Herman Cain's 'baffling' Libya stumble
The GOP presidential hopeful mangles an assessment of Obama's Libya policy. How could he flub such a basic foreign policy question?
In a "baffling" video that political analysts are comparing to Rick Perry's infamous "oops" moment, Herman Cain is seriously flustered when an interviewer asks for his opinion on how President Obama handled the Libyan uprising against the late Moammar Gadhafi. (Watch the interview with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel editorial board below). "OK, Libya," Cain says, before pausing. "President Obama supported the uprising, correct? President Obama called for the removal of Gadhafi — just want to make sure we're talking about the same thing before I say, 'Yes, I agree,' or 'No, I didn't agree.'" The GOP presidential hopeful then says he disagreed with Obama's approach, before backtracking: "Nope, that's a different one." Cain then tried to explain his stumbles by saying, "I've got all of this stuff twirling around in my head." What does this video tell us about Cain?
He is not ready to be president: There is only one way to read Herman Cain's "Rick Perry-esque loop," says Colby Hall at Mediaite. His detractors were right all along — the former restaurant executive and motivational speaker is "not a serious candidate." "If a working knowledge of current foreign policy is a prerequisite," Cain's "cringeworthy" brain freeze is solid proof that he is not ready for the job.
"Watch Herman Cain flounder with Libya question during editorial board interview"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Give Cain a break. He was just tired: When Cain sat down for this interview, he "going on four hours' sleep," Cain spokesman J.D. Gordon tells The New York Times. It just took him a moment to "get his bearings," and once he did he "got the answer right," saying he would have learned more about the Libyan opposition before backing it. He wasn't clueless, just tired.
"Cain appears flustered when asked about Libya"
Cain can't explain this away: Sleep deprivation is no excuse for a "supergaffe" like this, says Allahpundit at Hot Air. There's simply no good reason why a candidate for the presidency would have to be reminded "whether Obama is pro- or anti-Gadhafi," when pretty much anybody "could nail that detail even on three hours' sleep." There's still plenty of uncertainty over whether Cain is actually guilty of sexual harassment, as several women charge. But there's no denying his "hair-raising vagueness" on foreign policy.
"Cain's campaign on Libya gaffe: He had four hours of sleep last night and was taken out of context"
Take a look at how Cain handled the Libya question:
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why it's getting harder and harder to leave shopping centres
Under The Radar Expert says escalators are positioned to 'disorientate' shoppers and make them spend more
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What's next for US interest rates?
The Explainer The Fed makes a sizable cut
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
'Beast' of a lawsuit: YouTube star and Amazon sued by contestants over abuse claims
The Explainer Can the breakout YouTube star weather a growing scandal engulfing his forthcoming reality TV competition?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published