Herman Cain invokes Ronald Reagan, wins big ovations at Values Voters Summit

Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain gestures during a speech at the Values Voter Summit on Friday, Oct. 7, 2011, in Washington. / AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain gestures during a speech at the Values Voter Summit on Oct. 7, 2011, in Washington.

/ AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain on Friday delivered a rousing defense of his campaign and candidacy, winning several standing ovations from conservative activists gathered in Washington for the Values Voters Summit.

Rising suddenly to become a top-tier contender means "you get this bull-eye's on your back," Cain said. But Cain insisted that his growing momentum was no fluke.

"This long shot may not be a long shot any longer," Cain said. "One of the questions I always get--"Why are you running for president? To be president!...I'm not running to go to Disneyland!"

Cain, the only African American candidate in the GOP field, touched on the highlights of his usual stump speech: His so-called 9-9-9 economic plan to reform the tax code; his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage, and his own story of moving from poverty in the segregated South to success in corporate boardrooms.

Perhaps in response to polls that show him breaking out from the bottom of the pack to challenge front-runners Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, Cain also moved to bolster his foreign policy credentials.

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"My foreign policy philosophy is an extension of the Reagan philosophy," Cain said, referring to the late President Ronald Reagan. "Reagan's philosophy was peace through strength. The Cain philosophy is peach through strength and clarity. We must clarify who our friends are, clarify who are enemies are and stop giving money to our enemies."

[caintoddbenson]

I would like to express my thoughts about Herman Cain visually through a piece of digital art I did titled "Uncle Tom starring Herman Cain"

http://cainandtoddbenson.com/2011/10/25/uncle-tom-starring-herman-cain/

[MirriamE]

Ron Paul won the dang Values Voters straw poll. Why don't you do an article on him!

[doneinone]

They did, he apparently stuffed the ballot box.

[editorial-comment]

You control our world. You've poisoned the air we breathe, contaminated the water we drink, and copyrighted the food we eat. We fight in your wars, die for your causes, and sacrifice our freedoms to protect you. You've liquidated our savings, destroyed our middle class, and used our tax dollars to bailout your unending greed. We are slaves to your corporations, zombies to your airwaves, servants to your decadence. You've stolen our elections, assassinated our leaders, and abolished our basic rights as human beings. You own our property, shipped away our jobs, and shredded our unions. You've profited off of disaster, destabilized our currencies, and raised our cost of living. You've monopolized our freedom, stripped away our education, and have almost extinguished our flame. We are hit... we are bleeding... but we ain't got time to bleed. We will bring the giants to their knees and you will witness our revolution!

[LibertyPartisan]

If you're a Republican and you really want a conservative, small government candidate, you might consider voting for Cain. But, unfortunately, the man is simply not as informed and well educated as Ron Paul, and therefore not as qualified. Herman Cain is a businessman, and for that I respect him. He creates jobs. But does he understand how important sound money is? Does he realize that we cannot afford to maintain hundreds of military bases around the world and remain involved in 4-5 undeclared wars? Does the man really understand the pernicious influence of fiat money (paper money with no backing) and the inflation it causes, which ultimately creates (housing, tech) bubbles and therefore economic depressions? I do not think that he does. Ron Paul is the ONLY Constitutionalist! And he polls the best against Obama! Be a real conservative this time and do not compromise. Vote on principle, for the man who never abandons our conservative principles, no matter what special interests want him to do! For REAL LIBERTY, Vote Ron Paul!

[Pharmdan]

I personally like the 999 plan. Cain is a straight talker. All the race stuff people bring up is bogus. I LIKE HIS PLANS, IDEAS AND POLICIES...that's it.
ALso, what could be more fair than everyone paying 9% of their salary?
Rich still pay more dollar wise. As far as the national sales tax, it simply boils down to living within your means!!!
If you can't afford it (even without 9% tax) you shouldn't buy it!!!
Everyone is in debt yet no one wants to take responsibility for spending their money including our elected officials!

[dreamy_miss]

Cain will never, or at least should never, be elected president. He thinks there are enough jobs to go around, and that anyone who doesn't have one if just...lazy? Not looking? Obviously, JOBS won't be on his agenda if he reaches the White House.

"...an interview by Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain on Thursday, who told a Wall Street Journal video show, 'Don't blame Wall Street. Don't blame the big banks. If you don't have a job, and you're not rich, blame yourself.'"

[doneinone]

not true he said there are people out of work to no fault of their own. He was referrin to a selectt crowd taking the time blaming Wall Street for their misfortunes and making stupid demands. They should be blaming Obama and camping out in front of the White House for his failed policies.

[retm-w]

donein

Your just another big money supporter, cain has put everyone down but the rich. If you're not rich your a lazy bum according to him, if you don't have a job you're a lazy bum, even though there are few jobs left because of businessmen like him.

[RobAla]

The more I hear this guy, the better I like him.

[doneinone]

sky-
The biggest culprit is Bend over Frank who said that Fannie and Freddie were sound after Bush twice went before Congress waving the red flag.

[BryanLongworth]

Herman Cain is the real deal! Read my eyewitness report of how #Cain2012 won the Florida Presidency 5 Straw Poll! http://bryanlongworth.com/2011/09/28/florida-presidency-5-report-why-did-delegates-hop-on-the-herman-cain-train/

[K11cker]

That Florida P5 straw vote was rigged. I was there and they were just passing out voting slips left and right. I saw one guy with like 10 slips who was voting for Cain! That was the most corrupt and deceitful method of voting I have ever seen.

[mindfulwhim]

Cain should remember that it was the social liberals who made it possible for Blacks and others to gain a footing in this American society. The conservatives and far-right were trying to keep those "others" from their rights as citizens. It's called "False Consciousness" in sociology books: Identifying with the abuser. I'm impressed that he pulled himself out of poverty, it takes persistenceand hard work to do that, but he didn't do it alone. He had help from the liberal (radical) social movements of the time.

[louisehenning146]

What are you talking about.Remember Eisenhower and the National Guard intergrating the southern school in the 50s,the conservatives that marched in the south.Never heard of Brown v The Board of Education.The Dems were the ones that passed Jim Crow laws.It took Johnson bribery and arm twisting to get the congresss Dems to pass the civil rights act,I remember because I was there.

[dreamy_miss]

Louise, he's talking about socially liberal, not democrats. There are republicans who are socially liberal, and those who are socially conservative.

[retm-w]

No he's not going, but anyone else that does he'll be charging you 9% more to go.

[doneinone]

For a working poor person that drops from a 15.3% to a 9% payroll rate they will have an extra $2000 per year......they should be able to afford Disney if they want to go.

[retm-w]

That's a lie, you'll be paying 9% more for everything you purchase, right now you are only paying state and local sales tax. You'll still be paying 9% income tax, a total of 18% just to live. Is he going to drop the federal fuel tax to 9%, no he he will add that on top of every federal sales tax already in existance. If you believe any politician is going to give you a tax savings, your in dreamland.