“The American people are going to raise some Cain in 2012!” Herman Cain declared, according to an article in the New York Times. Whether you perceive him as supreme provider of puzzling sound bites or as a refreshing, ‘different’ candidate, Cain and his campaign have captured the attention of voters and the media alike. As his campaign slowly came to fruition featuring his serenades to pizza, honoring his roots as a former CEO of a pizza company. Serving as further indication that Cain never branded himself as a typical politician or a routine candidate for office, he instead took a stance of representing something new. His unconventional background held promise of a novel approach to political process in Washington, a sentiment welcomed by many frustrated by the existing status quo.
In a twisted sense, you have to hand it to the lofty ideals of American democracy. In a country lauded for its extensive and equal opportunity for all to succeed, a candidate like Cain can ascend political ranks and have his voice heard in a cacophony of so many more. However, the course his campaign could have run has been derailed by numerous accusations of harassment and now an alleged affair with Ginger White. Seeking the truth isn’t easy amidst a media circus and questionable motives from both involved. Cain has been under public scrutiny for a lengthy period of time, making the surfacing of his apparent girlfriend questionable. Upon sad reflection of politicians’ track records regarding infidelity, all signs indicate that Cain may fit the mold of a typical politician more comfortably than he would like to admit. His retreat to lick his wounds and reassess his campaign shows fallibility in his conviction as a candidate and potential president of this country.
In spite of history being cruel to the disloyal, Cain’s decision to plough on is not as unorthodox as it seems. Complicated private lives have remained an unfortunate package deal in the realm of politics. Minds wander to Bill Clinton’s fall in light of an affair, a saga that eventually resulted in his impeachment. In the aforementioned Times article, Cain declared to an audience in Ohio, “Stupid people are ruining America.” His plan? He urges supporters to outvote them. Would these same ‘stupid’ people flounder in a campaign dogged with interpersonal controversy? Perhaps a long, hard look in a mirror is in order for Cain.
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