NYT: Cain Didn’t Want Staff Speaking Unless Spoken To

I just lost HUGE respect for this man!


Herman Cain is at the top of the national polls in the GOP primary right now. But if you are a staffer that wants to discuss keeping that fragile lead, you’re out of luck — Mr. Cain doesn’t want you to speak to him until you are spoken to.

That according to a campaign memo obtained by the New York Times, which highlighted a series of campaign issues for Cain in an article that used interviews with a number of ex-Cain staff. The piece essentially draws out the fact that Cain’s rise in the polls is almost all about his personal appeal, which that comes through in media interviews and debate performances.

But as far as the other things you need for a campaign — really experienced staff, strong fundraising abilities and a good ground game — well, that’s just not there. And then the campaign advised staff that they were not to speak to Mr. Cain until spoken to when in the car


http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/ ... taffer.php

However, while that direction was just a bit weird, the Times cited the email as one small piece of a theme — that Cain himself is not ready for prime time.

But interviews with Mr. Cain’s former staff members, volunteers and supporters give a glimpse of a candidate who appeared to show ambivalence toward basic campaign management, which led to problems in hiring, scheduling, fund-raising and messaging.
Together, these problems are at odds with a central theme of his candidacy. Because Mr. Cain does not have a legislative or political track record, his campaign rests heavily on the contention that he would bring proven, executive-level expertise from the business world to the White House…..

In the end, it seemed that the animosity between the staff and the candidate, as the Times quoted on particularly jilted ex-operative: “Everything we tried to do was like pulling teeth to get accomplished,” said a former staff member in Iowa, who asked for anonymity. “I’ve never been involved in a job that was as frustrating as this one. We couldn’t get an answer on anything. Everything was fly by the seat of your pants.”

Yeah THAT will beat Obama. Fly by the seat of your pants with no organization. You guys wasnt to pick another McCain? Go ahead! It is on you! I can't beleive people are voting based upon their FEELINGS instead of FACTS and COMMON SENSE!!! Is EVERYONE turning liberal?? :bash :bash

I cannot BELIEVE people are using the words, charisma, likable, nice guy, great speaker, good debater, not a politician. Instead of experience, common sense plans, electability, best energy plan, best tax plan, best job creator, foreign experience, experience fighting closing the border, best track record of attracting businesses. THIS IS THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO RUN THE LARGEST ECONOMY ON THE PLANET!! NOT A BEAUTY PAGENT!! Perry was the Governor of the TOP job creating state in the United States and created more jobs than the rest of the United States combined! Cain biggest accomplishment? Creating the 9th best pizza place.

One of the comments below the linked article was funny:

"Herman Cain is the American Idi Amin in waiting, LOL The last king of Scotland, or at least the pizza biz LOL"

Another comment on the story:

"Cain is not being indigent because he doesn't want them speaking to him unless spoken too. He is hiding his extreme level of incompetence, lack of an creditable knowledge and his general "BS" campaign. His only purpose is to sale motivational books, while pretending to be a presidential candidate. If he communicates with staff they will learn he is just as air headed as Bachman and what few staffers he has will quickly become zero before his book makes the best seller list."

Viking,
Ever heard Reagan's commandment? Thou shall not speak ill of other Republicans? The Dems are doing all they can to take down Herman, you shouldn't be helping them.

SS109 wrote: The Dems are doing all they can to take down Herman.

On the contrary, most of the Dems I spoke to PRAY Cain will be the nominee.

SS109 wrote: Viking,
Ever heard Reagan's commandment? Thou shall not speak ill of other Republicans? The Dems are doing all they can to take down Herman, you shouldn't be helping them.

You sound just like people on my FB page! ALL candidates have to be VETTED!! You guys just want him to be able to slide through on his likability and not talk about any issues so he gets nominated. Then what happens when Obama attacks him with all this stuff with his $500 million dollars? It won't even be a race! Perey was attacked on every single issue when he was the leader by both the left and the right. SO now we just are suppose to let all Cains tax liens and his Campaign Manager Block: Banned from Wisconsin politics for three years in 2002 and paid a $15,000 fine for illegal campaign activities on behalf of a candidate for the state Supreme Court

Involved in vote-caging scheme in Milwaukee during the 2010 midterm elections designed to suppress votes of college students and African-Americans.

Lied to newspaper reporter, denying that Americans For Prosperity, a Block's direction, did the initial mailing for the vote-cage scheme.

This is thhe same smoking guy in the commercial. THIS was Cains first choice out of 300 million people to run his campaign? Speaks a lot to me of his choices.

So do you not want to have any candidate vetted? And just let it all come out in the general election? And hand Obama 4 more years?

I'm in the rare position of agreeing with Viking here. We Republicans can't afford to settle for putting another idiot in the White House just because he shares our party. Two idiots in a row have destroyed our economy. Another could be the coup d' grace. We need to put forward our best and test them to make sure they have the mettle to do the difficult job of restoring us to our former greatness.

Oust Dan Maes before he gets nominated this time?

The real problem with this is that the other choices all have their own damaged goods issues too.

SS109 wrote: Oust Dan Maes before he gets nominated this time?

The real problem with this is that the other choices all have their own damaged goods issues too.

Isn't it better to get them talked about now and give them a chance to respond and defend them rather than them come up against Obama and have his $500 million spreading them all over every channel in every state? A candidate with no money wouldn't stand a chance. Again, I like Cain and had him as my second pick but his plan is now a joke. He HAS to fix it or go for a plan like Perry's and Newt's. NO ONE wants another NEW federal sales tax on top of the others that will never go away even if our federal taxes go up again. Republicans are about getting rid of taxes not adding NEW national ones. Even if he does lower others. It is still a NEW one and there is no guarantee the others won't go back up.