IS CAIN ABLE, AND IS MEDIA GOD??

 Herman Cain, the rising star in  the murky sky of Republican presidential candidates, has just experienced a harsh reality of politics in America----the blinding, punishing light of the scandal seeking media.  Politico magazine broke the story this week and the rest of the media picked it up like vultures after fresh meat.  Mr. Cain, a successful business man and CEO of Godfather's Pizza chain, was getting a little too much attention lately, coming in a surprising second to Mitt Romney, the front runner.  Time to dig up the dirt----in this  case, on Mr. Cain, who has been accused of improper behavior regarding the opposite sex---what?? What kind of improper behavior??  Well, that hasn't been clearly explained yet----unless you consider Mr. Cain's remarks about his chin being at the same level as a woman's height---uh, well---excuse me??  Perhaps there's more to the story, but we haven't heard it yet.  Mr. Cain did admit to a legal entanglement and a payoff of some kind, but so far, no details. Where there's smoke, there is usually some kind of fire---but  this sounds like a push deal,  a rush to judgment.  As this blog is going to press, both sides seem to be tip toe-ing around how much they can say under confidentiality contractual terms. But  even  the charges turn out to be nothing but a" he said she said" situation, or prior cultural norms, mis-interpretations, or even somewhat offensive behavior ---Mr. Cain's reputation has been put up for suspicion.  Another Republican presidential hopeful bites the dust---at least in the eyes of the media, who have been doing a superb job of eliminating all comers to the job of challenging their suspected favorite, the incumbent President Obama.  Is that an unfair charge against the media?  Let's look at what's been said so far about a few of the most promising  candidates---what's left of them.

Michelle Bachmann, congresswoman and--- once a promising presidential candidate, with lots of sass and class.  She has now been reduced pretty much to an also ran,with a strong conservative message--- too many holes in her historical references---and just a touch too religious.  Note to Ms. Bachmann---identifying oneself as "Christian isn't hip or cool these days---and above all, our media is hip and cool.

New Gingrich, a previous Speaker of the House, author, and current political consultant---obviously the brightest kid in the room with impressive experience and Washington know-how to get the job done. But sorry, he's got personal baggage, involving a divorce.  Never mind that was many years ago, and that divorce is hardly an uncommon sin among the media, let alone the general populace. But hey, we want 'em squeeky clean.  After all, if our ship is going down, the chief thing we want said about us is that our leaders had no infidelity and wonderful marriages, if nothing else.

Rick Perry,Texas Gov---this guy was promoted like global warming by the media for a short while.  Mitt Romney was running away with the prize, and somebody had to stop this run away train that might actually de-rail the Obama stop and go locomotive.   So, what to do?  Shine the spotlight on someone else---casting all others to oblivion.  It worked, until Perry showed himself to be less than stellar on the debate test. Bye-bye media. Though Perry did it to himself, they were more than happy to accentuate the negative.  This guy can run Texas like a well managed  gushing oil well, but no one showed him how to know when to fold 'em or hold 'em up there on that TV stage with all the other Republicans.  Note to Perry---the enemy ain't them.  Show us how you'd bring your Texas " git 'er" done expertise to Washington.  Meanwhile, the media has all but written you off. Get back on your horse, man, and stop the attack Romney schtick---it's not working. You need to bring it--because the media isn't about to do that for you.

Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts---the most presidential looking one of all,  would probably make a very acceptable, if not exceptional, president.  He has all the credentials---he is a smart, experienced business man, with moderate conservative views---a-a-and---he's squeeky clean.  No personal baggage here---yet. Don't think the dirt baggers haven't tried. But there is that one little thing.  This man is RELIGIOUS. What??  Not only that, he's, gasp, Mormon! Double whammy. Terribly sorry, but that just does not fit the media's presidential template. On the other hand, they're not too worried about Romney, because, guess what?  The Republicans don't seem too excited about him yet, either. Maybe they, also, have been reading too many left wing editorials. After all they are " the third rail", and have a lot to do with how all the voters think and respond. Wouldn't it be nice if the National Republican Committee could rise above the media and publicize all that is good about  all of the nominees, and how each could improve the current situation? 

President Obama, meanwhile back at the ranch, isn't spending much time on the ranch. Touring the country in his tax- payer financed jet, spreading the "tax the rich" gospel, all the while proclaiming that this trip is not about the election, but about putting Americans back to work. Please. That, coupled with his sudden alliance to the Wall Street Occupiers, is really outrageously transparent---the guy is in trouble, and has retreated to the only thing he seems able to do---preach class warfare to the masses via speeches, teleprompters, and TV talk shows.

President Obama made an appearance on Jay Leno's show last week.  He made a very revealing statement when Leno asked who Obama was most concerned about as a serious competitor in the next election.  Obama replied that for now he wasn't worried---he was just waiting to see who would  be "voted off the island next." It rang true---why worry, when the media seems to be doing all the heavy lifting for him.  Hm-m--m, not a bad plan they've got going either----vote everyone off the island, until there's no one left but---who we've already got! No worries, man---another 4 years coming up. Happy days are here again,--- or will be as soon as they figure out this little economy problem. They're working on it---it's not their fault, you understand, they inherited it, they're learning as they go, and they don't have a lot of experience . But we have irreproachable behavior coming out the ying -yang with our prez.  He's never been divorced, nor involved in any personal scandals, (never mind the Jeremiah Wright or x-terrorist Bill Ayer's associations) not overtly religious, has even given up smoking, is thin, good looking, cool, and very well spoken at all times.  Not to mention he's black.  But wait---so is Herman Cain.  Well, that's different.  He's a Republican. Doesn't count. I believe they call that "reverse discrimination."  

 So moving right along, we're still a year away from the big election, but it feels like we're down to the wire, and just one or two are left standing----isn't it a bit premature, and shouldn't we demand as much fair handed reportage from our journalists as they demand from anyone who dares to run for president against the incumbent Mr. Obama. Printing or releasing  all the dirt that's fit to report, may be the unfortunate standard today, but it would seem in the Herman Cain case, especially that they could have waited until they had just a few more specifics. Perhaps the public is finally catching up and has had enough of this kind of journalism--word has it that contributions have been pouring into the Herman Cain campaign coffers since the news reported the, whatever it was," gotcha'" scoop.  
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 Herman Cain may or may not be guilty of  personal indiscretions, but he will probably be the latest victim in the media controlled selection of an acceptable Republican candidate for the presidency of the United States, and that may be our loss. Back in the late 50's, I remember a man who wanted to be president and who was enjoying his own indiscretions with Marilyn Monroe, among too many to count others, while married and before the election. I knew about it, not from the media, but from people I knew who were privvy to such secrets. It was not public knowledge,  and his continued  dalliances never  became widely known, even after he became president.  John F. Kennedy would never have made the current media litmus test----or would he?    

 Note to Republicans, and everyone else---don't believe everything you read, and don't form opinions too quickly. The best leaders, may not always be the squeek-iest clean.Think Eisenhower,  Bill Clinton---Thomas Jefferson.  It's about the economy, governing philosophy, the very future of this country.  What we need now isn't necessarily idol love, media style, but it.is a real person, perhaps a little humanly flawed, but who has know-how, business acumen and experience, an international diplomacy that believes America must remain strong, and a touch of Solomon,----not a media perceived and conjured picture of impossible perfection.  Been there, done that. Is Cain able to overcome this vague, but probably very calculating move  to down grade his chances to become the next president?  Stay tuned---sometimes the American people smell a rat.