Herman Cain Is An Idiot

In one sense, it isn’t a surprise that politics attracts the biggest dip-shits around. In another sense, though, it is extremely troubling that American politics – perhaps now more than ever – has become a celebration of stupidity and ignorance (Sarah Palin being an example, but not the lone superstar in this trend).

Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain has rapidly shot to top-tier status in the past few weeks, and has now exhibited another illustration of that disturbing trend in American politics. In a recent interview, he not only mocked Uzbekistan and its leadership as unimportant, but reveled in his own glorified ignorance.

In the interview, Brody asked Cain, who has rocketed to top-tier status in recent polls: “Are you ready for the gotcha questions that are coming from the media and others? Like, who’s the president of Uzbekistan? It’s coming, all of this stuff. And how are you dealing with that?”

Cain replied, “I’m ready for the ‘gotcha’ questions and they’re already starting to come. And when they ask me, ‘Who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan?’ I’m going to say you know, ‘I don’t know. Do you know?’ And then I’m going to say, ‘How’s that going to create one job?’ I want to focus on the top priorities of this country. That’s what leaders do.

“They make sure that the nation is focused on the critical issues with critical solutions,” Cain said. “Knowing who is the head of some of these small insignificant states around the world, I don’t think that is something that is critical to focusing on national security and getting this economy going. When I get ready to go visit that country, I’ll know who it is, but until then, I want to focus on the big issues that we need to solve.”

Actually, Uzbekistan is not so unimportant. The name of the President is Islam Karimov and he is one of the most brutal authoritarians in the region. The Bush administration supported his regime handsomely in order to have military bases there and help supply American troops in Afghanistan (which is directly to the south of Uzbekistan, in case Cain has as much trouble with geography as he does with pronunciation). The Karimov regime engaged in wretched abuses against individuals caught up in the Bush administration’s War on Terror, and became known for widespread torture, including boiling people alive and raping people with broken bottles. Former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, wrote an important book that Cain ought to read.

The US-Uzbekistan relationship began to sour in part because of how widespread the international condemnation was for forming such a close and supportive alliance with such a monster. But lately, the Obama administration has been cozying back up to the dictator in their execution of the Afghan war, which is yet another sign that the Afghan war is very far from over.  This map from the Washington Post illustrates how badly the US imperialists need obedient tyrants like the one in Uzbekistan, and how important Uzbekistan’s geography is for contemporary American politics.

Hermain Cain knows none of this. He doesn’t know how to say ‘Uzbekistan’ and he doesn’t know who its leaders are, and he has the effrontery to run for President. And to boot, he celebrates this kind of ignorance.

Maybe if the basic facts about American foreign policy were not laughed out of the debate for fear of learning something we wouldn’t end up with candidates like Cain and policies like those of Bush’s and Obama’s.

10 thoughts on “Herman Cain Is An Idiot”

  1. In a dumbed down effete country with a race problem, the DIMS vs RIPS offers up CAIN…Biblical stupidity on the masses by corporatist blather of 97% vs 3% super wealthy. The malignant narcissism of the RIPS will love this clown & I expect him to continue to humor us a we collapse.

  2. Is Cain the Tea Party "answer" to Obama? A criminally ignorant and belligerent black man? Where are the likes of Sowell? This is progress?

  3. It would only be fair to put the Uzbekistan question to all the goofs running for the Republican nomination. Huntsman would know. Romney maybe. Dr. Ron Paul of course, could tell you about Uzbekistan and all that the answer means. Of course, Dr. Paul is not the media darling for today or any day. Unca Herm probably does not know who the NATO Sec/Gen might be. Which could in fact, prove of some necessity in future.

    1. Really? Do you think Ron Paul would know the name of the President of Uzbekistan if asked impromptu? I wonder. I wouldn't love him any less if he couldn't remember the name though.

  5. I'm no fan of Cain, but which is better- a President who doesn't know where Uzbekistan is, and wants to leave it alone, or a President who knows exactly where it is, and wants to bomb it? It kind of seems like those are the choices.

    1. This is true. Once we are out of Afghanistan it doesn't matter who the president of Uzbekistan is. Knowing that will not create one American job. And really, what difference does it make if he can come up with the name of a 3rd world dictator in Central Asia. Are president not able to use Google? Do they not have aides that provide briefings?

      1. The difference it makes is that he supports the wars. That's why if Ron Paul doesn't know every detail about some useless country, it doesn't matter, but if Herman Cain doesn't, it does matter.

