event in Tennessee on Saturday, defended the idea of building a barbed-wire fence along the border, "electrified, with a sign on the other side that says it can kill you."

While he may claim to have been joking, what makes the incident worse is this follow up comment:

The Republican candidate then dismissed criticism that he's being "insensitive," saying "what's insensitive is when they come to the United States across our border and kill our citizens."

That just comes across as generalizing and ignorant. Hispanics are unhappy with his remarks:

"Whether or not he made his comments in jest, Mr. Cain's words show a lack of understanding of the immigration issues our country is facing and a staggering lack of sensitivity. Surely, Mr. Cain understands the duty that candidates have to offer responsible policy proposals," he said in a statement. "Leave the comic routines to the professional comedians."

I don't know how many Latino voters Cain has alienated, but this is a significant slip up. Whether you're Latino or not, you're going to have questions about Cain's character and ability to have diplomatic relationships with the Latin countries.

It isn't just the Hispanics who are unhappy with Cain. African Americans are not fans, to say the least:

Largely located on the lower rungs of the American socioeconomic ladder, most black Americans appreciate sources of opportunity and power that Cain despises: unions, governmental support for the needy, a robust, government-supported full-employment policy, the public provision of health care. His worry, remarkably, is that America is too egalitarian. His signature policy -- the 9-9-9 tax reform proposal -- would institute a regressive consumption tax nationally and starve Social Security and Medicare. It would redistribute income upward. No wonder blacks overwhelmingly repudiate him and his tea party allies.

And he thinks he can win a third of the black vote. Doesn't this reek of ignorance? You can't just bank on anti-Obama sentiment. His policies and plans are going to be detrimental to that community. As a result, Cain seems out of touch.

If you dig into his past, there are more potential road bumps:

“The problem is not the responsible drinker,” Cain wrote in one letter to the editor.” It is the alcohol-abuser who gets behind the wheel of a car. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, two-thirds of all alcohol-related fatalities are caused by drivers with a BAC of 0.15 or higher.”

I'm sure there are plenty of families who have lost loved ones that would repudiate that statement.

Herman Cain has done a lot to emerge as a contender, but there are still many things that keep him from being a legitimate candidate for President. I think the number one thing is his electability and his complete alienation of certain segments of the voting public. This is an election that the GOP could easily win, especially with this struggling President. However, you can't take chances in being represented by a controversial candidate. To win this election, you need someone that will appeal to those that are frustrated with Obama. Herman Cain is not that guy.