    2. Being ignorant makes people like Cain thralls to the special interests with agendas that involve attacking other countries. All it would take is for the Lobby, for example, to "inform" Cain that Country X is on the verge of producing WMD Y for the bombing to start. They'll give him a nice, slick presentation with lots of falsified "intelligence," and he'll buy it all. He wouldn't think twice about "vetting" that "information."

      1. Damn straight.

        Cain is a brutish, knee-jerk sonofabitch who'd do anything the warmongers told him to do.

      2. And when Country X is reduced to rubble, Cain would happily point out to reporters that the name of Country X's president didn't matter after all.

  6. Cain was the only republican candidate to go to Israel for Glen Beck’s festival of kissing Zionist ass. How many jobs did that create? Cain has Neocon foreign policy views that he expresses all the time. He’s a disingenuous whore–even for a politician

  7. Amoricons can readily relate to a candidate who is as ignorant of the rest of the world as they are, who hates the rest of the world that he knows nothing about, like they do, and who mouths empty platitudes about "job growth" and "economic revival" while out of the opposite side of his mouth advocating more of the same nonsense that destroyed the economy in the first place.

    The only difference between this assclown and George W. Bush is skin shade and about 10 IQ points.

      1. Cain, since he at least blundered his way into running a semi-successful business, unlike the Inbred Idiot what sat on the throne for eight years prior to the Obamunist.

        1. Even stupider that the supporters of Obama, Cain, etc. are those who refer to the the president as "the Obamunist." Are you also a birther?

          1. Stupidest of all are those brainless Koolaid drinkers who can't see the reason for the label, even after nearly after three years of plain-as-day evidence.

          2. No, stupidest of all are the people who wouldn't know a communist from a taxidermist, but insist on throwing the label around. Hint: communists would never propose making people pay private companies for health insurance.

  8. "‘Who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan?’ I’m going to say you know, ‘I don’t know. Do you know?’ And then I’m going to say, ‘How’s that going to create one job?’"

    Government is not Godfathers Pizza. Government can't create jobs; at least not real ones that actually produce anything, just tax feeding jobs. We don't need more cops, soldiers and bureacrats anyway.

  9. That kind of comment underscores how effective the propaganda machine is. When ignorance is seen as an asset, you know dark times are ahead.

    Knowing the names creates jobs by ending the wars (all of them including drugs, etc) and stopping foreign military aid. You take all that money and resource that's being spent right now to kill and steal and put it to use here doing useful things…like chicken factories that actually process chickens…I know, not as sexy or sinister sounding as a secret torture prison, but hey it's more useful to us proles.

    1. I've always felt that if I was going to be robbed that at least I'd like to SEE something done with it rather than being pissed away on some sand dune on the other side of the globe. Still, merely redirecting the theft doesn't reduce the thievery. Letting us keep what is ours would be nice for a change.

  10. Cain is an amateur politician with low political skills.He knows very little of foreign policy and his political statements are usually idiotic.I think he should continue to sell his pizzas,that is his real strength

  11. Yes Cain is Ignorant about this topic and yes it is important. To use this as an argument claiming he is an idiot is very week. He seems to be focusing on American economic issues which is going to gain him a lot of support. If Dr. Paul could project some of the charisma that comes naturaly to Cain I think the media would pay a little more attention. For those of you that hate Cain for whatever reason, I think you will boost his support by calling him names.

    1. Yeah. Gotta have that "killer charisma" to get your message to sink into the simian minds of your typical American.

  12. Cain speaks the truth. Americans only learn geography when it comes time to bomb some new brown people because they hate your freedoms. His ignorance – and celebration of the fact is only a reflection of those that vote for politicians like him.

  13. this is the real face of america a dictator in waiting,the USA loves dictators,the more brutal the better as long as they are puppets to us,the government gives these maniacs our tax money to be our friends and now another black man comes in the picture to bomb the world,this is us the USA a country that wants to take over the world with any means

    1. You're right to doubt. I've had Cain's product and it's mediocre at best, usually borderline horrible.

  15. Americans are breathtakingly shallow. Nobody wants to listen to Paul drone about business cycle. People like pizza! People like shiny heads! 9 9 9 is supah-fine!

  16. Actually, if you're running things you have people to tell you that sort of thing. As Henry Ford said once, 'I don't have to know it – that's why I hire people. I've got a business to run'.
    That's what Reagan told me anyway.
    He also told me that Carter used to stay up all night memorizing that sort of stuff which is why he couldn't see the forest for the trees.
    But enough of that. I still like Ron Paul the best.

  18. Cain is nothing but cheese and fat, although they are the same. Romney is a Communist Mormon, Christie if NJ is a Communist Demo-Republican Imbecile and he eats a lot of cheese. Bachman is just Nuts. Perry is going to sign in to an Insane asylum, man what did Texas do when they elected this imbecile and he is a Demo-Republican Communist. Obama is just a Demo-Republican too.

  20. I like Ron Paul. He is more truthful and intelligent than the rest of the field. He comes across as a good man but not necessarily as a force for good, he is a force for neutrality. His policies may end US imperialism, federal interference and state corporatism but doesn't the government of the US have an obligation to act as a responsible (and preferably non-violent) global citizen, to protect citizens against absurd or unjust state legislation and to regulate powerful businesses so that they do not their economic power in irresponsible and exploitative ways. Governments are there to support our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Yes it's great if the government is not a tyranny but better a tyranny you know than a dozen you don't.

  21. Cain Ain't Able

    A Federal Reserve stooge named Herman
    Tried givin' American po'folk a sermon
    "If you ain't rich
    You must be one lazy beotch!"
    He's about as subtle as General Sherman.

    Now where does Uncle Tom get the nerve
    After working for the Federal Reserve,
    The biggest thieves on the earth,
    To question anyone's worth
    When unemployment's on an exponential curve?

    Herman says "Lift yourself by your laces!
    There's plenty jobs around for all races!"
    But there's no factories,
    'Cause with Fed subsidies,
    They vanished overseas, leaving no traces!

    But Herman's Fed prints out trillions for euro banks,
    Then hands the bill to taxpayers, without thanks!
    Man, it's as good as it can get
    When you've got a license to counterfeit,
    And now Herman wants to join the Presidential ranks!

    Yes, this former pizza peddler named Cain
    Says God told him to get into the campaign
    With his 9-9-9 tax plan
    But turn it over and scan
    And the "Mark of the Beast" becomes plain!

    When Herman's tax plan is laid on the table
    It's apparent that it's a tax increase fable.
    It's austerity in disguise
    Which Herman vehemently denies,
    But when asked to prove it, CAIN AIN'T ABLE!

    But Cain says he's a foreign policy man
    Who knows he needs an international plan,
    But when put on the spot
    Herman had just one thought:
    It was "Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan"!
    ___________________________
    Charles Ulysses Feney

  23. I'm very confused

    On the surface he seems to be saying exactly what you want
    That he is not interested in especially strong alliances with countries like Uzbekistan.
    Why should he be?

    Is this a libertarian anti war site or not?

  24. Don't be very confused…..Joe, this IS a libertarian anti war site…. It's just not a dumb-ass demagogue site….. and perhaps Cain could be advised to be more humble….. and NOT feed us pigeons the same America is Great pablum… We killed more than 5OO,OOO innocent Iraqis based on lies ….and political ignorance. sweetened with those Neocon stove-piped lies and forged documents….. things that a more internationally SAVVY president may NOT have fallen for…. The brain dead demagogue's are putty in the hands of the inevitable "special interests" whether they be commercial, religious or foreign nations.. Beware…of selective intelligence… "Don't blame me, how was I to know THIS would happen…" Not understanding who, what and how things actually function is NOT a virtue. Like all ignorance, it is a weakness… subject to exploitation…

  25. Joe, Joe, Joe… Joe. Have you heard Cain’s rhetoric on foreign policy? Do a tiny bit of research. Then you won’t be so confused.

  26. Pingback: U.S. Government: Against Brutal Regimes, When We’re Not for Them « Truth & Culture
  27. Pingback: Ignorance Plays in the Politics of the Imperial Plebiscite « Antiwar.com Blog
  28. Pingback: Uzbekistan and Obama’s Indictable Commitment to Tyranny « Antiwar.com Blog

  30. Did someone say Herman Cain? Oh, you mean the lip-licking, ebonics-ridden, empty suit barking crow Holy Roller Federal Reserve inside plant dupe lying fraud. Ya, that Herman Cain. Makes Johhny Cab in Total Recall look like Einstein, by comparison.

    By the way, what's with Cain's hat…..? He must have gotten it from the Creeper in Jeepers Creepers.

    Now I see after all his shuck and jive and endless lies he's subtly changing his chameleon skin to that of lamprey, scheming to place himself as de facto vice president appointee for whomever the Republicans nominate to run against that treasonous and lying POS fraud Sham Wowbama. Cain is shameless, devoid of integrity and intelligence. But, the idiot "brain trust" at the RNC/GOP believe you gots to have a negro to defeats a negro.

    This is one sorry a$$ nation. Welcome to the United States. The New South Africa.

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